CLIMATE AND ENERGY TRANSITION REPORTING IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA'S MAINSTREAM NEWS MEDIA A report by Lensa Iklim programme and initiative by Klima Action Malaysia - KAMY Supported by European Climate Foundation Climate communication matters According to the IPCC , “averaged over the next 20 years, global temperature is expected to reach or exceed 1.5°C of warming”. This will result in loss of biodiversity, heat stress, drought, famine, floods and other severe climate impacts. The report further mentions that “human actions still have the potential to determine the future course of climate” which gives us a sliver of hope to take action and provide solutions to mitigate the climate catastrophe. “ Climate stories are criminally underreported in Malaysia ” Has the news media in Peninsular Malaysia c onveyed this information to its readers? One of the main issues that news media houses in Peninsular Malaysia face is the lack of big picture reporting. Climate reporting has focused on events rather than examining root causes, as a result, climate issues are often underreported. ❝ There is a lack of focus on industry and how it affects the ecosystem. For example, Sungai Kim Kim in Johor. The follow-up [by media] was so brief, it barely lasted three weeks," Najmuddin (an editor at NST) says, "and that is an ever-present trend on climate coverage.❞ In Malaysia, most climate news often focuses on disasters, lacking substantial solutions, follow-ups, intersectionality, or preventative measures. News editors interviewed in this report believe climate coverage is "very brief and reactionary" and this is an ongoing trend in their reporting, exemplified in the coverage of recurring floods in Baling, Kedah, where despite persistent coverage, there has been little action or solution to the community's plight. ❝ Linking wider issues, such as food security, transmissible diseases, and even migration to climate change (where clear links can be established) is "critical", says Wong Siew Lyn, co-founder and editor of Macaranga.❞ Why are these issues underreported despite Malaysia being a climate-vulnerable nation? Most news media houses in the Peninsula Malaysia do not have climate or environment desks while most journalists are on general beats. This creates a large gap in expertise and manpower in news rooms, leading to journalists being unable to explore deeper and impactful climate stories. ❝ They may practise an unofficial stance to prioritise these stories, but in reality, “it always depends on resources,” and other subject matters usually take precedence, such as politics and “the bread and butter issues”, according to one editor.❞ Journalists face challenges such as lack of funding and resources, leading to insufficient budgets, tight deadlines, insufficient training, and difficulty finding relevant sources and data. This hinders their ability to cover in-depth, multi-faceted climate stories. ❝ Although journalists can seek media grant funds to pursue climate stories, newsroom pressures may limit their capacity to commit to grant projects fully.❞ Issues of accessibility and availability of official government data on climate and environment, including the shortage of diverse experts to provide insights and education on these topics, are cited as major setbacks for mainstream journalists. ❝ The Star columnist, Dr Milton Lum, found a lack of information available from the government on the effects on climate change in Malaysia. Instead, he used data from NGOs such as the UN, World Bank, Global Forest Watch, and Asian Development Bank, to show how climate change has impacted Malaysia in the last few decades.❞ In this report, we examine the portrayal of key topics in Peninsular Malaysia's climate and energy transition journey. A LOOK AT THE KEY NARRATIVES : Energy Transition in Malaysia Approximately 80% of greenhouse gases come from the energy sector, which is currently dominated by coal and gas. Peninsular Malaysia still relies heavily on coal imports from Indonesia and Australia, but there is a growing trend in the media to shift away from coal due to its high cost of imports (largely due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine) and negative reputation. Yet, the Malaysian government has not set targets to reduce coal usage, and there is inconsistent messaging on retiring coal-fired plants and replacing them with more efficient fuel. The National Energy Policy 2022-2040 did not set clear cut-off targets for coal, but gas definitely got a boost in the policy. Gas media coverage is typically reported in the business sections of media as hard news that features events, launches, and PR announcements by corporations and the government, lacking critical analysis of broader social, environmental, and economic effects of increasing gas usage as a transition fuel. The media covers net zero targets pledged by Malaysian corporations leading to increased media coverage largely uncritical and without examination, but concerns about "greenwashing" are also rising. Some media outlets provide a critical examination of these commitments, including features on greenwashing and interviews with civil society and NGO sources for a nuanced perspective. Renewable Energy The media in Peninsular Malaysia often reports positively on the solar energy transition, but critiques of solar's intermittency and unsuitability to replace coal as baseload energy are common. These pro-solar initiatives may accelerate growth in the industry and energy transition, but "details have yet to be ironed out", such as policies and "low take-up rates of rooftop solar quota among residential consumers