Johari Abdul Ghani, Malaysia's plantations minister, will assume responsibilities in the environment sector.
In a recent development, Malaysia's Plantations and Commodities Minister, Johari Abdul Ghani, has assumed the duties and functions of the Minister for Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES), effective immediately. This reallocation of duties was announced by Malaysia's chief secretary to the government, Shamsul Azhar Abbas, on [date not specified].
The move follows the resignation of Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad as NRES minister, effective 4th July. No information about the reason for Nik Nazmi's resignation has been provided beyond this fact. Nik Nazmi had previously planned to table the National Climate Change Bill in parliament this year, but the Bill is now under preparation at NRES, overseen by the acting minister, Johari Abdul Ghani.
The National Climate Change Bill, currently in the drafting stage, includes incentives for companies that successfully reduce carbon emissions and may provide for carbon credits as part of the effort to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The first draft has been completed but is still under review. It is expected to be tabled in Parliament by August 2025.
Regarding the National Adaptation Plan, there is no recent update on its current status. However, since the NRES ministry is responsible for climate policy, it is likely that the preparation of the plan falls under this ministry's leadership, specifically the acting minister or appointed officials within the ministry.
Johari has proposed using palm oil waste as a renewable energy source to replace coal in Malaysia's energy system, and he mentioned the drafting of a carbon market policy at NRES, which may include plans for a domestic emissions trading scheme.
The carbon tax implementation for hard-to-abate industries, including energy, steel, and cement, is a separate initiative from the carbon market policy at NRES. Efforts to implement a carbon tax in 2026 are being overseen by the finance ministry, also led by Anwar Ibrahim.
It is worth noting that Johari previously served as deputy finance minister under former prime minister and finance minister Najib Razak. Nik Nazmi resigned at the end of May after losing his deputy presidency in internal elections for Parti Keadilan Rakyat. Nik Nazmi was succeeded by Fadillah Yusof in the Plantations and Commodities Minister position.
In summary, the National Climate Change Bill and the National Adaptation Plan are separate initiatives at NRES, with the former currently in the drafting stage and the latter's current status being unclear. The acting minister, Johari Abdul Ghani, is overseeing both initiatives and engaging industry stakeholders to refine the Bill. The National Adaptation Plan, if completed next year as planned, will be a significant step towards addressing climate change in Malaysia.
- The National Climate Change Bill, currently under Johari Abdul Ghani's oversight at the NRES ministry, aims to incentivize companies reducing carbon emissions, potentially offering carbon credits, and ultimately aims for net-zero emissions by 2050.
- Johari Abdul Ghani, the acting minister for NRES, has proposed using palm oil waste as a renewable energy source to replace coal, and is also drafting a carbon market policy, which may include a domestic emissions trading scheme.
- The carbon tax implementation for hard-to-abate industries such as energy, steel, and cement, scheduled for 2026, is a separate initiative led by the finance ministry, with Anwar Ibrahim at the helm.
- The National Adaptation Plan's current status is uncertain, but as climate policy falls under the NRES ministry, it is likely that the plan's preparation is under the leadership of the acting minister or appointed officials within the ministry.
- The science of climate change, environmental sustainability, and the SDGs are central to the discussions on these plans, making general news, finance, and politics crucial elements in Malaysia's energy transition and overall environmental strategy.
- The National Climate Change Bill, once tabled in Parliament by August 2025, will be a significant stride towards addressing climate change in Malaysia, contributing to the global fight against climate change and the shift towards renewable energy.
