PUTRAJAYA is not aiming to declare a climate emergency in the country anytime soon, Environment and Water Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said.

“Based on various programmes and initiatives carried out by the country, the government is of the view that for now there is no need for us to declare a climate emergency. 

“However, the government is always closely monitoring mitigation programmes and activities to ensure that there is no significant increase in temperature,” Tuan Ibrahim said during the ministers’ question time. 

The Kubang Kerian MP was responding to Azrina Surip (Merbok-PH), who questioned the ministry’s stance in declaring a climate emergency in the country to limit global warming.

Tuan Ibrahim said that Malaysia had committed to reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions across the economy by 45% based on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2030 compared to the level of achievement in 2005.

He said that this reduction in intensity is unconditional and 10% higher than the previous target. 

In addition, Malaysia has also expressed aspirations to achieve net-zero GHG emissions as early as 2050, he added. 

The PAS lawmaker also said that the ministry is carrying out several initiatives to fight climate change.

Among the initiatives carried out is the implementation of a carbon pricing policy in phases to support the country’s efforts to reduce GHG emissions, in addition to achieving renewable energy generation capacity of 31% in 2025 and 40% in 2035 for the national grid through the Malaysian Energy Transition Plan 2021- 2040.

Besides this, he said that the ministry targets to procure 100% of government vehicles that are not based on internal combustion engines by 2030. 

He also said that the government wants to maintain forest cover above 50% in line with the country’s commitment during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. 

“The total forest area in 2018 is 18,273,487 hectares which is equivalent to 55.3% of the country’s land area,” he said. 

Another initiative is the Malaysian Greening programme through the 100 Million Tree-Planting Campaign 2021-2025 as per the 12th Malaysian Plan. 

“As of July 6, a total of 35.38 million trees have been planted throughout the country,” he said. 

Tuan Ibrahim said that the government plans to achieve the target of zero waste sent to landfills through the waste-to-energy concept and increase recycling rates to 40% by 2025. 

He said, the transformation of cities in Malaysia towards low-carbon development under the Low-Carbon City Master Plan was also implemented in addition to increasing resistance to the long-term impact of climate change through the development of the National Adaptation Plan.  

In the meantime, he said, the ministry of Energy and Natural Resources has strengthened the country’s climate change governance through the formation of the National Climate Change Action Council (MyCAC) which is chaired by the Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.  

“Policy decisions related to climate change such as compliance with the country’s climate change commitments at the international level will also be decided by the Cabinet, which is also chaired by the Prime Minister,” he said. – August 4, 2022.