and government agencies." The media framed hydropower as a key pillar in raising the country’s renewable capacity by 2040. The Nenggiri Dam especially, has been reported positively in the media. Counterviews on the Nenggiri Dam project have been reported in a small number of articles in main news sections, which present the views of affected Temiar Orang Asli communities, but are largely absent in business pages. Carbon Markets, Climate Finance and Governance The climate finance narrative in Malaysia has increased in recent years, focusing on national institutions and corporate initiatives. Despite a surge in the news before COP27, most coverage was republished from international newswires. Local initiatives for climate adaptation receive limited media coverage compared to the spotlight on mitigation, carbon market mechanisms, and financial instruments dominated by national corporations and regulators to reach Net Zero target. However, the need for transparency and alignment with current adaptation measures is stressed, as some stories view climate financing as a potential avenue for the misappropriation of funds. Reports on carbon pricing across Peninsular Malaysia's news media houses remain limited to examining its advantages and challenges for implementation in Malaysia. Media sources cite carbon tax as a way to reduce emissions and generate revenue for green development but call for more information on how the funds will be utilised. Most news focuses on intensive carbon sectors and financial institutions launching ESG as a pathway to their net-zero goals, while only a few articles recognise the importance of supporting MSMEs in their ESG journey. MSMEs are crucial in the supply chain for larger companies with ESG commitments, employing almost half of the workforce and representing over two-thirds of Malaysia's GDP. Climate Change and Impacts According to the UN “Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns … primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas (for human activities)”. News media in Peninsular Malaysia is increasing its coverage of climate-related topics such as flooding, coastal erosion, food security, ocean governance, and health, but human perspectives are largely missing. Climate impacts severely affect public health and livelihoods, and increase the vulnerability of groups like young children, farmers, Indigenous People, the elderly, women and the disabled community. Climate and UNFCCC Local news media in Peninsular Malaysia, in all languages, mainly republish COP UNFCCC coverage from international news wires and do little original reporting. A commitment to personal action, according to Nadiah Rosli, another CCMP fellow writing about her first COP experience in an op-ed, "also means that every citizen has a responsibility to follow the science of climate change and to monitor the commitments and progress made (and not made) by those in government." Very few news media from Peninsular Malaysia houses have access and funding to these multilateral spaces to report on COP, except for Bernama, the national news wire, having access and primarily covers the activities of Malaysian corporate and institutional delegates. In general, news media reporting on COP26 and COP27 are oriented toward national, corporate, and economic interests, with sparse analysis of human interest stories. Malaysian delegates at these events call for greater climate adaptation and funding, and there are op-eds criticising the role of powerful elites in shaping policy through the UNFCCC. Climate and Parliament The unexpected deluge in December 2021, a rare 1-in-100-year event, caused the destruction of homes, businesses and factories, took more than 54 lives and left an estimated loss of RM6.5 billion. One catastrophic flood disaster has ignited the nation. Yet, less than a year later, the much-maligned "flood polls" of GE15 were underwhelming, with climate and flooding mostly absent from media coverage of political campaigns. The 2022 Climate Change Symposium, which took place on September 5th in Malaysia's Parliament, was a rare and timely event. It might have been a landmark event catalysing a conversation on climate change among policymakers and parliamentarians, but it was poorly covered by the media. Some of the key recommendations across government and news media... Mainstream news media should invest in developing a climate or/and environment desk managed by a specialised editor(s) to enable comprehensive climate/environmental reporting. Stories need to engage with technical issues and connect them with intersectional and wider human angles. The desk would provide dedicated resources for journalists, especially young journalists, to pursue further knowledge, gain technical expertise, and strengthen trust and familiarity with their networks through internal or external funding. The government, through relevant agencies and ministries, could allocate a budget for journalists' training, particularly access and financial resources to multilateral spaces like COP UNFCCC or CBD. Affirmative action in transparency would be to legislate a Freedom to Information Act for good governance. These are just some of the highlights of the report. Read the full length by downloading the report below! We hope this report is used as a source for media houses, policymakers, civil society organisations, and researchers to better understand the climate and energy reporting landscape in Malaysia. Curated by Kucheal Arivalagan Edited by Tessminderjit Kaur and Ili Nadiah Dzulfakar Layout and Design by Bimo Kuncoro Yakti Prasetijo DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT >

