COP 17 : United Nations Climate Change Conference 2011

Speech of Hon. Douglas Uggah Embas,
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Malaysia,
at the High Level Segment of COP 17,
7 December 2011(3-7pm) , Durban, South Africa

Madam President, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen.

1. My delegation wishes to express our gratitude to the government and people of the Republic of South Africa for hospitality accorded to us in this beautiful city of Durban.

Madam President,

2. We all agree that climate change is causing untold human suffering and misery not just in developing countries but across the world. We also all agree that we must act now if we are to effectively and decisively address this global problem, or expect much worse in the future.

3. Madam President, in Malaysia’s view, our most limiting resource is time. The world does not have time for a lengthy negotiation and ratification process for a new legally binding instrument that will replace the Kyoto Protocol. The instruments that are in place now must be strengthened to operate at full capacity. At the same time, transparency and inclusiveness have never been more important. We are confident that your Presidency will ensure that we will not, as we have on previous occasions, be confronted with new text on a ‘take it or leave it’ basis.

3. Because time is of the essence, it is absolutely essential that the Kyoto Protocol - the only existing international legally-binding instrument under the Framework Convention on Climate Change - be renewed for a second commitment period. Furthermore, it should be strengthened and rendered more robust by eliminating all loopholes, particularly in forest management. It is also essential that developed countries, in view of their historic cumulative emissions, and in line with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, ascribe to the Protocol, the levels of emissions reductions demanded by science to keep the maximum global temperature rise below two degrees. Annex I Countries must accept their moral responsibility, in view of their technological, financing and human capacity, to lead the world in achieving the full, effective and sustained implementation of the Convention. However, Madam President, rest assured, we do not expect developed countries to act alone.

4. When the Hon. Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, at COP 15 in Copenhagen, announced Malaysia’s voluntary indicator to reduce emissions intensity of GDP by up to 40 percent based on 2005 levels by 2020, conditional on financial assistance and technology transfer from developed countries, he put in motion a multi-sectoral and trans-ministerial initiative aimed at shifting Malaysia towards a path of low-carbon sustainable development.

5. Here in Durban, a scant two-years later, we are happy to inform you that this initiative has already had significant impact on emissions. Malaysia has implemented a cash rebate incentive for purchasing efficient appliances. We have eliminated excise and import duties on hybrid vehicles and initiated fleet testing of electric and hybrid vehicles. Our feed-in tariff for renewable energy is now fully operational and we now have a Green Building Index certification scheme with 44 buildings provisionally certified and a further 172 buildings registered and awaiting design assessment. The government has decided, furthermore, that all their offices should be no cooler than 24 degrees Celsius, and we are continuing to conserve and sustainably manage existing forests while further intensifying tree planting efforts.

6. Madam President, Malaysia is clearly doing its part to combat climate change – and doing so with the limited financial, technological and human capacity resources at our disposal. Malaysia is also implementing necessary adaptation measures to address changing rainfall patterns and extreme weather events.

7. In this regard, the importance of the Green Climate Fund, the Technology Mechanism and the Adaptation Committee cannot be understated. The Green Climate Fund must be fully operationalized through appointment of the board, and most importantly, capitalized, immediately. Furthermore, it must be sustainably replenished to ensure that long-term finance is adequate and predictable. As recent extreme weather events around the world have shown, the currently pledged 100 billion USD annually by 2020 is dwarfed by current adaptation and mitigation financing needs. In addition, the Technology Mechanism needs to be fully implemented and the Adaptation Committee established and given clear mandates to begin their work

9. Madam President, Malaysia believes that by working together, we can collectively and decisively address this most pressing issue of our time. Then, we can confront what seems impossible and ensure that it is done. Then we will succeed in saving tomorrow, today.

I thank you Madam President