COP29 - A Catalyst For Malaysia's Asean Leadership On Climate Action

Climate change continues to pose severe threats to global health, with rising temperatures driving extreme heat waves, worsening food insecurity, and accelerating the spread of infectious diseases, according to a recent report by health experts.

Released on Oct 30, the 2024 Lancet Countdown Report, an annual analysis conducted by the United Kingdom-based research initiative, revealed that deaths among  individuals over 65 due to heat exposure surged by 167 per cent compared to the 1990s—a direct consequence of continued fossil fuel consumption.

The report also highlighted that 2023 - the hottest year on record - saw the average person experiencing 50 additional days of dangerous temperatures compared to a world without climate change.

Despite overwhelming evidence of the risks posed by a warming planet, the global reliance on fossil fuels persists, with 2023 setting a new record for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The urgency of these findings raises the stakes for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)’s 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29), taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, from Monday to Nov 22.

COP29, which gathers about 50,000 government officials, policymakers, investors and campaigners in the small petrostate on the borders of Russia and Iran, has been dubbed the 'Climate Finance COP' due to its primary objective: establishing annual funding mechanisms to help developing countries manage climate-related costs.

Developing countries including Malaysia—already grappling with the impacts of climate disasters—are urging developed nations to honour their commitments to curb emissions and finance climate adaptation initiatives.

MALAYSIA'S FOCUS DURING COP29

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), Malaysia's delegation to COP29 will comprise 250 members, including policymakers, government agencies, government-linked companies, private businesses, non-governmental organisations, and youth representatives.

The delegation will be led by NRES Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who is scheduled to depart for Baku on Nov 18 alongside 13 other delegates, and will return to Malaysia on Nov 24.

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 Malaysia will prioritise discussions on climate finance, emphasising the need for developed countries to fulfil their unfulfilled promises to aid the developing world.

 As the ASEAN Chair for next year, Malaysia will also advocate for stronger regional cooperation, focusing on sustainable development, environmental protection, and social equity—key elements of the ASEAN Community Vision 2025—to drive the region toward its net-zero goals.

Malaysia’s presence at COP29 will include a dedicated Malaysia Pavilion, showcasing its seven core focus areas: finance and economy, trade and industry, natural resources, energy, technology and innovation, sustainable development, as well as youth and adaptation. 

This initiative will be spearheaded by NRES and the Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) as the implementing agency.

Commenting on Malaysia’s role at COP29, Ganesha Pillai, a senior research associate at the Asia School of Business, emphasised the opportunity for Malaysia to represent ASEAN as a unified bloc, similar to the European Union (EU).

 “We are the closest to becoming a unified bloc despite our differences. ASEAN is a diverse region, with nations like Singapore, which is highly developed and comparable to Switzerland within the europe, acting as a financial hub for the region,” he said.

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With Malaysia chairing ASEAN next year, Pillai noted, the country could leverage this leadership to amplify ASEAN’s collective voice on climate issues.

“This provides an opportunity to influence a larger number of countries because it already holds the power of 10 nations, with the potential for ASEAN membership to grow further.

 “If Malaysia brings the ASEAN voice to COP29, it could inspire other nations, particularly in pursuing climate funding from developed countries to support vulnerable regions,” he told Bernama.

However, Pillai stressed the importance of understanding the unique challenges faced by each ASEAN member state—be it economic, social, or political—before leading the bloc in international discussions.

“If you have a bloc of nine or 10 member states, it’s easier to build consensus or opposition to decisions, thereby increasing your influence. “However, climate funds won’t come directly; they will likely be prioritised for the most affected countries within ASEAN,” he added.

 CLIMATE FINANCE, LOSS AND DAMAGE FUND 

In addition to climate financing, another key focus at COP29 in Baku is the Loss and Damage (L&D) Fund, which continues to attract endorsements and pledges from developed countries to support vulnerable nations.

Established during COP27 in Egypt in 2022, the L&D Fund addresses the long-standing demands of developing countries grappling with the devastating impacts of climate change. These include extreme weather events like droughts and floods, as well as gradual phenomena such as rising sea levels.

 Designed to deliver aid to the developing countries most vulnerable to adverse climate events, the L&D Fund was declared operational on the very first day of COP28 in Dubai last year, with governments pledging almost US$700 million to help developing nations recover from and build resilience to climate change impacts, whether extreme weather events or slow onset impacts such as sea level rise.

