Climate change will continue to be a priority agenda for Malaysia despite the global financial crisis, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
He said the adoption of low carbon emission and environment-friendly technologies was the new economic driver in the country’s sustainable development strategy.
Najib said Malaysia was also focused on becoming the regional centre for green technology, especially solar energy by 2020 with over RM12bil in foreign direct investment pouring into solar photo-voltaic industry.
“Greening the economy is more than just a development strategy. It is about transforming the way society thinks of and treats the environment,” he said when launching the inaugural International Greentech and Eco Products Exhibition and Conference at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre here yesterday.
Stressing on the importance of global environmental sustainability, Najib said the reckless use of resources and uncontrolled carbon emission had brought the world “very close to the brink of a global environment catastrophe.”
“Signs are beginning to appear that the world cannot take much more of modern man’s wanton disregard of its environment.
“It cannot be ‘business as usual’ as far as the environment is concerned. We join the world in our concern about the environmental threat arising from carbon emission,” said Najib.
Najib said Malaysia made a commitment at last year’s climate change summit in Copenhagen to reduce its carbon emission intensity per Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 40% by 2020 from its 2005 level.
He said Malaysia was working with developed nations in realising this goal, adding that the country offered a ready market in green technology and eco-products.
Plans were also underway through the Renewable Energy Policy and Action Plan to ensure renewable sources comprised 6% or 985MW of the national energy mix by 2015 and 11% or 2GW of the overall electricity generation by 2020, he added.
“We need to take a holistic approach that encompasses the development of green technology and green energy, the enhancement of resource productivity and conservation and the inculcation of green values,” he added.
