by HARIZAH KAMEL / pic by AFP

THE Cabinet has unanimously agreed to the recommendations proposed by the Environment and Water Ministry (KASA) on Malaysia’s Third Biennial Update Report (BUR3).

Its Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the country emitted 316 million tonnes of CO2 based on data up to 2016.

“These greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are 79.4% from the energy sector (including transport), 8.6% from both the processing industry and product sector, and the residual sector, and 3.4% from the agriculture sector,” he said in a statement yesterday.

For the land use sector, changes in land use and forestry have eliminated or absorbed 241 million tonnes of CO2.

This indicates that the country’s total GHG net emissions in 2016 were 75 million tonnes of CO2.

Tuan Ibrahim said the BUR3 report also contains initiatives and measures to mitigate GHG emissions at the national level.

“For the forestry sector, 20 million tonnes of CO2 — through the ‘Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries, and the Role of Conservation, Sustainable Management of Forests, and Enhancement of Forest Carbon Stocks in Developing Countries’ — are the largest contributors to mitigation actions.

“This is followed by the energy sector with nine million tonnes of CO2 through initiatives such as renewable energy (RE) consumption, use of palm-based biodiesel, energy efficiency programmes, rail-based transportation and high-efficiency vehicles.”

Lastly, is the waste sector with six million tonnes of CO2 through biogas trapping initiatives at oil palm mills and paper waste recycling initiatives.

Tuan Ibrahim said the government is exploring new potential for additional mitigation actions in sectors like RE, electricity transport and waste management to enhance GHG emissions’ mitigation actions.

Furthermore, KASA has implemented several initiatives to support efforts in reducing carbon emissions, including the Low Carbon Cities Framework, Low Carbon Cities Master Plan and Low Carbon Mobility Blueprint.

Tuan Ibrahim said KASA will strengthen mitigation measures in line with the country’s obligations and commitment to address climate change issues under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Additionally, the Cabinet also agreed for KASA to develop and strengthen the legal framework and climate change institutions by considering the “whole of government approach” method in developing policies and implementing actions to address climate change.