@ green | November-December , 2021

Malaysia signs the Glasgow Leaders ’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use and the Global Methane Pledge

BY FATIHAH MANAF

Determined to move towards a lower-carbon economy , Malaysia had also reaffirmed its commitment to climate action by signing the Glasgow Leaders ’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use and the Global Methane Pledge at the convention .

The decision was made known through a media statement issued by the Ministry of Environment and Water ( KASA ) on Nov 5 , signaling the country ’ s commitment and progressive efforts to implement climate action that would contribute to the global goals .

On Nov 10 , Environment and Water Minister Dato ’ Sri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man delivered a national statement at COP26 . He began by stating Malaysia ’ s acknowledgement of the importance of post-pandemic green recovery .

“ For this purpose , Malaysia presents the updated National Determined Contributions ( NDC ), which includes 45 per cent of economy-wide carbon intensity reduction ( against GDP ) in 2030 compared to the 2005 level .

“ The intensity reduction is unconditional , and this target is 10 per cent higher than the previous target . The greenhouse gas ( GHG ) emissions coverage is also expanded to seven , compared to three previously ,” he said .

Tuan Ibrahim shared that Malay-

Zaini shares the updated NDC for Malaysia and outlines some initiatives towards 2030 and 2050 during an event by ASEAN Secretaries .

sia would take some measures to achieve this target . Some of the steps include implementing carbon pricing , increasing renewable energy in the installed capacity mix , maintaining at least 50 per cent of forest cover , implementing natural-based solutions , and shifting towards a low carbon development .

“ I am also pleased to announce that the Malaysian government has agreed to support the Global Methane Pledge and Glasgow Leaders ’ Declaration on Forests and Land Use ,” said Tuan Ibrahim , adding that the negotiation regarding the previous Paris Agreement was critical to limit the global temperature rise .

“ However , the implementation of the Paris Agreement requires additional financing , technology transfer and capacity building for developing countries . Therefore , Malaysia urges the developed nations to fulfil their obligation under the Paris Agreement .”

Waiting for approval

The public had previously criticised the absence of the Malaysian Prime Minister and other ministerial-level representatives at COP26 . They questioned the government ’ s stance on climate change when Indonesia had already signed the declaration to end deforestation and cut methane emissions during the first week of the conference .

Tuan Ibrahim later arrived in Glasgow on Nov 8 , taking over as the head of the Malaysian delegation , initially led by Dato ’ Seri Ir Dr

The Malaysian delegation to COP26 .

Zaini Ujang , Secretary-General of the Ministry of Environment and Water .

Zaini stated that the minister ’ s participation was not a last-minute decision . He explained debates and budget presentations were going on in Parliament , and they were hoping the budget for the ministry would be approved before Tuan Ibrahim ’ s arrival .

He said Malaysia was late in joining the pledges because the decision needed to be approved by the Cabinet . He shared that some countries made a pre-announcement to sign the pledge and had problems once they were back in their country .

“ It ’ s not for a person of my stature to make that announcement . It should be made by the Prime Minister or Minister to represent the country ,” Zaini said , further adding that the country focused on the NDC , carbon markets , and climate finance during the COP26 negotiation sessions . — @ Green

WHILST MALAYSIA was in the middle of declaring its climate commitments at COP26 , the Washington Post reported that the country ’ s climate pledges were built on flawed data . It claimed that Malaysia ’ s Biennial Update Report ( BUR ) to the United Nations seemed to be from a ‘ parallel universe ’.

“ The plan to save the world from the worst of climate change is built on data . But the data the world is relying on is inaccurate ,” said the report .

Minister of Environment and Water , Dato ’ Sri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man , expressed regret over the claim .

In a media statement issued by the Ministry of Environment and Water ( KASA ), he clarified that Malaysia undertook a very rigorous process when producing the BUR as required by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change ( UNFCCC ). He highlighted the stringent process in the BUR production , in which the data had to go through experts ’ careful analysis and verification .

“ We would like to stress that all information and values reported in the BUR undergo multiple stakeholder consultations , involving data providers , experts , academicians , NGOs and the private sector .

“ A clear institutional arrangement is in place where a bottom-up approach is implemented , and these details are reflected in the BUR , and the information used in developing the BUR is based on national data and published scientific literature and is reported transparently . “ We would like to emphasise that Malaysia is in line with the requirements by the UNFCCC , which requires the use of the 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National GHG Inventories in estimating and reporting its National GHG inventory . The guidelines require reporting only anthropogenic sources and removals of greenhouse gases ,” he stated .

In addition , he also explained that five land use categories are estimated for the Land Use , Land Use Change and Forestry ( LULUCF ) sector . According to the statement , emissions and removals from peatlands are covered under the Forest Land and Cropland .

“ The emissions from deforestation , croplands conversion , peatland drainage , forest fires and commercial harvest are reported as well as removals from forest and cropland . The values reported are net values after subtracting the emissions .

“ As such , Malaysia regrets the action of the Washington Post in questioning the integrity of the UNFCCC process and outcome ,” said Tuan Ibrahim .

THE REGENT of Pahang Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim Alam Shah Ibni Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri ’ ayatuddin Al- Mustafa Billah Shah urged everyone to work harder in saving the environment . Tengku Hassanal , on Nov 6 , through his Instagram account , shared some of his pictures attending the UN Climate Change Conference ( COP 26 ), held in Glasgow , United Kingdom .

“ It ’ s not about what happens at COP26 , it ’ s about what happens after it . The journey starts from Glasgow to Pahang .”

The regent had previously expressed his commitment to environmental conservation . He initiated # PushUp4Environment challenge as part of the Go Green campaign and ordered Chini Forest Reserve ’ s expansion in Pahang .

“ A message to my beloved people of Pahang , I am coming back for all of you . We must work harder , faster and with precision to save our environment .

“ United we stand , divided we fall . I want our home State of Pahang to become the leading champion for the rest of the world to follow . We can do it , believe it ,” wrote Tengku Hassanal .