COP28: Malacca's Bold Stride Towards a Greener Horizon with Gas Emission Curtailment




Dubai, Dec 5: The state government of Melaka has expressed its desire to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at a rate that is consistent with the federal government's commitment in order to address the climate crisis in developing countries.

The Senior Member of the Melaka State Executive Council in charge of drainage, housing, local government, climate change, and disaster management, Datuk Rais Yasin, clarified that Melaka contributed significantly to the emission of greenhouse gasses (GHG) in 2019.

"In 2019 the total GHG emission for Malacca was 9.82 million tons of CO2. The largest contributor to GHG emission in Malacca is from the stationary energy sector at 68.2% followed by the Transportation sector at 30.6%.” he said.

This issue was raised during the presentation ICLEI responding to climate emergency in the global south: pivotal role of Melaka in addressing the climate emergency in the global stage for multilevel action and urbanization at COP28.

Rais stated that the endeavor will persist in carrying out in accordance with Malaysia's aim to curtail its GDP intensity from greenhouse gas emissions by forty-five percent by 2030 in comparison to the GDP intensity in 2005.

“The Malacca Green Technology and climate change Council has been established since 2011 the council mission is to develop and apply products, equipment and systems to protect the environment and the natural environment and reduce the negative effects due to human activities.” he said.

Moreover, one of Melaka's effective initiatives for climate resilience is the restoration of the river.

He also outlined the goal of strengthening Sungai Melaka's and its environs' social, economic, and environmental aspects while boosting the city's and stakeholders' ability to deal with the consequences of climate change.

“This project aims to prevent flooding, improve water quality and increase biodiversity and ecological value. We successfully enhanced the riverfront landscape and Heritage creating public spaces and promoting cultural activities thus boosting tourism and economic activities.” 

In line with the national government 100 million trees campaign Malacca aims to plant around 100,000 trees by the end of the year under the Malaysia Greening program.

“In conclusion, complex challenges such as climate change need Dynamic solutions as we continue to navigate these challenges. We remain committed to our mission of creating a more sustainable and resilient future for Malacca and the Global South.” 

Rais added, This initiative is part of a larger goal to plant 1 million trees in Malacca contributing to the preservation of Malaysia's Rich ecosystem and combating climate change.

Additional:

The global south is experiencing rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and more frequent and severe natural disasters such as floods, droughts and storms. These environmental changes are exacerbating food insecurity, water scarcity, and health risks for millions of people in the global south.

In addition, the global south often lacks the resources and infrastructure to effectively adapt to and mitigate the impacts of climate change. This further perpetuates the cycle of poverty and inequality in these regions.

Addressing the climate emergency in the global south requires concerted efforts to support these countries in building resilience, transitioning to sustainable energy sources, and implementing adaptation strategies. International cooperation and financial support are crucial to ensure that the global south can effectively respond to the climate emergency and protect the well-being of its people and ecosystems.


The term "climate emergency in the global south" refers to the urgent and unprecedented impact of climate change on the countries of the southern hemisphere, particularly those that are still developing. These regions often bear a disproportionate burden of the effects of climate change, despite contributing the least to global greenhouse gas emissions.

 

One relevant example of the climate emergency in the global south can be seen in the severe drought conditions affecting the Horn of Africa. The countries in this region, such as Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya, are experiencing prolonged droughts that contribute to food and water shortages, displacements, and increased vulnerability to conflict and poverty.


("UNICEF Somalia: Climate Emergency in the Horn of Africa," UNICEF, https://www.unicef.org/somalia/stories/climate-emergency-horn-africa and "Ethiopia: Chronic Drought and Famine," Human Rights Watch, https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/02/17/ethiopia-chronic-drought-and-famine)

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