Surface temps in Peninsular Malaysia up by 0.24°C per decade since 1969, Dewan Rakyat told

KUALA LUMPUR: Surface temperatures in Peninsular Malaysia increased by 0.24°C per decade between 1969 to 2019, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said this is based on the findings from the Fourth National Communication Report (NC4) published in May this year.

He said current records also showed average temperatures in the peninsula were at 28.8°C in May this year while the average temperature in May 1974 was 26.6°C.

The minister said increasing temperatures were influenced by several aspects including natural factors and human activities.

“Natural factors include global climate change and changing weather patterns.

“Increased greenhouse gases in global atmospheres also cause climate change which impacts global temperatures. Its impact can also be felt in the peninsula,” he said in a written Parliamentary reply on Tuesday (July 16).

He said changing weather patterns can also influence local temperatures.

“Deforestation, agriculture activities and infrastructure developments can reduce natural cooling effects and alter natural water streams which contribute to increased temperatures,” said Nik Nazmi.

He was responding to a question by Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham (PH-Beruas) who asked about current average temperatures in the peninsula compared to 50 years ago.