Charting a Sustainable Course

Amidst the global environmental crises, Malaysia sets ambitious sustainability goals, blending innovative policies with a commitment to ecological stewardship

- Sim Wie Boon

As the world grapples with pollution, climate change, and biodiversity loss, nations are being called upon to chart new paths towards sustainability, balancing the needs of economic development with environmental stewardship. For Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability of Malaysia, this endeavour is multifaceted. 

“Our focus is basically to deal with the triple planetary crisis,” Nik Nazmi elucidates, setting the stage for a discussion that traverses Malaysia’s strategic responses to these challenges. His narrative weaves through the formulation of innovative policies and the commitment to integrating sustainability into the nation’s fabric.

Central to Malaysia’s action plan is the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), which sets an ambitious target of achieving a 70 per cent renewable energy capacity by 2050. This goal underscores Malaysia’s dedication to transitioning from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy sources. “We are also working on our climate change legislation, and we are aiming to release it in 2025. At the same time, we have the national adaptation plan, which is also being prepared right now,” Nik Nazmi says, pointing to the forward-thinking legislative frameworks to cement Malaysia’s commitment to a sustainable future.