IPCC Series The IPCC 1.5C report, which was published in autumn 2018, details everything we are dealing with and what we need to do to avoid the worst-case scenario of the climate crisis. We have a question for you: Who reads this report? Infographics Citizen's Summary of IPCC report This initiative is KAMY's effort to publish a summary of the IPCC 1.5 Report that is accessible to the general public and that will be accompanied by visual aids to disseminate this information. KAMY aims to bridge the language barrier-- not only empower the people with credible information but also to encourage politicians to systematically discuss it in parliamentary sessions. Help this campaign academics researchers artists visual designers NGO KAMY collaborators Siri IPCC - Infografik Infographics made by e-nvironmentalist Translated and edited by KAMY Flood Flood

WHO IS KAMY? KAMY is a feminist climate justice organisation advancing rights-based, gender-responsive climate governance in Malaysia. Since 2020, we've worked at the intersection of climate action and social justice, bridging grassroots communities especially women, Indigenous Peoples, and youth - with policy-makers to ensure Malaysia's climate response centers the most vulnerable. Through research, advocacy, and coalition-building, we translate complex climate policies into accessible action while platforming marginalized voices in spaces where critical decisions about our climate future are made. FOCUS AREAS Indigenous people Business and Human Rights Just Energy Transition Climate Communication Legal Empowerment Gender & Women Human Rights Based Approach for Climate Action Ensuring that government and businesses entities fulfil their responsibilities as duty-bearers. Empower vulnerable communities, such as Indigenous People, women, and youth, to actively participate in climate governance and decision-making. Engage both state and non-state actors to promote narratives of a just and feminist economy. Dedicated to coalition-building across civil society, fostering knowledge and resilience.

RESOURCES Starting own strike KAMY Mobilising own climate strike Where are you starting your strike? In my university / institution Consider your relationship with the university Is it ok to do a strike? You'll need a space for: a) Strikes b) Discussions c) Movie/documentary screenings Who to contact? Student Body Student Association Link up with any environmental clubs in campus How to get people to support my strike? Hold a banner-making session in campus Forum discussions Movie or Documentary screenings Exhibitions Performances, street theatre Ask students and lecturers to come down Invite media Tools that you will need Template letter to convince people to come down to streets Create posters, maps, guides Public Read through the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 Read here Notify the authorities Send your documents to: Police DBKL Legal matters You can ask support from: a) SUHAKAM b) SUARAM c) Bar Council Get Medic for your strike - Surat menyurat -eg; JPAM, St John, Genta How to get people to come down to your strike? Hold a banner-making session. KAMY can support you. Forum discussions Movie or Documentary screenings Exhibitions Performances, street theatre Ask communities around you Invite media Resources - Starting Own Strike KAMY Click to download Resources - KAMY logos

Rakan kerjasama KAMY

WORKSHOP 5 THEMATIC CONCEPTS Climate Journalism: Pitching for Climate and Environment To provide journalists and editors valuable insights on the state of climate journalism locally and globally and how to pitch for data story, climate and environmental stories grants. DATE 13 August 2022 TOPICS AND EXPERT SPEAKERS Climate Change Challenges & Opportunities: The Road to COP27 by Imelda Albano. She is a celebrated journalist for her seminal work on the environment and climate in Southeast Asia. Imelda is currently the Senior Coordinator for the Philippines and the Pacific Region at Internews Earth Journalism Network (EJN). In her presentation, Imelda shared her insights on building the capacity of journalists through fellowships with specific cases of COP26 and the journalistic challenges of making COP more easily accessible for readers. She also shared the upcoming opportunities for COP27. a. Speaker materials : i. Climate Change Reporting: The Road to COP 27 and beyond (PPTX) Read More Strategies on Writing Proposals by Nadiah Rosli. She is a freelance journalist and a project director under the Internews Network. Nadiah is also one of Lensa Iklim's advisors. Her presentation aims to provide successful strategies for journalists and editors to run research, write proposals, pitch, budget analysis, and write compelling climate stories for readers. a. Speaker materials : i. Pitching Your Climate Stories (Canva) Read More Exploring Narratives by Wong Siew Lyn. She co-founded Macaranga, an award-winning journalism portal that focuses on environmental, climate and sustainability issues in Malaysia through in-depth features. Her presentation touches on the subtle but powerful tactics of identifying your readers and niche, how to look at the bigger picture of news stories, and tweaking and localising terminologies depending on the readers. a. Speaker materials : i. Exploring Narratives (PPTX) Read More WORKSHOP SUMMARY REPORT Read More FOOTAGES FROM WORKSHOP

