KUALA LUMPUR: The results of a study to determine the direction and effectiveness of a transboundary pollution legislation is expected to be known next January.
This comes on the heels of the government’s decision to look into new legal requirements, enabling action to be taken against individuals or companies which cause transboundary environmental pollution, including haze.
Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change (Mestecc) Minister Yeo Bee Yin said the study was being undertaken by a special committee comprising legal as well as environmental experts, including those from the Attorney-General’s Chambers and local universities.
“Consultation with all the relevant authorities took some three months to ensure that the legislation to be tabled would be able to meet current needs.
“This would be followed by a Cabinet paper which could be completed and tabled before members of the Cabinet and if it’s given the green light then the ministry would go on to draft the transboundary environmental pollution act.
“This would enable us to prosecute and bring those who have committed offences to the Courts in Malaysia,” she said during the winding-up session of the Supply Bill 2020 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Earlier, she told the Dewan Rakyat that Malaysia was comfortable with the goal of reducing carbon dioxide emission intensity by 45 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2025.
The commitment under the Paris Agreement was signed by the country under the United Nations Climate Change Convention (UNFCC) to reduce carbon emission intensity.
“Malaysia’s commitment is to reduce carbon emission intensity by 45 percent of the GDP by 2025.
“This is relative to the 2005 level with 35 percent being unconditional while 10 percent is dependent on international support in terms of financing and capacity building,” she said.
To date, Malaysia has reduced its carbon emission intensity by 33 per cent.
