Kuala lumpur: The government has outlined three key strategies to safeguard the planet’s health throughout the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP) to ensure the well-being of current and future generations.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the 13MP document released by the Ministry of Economy today specifies the strategies as Strengthening Management of Climate Change and the Environment, Enhancing Biodiversity Conservation and Preservation, and Reinforcing Circular Economy Implementation and Improving Waste Management.
Under the first strategy, the government will introduce a National Adaptation Plan to address climate change threats across various sectors, including agriculture and food security, forestry and biodiversity, and public health. Specific legislation related to climate change will also be enforced to regulate the comprehensive implementation of climate action initiatives.
The second strategy focuses on managing human-wildlife conflicts and preserving forest treasures, flora, and fauna in high-risk areas by strengthening comprehensive development planning. Efforts to preserve planetary health through nature-based approaches, including mangrove forest restoration and coral rehabilitation, will be expanded under this strategy.
For the third strategy, efforts to strengthen circular economy practices and improve waste management will be intensified through policy enhancements, regulatory frameworks, implementation mechanisms, and the development of modern infrastructure. Legislation related to the circular economy across various sectors will be drafted to regulate activities along the value chain, from production to disposal. Mechanisms to adopt the circular economy will be improved, covering plastic sustainability, biomass and scheduled waste management, development of local sustainable aviation fuel, and expansion of producer responsibility.
Meanwhile, according to the document, during the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), efforts were made to safeguard environmental health, resulting in positive outcomes. Malaysia’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) based on 2005 emission levels was reduced by 37.1 percent as of 2021. This achievement aligns with the target of reducing GHG emissions intensity by 45 percent by 2030. Furthermore, the household recycling rate increased to 37.9 percent last year (2024) from 35.4 percent in 2023. As of 2024, 16 percent of terrestrial and inland water areas had been conserved.
The Malaysia Greening Programme through the 100 Million-Tree Planting Campaign achieved its target last year (2024), aiming to raise awareness about the importance of green cover and forests and to improve the country’s ecosystem and biodiversity. Several policies and laws were also formulated to address climate change impacts and enhance natural resource management, including the National Climate Change Policy 2.0 and the National Policy on Biological Diversity 2022-2030.
Malaysia’s Long-Term Low Carbon Development Strategy has been developed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The implementation of the 13MP for the 2026-2030 period, themed ‘Melakar Semula Pembangunan’ (Redesigning Development), represents the government’s effort to reform the national socioeconomic development agenda in line with the Malaysia MADANI framework.