00:00As we all know, UNFCCC COP29 Baku, hosted by the Republic of Azerbaijan in November
00:142024, served as a critical reminder of the pressing need for decisive climate action.
00:23It took place in the aftermath of the U.S. general election, and of increasing pressures
00:32with regards to global climate policy.
00:37Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to note we had a robust participation at COP29.
00:45We had a delegation of 313 who were there in Baku, which is the 27th largest in a list
00:56of 195 countries.
00:58And this underscores our deep commitment to global efforts in combating climate change.
01:05But we did not just attend.
01:07We were actively engaged in discussions, negotiations, and collaborations to position Malaysia as
01:14a prominent key player in promoting sustainable and climate-friendly practices internationally.
01:21We had 188 international and local speakers, 3 MOUs and partnerships were secured, and
01:2948 talks and events.
01:31But it was more than just a venue.
01:34The pavilion embodied our values.
01:36It served as a center for knowledge, innovation, and collaboration.
01:41We demonstrated our proactive whole-of-nation approach to tackling climate change.
01:48The theme was Shift for Sustainability, Climate Action Now.
01:54And this underscored the urgency of tackling climate change through immediate and decisive
02:00action.
02:01Malaysia is committed to fostering a whole-of-nation approach, engaging all sectors, government,
02:07businesses, and communities in a unified effort to build a sustainable, resilient future
02:13for everyone.
02:16In line with the negotiation process, representatives from state governments, the private sector,
02:23NGOs, and other stakeholders actively participated in numerous programs and activities at the
02:30Malaysian Pavilion and beyond, contributing significantly to the global discourse on climate
02:35action.
02:36I think the COP29 was where we had our participants for the youth negotiators, and I think this
02:47is a commitment that we want to support, a youth negotiator program, so that we can have
02:52a dedicated young representation at future COPs, because as mentioned, it is a very intensive
03:03and rigorous process, and this program allows the training, whether it's from the government
03:09or from the civil society, to be part of the negotiations.
03:14And I think we want to expose, we have a lot of brilliant youth participants, and we had
03:19youth participants from Malaysia in that program, but I think we can do it hand-in-hand with
03:24NRES, moving forward.
03:27Ladies and gentlemen, this year, as we are all aware, we are the Chair of ASEAN, with
03:38a theme of inclusivity and sustainability.
03:44So our role as the Chair of ASEAN adds a new dimension to our climate commitments.
03:50We have been working hard when we had the Singapore reception in Baku.
03:58We were talking to other countries, my counterpart in ASEAN, so that we hope we can have a stronger
04:06collective voice from ASEAN on climate action, because by acting together, we will be a voice
04:14of 670 million people.
04:18We will be a voice of a region that is forecasted to be the world's fourth biggest economy by
04:242030.
04:25But most importantly, we will also be a voice of one of the regions identified to be most
04:32vulnerable to climate change in coming years.
04:37So in COP30 in Belém, Brazil, we intend to present the ASEAN Joint Statement on Climate
04:44Change to emphasize regional cooperation, financial support, and sustainable development
04:49pathways for ASEAN member states.
04:54We have an ambitious strategy of net zero by 2050, which the government decided to have
05:02or to declare last year.
05:05And this commitment reflects our dedication to the Paris Agreement goals and reinforces
05:10our leadership in ASEAN's climate agenda.
05:13As part of our commitment under the Paris Agreement, the Biennial Transparency Report,
05:18the BTR, provides a transparent account of our greenhouse gas inventory, mitigation measures,
05:24and support needs.
05:26We successfully submitted our BTR on schedule in December 2024, and this is a significant
05:34milestone in enhancing our climate governance and fostering trust with the global community.
05:39This is the first Biennial Transparency Report submitted by Malaysia.
05:44It details our progress in GHG emission reduction, adaptation measures, and support provided
05:52and received, and to demonstrate our leadership in fulfilling international obligations.
06:00These milestones reflect our proactive approach to addressing climate challenges while aligning
06:08regional and global commitments.
06:10And I take this opportunity to commend the efforts of all contributors during the engagement
06:15and consultation processes from federal and state-relevant agencies, private sectors,
06:20partners, civil society, and academia.
06:23I think we've done very well, but I also note comments from various sectors that there
06:29are rooms for improvement, and we will work on that so that we can do better in COP-30
06:35and beyond.
06:37So I urge all stakeholders to support and actively participate in translating these
06:42commitments into tangible results for Malaysia, ASEAN, and the world.
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