KUALA LUMPUR — In the opening talk at a two-day meeting here on Asia’s clean energy options, Prime Minister Najib Razak of Malaysia provided fresh evidence of a shift in the longstanding diplomatic tussle over who does what to slow global warming.
Building on the new commitments on greenhouse gas emissions pledged by China and the United States, Razak laid out a strategy for his country (facilitated by wealth derived from abundant oil and gas reserves) to become a leader in developing renewable energy and pursuing energy-efficient design. Here are some excerpts from his remarks:
In many ways, Malaysia is a test case for the future energy economy. In less than sixty years, we’ve gone from an agricultural colony to a fast-developing modern nation. Today, we’re a key player in a 600-million strong regional bloc, home to global technology makers and the world’s oldest forests. And our growth story continues, as we prepare to become a high income nation by 2020.
As we transform our economy, we face substantial challenges: marrying economic development and environmental protection. Building future-proof energy infrastructure. Preparing our people and our businesses to compete in a low-carbon global economy.
These issues are not unique to Malaysia – they’re some of the world’s most difficult public policy questions. But they are being asked, and answered, right here. And the way we respond will affect livelihoods and lifestyles everywhere. The fight to shift the world onto a sustainable development path will be won in countries like Malaysia.
Razak described how fast-developing countries can benefit by moving beyond stale debates over which countries are most obligated to act on climate change:
Too often, the climate and energy debate is presented as a problem. Instead of asking who can win big in the new energy future, we squabble over who’s going to lose the most. Instead of looking at the limitless potential of human ingenuity, we finger-point over historic emissions. It’s all stick, and no carrot. But it doesn’t have to be that way.
The new energy economy presents a huge opportunity. I want Malaysia to see the low-carbon future for what it is: a chance to leapfrog those who are stuck on the technologies of the past. I want us to be one of the winners in the new economy. And I think we’re starting from a position of strength….
And we have structural advantages that will allow us to capitalize on the changes to come.
Fast-developing nations aren’t wedded to the same old ideas and ideologies, like some industrialized nations are. We don’t have the same vested interest in the Victorian economy, the same sunk capital that holds us back by constricting our ability to move forward. We don’t necessarily believe that the best way to generate energy is to set fire to something….
He acknowledged some of the country’s problems, particularly with its forests, which remain under assault in many areas:
For all the progress, we haven’t always got things right. I was appalled by the recent floods in the Cameron Highlands, which were driven by illegal land clearance [some coverage]. This goes against the grain of everything we are trying to achieve – whether in the Heart of Borneo [link], where we are working with our neighbors to protect one of the world’s largest and oldest rain forests; or the Central Forest Spine project [link], which aims to link four of Peninsular Malaysia’s largest forests into a single wildlife sanctuary. We have to learn from our mistakes, as well as our successes.
He circled back to his prime point, on prospering developing countries stepping forward:
I believe fast-developing nations like Malaysia have an important role to play in driving climate action. We can demonstrate that sustainable development isn’t an indulgence but can be a precursor for success. We can show other developing countries that economic growth and carbon emissions need not be correlated. And we can help bridge the trust gap between ‘developed’ and ‘developing’ countries at the U.N. climate change negotiations.
Here’s a link to his full talk as prepared for delivery.
Disclosure note | The conference is run by the International New York Times. I’m there to moderate some panel discussions.