Malaysia: Committed to 40% cut in carbon emission says Prime Minister

Ili Liyana Mokhtar New Straits Times 5 Nov 13;

KUALA LUMPUR: MALAYSIA's land mass is forested at 56.4 per cent while its green cover stands at 74 per cent, a strong signal to the world that it walks the talk in reducing carbon emission.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said Malaysia was committed to a 40 per cent reduction in carbon emission per unit of gross domestic product by 2020, using the 2005 level as a baseline.
This, however, is subject to technology transfer and new additional funding from developed nations.

Najib, who is also the finance minister, added that the new economic model introduced in 2010 outlined the country's commitment to sustainability, not only in activities but the impact of development on environment and natural resources.

In his keynote address at a high-level forum on Biodiversity and Development Post 2015, he also said Malaysia was committed to striking a balance between environmental conservation and sustainable development.

Saying it had not always been an easy path to achieve the balance, especially for a developing nation, Najib added: "In Malaysia, we look for ways to achieve twin goals of development and environmental protection, realising fully well that it is a difficult and delicate equilibrium to achieve.

"If we look around the world, many high-income nations achieved prosperity at the expense of the environment, not in concert with it. We take lessons from the experience of others and we are dedicated to striking that delicate balance."

He said Malaysia was among 189 United Nations member countries that had met all the eight targets in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The MDGs were introduced during the UN Millennium summit in New York in September 2000.

Najib said Malaysia had done well, adding the development agenda under the MDGs needed a sustained commitment.

Malaysia balancing environs and development well
The Star 5 Nov 13;

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is at the forefront in articulating the need for balance between the environment and sustainable development, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

“For us, this is the crux of sustainable development – to achieve goals such as relieving poverty by availing ourselves of our natural resources without compromising the ability of future generations to do likewise,” he said in his opening address at the High Level Forum on Biodiversity and Development Post-2015 here yesterday.

The forum is organised by the Malaysia Industry-Government Group for High Technology and Office of the Science Advisor, supported by the Norwegian Envi­ron­ment Agency, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, and the UNEP-World Conservation Moni­toring Centre.

The meeting aims to advance the efforts of halting biodiversity loss by finding solutions as well as to strengthen measures to achieve the development agenda while highlighting key conservation targets.

According to Najib, who is also the Finance Minister, the new economic model introduced in 2010 included commitment to sustainability.

“Malaysia is committed to a 40% reduction in carbon intensity (as measured by tonnes of carbon emission per unit of gross domestic product) by 2020, using the 2005 level as a baseline, subject to technology transfer and new additional funding from developed nations.

“Today, our green cover is at 74%, and 56.4% of our land mass is forested – a strong signal to the world of how Malaysia walks the talk,” said Najib.