‘Our net zero goals founded in law'

The Star

09-07-2025

A new alignment: Anwar (second row, third from right) with world leaders on the final day of the BRICS Leaders' Summit. — Bernama
RIO DE JANEIRO: Malaysia's commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions is grounded in law and public policies, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the roadmap towards low-carbon transition and net zero emissions is both credible and just.
'We have pledged a 45% reduction in emissions intensity by 2030 and aim for net zero by 2050.
'These targets are grounded in law and embedded across public policy,' he said during Malaysia's intervention at the Environment, COP30 and Global Health session during the BRICS Leaders' Summit here on Monday.
Anwar said Malaysia's approach, anchored in the Natio­nal Energy Transition Roadmap, was supported by efforts to introduce a carbon pricing mechanism and regulatory reforms across key sectors.
'We are also assessing the role of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) in decarbonising industry, with policy frameworks currently under development,' he said.
Anwar acknowledged that such a transition required more than policy and must be backed by appropriate financing.
'At present, international climate finance stands at roughly US$300bil per year (RM1.271 trillion).
'This is far short of the estimated US$3 trillion (RM12.7 trillion) required by developing countries alone to meet mitigation and adaptation needs by 2030,' he added.
As such, he said this was the reason Malaysia supported the BRICS Leaders' Framework Decla­ration on Climate Finance.
'But declarations, on their own, do not build power grids, protect coastlines or create jobs.
'Delivery requires properly capitalised instruments, fairer access to concessional finance, and better alignment between multilateral lenders and regional blocs,' he said.
On tackling diseases, the Prime Minister said Malaysia welcomed the launch of the BRICS Partner­ship for the Elimination of Socially Determined Diseases.
'It reflects a clear understanding that disease cannot be meaningfully addressed without tackling the conditions that entrench it,' he added.
Anwar said the hard truth is that life expectancy remains shaped not by biology but by income.
'The fact that a child's chance of surviving past the age of five is still largely determined by GDP per capita represents a failure for us all,' he said.
Anwar said this occurs when governments are forced to divert limited resources from clinics and clean water to service historical debt.
Consequently, he said financial systems that were originally intended to support development have instead become barriers to achieving it.
'Malaysia believes that vaccine access, strong public health systems and the regulation of global medical supply chains are not peripheral matters.
'They are central to both national stability and international security,' he added.
As such, Anwar said Malaysia supports deeper collaboration between BRICS and Asean aimed at strengthening surveillance and accelerating knowledge trans­fer to build resilience across borders.
In its role as Asean Chair, Anwar said Malaysia is working to strengthen regional coherence on climate action.
'We are focused on improving access to green finance, harmonising standards and positioning South-East Asia as a centre for clean energy innovation and sustainable investment,' he said.
He noted that the COP30 conference, to be held in Belem, Brazil, from Nov 10 to 21, must mark a shift from aspiration to execution because climate justice is ultimately about allocation of capital, of risk and of responsibility.
'Malaysia sees health, climate and finance as inseparable. A degraded environment weakens health systems. An underfunded health system undermines resilience,' he said.
Anwar added that both would suffer if sovereign debt restricts national policy space.
'The task ahead is not to rehearse familiar arguments. It is to act precisely, collectively and at scale,' he added.