KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia, as a megadiverse country, always seeks to take a more proactive role in order to meet its goal of emerging as a biodiversity superpower among nations with such rich ecosystems.
Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said Malaysia has done and is doing a lot in terms of biodiversity conservation and climate action, but there is much more to be done.
“As I highlighted earlier, more can always be done. For instance, we can never have too much public awareness and understanding of the importance of biodiversity. Conservation efforts can only succeed if citizens are informed and engaged.
“Also, Malaysia’s strong conservation laws must be enforced consistently. We do not want to have just good policies and good laws; we must also have good enforcement,” he said in his speech at the National Climate Governance Summit 2023 here today.
The minister said strengthening the conservation laws must also be a priority and this includes enforcing newly passed legislation such as the Wildlife Conservation (Amendment) Act 2022 and the National Forestry (Amendment) Act 2022 that empower authorities to protect vital habitats and species in Peninsular Malaysia.
Furthermore, Nik Nazmi said the National Biodiversity Council should continue to emphasise a whole-nation approach to biodiversity management.
He said Malaysia’s approach to preserving biodiversity is holistic and forward-thinking; the country has adopted pragmatic, progressive and long-term development strategies that recognise the intrinsic value of natural heritage.
The key among these strategies is their alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), an international commitment aimed at reversing the decline in biodiversity.
Therefore, Malaysia’s commitment to the KMGBF should go beyond support and extend to leadership, which entails not only meeting targets but also setting an example for other nations to follow.
“The financial aspect of biodiversity conservation must also be addressed. The KMGBF calls for at least US$200 billion (RM932.1 billion) per year, with a significant portion coming from wealthy and low-income countries.
“Malaysia intends, at international forums like the COP28 (United Nations Climate Change Conference), to advocate for equitable contributions, recognising the shared responsibility of nations in preserving biodiversity,” he added. – September 5, 2023