Latest news with #ClimateGovernanceMalaysia
Free Malaysia Today
10-05-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Malaysia a prime site for nuclear plants, says expert
Climate Governance Malaysia director Gary Theseira suggests that Malaysia ties up with Indonesia and the Philippines to jointly develop nuclear plants. (Freepik pic) PETALING JAYA : A climate expert has touted Malaysia as a logical choice to host nuclear power plants given that it is less prone to tectonic activities such as earthquakes compared with its Southeast Asian neighbours. Gary Theseira, director of Climate Governance Malaysia, pointed out that Indonesia and the Philippines have already expressed intentions to venture into nuclear power generation despite their location in regions with significant geo-tectonic instability and elevated risk of earthquakes and tsunamis. He said locating nuclear power plants in less tectonically active parts of Southeast Asia, such as Malaysia, would be a more logical approach. However, the introduction of nuclear power in Malaysia is still a controversial issue. While some have touted its advantages, others have warned against the risks it poses. Even the government is leaning towards continued use of fossil fuels for now. At the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia is not in 'pressing need' to adopt nuclear power as the nation still sees much potential in solar power and the Asean Power Grid. However, he did not dismiss the possibility of exploring the adoption of nuclear energy, especially with Malaysia's massive data centres in the pipeline. Theseira acknowledged that while nuclear power is efficient and suitable for industrial use, it faces challenges such as high costs, safety concerns, and waste management. 'Nonetheless, the risks are justified when weighed against the human and environmental costs of the wide usage of fossil fuels,' he said. 'The reality is that under standard operating parameters, generally regarded as acceptable, the use of conventional fossil fuels results in far greater fatalities than the use of nuclear energy from both accidents and pollution,' he added. He proposed that the government works with its Filipino and Indonesian counterparts to develop nuclear plants in Malaysia. The energy generated can then be shared with earthquake and tsunami-prone countries, he told FMT. 'Risky and unnecessary' A fervent opponent to nuclear energy is Sahabat Alam Malaysia president Meenakshi Raman. She emphasised that opting for nuclear energy is not only risky but also unnecessary given the availability of other options such as solar power. She likened the use of nuclear power to address carbon emissions to swatting a fly with a hand grenade. 'The amount of carbon emissions that we are contributing globally is only 0.8%,' she pointed out to FMT. Meenakshi also highlighted Malaysia's weak risk mitigation systems, warning that pursuing high-risk technologies like nuclear energy could backfire, as existing shortcomings may eventually undermine safe nuclear management. 'We are not known for the rigor given the kinds of examples that we have had — from the Sungai Kim Kim pollution, the radioactive poisoning incident in Bukit Merah and the Petronas gas pipeline explosion. 'There's a litany of disasters stemming from poor management and poor controls,' she added. Sustainability and climate change specialist Renard Siew said that while risk mitigation challenges are valid concerns, the real issue is not capability, but the willingness to invest in building proper safeguards, governance structures, and public trust. 'For example, in the aviation sector, public safety is paramount; a single failure can have catastrophic consequences. 'Like nuclear, aviation combines high risk with low tolerance for error, with public trust in aviation having been earned over time through transparency, consistent enforcement, and continuous improvement,' he said. Nuclear power to support data centre surge Sherrifah Noor Khamseah Syed Ahmad Idid, a nuclear innovation advocate, emphasised the pressing need to study and establish nuclear energy in Malaysia, given the surge in data centre investments. She noted that tech giants Nvidia, Microsoft, and Google, which have made significant commitments to launch projects in Malaysia, are already turning to nuclear energy to power their data centres in other countries. 'These companies' preference for clean energy — particularly nuclear — signals an opportunity for Malaysia to integrate nuclear power into its energy mix,' she said, adding this could help Malaysia achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 in line with the Paris Agreement.
The Sun
28-04-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Malaysia making progress on climate governance front
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is strengthening its climate governance and sustainability framework with a laser focus on sector-specific actions, green finance and regional colla-boration. Climate Governance Malaysia (CGM) Council chairman Dr Gary Theseira (pic) outlined how Malaysia is positioning itself as an Asean leader in environmental, social and governance (ESG) transition, underpinned by policy alignment, financial innovation, and corporate participation. 'The energy sector remains the top contributor to Malaysia's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, accounting for more than 79% of total emissions, according to the Initial Biennial Transparency Report 2024. 'This includes power generation and transportation, both heavily dependent on fossil fuels. To address this, Malaysia's National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) is crucial. It prioritises the move from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources such as hydroelectricity, solar photovoltaic (PV), and emerging technologies like biomass gasification and Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC). 'The urgency to decarbonise the national grid goes hand in hand with the rapid electrification of transport and net-zero targets by corporations,' he told SunBiz. He pointed to the rise of 'behind-the-meter' solar PV solutions, which allow users to generate electricity on-site, easing the burden on the national grid while accelerating decarbonisation. 'However, Malaysia's climate strategy doesn't stop at emissions reduction. Equally vital is the preservation of natural carbon sinks. The Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) sector plays a pivotal role, seques-tering over 212 million tonnes of CO₂ equi-valent annually. 'Protecting forests and urban green spaces, which not only absorb carbon but also regulate temperature and humidity is important,' he stressed. Additionally, Theseira noted that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are another essential component of Malaysia's ESG journey. 'As key players in corporate value chains, their emissions data significantly influence major corporations' Scope 3 disclosures under the National Sustainability Reporting Frame-work (NSRF). 'Tools such as the Simplified ESG Disclosure Guide (SEDG) and the GHG Protocol have made it easier for SMEs to assess and report their emissions, contributing to a more transparent and accountable corporate landscape. 'Private investment in green projects remains a challenge, largely due to policy uncertainty and a lack of ecosystem support. Clear, coherent, and impactful government policies are essential to encourage long-term planning and investor confidence,' he said, adding that governments must foster resilient ecosystems and incentivise sectors aligned with climate goals to attract meaningful capital flows. To enhance the appeal of green financial instruments like sustainability-linked loans and green bonds, Theseira stressed the importance of measurable and certifiable impact, in line with government policy, further high-lighting the need for rigorous anti-greenwashing assessments to maintain investor trust, especially among retail investors increasingly concerned about ethical investments. 'Malaysia can also draw lessons from emerging markets such as China, India, and Brazil, which have successfully mobi-lised transition finance through strong policies, international collaboration, and innovative financing models. 'Malaysia should develop a clear transition roadmap, align its disclosure standards with global frameworks, and focus on 'bankable' projects such as grid upgrades and critical mineral development to attract private capital,' he remarked. Looking ahead, Theseira expressed optimism that now is the perfect moment to harmonise sustainability standards across Asean as the nation is assuming the chairmanship, enabling the region to better compete in global markets and secure its position as a trusted source of sustainable goods and services. He also expressed optimism about the National Climate Governance Summit 2025, which focuses on transition finance. 'The summit brings together regional stakeholders and global experts, offering a platform to share best practices and forge collaborative pathways toward a low-carbon future,' he said. Over the next five to 10 years, Theseira envisions Malaysia strengthening its climate governance frameworks and aligning them with global standards. 'With a Renewable Energy target of 70% by 2050 and a net-zero goal by the same year, he called for setting a national emissions peak and peaking window, a move that would signal commitment ahead of COP30 in Brazil and guide policy and industry action alike,' he said.
