Experts: A week late, but Tuan Ibrahim is in time for COP26 critical talks

 

Despite Water and Environment Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man missing the first week of the 26th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, environment experts say that it is "not too late" for him to attend the conference now.

Following a cabinet decision on the matter, Tuan Ibrahim will be attending the United Nations conference from today, Nov 9, to Nov 11.

He will be taking over as the head of the Malaysian delegation - which was initially led by his ministry’s secretary-general Zaini Ujang.

He came at the right time, activist Meena Raman, who is president of the environmental movement Sahabat Alam Malaysia, told Malaysiakini.

She explained that decisions on the issues under negotiation will only be adopted at the end of the summit’s second week.

While some ministers who attended the summit in the first week did go back to their capitals, Meena said many are expected to be back this week.

Much needed ministerial presence

Khazanah Research Institute senior research associate Yin Shao Loong told Malaysiakini that Tuan Ibrahim’s presence at this stage of the summit could be crucial.

“While Tuan Ibrahim may have missed the public relations events in Week One designed to boost the profile of COP26 host the United Kingdom, he will be in time for the critical Week 2, where a ministerial presence may be helpful for resolving deadlocks in climate negotiations.

“Difficult issues like finance, climate adaptation and apportioning responsibility for loss and damage can be drawn out into the second week.

“COPs can sometimes drag beyond the scheduled times and ministers have to roll up their sleeves and seal last-minute deals, or know when to walk away from a bad one,” he explained.

Yin Shao Loong of Khazanah Rsearch Institute

The COP is an annual conference where governments sign deals to keep global temperature by the turn of the century below 2 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.

Failure would be catastrophic due to rising sea levels, lower food security, lower fisheries output and economic and social strife.

Putrajaya had been noticeably absent during the first week of COP26, which was attended by major world leaders.

Tuan Ibrahim’s absence from the COP26 in Glasgow attracted criticism from the likes of Teresa Kok.

Expectations at COP26

During his visit, Tuan Ibrahim is expected to sit in the high-level segment of COP26 on Nov 9 and 10 and will be delivering a national statement.

Yin said that as a first-time minister, there will be a lot to absorb in terms of differing and competing interests in international climate negotiations.

“Developed countries like the UK, which are historically the largest emitters of the greenhouse gases responsible for global warming, are keen to appear as if they are taking the lead in climate action while committing little finance in practice to help developing countries like Malaysia pursue green development pathways.

“Tuan Ibrahim and his delegation will have to look past such rhetoric to help developing countries, including Malaysia, strike a deal that ensures fair and equitable sharing of the atmospheric commons and adaptation to a climate-changed future,” Yin told Malaysiakini.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia president Meena Raman

Meena said that it was important for the country to send a strong signal on the need for scaled-up financial resources to mitigate climate change.

“There will be a high-level ministerial (meeting) on finance. (It is) important for Malaysia to stand strong with other developing countries and send a strong signal that we need more scaled-up financial resources to enhance our ambition on mitigation, adaptation and loss and damage.

“Developed countries must deliver on this as it is critical for enabling the transformation needed,” remarked Meena - who is also currently attending the climate change conference.

She cautioned that cooperation among nations would be key during the negotiations.

“Malaysia alone cannot swing anything. They have to be working in alliances with other developing countries. A lone voice cannot make a difference,” she said.

During his visit, the PAS deputy president is expected to ratify Malaysia’s commitment to two declarations to protect the environment, which have already been signed by more than 100 countries.

Tuan Ibrahim will ratify the Glasgow Leaders' Declaration on Forest and Land Use - which pledges to halt and reverse deforestation and land degradation by 2030 - and the Global Methane Pledge - which seeks to slash 30 percent of methane emissions by 2030.

COP26 is being held in Glasgow from Oct 31 to Nov 12 this year. - Mkini