NEW YORK: The Covid-19 pandemic has slowed down efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which require efforts from all parties, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

At the 77th United Nations General Assembly today, he said Malaysia was committed to carrying out its responsibilities and roles in ensuring environmental conservation and sustainability.

"I stand here, as (a leader) of a developing nation, to stress that the implementation and success of a greener and more sustainable socioeconomic development will be achieved with fair and inclusive methods."

He added that new technologies would be an incentive for the country to move towards renewable energy. 

However, it must be made affordable for developing countries, he said.

In this context, he said, Malaysia took steps in the palm oil industry by introducing the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil Certification standard to meet the needs for sustainable development.

Ismail Sabri said Malaysia was also committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 45 per cent, based on the gross domestic product, by 2030.

He said Malaysia had set a target to achieve 31 per cent renewable energy consumption by 2025, and was determined to achieve the zero greenhouse gas emission status as early as 2050.

The National Energy Policy 2022-2040, meanwhile, was implemented on Sept 19 to increase the resilience of the macro-economy and ensure energy supply.

Malaysia had also agreed to establish a National SDG Centre to boost programmes and monitor SDG progress, Ismail Sabri said.

He said as one of only 17 countries in the world with unique biodiversity, Malaysia was aware of its responsibility to defend and preserve natural resources for future generations.

For that purpose, Malaysia had pledged to protect at least 50 per cent of its forests during the Earth Summit in 1992, he said, adding that three decades since the pledge, Malaysia still had 54 per cent of its forests.

"This number would increase following our aggressive reforestation efforts," he added.

He said the world needed to be aware of efforts to achieve the 2030 SDGs, and Malaysia welcomed the establishment of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development next year.

"This effort is timely because it gives us the opportunity to review what has been achieved and what can be improved for the good of Keluarga Dunia (World Family)."