Government risks missing NDC 3.0 targets amid delays, weak accountability and policy uncertainty

The latest Global Carbon Budget 2025 data showing that Malaysia recorded 8.16 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per person in 2024, making the country the third-highest carbon emitter per capita in Asean after Brunei and Singapore, should be a matter of serious concern for the government.

This ranking is particularly troubling given Malaysia's repeated commitments under the Paris Agreement and its pledge to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Instead of demonstrating a clear downward trajectory in emissions, Malaysia remains among the region's highest emitters on a per-capita basis, raising serious questions about whether the country is on track to achieve its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) targets.