Malaysia Seen As Key Partner In Central Asia Climate Action Via Green Financing

From C. Vinoothene

ASTANA (Kazakhstan), April 23 (Bernama) –  Malaysia is poised to play a pivotal role in supporting Central Asia’s climate ambitions, leveraging its strength in Islamic green financing to meet the region’s urgent need for funding and expertise amid escalating environmental challenges.

Chief Executive Officer of the Central Asia Climate Foundation Project Office Yerlik Karazhan said Malaysia’s well-established ecosystem positions it as a key partner in meeting the region’s growing demand for sustainable investment.

“Malaysia is, of course, the Islamic (green) funding. You are very big in green finance. Islamic green funds. So I think in that direction, we share a lot.

“We have demands, you can provide it as a supply. I think in that regard, that would be one of the ways on how it can be managed,” he said in an interview on the sidelines of the Regional Ecological Summit (RES) 2026.

He said Central Asia requires substantial investment to implement climate adaptation and mitigation projects, opening up opportunities for collaboration with countries such as Malaysia.

Islamic green financing, particularly instruments like green sukuk, has emerged as a key tool in addressing climate challenges, with Malaysia playing a leading role in integrating Shariah principles with sustainable finance.

Beyond financing, Karazhan said cooperation could also extend to technology transfer, joint project development and the sharing of expertise in tackling climate-related issues.

While both regions are grappling with the effects of climate change, he noted that the challenges differ, with Central Asia facing rising temperatures and more climate-related emergencies that could potentially drive population movement.

However, he stressed that climate change is a global issue that transcends national borders, underscoring the need for closer collaboration among countries, particularly developing nations, in sharing solutions and best practices.

“Environmental challenges, they don’t respect political borders. Maybe, as a developing side in the world, maybe we can share some of these stories and see what can be done,” he said.

The summit, held from April 22 to 24 in Astana, brings together leaders and experts from over 50 countries to address climate challenges in Central Asia and beyond.

-- BERNAMA