Climate Change Biggest Development Challenge - FRIM DG

PETALING JAYA, April 21 (Bernama) -- Climate change is no longer a distant environmental issue but the defining development challenge of our time, according to Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) director-general Datuk Dr Ismail Parlan. 

Speaking at the Climate Change and Sustainability Conference 2026 (CCSC 2026) organised by FRIM today, Ismail said Malaysia is already experiencing the impacts of climate change through extreme rainfall, prolonged dry spells, coastal erosion and biodiversity loss, underscoring the urgency for integrated and collective action.

He stressed that land, as the foundation of ecosystems, food systems and livelihoods, is facing unprecedented pressure from climate change, land degradation, biodiversity loss and unsustainable development, making resilient landscapes and sustainable land management more critical than ever.

“Achieving true resilience and integrating land management, biodiversity conservation, and climate action requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society engagement.

“That is why CCSC 2026 serves as an invaluable platform for knowledge exchange, sharing experiences and exploring practical solutions to strengthen climate resilience and sustainability,” he said.

Ismail also said the launch of the National Carbon Markets Policy during the conference marks a significant milestone in Malaysia’s transition towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy, while strengthening national carbon market governance and opening new opportunities for sustainable growth and climate mitigation.

Reflecting its sustainability commitment, he said CCSC 2026 is being organised using a low-carbon approach, including encouraging participants to use public transport and carpooling, providing water refill stations to minimise water wastage, and implementing a largely paperless conference through digital access to programme materials and updates.

Ismail said these measures, though simple, reflect a shared commitment to sustainability and demonstrate that meaningful climate action can be embedded into the organisation of major events.

The conference, officiated by Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, brought together 300 participants comprising policymakers, researchers, industry players and strategic partners to deliberate on current climate challenges and advance solutions towards a net-zero future.

-- BERNAMA