A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the UK and Malaysia to promote bilateral cooperation on climate action. The MoU offers a framework for cooperation between the two countries on climate and biodiversity, and includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions through knowledge sharing and technical expertise.
On July 7 the agreement was formalized. The partnership focuses on five key areas: collaboration on climate and biodiversity issues, knowledge sharing through capacity-building activities, fostering scientific and technical collaboration, supporting private sector involvement in green finance, and encouraging outreach initiatives.
Malaysia is a signatory to the Global Leaders’ Declaration on Forests and Land use and the Global Methane Pledge. It is home to some of the oldest and most diverse forests in the world with around 54% forest cover and has committed to the FACT Dialogue Roadmap for Action and the Global Action for Innovation in Agriculture. The UK has been providing technical and financial support for several environmental projects in Malaysia. Some examples are:
- Strengthening nature-based solutions in Terengganu state
- Supporting low carbon Iskandar’s city planning of Johor state
- Implementing renewable energy in Sabah’s off-grid communities
- Mobilizing green finance through collaboration with Malaysian financial institutions such as the Central Bank.
- Providing financial assistance worth £110 million (USD 130.4 million) to Southeast Asian countries, including Malaysia for sustainable infrastructure projects under the ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility
- Providing £274 million (USD 325 million) funding under the UK Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA) program to strengthen climate adaptation in the Indo-Pacific region.
(Sources: The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office; New Straits Times; The Malaysian Reserve)
