KUALA LUMPUR: Clarifying the participation of fossil fuel companies in a recent United Nations conference, the Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change Ministry (NRES) reaffirmed its goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The ministry in a statement commented on Malaysia’s participation during the recent Conference of the Parties of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, stating that its participants, Petronas have committed to net zero by 2050 by investing in new businesses in renewables and low-carbon energy.
"On the other hand, Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) is involved as a Malaysian-based multinational electricity company, playing a key role in our National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR), a major component of the nation’s net-zero by 2050 strategy.
"Both TNB and Petronas are involved in major investments in renewables globally.
"Their categorisation as “fossil fuel lobbyists” by RimbaWatch is an oversimplification.
"It should be noted that it was the sustainability divisions of these companies that attended COP29," it said in the statement on Friday (Nov 22).
The ministry was responding to a statement by RimbaWatch, which claimed Malaysia sent 151 delegates representing business interests, including 44 “representatives of companies that have significant investments in fossil fuel expansion, or who are part of a trade body representing fossil fuel interests, therefore comprising the largest group within the corporate delegations” to COP29.
The ministry said RimbaWatch categorisation of fossil fuel companies were TNB, Yinson, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd, Petronas, Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation and Sarawak Energy Berhad.
"In general, NRES does not place any restriction on the participation of credible entities since Malaysia is adopting a whole-of-nation approach to the issue of climate change.
"All companies represented were involved in implementing government policies, especially NETR and others that contribute to national climate targets.
"It is important that no sector in our country is excluded from participation or the responsibility for the fight against climate change, including the private sector.
"It must be stressed that Malaysia has committed itself to the UAE Consensus to transition away from fossil fuels," the statement read.
The ministry then clarified that corporate delegates do not participate in the negotiations involving members of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change—which are nation-states.
"Only relevant delegates from the Malaysian government and negotiators were given badges.
"During the COP29, Malaysia’s negotiating team was given a mandate that took into account both public, private and civil society positions.
"We (NRES) had consulted with its Climate Change Advisory and Consultative Panels (consisting of the private sector and civil society) prior to COP29 to discuss Malaysia’s position at the conference," it said.
On RimbaWatch's claims that no representative Indigenous-led Civil Society Organisations or ones focused on Sabah and Sarawak affairs had been given an overflow badge to the conference, the ministry clarified that most of the delegates with Party Overflow Badges were participating in the Malaysia Pavilion programmes, which comprised a total of 45 sessions over two weeks.
"They participated at other country pavilions with themes mainly on energy transition and tackling climate change in the energy sector.
"The Secretariat assigned relevant delegates with party badges according to the prioritised negotiating themes identified and mandated by the Government.
"We have always offered members of civil society and interested individuals badges to attend COP29.
"Checks by the Secretariat have revealed that only the following civil society organisations made requests, the National Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, Malaysian Youth Delegation,
Energy Action Partners, Global Environment Centre, Sahabat Alam Malaysia, Youths United For Earth, and Yayasan Hasanah," it read.
The ministry said registration for overflow badges is given to credible persons or entities on a first come, first serve basis based on the due date that had been set by UNFCCC.
"At the same time, there was a limitation to the size of delegations from the organisers.
"Issues such as the presence or alleged lack thereof of certain organisations in Malaysia’s COP29 delegation should not be regarded as an endorsement of any kind of agenda beyond the country’s well-known and widely-stated climate goals.
"We note the points raised by RimbaWatch and other entities and will strive to continue to improve the relevant processes going into COP30 in Belem, Brazil," it read.
RimbaWatch is a regional, independent watchdog conducting research and analysis on climate-related issues.
