[UPDATED] No time to lose: Anwar joins voice of alarm on climate change in UN

NEW YORK – Faced by the reality of a rapidly degrading natural environment with soaring temperatures, Malaysia says it is doing its part by developing low-carbon and renewable energy roadmaps to implement mitigating strategies. 

Speaking at the United Nations (UN) general assembly here, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said discussions on climate change in the absence of equity, justice, and other values are an exercise in futility.

This is so even though there may be attempts to assist and empower countries to undertake greater climate action.

He said that the newly launched National Energy Transition Roadmap should aid Malaysia in achieving the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), as well as lighting the path towards our net-zero aspirations.

The NDC is a climate action plan to cut emissions and adapt to climate impacts for each party to the Paris Agreement.

Anwar called on developed countries to fulfil their commitment of mobilising US$100 billion a year to support climate ambition endeavours of developing countries, while recognising that trillions of dollars per annum will be needed in the near future.

He noted that scientists have confirmed that the world has just experienced its hottest summer in history, and that UN secretary-general António Guterres has declared that “climate breakdown has begun”. 

“Even Malaysia is seeing an increase in the adverse impacts of climate change, with increasing temperature, rising sea levels, intensified monsoons, and erratic weather patterns disrupting livelihoods and degrading local ecosystems. 

“As such, we have not a moment to lose,” he said in his address from the main podium during the general debate of the 78th session of the assembly in the UN headquarters here today.

Total reset with drastic reforms needed

Anwar stressed that the 2023 Sustainability Development Goals report has confirmed that countries are falling behind, with nearly a third of the targets either at the state of inertia, or worse, regressing.

“The global economy is also projected to continue to be weighed down by geopolitical uncertainties, supply chain disruptions, increase in commodity prices, and challenging financial conditions,” he said. 

“This has widened the gap between economic growth and income, leading to a continuous disparity.”

Due to faltering income growth, households became burdened with debt.

“We now have the super-rich living side by side with the ultra-poor,” he said.

He added that the impact is felt in things that matter for common people: food on the table, shelter, access to quality education and healthcare.

These factors cry out for “drastic, systemic reform”, he stressed.

What is needed is a total reset of the global institutions that impact our lives, said Anwar.

“Or else, we will continue to face widening inequality setting apart nations and peoples.”

Malaysia Madani values apply widely 

Anwar also elaborated on his administration’s Malaysia Madani policy launched earlier this year, saying that its basic principles and moral values also apply in the context of our relations with other countries.

He listed aspects such as compassion, respect, trust, innovation, prosperity, and sustainability.

“Whether it is G7, or G20 or G77, or APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation), or the world’s largest FTA (free trade agreement), there is no denying that multilateral collaboration is the sine qua non for any effective and sustainable resolution to the crises that the world is beset with. 

“In this regard, it bears stressing that Malaysia’s commitment to the UN and the multilateral system is borne out of the strong conviction that all countries, no matter how big or small, rich or poor, strong or weak, have a common responsibility towards creating a better world for tomorrow.” – The Vibes, September 22, 2023