Will raising fuel and power bills make Malaysians go solar? | Climate Crisis News

This 12 months noticed a rise in pure disasters the world over, from floods in Libya and New York and lethal wildfires in Hawaii and Greece – all very actual results of local weather change.

Globally, there have been twice as many days the place temperatures exceed 50 levels Celsius (122 levels Fahrenheit) than 30 years in the past, with this 12 months being declared the hottest on record.

Malaysia is only one nation that has been dealing with its personal set of local weather points. Lately it’s confronted an unprecedented rise in temperatures inflicting warmth islands to devastating floods, like those in 2021, displacing hundreds as properties submerged below water.

Though the Southeast Asian state was as soon as criticised for its contribution to world warming, attributable to deforestation on land used for palm oil cultivation and extra not too long ago for its use of coal-fuelled energy stations – it’s additionally been on the forefront of local weather mitigation.

However its new minister for pure sources and environmental sustainability, Nik Nazmi, has stated extra must be accomplished. Since taking the helm of his nation’s local weather change measures final 12 months, he’s already stated no extra new palm oil plantations and coal crops.

As a substitute, he desires to extend electrical energy tariffs for the rich hoping to direct them in direction of various vitality, whereas persevering with to subsidise electrical energy and gasoline for the much less well-off.

Finally, steering his nation in direction of a extra sustainable way of life, he says, can’t be achieved by governmental insurance policies alone, however by altering mindsets and returning to shared human values.

Right here’s extra from Al Jazeera’s dialog with Nik Nazmi, Malaysia’s minister for pure sources and environmental sustainability:

Al Jazeera: Are you able to inform us extra about Malaysia’s local weather adaptation plan and when it’s anticipated to come back into motion?

Nik Nazmi: Our goal is for the Nationwide Adaptation Plan and the Local weather Change Act to be prepared by 2025.

It’s a multifaceted method that may cope with creating infrastructure.

Lately we’ve confronted flooding, so we try to maneuver away from impermeable surfaces like concrete and tarmac and in direction of different breathable supplies. We additionally need to construct extra properties and companies additional inland – as a result of Malaysia is a mountainous nation general, individuals are typically pushed to dwell close to the coast or the river basins, however that additionally means lots of people are then uncovered if there’s a significant sea stage rise.

In the previous few years, the extent of warmth has been a lot greater than usual. We seen temperatures will be decrease in inexperienced areas in comparison with built-up areas – by as a lot as 6C (42.8F). We’re planning our cities utilizing a nature-based method, by planting extra greenery and parks. We try to slowly transfer and alter in order that finally we are able to overcome the city warmth island impact.

Al Jazeera: Would you say Malaysia’s manufacturing of palm oil – the nation’s prime crop for 3 a long time – is contributing to this rise in world temperatures, as a number one contributor to deforestation and greenhouse fuel (GHG) emissions?

Nazmi: It might have been at one time, however that isn’t the case now.

In Malaysia, most of our plantations, [98 percent] are lined, even the smallholders are lined, below the Sustainable Palm Oil initiative. It’s a transfer that has been recognised, even by worldwide research, in considerably lowering deforestation from palm oil.

Sure, we now have a really widespread sustainable palm oil business, however there’s a restrict to the dimensions of our palm oil plantations. Each the timber business and the palm oil business in Malaysia are very a lot regulated.

There aren’t any new plantations deliberate.

Al Jazeera: However hasn’t the State of Kelantan been giving out concessions encouraging extra palm oil manufacturing? Is the federal authorities making an attempt to cease it?

Nazmi: Beneath our Structure, the state authority is accountable for land and forests, and the federal authorities regulates and coordinates it.

If there was a difficulty in Kelantan the place the environmentally delicate areas have been deconstructed, and this contains areas of everlasting forest reserves that are going to be given to a palm plantation, then they won’t get the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification.

Our Sustainable Palm Oil initiative has been a significant ingredient in defending the forest, and it’s one thing we don’t get sufficient recognition for.

The Sustainable Palm Oil initiative has made an enormous distinction, however so has our Sustainable Forest Administration Programme. This appears at methods to guard the forest and permit it to redevelop, to regrow.

We’re a federation with land and forests all below state management. We give state governments a sure sum of money for them to order their forests. The quantity relies on how giant the dimensions of the forest that they proceed to keep up is, whether or not they proceed so as to add to forest reserves, or whether or not they do another initiatives to enhance that.

We used to pay 70 million ringgit a 12 months [$15m], however final 12 months – 2022-2023 – we managed to extend it to 150 million ringgit [$32m]. And for 2024, the Prime Minister has already introduced within the finances 200 million ringgit [$42.9m]. In order that’s a large quantity.

Is it sufficient? It’s not sufficient, nevertheless it’s a superb begin. We’ve additionally had a nationwide Forestry Act, which was handed in 2022. Which means for state governments, they should do public inquiries earlier than they’ll work on any forests. In addition they should immediately exchange these forests, by replanting.

