The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference took place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and concluded with a historic deal. This year’s meeting saw an unprecedented number of Malaysian delegates in attendance, with over 600 individuals participating in the event, including the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
Accompanied by the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, and the Pahang regent, the King attended various events and activities throughout the conference.
The Malaysian delegation was led by minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who is now the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister. The delegation also included other ministers alongside representatives from state governments, local universities, research institutions, private companies, and NGOs.
Different Malaysian government ministries and agencies were also involved in the climate change negotiation process, which resulted in the “UAE Consensus.” The Malaysian pavilion was established by the then Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry and the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation to showcase the country’s climate initiatives.
The pavilion hosted 60 speakers and 28 panel discussions on topics such as the green economy, climate finance, energy transition, adaptation and resilience, and water and biodiversity.
The pavilion was also the site for several bilateral meetings, including a memorandum of understanding on the green economy between state agency InvestSarawak and Surbana Jurong Pte Ltd. The pavilion also witnessed the launch of Malaysia’s Sustainable Energy Development prospectus.
Visitors to the pavilion were treated to performances of wayang kulit by the Arjunasukma troupe, and teh tarik displays by chef Rene Johari. This was the second time Malaysia had a pavilion at the conference, with the theme “Going beyond: Green growth, resilient community and sustainable planet.
In his welcoming address, then Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change secretary-general Dr Ching Thoo Kim mentioned that over 600 delegates had registered to attend from Malaysia.
Crowded COP
This year’s COP saw a record number of delegates from various countries, with UAE having the largest group of attendees. There were an estimated 70,000 delegates from the 199 parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, along with over 97,000 participants from the business sector, civil society, and lobbyists.
Selangor state exco Jamaliah Jamaluddin, who oversees the portfolio on environment and public health, noted the numerous sessions, events, ministerial meetings, and pavilions present at the conference. Jamaliah found the discussions interesting and informative, especially those related to youth and their role in advocating for climate change issues.
Indigenous activist Shaq Koyok expressed his concerns about the Loss and Damage Fund and its focus on certain communities over others.
Landmark agreement
Nik Nazmi hailed the UAE Consensus achieved at COP28 as a “historic turning point” in the fight against climate change. The UAE Consensus calls for a transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems and accelerating action to achieve net zero by 2050.
The agreement also emphasizes the use of renewable energy, abatement and removal technologies, reducing non-carbon dioxide emissions, and phasing down coal power plants. Nik Nazmi also emphasized the need for more financial contributions and efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The meeting concluded with an agreement to hold COP29 in Azerbaijan.