As of Nov 11, Sweden pledged 200 million kroner (US$18.4 million) to the fund. However, according to the Natural Resources Defence Council (NRDC) tracker, new commitments during this year, including those made at COP29, total less than US$50 million so far.

UNFCCC Roster of Experts member Chong Yen Mee emphasised that, alongside climate financing, the L&D Fund is a crucial mechanism for developing countries to address climate challenges.

 She highlighted that poorer nations face dual challenges—tangible losses, such as infrastructure and property damage, and intangible ones, such as community displacement.

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Hoping that Malaysia will be eligible to receive money from L&D fund as part of the developing countries as early as 2025, Chong, who is also a Malaysia climate change analyst said with financial support, the country could significantly enhance mitigation and adaptation efforts, particularly in managing natural disasters.

She also advocated for capacity-building initiatives tailored to local needs.

 “Support for developing ground-level technology is often more effective than simply transferring solutions from other countries. Developed nations could play a key role by helping recipient countries assess their specific technology needs and adapt solutions to local conditions,” she added.

Malaysian Youth Delegation (MYD) advisor, Farhana Shukor underscored Malaysia’s vulnerability to climate phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña this year, which revealed gaps in the country’s preparation and response systems. She emphasised that the loss and damage (L&D) should be integrated into climate policy as a cross-cutting issue, avoiding fragmented approaches.

 “It is vital to first define L&D as the climate change impacts that remain unmitigated or unadapted—essentially the result of inaction. These impacts are increasingly severe and affect more people every day,” Farhana explained.

She stressed the importance of linking L&D to broader discussions on climate finance, particularly in the context of COP29’s agenda to finalise the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on climate finance. This new goal will determine how global climate finance flows to support climate action.

 “Developing countries are pushing for the inclusion of L&D in the NCQG. Integrating the three pillars of climate action—mitigation, adaptation, and L&D—will enable proper planning and measurement of climate efforts,” she told Bernama.

The NCQG is a new global climate finance goal that the Conference of Parties (COP) serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA) shall set from a floor of US$100 billion per year, prior to 2025.  

 YOUTH VOICES

Meanwhile, MYD Co-Focal Point, Kieran Li Nair emphasised the importance of youth participation at COP29, noting that it is crucial to represent the voices and future of vulnerable communities. This involvement acts as a check-and-balance to state efforts in addressing the climate crisis while building capacity for long-term solutions.

Kieran is currently representing MYD at COP29 in Baku, alongside Khalisah Khairina, Mitigation Working Group Coordinator, and Hanis Alwani, Media Working Group Coordinator. Together, they aim to amplify the voices of Malaysian youth on this international platform.

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She noted that while negotiations at COP29 are critical, their implementation at the national level is equally important. MYD hopes the outcomes of COP29 will reflect equitably on Malaysia’s climate actions.

Key negotiation agendas MYD is monitoring at COP29 include the NCQG, Article 6, Mitigation (Mitigation Work Programme), Adaptation (Global Goal on Adaptation and National Adaptation Plans), L&D, as well as Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE).

(Article 6 of the Paris Agreement facilitates international collaboration to lower carbon emissions. It offers two pathways for countries and companies to trade carbon offsets, supporting the achievement of emission reduction targets set in their climate action plans, or nationally determined contributions or NDCs).

Kieran expressed MYD’s hopes for COP29 outcomes: an equitable climate finance goal which centres the needs of communities most vulnerable to climate change, as well as embodies the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities in ensuring commitment and accountability from developed nations as the contributor base.

"In fact, outcomes for adaptation and L&D must prioritise the needs of communities most vulnerable to climate change.

“This includes ensuring fair access to funding, systemic support for building on-the-ground resilience, ambitious mitigation efforts, and NDC goals aligned with the 1.5 Degrees Celsius threshold. Equally important is the meaningful inclusion of civil society advocacy to advance equity and climate justice," she added.

Founded in 2015, MYD represents Malaysia’s youth climate movement, raising awareness of climate policies among the public. The organisation has played a key role in supporting Malaysia’s youth delegates at COP conferences, ensuring that the voices of young Malaysians are heard on both national and global platforms.

Edited by Salbiah Said