{
  "id": 19161771,
  "title": "COP31: Malaysia proposes 20pc of urban climate funds go directly to communities",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/cop31-malaysia-proposes-20pc-of-urban-climate-funds-go-directly-to",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-09T13:17:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/11/1574186/cop31-malaysia-proposes-20pc-urban-climate-funds-go-directly"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has proposed that a minimum of 20 percent of international urban climate financing be directed straight to local governments and residents in informal settlements to bolster their ability to adapt to climate change. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, who is chairing Malaysia's team at the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31), suggested the creation of a Direct-to-Community Urban Climate Facility to distribute the funding via steady block grants. This would enable local authorities and communities to put into practice climate adaptation strategies at the community level, such as retrofitting buildings for better cooling, stormwater control, and climate-resilient construction, while simultaneously safeguarding vulnerable populations from the escalating effects of climate change, he stated during a UN-Habitat session on housing and climate action in Antalya, Turkiye. Nga also claimed that climate-resilient housing should be acknowledged as a fundamental human right and a public asset. Quoting a UN-Habitat review that found 69 percent of national climate pledges focused on urban housing, he emphasized the need to transform these pledges into tangible enhancements for people living in informal settlements and other at-risk communities. Malaysia's comprehensive strategy to housing and local governance enables the implementation of national climate adaptation targets through building regulations, energy efficiency measures, and urban planning standards across its 156 local authorities, he further explained. At the launch of Rethink Food. Reduce Waste. - The #OneBillion Challenge, Nga advocated for increased public involvement in waste management, citing Malaysia's Separation at Source initiative as an illustration of how households could apply national policies. Last year, Malaysian families and communities set a national record by gathering over 27,600 kilograms of used cooking oil in a single day, illustrating how everyday household waste could be turned into valuable resources like sustainable aviation fuel and clean energy, provided everyone collaborates, he added. Nga also outlined Malaysia's Circular Economy Blueprint 2025-2035 and pilot Zero Waste District projects in KLCC and Penang as part of efforts to enhance waste management. He also celebrated the opening of the Malaysia Pavilion at COP31, attended by the Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah. COP31, held from November 9 to 20, gathers world leaders, ministers, senior government officials, intergovernmental and multilateral organizations, civil society groups, climate adaptation experts, and youth advocates to promote international collaboration on climate action.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has proposed that at least 20 per cent of multilateral urban climate financing be channelled directly to local authorities and communities in informal settlements to strengthen their capacity to adapt to climate change.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "General : COP31: Malaysia Proposes 20 Pct Of Urban Climate Financing Go Directly To Communities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/general-cop31-malaysia-proposes-20-pct-of-urban-climate-financing-go",
        "published": "2026-11-09T11:17:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}