KOTA KINABALU: The National Climate Change Bill, which is expected to be tabled in Parliament this year, will make Malaysia one of the few countries with specific legislation dedicated to climate change.
Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup (pic) stated that the implementation of the Bill will also position Malaysia as the second country in the Asean region to enact such a law.
“On a global level, Malaysia will become approximately the 60th country to have a specific Bill related to climate change,” he said after delivering a keynote address at the Sabah Asia-Pacific Impact Investing for Sustainable Development Summit 2026 here, Bernama reported.
Arthur added that following the implementation of the Bill, the ministry will also implement a carbon tax as an incentive to encourage industries to transition towards more environmentally friendly processing methods, operations, and the use of green technology.
However, he emphasised that the carbon tax is not intended to punish industries, but should instead be viewed as a measure to encourage a transition toward more sustainable and eco-friendly operations.
Taking Sabah as an example, Arthur noted that the state holds a significant advantage with approximately 63% forest cover, thereby contributing to the nation’s total forest cover of 54.4%.
This exceeds the minimum international obligation of 50% agreed upon during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
