The 3rd Korea–Malaysia Climate Change Dialogue was held on Monday, August 25, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, to strengthen bilateral cooperation in responding to climate change.

The dialogue was led by Ambassador and Deputy Minister for Climate Change Chung Keeyong of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea and Datuk Nor Yahati binti Awang, Deputy Secretary General for Environmental Sustainability of Malaysia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability. Officials from relevant ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Environment, the Sudokwon Landfill Site Management Corporation, and the Korea Environment Corporation, participated in the dialogue.

※ The Korea–Malaysia Climate Change Dialogue was established in May 2023 on the occasion of the Korea–Malaysia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting to strengthen bilateral climate cooperation. The first meeting was held in Malaysia in October 2023, followed by the second meeting in Korea in September 2024.

During the dialogue, the two sides shared updates on their respective domestic climate policies aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, and exchanged views on negotiation trends related to key agenda items for the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) to be held in November this year. The discussion also covered the bilateral framework agreement for cooperation on climate change and international mitigation projects being pursued by the two countries under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.

* International mitigation projects refer to voluntary cooperation between countries under which mitigation outcomes generated are used toward achieving Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) target.

The Korean side introduced its climate policies, including the implementation of its Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), and the National Climate Crisis Adaptation Plan. Korea also presented its environmental integrity standards for the Paris Agreement Article 6.2 projects, as well as the Korean Readiness Program, which supports host countries of international mitigation projects in strengthening their capacity for greenhouse gas reduction.

Furthermore, the Korean side shared the progress and future plans of two international mitigation projects currently underway in Malaysia, and expressed its interest in expanding cooperation in the waste management sector. At present, Korea is promoting projects that generate bioenergy using organic waste in Malaysia, including palm oil sludge.

In addition, as a follow-up to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in November last year to proceed with greenhouse gas mitigation projects, the two sides agreed to initiate negotiations on a bilateral framework agreement for cooperation on climate change, thereby laying a foundation for expanding substantive cooperation in greenhouse gas mitigation between the two countries.

Ambassador Chung stated that “through the third round of the Korea–Malaysia Climate Change Dialogue, we have reconfirmed the strong complementarity of interests and the significant potential for mutually beneficial cooperation in addressing climate change, and established meaningful momentum for deepening coordination in international climate negotiations.”

The two sides agreed to hold the 4th Korea–Malaysia Climate Change Dialogue in Seoul next year.