EU-Malaysia join forces for a sustainable future

 

From Michalis Rokas

The world experienced its hottest April on record, according to new data from Copernicus, the European Union’s climate monitoring service.

In Malaysia, the heat waves claimed two lives, including that of a three-year-old child, and led to crop losses. This stark reminder of the climate emergency demands urgent action. Extreme heat threatens global health, security and our interlinked future.

In line with this, we launched a new campaign under the motto of “EU-Malaysia: Creating Opportunities for a Sustainable Tomorrow” on May 9. This initiative reflects the growing commitment of both the EU and Malaysia to safeguarding our planet for future generations.

The launch coincided with Europe Day, celebrated annually on May 9, commemorating the signing of the Schuman Declaration in 1950, a pivotal moment in European integration.

This auspicious date is a great opportunity to highlight our joint commitment towards a future defined by peace, security, multilateralism, and sustainability. This collaborative spirit extends to our shared environmental goals, aiming for net zero emissions by 2050.

Malaysia’s increasing dedication to sustainability is remarkable. The continuous efforts, for example to combat deforestation and the successful pathway towards sustainability in the production of palm oil, is testimony of this commitment.

Furthermore, Malaysia’s move towards a green economy deeply aligns with the aspirations of the EU.

The EU-Malaysia partnership extends beyond intergovernmental collaboration. To support the goals of sustainability, robust cooperation in key areas such as wildlife conservation, climate action as well as ending deforestation and plastic waste have come together.

Let me introduce some examples.

We are proud to support youth-led initiatives tackling climate change and environmental issues, like Youth Environmental Living Labs (YELL), which aims to localise climate narratives on nature and environment to address the knowledge and resource gaps among local youth. The EU is committed to providing opportunities and skills for young people.

Both the Malayan Tiger Conservation grant project of Enggang and the regional Partnership Against Wildlife Crime project under the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) highlighted the critical need to save Malaysia’s last 150 Malayan tigers. These projects align with the EU’s anti-wildlife trafficking plan and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) plans, of which both EU and Malaysia are signatories.

Initiatives like the Kami palm oil project, EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) Engagement, and Royal Belum Park projects meanwhile demonstrated the EU’s strong commitment to biodiversity and halting deforestation.

Aligned with the Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) 2020 deforestation target and the Glasgow Declaration on Forests and Land Use at Climate COP26 in November 2021, the EU and Malaysia actively work to save forests and biodiversity.

Tackling plastic waste

The environment chapter of the EU-Malaysia Partnership Cooperation Agreement signed in December 2022 further emphasised this commitment.

In Sabah, EU-backed projects tackle plastic waste and promote sustainable fishing practices. SWITCH Asia promotes plastic neutrality, while Semporna Fish-Bomb-Free combats marine pollution.

Similarly, the Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) scheme introduced and implemented under SWITCH Asia, inclusive of plastic waste, has also been widely accepted, and spread out throughout Malaysia.

The EU also recognises that sustainability goes beyond environmental stewardship. The EU’s support for the empowerment of indigenous communities in Sabah underscores our commitment to the different dimensions of sustainability, including social sustainability.

On April 29, the EU announced a three-year extension to our collaboration with Pacos Trust. A new grant of €610,000 (RM3.1 million) will allow the non-profit organisation to promote the socio-economic and cultural rights of the indigenous people of Sabah through the ‘Empowering Indigenous Communities’ project.

These concrete examples show that the EU is serious about being at the forefront of global efforts to support sustainability. More importantly, we are walking the talk on meeting our ambitions of a climate-neutral and sustainable EU.

In the last 30 years, the European forest area has increased by 9%. The European Green Deal, containing a package of policy initiatives to set the EU on the green transition pathway, with the ultimate goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050, encapsulates this commitment.

The EU’s Global Gateway initiative promises further collaboration with Malaysia. This €10 billion (RM50.9 billion) investment aims to support connectivity projects in Asean between 2021 and 2027.

Malaysia holds significant potential to leverage EU financial instruments and guarantees under this programme.

Our journey towards a sustainable future is not without challenges, but the opportunities are within reach. By working together, we can ensure a future where economic growth goes hand-in-hand with environmental protection and social equity.

The EU stands ready to partner Malaysia in its green transition. Through knowledge sharing, capacity building, and joint initiatives, we can create a roadmap for a sustainable future for both Malaysia and the EU.

As Malaysia assumes the chair of Asean in 2025, the EU looks forward to active cooperation at both the regional and bilateral levels, building on the strong foundation of the past 21 years.

I reiterate the gravity of the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, which poses an existential threat to our planet and aggravates security concerns for all countries.

No country in the world can solve these issues by itself – effective multilateralism and global action are key for addressing the triple planetary crisis.

The EU and Malaysia are ideal partners for more ambitious green policies and a broader and fairer green transition – Creating Opportunities for a Sustainable Tomorrow. -FMT

Michalis Rokas is the ambassador and head of the delegation of the European Union to Malaysia.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT