Govt remains committed to net-zero carbon target by 2050, says Nik Nazmi

PUTRAJAYA: The government remains committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 despite changes made by the recent cabinet reshuffle, says Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

The Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister added that his ministry is now more inclusive after the reshuffling as it now tackles a wider range of issues such as clean energy and climate change.

"I think the phrase "environmental sustainability" in our ministry's name makes it open to topics like renewable energy, climate change and climate justice," he said after the Energy Efficiency Challenge 2023 prize-giving ceremony here on Thursday (Dec 14).

"We remain committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050," he added.

Nik Nazmi said he will be working closely with the Energy Transition and Renewable Energy Ministry led by Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as it relates to his field in sustainability and clean energy.

He then added that Fadillah's ministry will oversee public utilities such as electricity, water supply and sewage systems while his portfolio will handle natural resources such as forests, land, wildlife conservation, environmental sustainability and climate change.

When asked if there were any changes in the key performance index for his new portfolio, Nik Nazmi said it remains the same as before.

On Tuesday (Dec 12), the government announced a cabinet reshuffle which saw changes in several portfolios and two former ministries being split into four new ministries.

Among them was the former Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry, which is now divided into the Energy Transition and Public Utilities Ministry, and the Natural Resources and Sustainability Ministry.