Every person in the country produced 8.16 tonnes of it in 2024, making us the third highest in Asean after Brunei and Singapore.

Malaysia's per-capita emissions of carbon dioxide - the greenhouse gas mainly responsible for global warming - are above the global average of 4.73 tonnes.

Our emissions also nearly doubled compared to 30 years ago, when it was 4.41 tonnes per capita in 1994, based on figures from the Global Carbon Budget (2025) and processed by data platform, Our World in Data.

Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup said the government viewed these figures seriously.

He assured that Malaysia remains committed to its target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and is pursuing a balanced approach that combines economic growth with emissions reduction.

As part of efforts to shift to a low-carbon economy, the Climate Change Bill, to be tabled in Parliament soon, may take businesses to task for offences like misreporting emissions and violating carbon market rules.

“Corporate accountability is a central pillar of the Bill.

“As the Bill is still being finalised, details relating to offences and penalties remain subject to policy and legislative consideration,” he said when contacted.

The Bill is currently undergoing final legal review by the Attorney General’s Chambers.

Although Malaysia was ranked third in Asean, it was 35th out of over 200 countries and territories worldwide for the highest carbon dioxide emissions per capita (see graph below).

Most Asean countries, except Singapore, have seen a rising amount in emissions over the last 30 years.

Here’s a closer look at the trend in each country:

On why Malaysia’s emissions per capita were higher than most countries in Asean, Arthur said it was due to Malaysia’s development as an upper middle-income economy with a strong industrial and manufacturing base.

“It reflects the structure of our economy, which includes energy-intensive industries such as manufacturing, petrochemicals and electronics that support national growth and regional competitiveness,” he said.

Electricity generation has also relied significantly on fossil fuels to support industrial expansion and economic development, Arthur added.

“Malaysia’s urban development patterns and relatively high rate of private vehicle ownership have contributed to emissions growth.

“Nevertheless, Malaysia remains committed to decoupling economic growth from greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.

In Malaysia, the Cabinet had agreed to the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) plan which involves an unconditional reduction of up to 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, with an additional conditional reduction of 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

“Through Malaysia’s NDC 3.0, the Government has committed for national greenhouse gas emissions to peak between 2029 and 2034 and to achieve an absolute emissions reduction of 15 to 30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2035.

“This is as part of the transition towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050,” Arthur said.

Net zero, according to the UN, means cutting carbon emissions to a small amount that can be absorbed by nature and other carbon dioxide removal measures, leaving zero in the atmosphere.

Carbon dioxide is the most abundant greenhouse gas produced by human activities, such as through burning fossil fuels, industrial activities and deforestation.

Greenhouse gases act like a blanket - trapping heat and driving climate change, based on information from the UN Environment Programme.

Malaysia is part of the Paris Agreement, which calls for global warming to be kept no more than 1.5°C, and as such, emissions need to be cut and reach net zero by 2050.

To ensure our emissions remain under control, Arthur said efforts were focused on improving energy efficiency, accelerating low-carbon technologies, strengthening emissions reporting systems and encouraging industry participation in decarbonisation.

“At the national level, the government has introduced several policy instruments including the National Carbon Market Policy (DPKK), launched on April 21 to strengthen the carbon market ecosystem and mobilise investment towards low-carbon solutions,” he said.

Arthur said the rollout of the proposed carbon tax must be carefully balanced against global economic headwinds, domestic inflation, and the livelihoods of Malaysians.

“The current focus is on building the foundation - specifically the carbon accounting frameworks within the Climate Change Bill and the growth of the voluntary carbon market.

“A phased roadmap for carbon pricing is being finalised, ensuring industries are given adequate notice to adapt without hurting consumer prices.

“Official timelines for the tax mechanism rollout will be announced progressively in national budget tablings,” he said.