Overview
Malaysia, with a population of 29 million,a has had steady recent economic growth and succeeded in nearly eradicating poverty [World Bank, Country Overview, 2015]. In international climate discussions (COP21, Copenhagen), Malaysia announced a conditional voluntary target of up to 40% reduction in carbon intensity of GDP by 2020 compared to 2005 levels. Malaysia has also had a strong focus on the development of sustainable energy policies (see section 5).
Malaysia faces numerous potential threats to population health and development due to climate change. Communities living in coastal regions could be at risk of flooding due to sea-level rise. Climate sensitive diseases such as malaria, cholera and dengue as well as heat-stress are likely to rise with increased temperatures and changes in precipitation patterns.
Summary of Key Findings
• Under a high emissions scenario, mean annual temperature is projected to rise by almost 4°C on average from 1990 to 2100. If emissions decrease rapidly, the temperature rise is limited to about 1.1°C.
• Under a high emissions scenario, and without large investments in adaptation, an annual average of 234,500 people are projected to be affected by flooding due to sea level rise between 2070 and 2100. If emissions decrease rapidly and there is a major scale up in protection (i.e. continued construction/raising of dikes) the annual affected population could be limited to about 300 people. Adaptation alone will not offer sufficient protection, as sea level rise is a long-term process, with high emissions scenarios bringing increasing impacts well beyond the end of the century.
• Under a high emissions scenario heat-related deaths in the elderly (65+ years) are projected to increase to almost 45 deaths per 100,000 by 2080 compared to the estimated baseline of under one death per 100,000 annually between 1961 and 1990. A rapid reduction in emissions could limit heat-related deaths in the elderly to just over 6 deaths per 100,000 in 2080.
Opportunities for Action
Malaysia has adopted a National Policy on Climate Change which incorporates health perspectives. Currently Malaysia has a number of policies and plans which are responsive to climate change such as flood mitigation plans, fire suppression plans, etc.
Malaysia is taking steps to address the potential health impacts of climate change by managing the aspects of climate change that may affect public health. From time to time, response measures are also being established to avoid situations that will affect or worsen public health due to climate change impacts.
Malaysia is currently implementing projects on health adaptation to climate change, building institutional and technical capacities to work on climate change and health, and has conducted a national assessment of climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation for health. Country reported data (see section 6) indicate further opportunities for action in the following areas:
1) Adaptation
• Estimate costs to implement health resilience to climate change.
2) Mitigation
• Develop an Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) system with early warning for climate-sensitive health risks.
• Conduct valuation of co-benefits to health of climate change mitigation activities.
3) National policy implementation
• Formulate action plans and work programmes to support the implementation of policies related to climate change and health.