Malaysia will push for a new legally binding global climate change agreement for 2020 at the 21st United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties in Paris this year.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said it would be an important deal with the commitment of over 190 countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions with the aim of keeping global warming below two degrees Celcius.
He added that Pacific Island nations which includes Malaysia are at risk from rising sea levels and the most vulnerable in the world to the devastating effects of climate change.
“That is why this meeting is very important to all nations to save the Pacific Ocean and our own nation.
“Prime Minister Najib Razak is equally concerned about the agreement. He called me twice yesterday to discuss Malaysia’s stand and advised me that we (Malaysia) should not in any way fail in the Paris talks,” he told reporters before departing for Paris to attend the mnisterial-level 21st UNFCCC Conference from Dec 6 to 11.
The Paris agreement will come into effect in 2020, empowering all countries to act in preventing average global temperatures from rising and to reap opportunities that arise from a necessary global transformation to clean and sustainable development.
Elaborating further, Wan Junaidi said Malaysia submitted its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) to UNFCCC on Nov 27, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emission by 45 percent by 2030.
“Our commitment is 35 percent on an unconditional basis with a further 10 percent condition upon climate finance, technology transfer and capacity building.
“Besides, Malaysia intends to achieve its reductions through actions in the energy, industrial processes, waste, agriculture, and land use, land use change and forestry (LULUCF) sectors,” he said. To a question, Wan Junaidi replied, “I am confident we will be able to conclude the agreement even though everybody says it is going to be a very difficult meeting. “Malaysia is looking forward to the 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21) draft agreement.”
However, he said, demands and offers made by the developing and developed countries, respectively, might stall the COP21 agreement. Nevertheless, he remained positive, saying that agreements at previous meetings had also been signed during the plenary sessions after countries reached consensus through negotiations.
“Our Malaysian team which has been in Paris since Nov 30, has been doing all the negotiations and it has been very smooth and systematic,” he said.
The minister would be leading a delegation of 70 officers from the ministry and environment-related non-government organisations to the conference.
About 50,000 participants including 25,000 official delegates from government, intergovernmental organisations, UN agencies, NGOs and civil society are expected to attend the conference.
- Bernama