Climate and energy transition reporting in Peninsular Malaysia's mainstream news media. A report by Lensa Iklim programme and initiative by Klima Action Malaysia - KAMY, supported by European Climate Foundation. JET-BHR IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA Towards a just energy transition with business and human rights principles Download Here Why this matters now Malaysia stands at a crucial crossroads in its energy transition journey. We face a critical challenge: how to transform our energy systems without perpetuating historical injustices or creating new ones. The timing is critical to ensure our energy transition not only reduces emissions but also protects and empowers rakyat. This is not just about switching energy sources; it's about dismantling systems of exploitation and ensuring the benefits of clean energy reach everyone, not just those with power and capital. About this report This report examines Malaysia's energy transition through the lens of business and human rights, guided by the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs) and ILO's Guidelines for a Just Transition. Through research and engagement with stakeholders across government, business, civil society, and affected communities in Peninsular Malaysia, we identify gaps and provide actionable recommendations to protect workers, Indigenous peoples, women, and vulnerable communities. Our goal is to ensure Malaysia's energy transition not only achieves its climate targets but does so in a way that is just, inclusive, and equitable for all. Critical Insights: What's At Stake "The economy must be reimagined beyond traditional GDP growth and quantitative targets. The challenge is moving away from a profit-centric view to a long-term perspective" Energy & Economy Malaysia's energy landscape stands at a critical juncture, with fossil fuels dominating nearly 96% of our primary energy supply. While the National Energy Transition Roadmap sets an ambitious target of 70% renewable energy capacity by 2050 and plans to implement carbon tax by 2026, fundamental concerns remain. As one environmental policy advocate notes: "The economy must be reimagined beyond traditional GDP growth and quantitative targets. The challenge is moving away from a profit-centric view to a long-term perspective." Labour & Safety The transition to renewable energy promises significant job creation, with projections reaching 310,000 jobs by 2050. However, serious concerns about worker safety and rights are emerging. These challenges extend beyond safety to fundamental labor rights. "For rooftop solar installers, there are situations during heat waves where workers had to work in 'shoe-melting temperatures,'" "If your sector has a high risk for forced labour, and your transition is not properly mapped, you are going to go from the frying pan into the fire." "There is also no visibility for women in the STEM field due to the perception of their inability to work in this field," "It is difficult to report discrimination because most of the time, the perpetrator will just gaslight women by saying there is no proof of discrimination" Gender & Inclusion The energy transition reflects broader gender disparities in Malaysian society. Women's labor force participation remains significantly lower at 56.2% compared to 83% for men, while their representation in parliament stands at just 15%. These systemic barriers are particularly evident in the energy sector. The challenges women face are deeply rooted in workplace culture: "It is difficult to report discrimination because most of the time, the perpetrator will just gaslight women by saying there is no proof of discrimination," shares a women's rights advocate. Read more from the report Download Here Report Roadmap This roadmap provides a structured guide to achieving a just energy transition through the lens of Business and Human Rights. Following the UN Guiding Principles' three pillars - Protect, Respect, and Remedy - we break down complex policy areas into clear, actionable recommendations for both government and business stakeholders. The roadmap shows how different sectors, from state institutions to corporate entities, can contribute to ensuring a just and inclusive transition for all Malaysians. Curated and designed by Aroe Ajoeni

