Emission and Removal Trends by Sector

Between 1990 and 2021, Malaysia’s net GHG emissions showed a clear upward trend, driven largely by the Energy and IPPU sectors. The Energy sector remained the largest contributor, rising from 66,460 Gg CO₂eq in 1990 to over 259,667 Gg CO₂eq by 2021. IPPU emissions expanded from 4,436 Gg CO₂eq to more than 37,028 Gg CO₂eq over the same period, reflecting steady industrial growth. Waste sector emissions also grew, while Agriculture remained relatively stable.

The LULUCF sector consistently acted as a major carbon sink, with removals frequently exceeding 200,000 Gg CO₂eq, helping to offset emissions from other sectors. Over the period, the average annual growth rate for Energy at about 4.5% per year, IPPU at 6.9%, Waste at 2.5%, while Agriculture saw a slight decline. LULUCF removals increased around 2.6% annually. Despite this natural buffer, net emissions turned positive from the early 2000s and continued to rise, underscoring the need for sustained mitigation efforts.

Note : IPPU: Industrial Processes and Product Use (IPPU) | LULUCF: Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry | UNFCCC: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change