Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim calls for anticipatory investment and technological pragmatism to address climate change impacts at G20 summit.
JOHANNESBURG: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called for decisive climate action focusing on anticipatory investment, technological pragmatism and accelerated adaptation.
He said these measures are crucial to safeguard lives, livelihoods and regional stability in a world increasingly shaped by climate and disaster risks.
Citing Southeast Asia as an example, Anwar noted the region remains one of the world’s disaster epicentres, accounting for nearly half of global disaster fatalities for many years and over US$4.4 billion in economic losses.
“Not all these events are driven by climate change, but climate stress compounds their impact and weakens recovery,” he said during Session 2 of the G20 Leaders’ Summit titled “A Resilient World”.
Anwar, who is also the Chair of ASEAN in 2025, said the region has learned that resilience depends on anticipatory investment.
“That is why our region has built one of the most active disaster-response systems in the developing world through the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance, or AHA Centre,” he said.
The Prime Minister outlined three suggestions to tackle climate change challenges, beginning with a broader, multi-level approach to climate action.
“When global agreements stall, progress can still come from regional organisations and from coalitions of sub-national actors such as provinces, states and cities,” he said.
ASEAN’s experience shows regional platforms can advance climate action, disaster cooperation and energy connectivity even when global processes struggle.
Secondly, Anwar said the world must embrace technological pragmatism.
“If fossil fuels cannot be eliminated overnight, then we need the technologies that reduce their footprint,” he said, adding that carbon capture, utilisation and storage, methane abatement, and industrial decarbonisation will all be essential.
“Malaysia is investing strongly in this direction, including the development of carbon-capture and storage hubs,” he noted.
The ASEAN Power Grid and Trans-ASEAN Gas Pipeline will help smooth renewable integration and strengthen energy security as the region scales up clean power.
Thirdly, countries must accelerate adaptation where impacts have already threatened lives and livelihoods, especially in food and water security.
Climate change has already slowed global agricultural productivity growth by more than 20% since 1961.
“Without stronger adaptation and support for farmers, tens of millions more people could face hunger by 2050,” Anwar warned.
Scaling climate-smart agriculture, expanding early-warning networks and supporting smallholders will be essential to stability in many regions.
Malaysia will work with all partners at global, regional and local levels to advance a climate strategy that is ambitious yet grounded in realities faced by people.
“To sustain these efforts at scale, international climate finance must be accessible, predictable and aligned with the needs of developing regions,” he added. – Bernama
