Malaysia hotter by 1.2°C since 1969, could soar further by 2050
The country is now grappling with a full-blown climate crisis that is becoming increasingly unpredictable — a result of global warming.
Scorching heat, sudden heavy downpours, recurring flash floods and thunderstorms regardless of season are no longer isolated events.
Projections suggest that if no strong mitigation steps are taken, the rise could reach 1.5°C to 2.0°C by 2050.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Institute of Climate Change senior lecturer Dr Ricky Anak Kemarau said the main cause of global warming is greenhouse gases (GHG).
These gases — such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) — are the primary contributors to global warming as they trap heat in the atmosphere through the greenhouse effect.
"Carbon dioxide, for example, can remain in the atmosphere for 100 to 1,000 years depending on its cycle.
"Methane is 84 times more potent than carbon dioxide over a 10- to 12-year period, while chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) last over 100 years and also damage the ozone layer," he said.
Ricky added that these gases absorb solar radiation and trap it in Earth's atmosphere, gradually raising global temperatures.
"The sharp rise in GHG levels is caused by fossil fuel combustion for energy generation (coal alone accounts for 30–40 per cent of global CO₂ emissions).
"It is also driven by industrial and transport activities, as well as deforestation, which not only releases stored carbon but also destroys natural carbon sinks.
"Today, carbon dioxide levels have exceeded 420 parts per million (ppm) — the highest in human history and far above the stable pre-Industrial Revolution level of 280 ppm," he told Harian Metro.
"Our responsibility goes beyond just reducing emissions. We must also strengthen the nation's defences against future climate risks.
"If the world succeeded in saving the ozone layer through the Montreal Protocol, we can also mitigate the climate crisis — but only if all parties act collectively," he said.
Ricky noted that this phenomenon is not limited to Malaysia. Other Asian countries are also experiencing more frequent natural disasters due to changing global temperatures.
He said the key factor remains greenhouse gases — largely the result of human activities.
This is no longer just theoretical; science can now "detect the human fingerprint" in almost every extreme weather event across the globe, including in Malaysia.
Extreme weather clearly linked to human activity
He said recent studies — particularly in reputable journals like Nature Climate Change and global reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) — indicate that over 80 per cent of extreme weather events in the past two decades are directly linked to human activity.
"We are witnessing the real consequences of seemingly ordinary activities — burning fossil fuels, clearing forests, and uncontrolled land use change due to development.
"The combination of these actions is heating up the planet, and this warming is fuelling extreme weather," he said.
One of the most noticeable impacts is the increasing frequency and intensity of heatwaves, especially in urban areas.
"It's not just global climate, but also how humans build cities without green breathing spaces.
"This leads to the urban heat island effect, which intensifies heat to levels that can cause death from heat stroke, heart failure and damage to infrastructure," he said.
He explained that a warmer atmosphere holds more water vapour, which, when released, results in heavier rainfall than usual.
"This explains the rising trend in rainfall. Unfortunately, urban infrastructure is not designed to handle such volumes of water, which leads to recurring flash floods," he said.
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