DUBAI, Dec 2 — Malaysia has pledged its support to ensure the effective implementation of the Asean Working Group on Climate Change (AWGCC) Action Plan, said Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.
Malaysia’s commitment as the group’s chair to foster collaboration, drive innovation, and support the effective implementation of collective climate change action plans within the Asean community.
He added there is a need for Asean countries to negotiate issues of common interests as one voice in global forums, like the 28th Conference of Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
“Malaysia recognises the need for swift and meaningful responses to climate change… and I strongly believe Asean is an institution that has the convening power in advancing the climate negotiations in the UNFCCC.
“Asean’s leadership and convening role is an untapped asset that can be leveraged to negotiate issues of common interest such as Just Transition, Climate Finance, Loss and Damage, and the Global Goal on Adaptation,” Nik Nazmi said.
He was speaking at the Asean Leadership in Addressing Climate Change forum at the Malaysia Pavilion on the sidelines of the COP28 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, today.
The minister said developing a long-term mitigation strategy for Asean would be key to inform sectoral and cross-sectoral policy planning, in line with the pathway towards the Paris Agreement goals.
“In this regard, Malaysia is formulating a Long-Term Low Emissions Strategy (LT-LEDS) and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Roadmap, which will serve as a comprehensive guideline for our aspirations towards achieving net-zero emissions as early as 2050.
“Among Malaysia’s key priorities is the drafting of a climate change bill, the establishment of a national adaptation fund and the development of a carbon market mechanism,” Nik Nazmi said.
— Bernama
