Climate change in Malaysia
However, the use of hydropower has expanded in the 21st century, and other potential energy sources such as solar power and biomass are being explored.
The government anticipates the need to adapt in areas such as health and coastal defences, and has ratified the Paris Agreement.
Much of this change is due to the amount of natural gas being used deliberately being maintained at its 2000 levels, leaving further demand to be taken up by coal as part of diversification.
[1]: 5 Deforestation, particularly for palm oil and natural rubber production, is also a major contributor to the country's greenhouse gas emissions.
A 2016 study estimated deforestation and land use change between 2010 and 2015 contributed to 22.1 million Mg annual CO2 emissions.
Currently, a period of three days at the extreme high of expected temperatures has a 2% probability of occurring.
Under the scenarios predicting high levels of global emissions, the increase is expected to be around 12% above the current 2,732 millimetres (107.6 in).
[5]: 2, 6–7, 11 With no action taken, under a high emissions scenario floods may affect an average of 234,500 people annually between 2070 and 2100.
[5]: 13–14 Ecosystem degradation and the spread of urban areas have weakened natural flood resilience.
[11] Communities most exposed to the impact of climate change are poorer, including those involved in manual labour, agriculture, and fisheries.
[12] In 2021, the government announced the goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2050 in the Twelfth Malaysia Plan.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob also said that Malaysia would not build any new coal power plants, would expand electric vehicle infrastructure, and introduce a blue economic blueprint for coastal development.
[13] An attempt to sell 2 million hectares of forest in Sabah as carbon offset credits stalled in 2022 amid local opposition following a lack of consultation and questions as to where profits would go.
[5]: 23 Adaptation measures such as improving dikes would greatly reduce the impact of sea level rise on coastal communities within this century.
[1]: 3 Malaysia ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1994, and the Kyoto Protocol in 2002.
[2] Malaysia ratified the Paris Agreement on 16 November 2016, while submitting its first Nationally Determined Contribution.
[5]: 3 [15] The Second National Communication to the UNFCCC emphasises improved Water resource management.
