KUALA LUMPUR: Asean member states have agreed to adopt the target of 23 per cent renewable energy use in the fuel mix in the region by 2025.
Natural Resources, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili said, during the 33rd Asean Ministers on Energy Meeting and Associated meetings earlier today, members had agreed on a 20 per cent reduction of carbon emission in the region in 10 years’ time.
Themed 'Powering Asean towards a Greener Community', it is in line with the government's aspirations to recognise green technology as one of the key drivers of its national economic growth.
"Our 11th Malaysia Plan (11MP) will guide development activities in the country for the next five years. The 2016 Budget that will be tabled in the next Parliament sitting will be the first budget for the 11MP.
"National economic growth can be achieved by enhancing productivity through greater efficiency in the use of natural resources, opening up new markets for green technologies, goods and services," he said in his speech at the Asean Energy Awards and gala dinner tonight.
He said Malaysia had by September last year managed to reduce emissions intensity by 33 per cents, achieved through new policies on climate change and green technology.
"They include the Renewable Energy Act 2011 to establish feed-in-tariff (FiT) mechanism for renewables (energy). The government is currently reorienting its policies to promote and develop green production in line with the United Nations Foundation which stated that governments should exploit energy efficiency as their energy resource of first choice," he said.