Progression of Policies and Laws Towards Addressing Climate Change and Sustainability Issues: Recent Initiatives from Malaysia

Abstract

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), of which Malaysia is a party, was adopted as a basis for a global response to the effects of climate change. Malaysia also ratified the Kyoto Protocol, but being a developing country is not subjected to any commitments towards reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions at present. Nevertheless, from a domestic compliance perspective, Malaysia’s commitment is evident through various national responses demonstrating its seriousness in addressing climate change issues. As a developing country however, Malaysia is cautious that any response to climate change must be balanced with its continuing need to grow, to increase its per-capita income, and to raise its living standards, in accordance with the principle of sustainable development. This chapter focuses on changes that have taken place within Malaysia’s policies and laws in dealing with the compelling climate change issue, while taking into consideration its various needs. To this end, new policies have been launched, and laws passed, dedicated to climate change, and in tandem with the country’s pursuance of sustainable development. This work seeks to examine how these policies and laws help Malaysia reinforce the nation’s resilience to climate change implications while pursuing its priority for continued development.