KUALA LUMPUR: The government will embark on three actions to boost the country's resilience and preparation in facing the impact of climate change and floods, as well as strengthen the public health sector.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the three actions were agreed upon during the virtual Malaysia Climate Change Action Council (MyCAC) meeting he chaired today.
He said this was following Malaysia's vulnerability to climate change impact, such as downpours that lead to massive floods due to the country's high humidity and earth surface.
"Developing the National Adaptation Plan (MyNAP), which encompasses action and long-term plans, as well as a national development strategy for the public health sector, infrastructure, security and water resources, agriculture, forestry and biodiversity, are among the actions that will be executed.
"State governments will be encouraged to use the Malaysia Climate Change Adaptation Index to boost response towards the impact of climate change.
"There will also be the integration of climate change factors at planning stages, design as well as implementing water sector and infrastructure projects to reduce the risk of floods," he said today.
Today's meeting, which was the third after two earlier ones in April and October last year, was attended by menteris besar and chief ministers, cabinet ministers, representatives of the chief secretary and climate change experts.
Ismail Sabri also discussed the proposal for electric vehicle use in large events, which could boost the development of the electric vehicle ecosystem, and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions effectively.
"This could potentially attract foreign investors, create green jobs and save fuel subsidies by the government."
Also agreed upon at the meeting was the development of a carbon market policy framework by the Environment and Water Ministry, which will provide a guideline for carbon credit trading in the country.
The framework, said Ismail Sabri, will stress on the importance and advantages of carbon credit trading at the domestic level to ensure the carbon market mechanism implementation is done transparently.
Such a measure, he said, fulfils international standards and contributes to the country's GHG reduction target.
"The ministry is developing a long-term national low carbon development strategy in line with the country's aspiration to achieve net zero GHG reduction as early as 2050."
Ismail Sabri added that the government will continue its commitment and efforts in leading the climate change agenda by participating in the 27th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, from Nov 6 to 18.
He said he will lead the country's delegation with menteris besar, chief ministers and the environment and water minister.
"True to the aspiration of 'Keluarga Malaysia Lestari', the federal government, together with our state counterparts and stakeholders, will ensure the country's ability in tackling climate change issues can be strengthened for the sake of the current and future Keluarga Malaysia," he said.