These are all of the issues that we tried to do in an effort to be sure that we shield our biggest asset – the forest.

Al Jazeera: What in regards to the wildlife inside the forests? Al Jazeera has lined the close to extinction of the Malayan Tiger earlier than – there are actually thought to now be lower than 100.

Nazmi: Now we have a number of measures in place right here.

First, it’s about coping with the fragmentation of habitats, the lack of wildlife corridors, proper? In the event you construct a street by a forest, or when you construct a plantation in that, then it’ll have an effect on the wildlife. You should still preserve an honest dimension of forest cowl, however when you cut up it up, then you already know, animals like elephants and tigers, they want an enormous vary to journey. So we try to maintain the forest intact as a lot as potential.

Sure, there are nonetheless some roads and rail, nevertheless it’s restricted. Locations the place it’s inconceivable for us to not have that infrastructure, we’re constructing wildlife crossings – secure areas for animals to cross roads and rail tracks – that’s within the works.

There’s additionally an ASEAN initiative known as the Coronary heart of Borneo, which covers the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, but in addition Brunei and Kalimantan, Indonesia. So it’s mainly the North East centre of Borneo that could be a protected nature reserve, the place you might have pygmy elephants and orangutans.

And lastly, we even have an internationally acclaimed programme of Neighborhood Rangers, the place we work with army veterans and Indigenous tribes – as a result of they know the way to transfer within the jungle. They assist to place boots on the bottom to cope with poachers, unlawful mining and deforestation. They’ve been very efficient from our research, by way of serving to to guard our tigers and elephants and different wildlife.

Al Jazeera: Malaysia is the third-largest producer of photo voltaic panels globally, and regardless of falling prices of photo voltaic know-how, adoption charges in Malaysia stay low, why is that?

Nazmi: It’s as a result of our electrical energy is so low-cost, it’s one of many most cost-effective within the area. Though our salaries are most likely greater than many international locations within the area, the tariffs are among the many lowest and the subsidies are very excessive.

Previously, you already know, the federal government wished to draw buyers, and cheaper electrical energy helped that, and the individuals working for these firms, additionally had subsidised electrical energy. That gained’t encourage individuals to put in photo voltaic and different issues, as a result of it’s simply cheaper to get it from the grid.

However since I took over in December final 12 months, we’ve progressively elevated the tariffs for electrical energy for each the larger companies and likewise for factories – but in addition for richer households.

The thought is that the subsidies must be focused, extra for the poor, and perhaps a number of the center class, however actually not the wealthy. They’re the largest customers, utilizing air conditioners, garments dryers and swimming swimming pools. So it’s completely unfair.

Now we have shifted away from that, and we’ve seen the clamour for photo voltaic has elevated tremendously, even for companies now. It’s partly due to new laws with regard to sustainability, but in addition as a result of now the electrical energy payments are greater, they complain, clearly. However after some time, then they began doing vitality effectivity and putting in photo voltaic. I imply, that makes financial sense. So I feel we’ll see that to be rising tremendously over the subsequent few years.

Al Jazeera: Isn’t the electrical energy in Malaysia primarily generated by coal? Why is coal nonetheless getting used there when different international locations have moved away from it? And is something being accomplished to scale back its use? 

Nazmi: Latest knowledge shows that in 2021 we’ve handed the height of coal utilization. 

On the level of independence [from the British in 1957], numerous our vitality got here from diesel energy crops. After which once we had the rise in oil costs [in the 1970s], we began to make use of extra coal – keep in mind that is earlier than we had hydroelectricity. Coal continued to turn out to be extra fashionable within the early 2000s, due to worth points on the time.

However now, we’ve declared that there’ll be no extra new coal crops in Malaysia.

The problem – that we settle for – is the economics of all of it, as a result of, in contrast to many Western international locations, our coal crops in Asia are typically youthful. So whenever you need to speak about retirement, it’s rather more costly than in different international locations.

We all know that it’s a grimy gasoline – and that’s why we’ve stated no new coal crops, and that’s why we’re taking a look at methods to scale back the carbon from coal.

It needs to be accomplished in a simply and correct method in order that the burden isn’t then positioned on atypical Malaysian customers.

We’re additionally looking for a request for info to get concepts on the way to cut back carbon emissions from coal from early retirement of coal crops, however that’s nonetheless difficult.

We’ve seen what Indonesia is making an attempt to do and Vietnam is engaged on it, in addition to the Philippines. We’re taking a look at mothballing, it’s what Germany and China did. And even co-firing, both with ammonia or biomass, so that you cut back emissions or transfer from brown to inexperienced – so moderately than coal, you can provide the identical firm a licence to make use of photo voltaic or different types of inexperienced vitality and slowly cut back.

