KUALA LUMPUR: The law on climate change law which will streamline the country's mitigation efforts is expected to be tabled in Dewan Rakyat early next year.
Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the ministry was in the midst of finalising the draft bill of the law, which is expected to complete by the end of the year.
"The law is aimed at among others, strengthening the institution's. The draft is being updated as there were parts that required amendments.
"They include employment involving the Public Service Department. We will see among others an increase in manpower (ministry staff handling climate change) once the law is approved," he said.
He told this to reporters at the 'Climate Change Symposium 2022: Direction of Malaysia's Climate Crisis Response' held at Parliament House today.
Earlier in his speech, Tuan Ibrahim said the new law would also streamline actions in addressing climate change challenges and manage the relevant data.
He said the ministry has developed the legal framework last year, which was presented to the Cabinet.
Meanwhile, he said the voluntary carbon market (VCM) that would be launched by Bursa Malaysia by end of the year would encourage industries towards adopting low-carbon and attract foreign green investments.
In showing Malaysia's commitment to address climate change, he said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Yaakob would lead the country's delegation to the 2022 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) in Egypt in November.
Other efforts, he said, included the drafting of the national adaptation plan, establishment of the Malaysian Climate Change Action Council (MyCAC), increasing forest coverage, which Malaysia now stands at 55 per cent, reducing solid waste and adopting a circular economy.