Kuala lumpur: The National Climate Change Bill (RUUPIN) is set to translate Malaysia's Net Zero 2050 ambitions from a voluntary policy goal into a mandatory statutory obligation. Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup announced that the bill provides the fundamental architecture upon which Malaysia's National Carbon Policy is built.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Arthur emphasized that RUUPIN will empower the government to enforce national decarbonisation targets across both public and private sectors. He addressed the World Green and Sustainability Summit 2026 via a recorded video speech, highlighting the bill's role in holding entities accountable to these targets.

Present at the summit were Sabah Governor Tun Musa Aman, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Cambodian Senior Minister Dr Chhem Kieth Rethy, and KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific chairman Tan Sri Majid Khan. Malaysia's Net Zero 2050 aims to achieve a balance between emitted and removed greenhouse gases by 2050.

Arthur further detailed RUUPIN's capacity to implement market-based instruments, including a domestic Emissions Trading Scheme and carbon pricing mechanisms. The legislation is designed to align national standards with international benchmarks, formalizing standards for Measurement, Reporting, and Verification, thus enhancing the global credibility of Malaysian carbon credits.

He also noted that the Cabinet had sanctioned the National Carbon Market Policy on April 1, serving as a strategic framework to transition the country's carbon landscape into a unified compliance system. The goal is to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 15 to 30 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2035, through Article 6 of the Paris Agreement and a National Carbon Registry.

Arthur, unable to attend the summit in person due to a Cabinet Meeting in Putrajaya, reiterated Malaysia's commitment to moving beyond sustainability discussions into actionable delivery and execution.