Al Jazeera: Speaking about atypical Malaysian customers, they’ve the best charges of per capita personal automobile possession within the area: Greater than 40 p.c of Malaysia’s complete vitality consumption comes from transport – are there plans to show this round?

Nazmi: Public transport is after all one of the simplest ways ahead. In KL [Kuala Lumpur], we’re including a second line for the MRT [Mass Rapid Transit], a significant connector for the varied rail strains within the metropolis, after which there’s the Mild Rail Transit [LRT].

However on the similar time, we additionally recognise that we have to take a look at EVs [electric vehicles] as a result of individuals nonetheless want vehicles, and never everybody lives in areas with a developed public transportation system.

Al Jazeera: Is something being accomplished to alter mindsets? To get extra individuals keen to leap on a bus or a practice, as a substitute of taking their very own personal vehicles?

Nazmi: Sure after all. Gas right here is closely subsidised, however when you drive an enormous, luxurious automotive, like a Porsche, or BMW, you truly get extra subsidies than the man who rides a motorcycle, in order that’s problematic and that’s why we’re working in direction of gasoline subsidies to be focused, the place solely the poor, and perhaps a number of the center lessons will be given help.

So altering attitudes and habits. It’s not nearly going for an EV, as a result of the best way you cost vehicles is totally different and wishes the infrastructure, the charging stations.

It additionally requires numerous political will, and the federal government is engaged on that. We try to push each EV and public transport to go hand in hand slowly.

Al Jazeera: You had been at COP28 this 12 months and also you’ve stated the Loss and Harm Fund ought to do extra to scale back the burden on all creating international locations – are you able to inform me extra?

Nazmi: The definition that’s at all times talked about, is it must be reserved for least developed international locations and small island states, and positively they want it, I don’t query that.

However to restrict it to these international locations alone… In the event you make it so small, then it makes it meaningless.

In Malaysia, we now have a huge effect from local weather change. Sure, we’re center earnings, even maybe excessive center earnings. However, you also needs to take a look at the truth that Southeast Asia is a significant sufferer of local weather change – that makes it in the identical class as small island nations, proper?

Pakistan, Bangladesh, even Libya will not be eligible. And naturally, they’ve been massively affected by floods and varied calamities – and I feel that’s an issue.

As for the cash that’s been promised, the pledge, it’s been talked about since 2009. The 2015 Paris Settlement, acknowledged $100bn a 12 months from the developed world, proper? We are actually nearing $1 trillion, that must be the case proper now, however we now have $80bn – so there’s an enormous pledge, however there’s at all times a scarcity of cash within the financial institution.

We’re not simply talking on behalf of Malaysia, however we’re checked out as being one of many voices of the creating world, and we need to champion that.

Al Jazeera: You’ve additionally talked about the necessity for a worldwide stocktake – why is that essential?

Nazmi: The worldwide stocktake below the UNFCCC is essential for us to evaluate the collective progress of implementing local weather actions in order that we are able to obtain the aims below the Paris Agreement.

For us, the science is obvious, we are able to see local weather change taking place in entrance of our eyes. And clearly, many international locations have introduced their targets, the pledges, so it’s essential to have the worldwide stocktake, to see the place we’re at.

So we don’t delude ourselves, and we are able to perceive the urgency of reaching our objectives, and to see what extra must be accomplished. Enterprise as ordinary isn’t an possibility.

The subsequent step is the precept of fairness, you already know, widespread however differentiated duty, international locations which have accomplished this, they haven’t solely torched their very own forests, however they’ve additionally razed our personal forests, for a whole lot of years and turn out to be wealthy out of it. It’s time a number of the developed world nations busy increasing their very own oil fields stopped lecturing and carried out local weather measures.

Al Jazeera: How do you make sure that all this work that you simply’re doing, at governmental stage, is carried out on the grassroots ranges as effectively?

Nazmi: There’s this good quote by this American environmental lawyer, Gus Speth, the place he talked about that he used to assume that the issue, the planetary disaster that we’re experiencing, is because of local weather change, biodiversity loss, nevertheless it’s truly a difficulty of selfishness and spirituality.

That’s the center of it, proper, and that’s what must be addressed on the grassroots stage. On the similar time, you might have the poor, who will not be even getting fundamental vitality, fundamental water to outlive, and you’ve got the wealthy who’re dwelling beyond the limit. So I feel working in direction of a “non secular and cultural transformation”, as Speth prompt, is what’s most wanted.

In a rustic like Malaysia, faith is essential throughout the board, whether or not you’re Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist – so discovering widespread values to cope with local weather change, will work in direction of dwelling in a extra sustainable world, it’s essential.

We’ve launched a number of consciousness campaigns addressing these values, utilizing language and concepts which might be universally understood – very fundamental values, like the way to be extra aware and never being wasteful, these are ideas inspired by all faiths, proper.