Malaysia will continue to cut carbon emissions, Najib tells UN climate summit

NEW YORK: Malaysia will to continue to act to cut carbon emissions through new policies involving climate change and green technology.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak (pic) said Malaysia had taken a clear step towards a cleaner future, resulting in a more sustainable economy and balanced energy mix.

"Six years ago, in Copenhagen, I announced that Malaysia would cut the emissions intensity of our GDP by 40% by 2020.

"But this progress came at a cost. In allocating finite national resources, we have had to make painful decisions. Sometimes, we have had to choose between adaptation and mitigation.

"Malaysia has spent nearly US$2.6bil (RM8.4bil) in the last decade adapting to more frequent floods. This is money we could have invested in green industries, or used to slow climate change," he said at the Climate Summit at the United Nations Tuesday.

The summit drew more than 120 heads of state and government to announce their vision and commitments on actions to reduce emissions, enhance resistance to climate change and mobilise financing for climate action.

Najib, however, expressed disappointment that despite Malaysia fulfilling its commitments to cut emissions, it has yet to receive any assistance from parties which had promised to assist developing countries on ways to tackle climate change.

"Malaysia will continue to cut its emissions intensity without getting the support but we are doing it for the sake of the people and our planet.

"Malaysia shows that economic growth need not depend on emissions.

"We stand ready to work with other fast-developing nations to argue for greater ambition in 2015; and to show that economic development and climate action are not competing goals, but common ambitions," he said.