The UK Minister for the Indo Pacific, , has launched two new
climate adaptation initiatives with Malaysia, at a ceremony held
at the Forest Learning Centre in Kuala Lumpur yesterday (6
October). The event was also attended by Datuk Mas Rizal bin Mohd
Hilmi, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Natural
Resources and Environmental Sustainability.
The UK will work in partnership with UNDP (United Nations
Development Programme) Malaysia to support Malaysian efforts to
protect itself from the effects of climate change. This includes
the use of innovative financial tools to attract new green
investment from businesses and banks for climate-related
projects.
The UK will also partner with Monash University Malaysia on a
project that helps local leaders in Selangor make informed
decisions about water, energy, and food consumption. The project
will fund economic models to show how changes in one area – like
building more hydropower – could affect others, such as farming
or wetlands. This in turn helps the local leaders make choices
that protect their people, nature and economies.
UK Minister for the Indo-Pacific, Minister Malhotra said:
The UK and Malaysia have a long history of working together on
climate and the environment. Today, we are taking our climate
partnership further still. These joint projects will deliver
practical, community-focused solutions that strengthen Malaysia's
ability to respond to climate impacts such as flooding and heat
stress.
This work is part of the UK's wider commitment to supporting
climate resilience across Asia and is supported through the UK's
flagship Climate Action for a Resilient Asia (CARA) programme.
Representatives from UNDP Malaysia and Monash University Malaysia
joined the ceremony to exchange grant agreements and present
their project plans. The event marks a key milestone in
UK-Malaysia climate cooperation, ahead of COP30, where Malaysia
is expected to play a leading role in shaping regional climate
outcomes.
Mr. Edward Vrkić, UNDP's Resident Representative to Malaysia,
Singapore and Brunei Darussalam said:
Climate change is not a distant challenge. It is already
reshaping lives and livelihoods in Malaysia. Scaling up climate
finance, especially for adaptation, is critical to ensure
communities, ecosystems, and economies remain resilient. With
this support, UNDP is working closely with financial
institutions, regulators, and government partners to unlock new
pathways for sustainable investment. This collaboration builds on
our ongoing initiatives, including the Climate Finance Network
and MyClimateFinHub, and reflects our shared commitment to direct
finance towards solutions that leave no one behind.
Professor Stephen Boyle, Monash University Malaysia's Vice
President for Education shared:
CARA's support aligns perfectly with Monash's commitment to
building thriving communities in a changing climate. This funding
will support the development of strategies that optimise water,
energy, and food systems while conserving our natural ecosystems
- an integrated approach essential for climate adaptation.
