WE CAN DO BETTER TO PROTECT PLANET EARTH, SAYS MALAYSIAN PM

From Muin Abdul Majid

ABU DHABI, Jan 18 (Bernama) -- Despite failing to rise to the occasion
during the climate talks in Copenhagen, Najib Tun Razak said the
international community must and can do better to ensure a healthy planet earth.

The Malaysian prime minister stressed that the challenge was to act now
before it was a case of "too little, too late".

Najib acknowledged that addressing the voracious global appetite for energy
seemed daunting but it was a responsibility that could neither be shirked nor
abdicated.

"It's the challenge of our times that requires a concerted effort in
harnessing the global reservoir of scientific and intellectual capital," he said
in his keynote address at the World Future Energy Summit which opened at the Abu
Dhabi National Exhibition Centre here Monday.

Najib said Malaysia's embracing of green technology was not only to conserve
and preserve its resources, but it was also envisaged to act as a new economic
impetus for the country.


Malaysia, he said, would be looking at four main sectors to implement green
technologies, namely energy, transport, buildings and water.

Najib shared with his audience that Malaysia aimed to raise renewable energy
to about 2,000MW by 2020 compared to the current 50MW.

He said the country's Small Renewable Energy Programme provided for a higher
purchasing price for electricity generated under this initiative by the grid
operator.

"We're currently in the process of instituting a renewable energy law and
one of the mechanisms we're looking into is 'feed-in tariffs' to promote the
usage of this type of energy," Najib said.

He noted that there was more than enough sunlight in Malaysia and increased
use of solar power would be promoted aggressively.


Najib told the conference that a study had been commissioned to restructure
and realign the Malaysian electricity sector.

"The findings will help lay the foundation for a more efficient industry
through market mechanisms and liberalisation," he said.

The prime minister mentioned that the government was also seriously looking
into expanding the usage of biofuel with a pilot project well underway.

In addition, the introduction of the Green Building Index would hopefully
see more buildings going green in Malaysian soon.

Najib pointed out that Malaysia had created the Energy, Green Technology and
Water Ministry early last year to spearhead the country's transformation into a
green nation.


He said countries promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy, like
Malaysia, should increase the breadth and depth of the initiatives taken to
reflect the urgency of the challenge confronting them.

"We have to adopt green technologies to not only enhance efficiency and
effectiveness of energy use, but also to effectively mitigate carbon emissions,"
he noted.

Najib said for developing economies, this was an area where developed
nations of the world could lend a much needed help.

Recalling the failure in Copenhagen to reach a new climate deal, Najib said:
"We have time and time again chosen to take the path of expediency rather than
boldly taking the bull by the horns and do what is needed and necessary to
address the threat of climate change."

According to the prime minister, the Abu Dhabi energy summit could not have
been better timed, allowing the stakeholders to take stock of the critical task
before them.

"Hopefully, we will all leave Abu Dhabi energised, with renewed hope and
vigour," said Najib who is on an official visit to Abu Dhabi at the invitation
of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

"Our planet can no longer withstand man's unsustainable consumption and
wastage. It's our moral responsibility to bequeath to our children a more
pristine and healthy planet," he added.

-- BERNAMA