Whole-of-region efforts
Malaysia is not just focusing on green jobs through the upskilling and reskilling of employees within the country. It is also reaching out to work together with the other Asean member states to foster an environment for a green transition in the whole region.
Khairul says the Malaysian government has launched the National Energy Transition Roadmap to steer energy systems away from conventional, fossil fuel-based sources and towards cleaner, more sustainable alternatives.
The roadmap also aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in Malaysia by 2050 by gradually increasing the share of renewable energy in our power grid.
This is in line with the moves taken by most other Asean member states to achieve net-zero annual greenhouse gas emissions or to become carbon neutral by 2050.
“As Asean is one of the most exposed regions to the impact of global warming and climate change, it is imperative for us to plan approaches, strategies, technologies and support that meet our diverse regional market,” he says.
In 2018, Asean leaders collectively adopted the Asean Declaration on Promoting Green Jobs for Equity and Inclusive Growth, which highlights the region’s commitment to fostering environmentally responsible economic practices, addressing ecological impact, and championing social inclusivity and equitable growth.
Two years later, in October 2020, Malaysia’s Human Resources Ministry, with the support of ILO and the Asean Secretariat, hosted the virtual Asean Inter-ministerial Forum on the 2018 declaration.
In continuation of these efforts, Malaysia hosted the Asean Green Jobs Forum along with a Green Skills Fair physically for the first time in Kuala Lumpur last week.
“This forum aimed to strengthen skills, capacities, and competencies for greening in both the public and private sectors across Asean member states,” Khairul says.
The two-day forum featured speakers from across Asean discussing the potential and challenges of the green transition.
The skills fair also offered 3,000 jobs in the green sector, many of which are high-paying, quality jobs with monthly salaries of between RM3,000 and RM16,000, according to Human Resources Minister Steven Sim.