The update also encompasses an expansion of the scope of GHG to 7 types compared to only 3 previously

by ASILA JALIL / pic by HUSSEIN SHAHARUDDIN

THE Cabinet had agreed to increase the country’s unconditional Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to reduce carbon emissions to 45% from 35% previously.

Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (picture) said as a signatory country to the Paris Agreement, Malaysia is committed to reduce carbon intensity per unit GDP in the country which is reflected by the 10% increase in the unconditional NDC.

“On July 30, 2021, Cabinet ministers had approved the updated target for the country’s NDC. The unconditional NDC target is increased from 35% to 45%, up by 10% from the Intended NDC target made in 2015.

“The update also encompasses an expansion of the scope of greenhouse gases (GHG) to seven types compared to only three previously,” he said in his opening speech during the climate change e-colloquium 2021 and launch of Malaysia’s third biennial update report yesterday.

The country will achieve the new target by various climate change mitigation actions and would not include the purchase of carbon credit from other countries, said the minister.

He said targets that include environmental integrity elements will entice developed countries to help developing countries in overcoming climate change.

Under the Paris Agreement, Malaysia had committed to reduce greenhouse gases by 45% by 2030 which consists of 35% unconditional basis and 10% is conditional on receiving financial, technology transfer and capacity building from developed countries.

The unconditional targets are to be implemented without any external support while the conditional targets require support to be achieved.

Tuan Ibrahim said Malaysia had also presented its third biennial update report to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on Dec 31, 2020, which included data on greenhouse gases (GHG) emission as at 2016.

According to the report, GHG emission in the country in 2016 stood at 316 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent. The main contributor to the emission was the energy sector which include electricity, transportation as well as oil and gas industries which accounted for 79.4% of the total amount.

The net sink amount or the absorption of CO2 from the atmosphere in the country stood at -241 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent. “After deductions from the net sink amount, the total amount of GHG emission in the country stood at 75 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent,” he said.

He added the government is focused on reducing GHG emission in all economic sectors via the implementation of policies relating to climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Among its action plans include the development of a national GHG centre to ensure the country is always ready to fulfil the reporting obligations to the UNFCCC. “For now, technical capacity building in the ministry is being done and one of the initiatives implemented include cooperation with the Japanese government through Japan International Cooperation Agency,” he said.

The ministry is also planning to develop a NDC Roadmap which Tuan Ibrahim said is a “living document” that outlines the sectoral targets to achieve the country’s NDC target.

Policies for the roadmap are currently being developed and are expected to complete by early-2023.