New carbon approach can spur green jobs, say stakeholders

Malaysia's National Carbon Market Policy (NCMP) is expected to generate at least 300,000 green jobs by 2050, according to stakeholders. The policy aims to strengthen the carbon market through a national framework and encourage investment in low-carbon and carbon projects. The Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) highlighted that the NCMP would create demand for various professions, including carbon project developers, GHG specialists, MRV experts, validation and verification professionals, engineers, technicians, data scientists, auditors, sustainability professionals, legal and financial experts with carbon-market knowledge.

Projects like biogas carbon projects would require engineers, plant technicians, methane-monitoring specialists, emissions experts, independent verifiers, and financial professionals. Similarly, forestry carbon projects could generate demand for forest care experts, ecologists, geographic information system specialists, field workers, and remote-sensing experts.

However, it is still uncertain how many jobs the NCMP will create in the next three to five years, as it depends on the pace of implementation, investment mobilization, and the number and scale of carbon projects developed.

Environmental economist Norlida Hanim Salleh from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia emphasized the need for changes in education and training for future workers, including upskilling existing workforce members to apply their expertise to areas such as carbon accounting, auditing, green project development, and low-carbon technology.

MGTC's Aurora Tin emphasized the importance of clear laws, coordination between governments, and adequate supporting infrastructure for the NCMP's success. She also stressed the need for sufficient funding to develop infrastructure, such as the digital carbon registry, and greater public awareness and involvement from other stakeholders to ensure fair benefits for local and indigenous communities.