Malaysia pavilion makes a splash at COP28

NOT only did the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, end with a “historic” deal, this year’s annual meeting also saw Malaysia having the largest delegation ever.

With over 600 delegates to the meeting – commonly known as COP28 – it was also the most high-profile, with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah in attendance.

Accompanied by the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, and the Pahang regent, the King graced the opening of the Malaysian pavilion on Dec 1 and attended the World Climate Action Summit and the High-Level Segment for Heads of State and Government.

The delegation was led by Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, now the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister after the Cabinet reshuffle earlier this month; the Minister delivered the country’s national statement on Dec 9.

Joining him were other ministers as well as around 250 stakeholders from state governments, local universities, research institutions, private companies and NGOs, who took part in various activities at the Malaysian pavilion located in the Blue Zone of the 438ha Expo City.

Delegates from various Malaysian government ministries and agencies also took part in the climate change negotiation process, which led to the “UAE Consensus”.

The pavilion was set up by the then Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry and the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation to showcase the country’s climate initiatives.

The pavilion ran from Nov 30 until Dec 12 with activities that saw 60 speakers, including Petronas president and group CEO Tan Sri Tengku Muhammad Taufik, Bursa Malaysia CEO Datuk Muhamad Umar Swift and Bank Negara Malaysia governor Datuk Shaik Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour, taking part.

There were also 28 panel discussions held on topics such as the green economy, climate finance, energy transition, adaptation and resilience, and water and biodiversity.

The pavilion was also the venue for several bilateral meetings, including a memorandum of understanding on the green economy between state agency InvestSarawak and Surbana Jurong Pte Ltd, which was witnessed by Sarawak premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg; there was also an exchange of documents between UAE-based Masdar (Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) and various Malaysian companies on renewable energy projects.

The pavilion also saw the launch of Malaysia’s Sustainable Energy Development prospectus to showcase the country’s intent to develop a just energy transition while being open to international collaborations.

Visitors from 45 countries who came to the pavilion were treated to performances of wayang kulit by the Arjunasukma troupe, and teh tarik displays by chef Rene Johari.

This is the second time that Malaysia has had a pavilion after the first one at COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, with over 100 delegates.

This year’s pavilion was themed “Going beyond: Green growth, resilient community and sustainable planet”, and was among 310 pavilions on display throughout COP28.

In his welcoming address at the pavilion on Nov 30, then Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change secretary-general Dr Ching Thoo Kim said that over 600 delegates had registered to attend from Malaysia, adding that the overwhelming response showed “the commitment and effort to contribute to a more meaningful global action on climate change.”

Crowded COP

According to a survey of the list of participants named by the United Nations – excluding support staff – this year’s COP saw a record number of delegates registered, with UAE being the largest group with 4,409 badges, followed by Brazil (which will host COP30) with 3,018 and China and Nigeria with 1,411 each.

While there were an estimated 70,000 delegates attending from the 199 parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, over 97,000 participants, including those from the business sector, civil society and lobbyists – according to complaints – had badges to attend this year’s meeting, almost twice the number at COP27.

Selangor state exco Jamaliah Jamaluddin, who oversees the portfolio on environment and public health, said this was her first time attending a COP meeting.

“I realise that there are so many sessions, events, ministerial meetings and the number of pavilions that you can actually visit.

“Visiting pavilions is very interesting, very informative and very important because then, we get to actually witness and experience the different green technology initiatives at the different countries,” she said in an interview, though she had to remain with the Malaysian pavilion for much of the time, she added..

Jamaliah said many interesting topics came up for discussion, especially those related to youth and their role in advocating for climate change issues.

Indigenous activist Shaq Koyok, who has been following negotiations on the Loss and Damage Fund, said he sometimes felt that discussions were only focusing on communities in the South Pacific and countries like China, India and in Africa.

“I know we [communities in South-East Asia] are quite a small number but that doesn’t mean you should marginalise us in terms of getting the funds to adapt to the new environment since our way of living has changed now,” he said in another interview posted on Facebook.

The Loss and Damage Fund, which was finalised at COP28, addresses the losses and damage in developing countries caused by the adverse impacts of climate change; there have been US$700mil (RM3.26bil) in initial pledges so far, mainly from the UAE, Germany and the European Union.

Many countries, including Malaysia, have called for the fund’s operation to be made as transparent as possible.

Shaq said any fund should be directed at the people because many indigenous communities already lacked money, and with the current changes, things will get worse.

Landmark agreement

At the end of the meeting, Nik Nazmi hailed the UAE Consensus achieved at COP28 as a “historic turning point” in the fight against climate change.

The UAE Consensus was announced at the end of the long-drawn finalising meeting on Dec 13; it calls for the world to “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner” and to accelerate action in this critical decade to achieve net zero by 2050.

While many conservationists and activists fought to use the stronger phrase “phasing out” of fossil fuels, “transitioning away” is still a step forward as it is the first time that the issue has been addressed at a COP meeting.

However, many small island developing states, which are already seeing sea level rise from the impact of climate change, complain that the deal is not binding on the parties.

According to scientists, the world needs to cut its emissions from 2019 levels by as much as 43% in the next six years and 60% by 2035 to reach net zero by 2050 if we are to prevent compounding impacts that are already occurring.

The UAE agreement also calls for an acceleration in the use of renewable energy – including, controversially, nuclear – abatement and removal technologies like carbon capture and storage, reducing non-carbon dioxide emissions like methane, and phasing down coal power plants.

The transition efforts, according to Nik Nazmi, would be implemented “justly, in an orderly manner, and equitably, and follow the principles of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities with respective capabilities enshrined under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement”.

“It was a challenging effort to get every nation in line, yet historic progress on a transition has been made. Let us build on this for a just and equitable transition moving forward, “ he said in a statement on Dec 14.

Nik Nazmi also said that while several countries had committed to providing financial contributions, such as to the Loss and Damage Fund, more still needed to be done.

“Malaysia has pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions intensity by 45% in 2030 compared with 2005 levels.

“Under our National Energy Transition Roadmap, we envisage decarbonising our energy and industrial sectors by elevating the share of renewable energy in our power installed capacity from 25% to 70% in 2050.

“Malaysia has done many things regarding climate change, and we would do much more and be willing to be more ambitious if we had support from the developed world.

“While we recognise that the road ahead may be challenging, we remain resolute and determined to navigate the transformative pathway.”

Next year’s meeting, COP29, will be held in Azerbaijan.