Development not at expense of environment, Najib says at climate-change meet

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak says today Malaysia can show other developing countries that economic growth and carbon emissions need not be correlated. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Zhafri Azmi, November 19, 2014.

As activists and native tribal people rally against the building of mega-dams in Sarawak, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has told an energy conference today that development need not be the cause of climate change.

He said Malaysia, as a developing country "on the brink of becoming a high-income nation", was still able to achieve economic growth and also had ambitious action plans to address climate change.

This was proof that the economy and environment could prosper together, he said.

"We've cut the emissions intensity of our gross domestic product (GDP) by 33% in the past five years – and averaged 5.7% growth," Najib said at the opening of the two-day “Energy for Tomorrow” conference organised by the International New York Times in Kuala Lumpur today.

"We can show other developing countries that economic growth and carbon emissions need not be correlated.

"Countries like ours – fast-developing nations in favour of ambitious action on climate change – are living proof that economy and environment can prosper together. And we have structural advantages that will allow us to capitalise on the changes to come."

Najib said Malaysia did not necessarily believe that the best way to generate energy "was to set fire to something", adding that for all the country's progress, "we did not always get things right".

"I was appalled by the recent floods in the Cameron Highlands, which were driven by illegal land clearance.

"This goes against the grain of everything we are trying to achieve, whether in the heart of Borneo, where we are working with our neighbours to protect one of the world's largest and oldest rainforest or the Central Forest Spine project, which aims to link four of Peninsular Malaysia's largest forests into a single wildlife sanctuary," he added.

Najib's comments come at a time when activists opposed to Sarawak's plan to build a series of hydro-electric dams are working tirelessly with various international NGOs to highlight concerns over human rights, environment and corruption.

Activists have criticised the organisers of today's energy conference for allowing Sarawak Energy Bhd (SEB) as one of its two "gold sponsors", when it was known for leading a drive to build 12 dams in the state and pushing natives out of their ancestral lands.

Thomas Jalong, president of Malaysian indigenous people's network Jaringan Orang Asal SeMalaysia (Joas), yesterday said it was "disappointing that a reputable organisation like the International New York Times would not have considered the implications of featuring SEB" as a top sponsor and its CEO as a panellist. 

Najib's speech was largely focused carbon emissions and the use of green technology, such as clean vehicles and approaches to reduce carbon output such as rationalising fuel subsidies.

The prime minister also said that Malaysia was committed to promoting climate transparency with a new corporate emissions reporting policy.

The policy included supporting public transport with a new mass rapid transit project designed to reduce carbon emissions.

He also said that Malaysia was committed to energy efficient construction, adding that earlier this year, his own department was recognised as one of the greenest buildings in Malaysia.

Najib told the conference today that often, the climate and energy debate was presented as a problem, with squabbling over who was going to lose the most.

"Instead of asking who can win big in the new energy future, we squabble over who's going to lose the most.

"Instead of looking at the limitless potential of human ingenuity, we finger-point over historic emissions," Najib said.

He said Malaysia as a developing country, could help bridge the gap between other similar countries and developed nations in the carbon-emission debate.

Developing countries have historically argued that they cannot be expected to hold back their development needs in order to reduce carbon emissions, and have accused developed countries of being worse polluters.

- TMI