The National Climate Change Policy 2.0 is a comprehensive document aiming to update the first National Policy on Climate Change, published in 2009, which was foundational in integrating climate action into the national agenda and fostering a holistic approach among all stakeholders. This updated policy introduces a new framework for Malaysia’s transition towards a low-carbon economy, reaffirming the national commitment to achieving climate pledges, including reaching net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. The new Policy is also critical to the future governance, since it seeks to strengthen the institutional capacity to address the escalating climate crisis. It reflects the collective ambition and inclusive approach for the future, ensuring no one is left behind. The National Climate Change Policy 2.0, through its 5 strategic thrusts, 15 strategies, and 92 key actions, sets out a direction and framework for Malaysia to pursue a transition to a low-carbon economy and enhance climate resilience in line with the national sustainable development agenda and international climate commitments. Building upon the previous policy, the policy objectives of the NCCP 2.0 aim to: (i) Meet climate targets, including net-zero GHG emissions by 2050¹ and fulfilling updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and international obligations; (ii) Mainstream climate action in decision-making to improve socio-economic wellbeing and strengthen stakeholder accountability; (iii) Catalyse climate action implementation by integrating responses into national policies, plans, and programmes; (iv) Undertake risk-based planning to build climate resilience, harness opportunities, and reduce negative climate change impacts. These 4 objectives are interlinked to the following 5 strategic thrusts: (1) Strategic Thrust 1: Strengthening Climate Governance and Institutional Capacity aims to update laws and governance to effectively regulate and monitor climate action, ensuring alignment with the net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 target and meeting NDCs. This includes creating a robust legal framework and strengthening the MRV mechanism, enhancing federal/state coordination, improving data systems, and developing a national GHG inventory and multi-hazard data center; (2) Strategic Thrust 2: Achieving Low-Carbon Development focuses on reducing national GHG emissions by decarbonizing key sectors (energy, transport, etc.) and conserving natural carbon sinks via forest conservation, guided by the NDCs Roadmap and LT-LEDS; (3) Strategic Thrust 3: Emphasizing Climate Resilience and Adaptation involves adopting a risk-based approach to integrate adaptation into national plans, guided by the MyNAP. Interventions must be evidence-based, conducting national climate risk assessments, promoting nature-based solutions, strengthening infrastructure/water management, and intensifying R&D across sectors like agriculture and health; (4) Strategic Thrust 4: Scaling Up Blended Financing and Enabling a Sustainable Market seeks to increase private sector involvement in the green economy by catalyzing market instruments like carbon pricing, carbon markets, and blended financing, oncentivizing low-carbon investments while rationalizing fossil fuel subsidies; (5) Strategic Thrust 5: Prioritizing Collaborative Climate Action prioritizes proactive domestic partnerships and international cooperation (aligned with the UNFCCC) to achieve climate goals, promoting bilateral/multilateral cooperation, establish stakeholder platforms (including civil society and academia), emphasizing a whole-of-nation approach by supporting vulnerable communities.
Malaysia · 2024-01-01