Women & Climate Crisis in Peninsula Malaysia KAMY's Written Submission to CEDAW Shadow Report Fact Sheet Updates from Geneva CSO Press Statement Recording from UN Geneva Concluding Observation / Pemerhatian Rumusan Download (ENG) Download from the UN Treaty Body Database here KAMY's shadow report to the 88th CEDAW Session unveils the disproportionate impact of climate change on women in Peninsula Malaysia, marking the first time this issue enters Malaysia’s CEDAW cycle. This comprehensive analysis highlights four critical issues: Data Gap and Gender Mainstreaming in Climate Policies Direct impacts of climate disasters on women Financing women in the climate crisis Inequality of participation in Just Transition This advocacy led to Malaysia’s 6th Cycle for CEDAW concluding observations, which now include recommendations for addressing the climate crisis, Just Energy Transition, and Disaster Risk Reduction. Uncover the urgent need for gender-transformative solutions and the inequality in women's participation in Malaysia's climate governance and Just Transition. Download the full report now to access vital insights, compelling evidence, and key recommendations for policymakers, civil society organisations, and concerned citizens to drive change. Download the fact sheet here (ENG - PDF) Our updates from Geneva Press Statement from The CEDAW CSO Coalition Read here Watch the recording from UN Geneva Informal meeting with non-governmental organizations and human rights institutions Consideration of Malaysia Concluding Observation from the CEDAW Committee for the Malaysian government Download (ENG) Download from the UN Treaty Body Database here What is a Concluding Observation? A Concluding Observation is an outcome document issued after Malaysia’s constructive dialogue with the CEDAW Committee in Geneva. It contains detailed feedback and recommendations from the CEDAW Committee on how a country can improve its compliance with women’s rights standards after reviewing that country’s periodic report. Concluding Observation from the CEDAW Committee for the Malaysian government about climate change Read from the Concluding Observation document here The quote below is a translation. Climate change and disaster risk reduction 52.⁠ ⁠The Committee welcomes the initiatives aimed at green growth and advancing climate action implemented by the Malaysian Green Technology Corporation. However, it notes with concern: (a) Reports of river water contamination in Indigenous areas, which disproportionally affect Indigenous women and girls; (b) Challenges Indigenous women and girls face in maintaining their traditional lifestyle, with adverse health impacts, due to climate change and territorial loss, coupled with changes in their food systems (c) The lack of a gender perspective in policies and programmes on climate change, disaster risk reduction and transition to renewable energy. 53.⁠ ⁠The Committee recommends that, in line with its general recommendations No. 37 (2018) on the gender-related dimensions of disaster risk reduction in the context of climate change and No. 39 (2022) on the rights of Indigenous women and girls, the State party review its climate change and disaster response strategies, taking into account the negative effects of climate change on the livelihoods of women, especially rural and Indigenous women, and ensure that women are meaningfully involved in the development, adoption and implementation of legislation, policies and programmes on climate change, disaster response and disaster risk reduction by, in particular: (a) Collecting disaggregated data on the impact of climate change and natural disasters on women and girls, including rural and Indigenous women and girls; (b) Ensuring the incorporation of a gender perspective in climate change and disaster risk reduction strategies, renewable energy legislation, financing and programmes in order to address the specific and unique needs of women and girls and build their resilience and effective adaptation to climate change; (c) Taking measures to address the specific impact of climate change on women’s livelihoods and access to resources, and ensuring their economic empowerment in the transition to a green economy.

WHO IS WHO LIST Objective This section shows current international and national bodies that may help journalists in gaining sources/data for their reporting. To download the original Excel sheet, click here . Industry Including Government-linked Companies (GLC), Government-linked Investment Companies (GLIC) Financial Institution Including private financial service providers Government Institution Including regulators, council and government agency Think Tanks Including private and statefund institutions International & National Body International, national and regional body Academia University research institutions

Send a cover letter

SUPPORT us TODAY Fund support for a more radical 2022 climate crisis campaign ! DONATION INFO MAYBANK : 562021642092 NAME : Persatuan Kesedaran Dan Keadilan Iklim Malaysia (Klima Action Malaysia - KAMY) REFERENCE : Donation *Please email KAMY if you need a receipt or if you have any questions Please visit the KAMY fundraising link at SimplyGiving to donate via Credit & Debit Card, PayPal. SIMPLYGIVING PLATFORM

Student's Mobilisation Mahasiswa gesa institusi pendidikan untuk isytihar #DaruratIklim Institusi pendidikan adalah antara stakeholder atau pihak berkepentingan yang terbesar untuk membendung krisis iklim. Mereka mempunyai posisi unik untuk membentuk generasi yang sedar tentang krisis iklim dengan menyelaras curicula , modul atau penyelidikan yang berteraskan kemampanan dan krisis iklim, community outreach program atau, polisi untuk mitigasi carbon footprint campus. Universiti adalah enjin perubahan sosial dan ekonomi masa depan, dan mahasiswa itu sendiri, satu agen transformasi. Target Hebahan isu krisis iklim kepada kelab/kumpulan mahasiswa yang cenderung atau pun mahu menyumbang kepada climate action Objektif Workshop untuk tingkatkan kemahiran untuk bersuara dan bertindak tentang krisis iklim : skill organisasi, climate communication rundingan dan dokumentasi seperti digital activism dan lain lain. Aktiviti advokasi krisis iklim seperti tayangan dokumentari atau forum perbincangan Pembentukan affinity groups yang akan bergerak untuk #MYCLIMATESTRIKE ! Widget Didn’t Load Check your internet and refresh this page. If that doesn’t work, contact us.