UK and Malaysia deepen climate co-operation with new adaptation initiatives
Source: gov.uk (2025-10-07)

Minister Seema Malhotra has launched two new climate adaptation initiatives with Malaysia.

The UK Minister for the Indo Pacific, Seema Malhotra, 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.