BRAZIL – Sarawak has echoed the global call for urgent climate action at the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Brazil, positioning itself as a regional leader in environmental sustainability with a bold pledge to achieve a net-negative future by 2050.
Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, delivered a keynote presentation highlighting Sarawak’s ambitious climate agenda.
He stressed that sustainability is no longer optional but an immediate necessity as the world transitions towards net-zero commitments and green growth.
“Sarawak is charting an incredibly ambitious course, making a bold commitment to become net-negative by 2050. This goal is enshrined in the state’s Net Zero Strategy and Carbon Plan,” he said.
The plan leverages Sarawak’s natural strengths, including abundant hydropower, vast forest reserves, and critical carbon sinks. It aims not only to reduce emissions intensity but also to generate significant economic benefits, with projections of RM347 billion in green investments and the creation of 223,000 new jobs.
Dr Hazland emphasised that the transformation is not merely technical but holistic, reshaping Sarawak’s future through conservation, economic diversification, and social equity.
Sarawak has already moved from planning to implementation with the launch of the Sarawak Sustainability Blueprint (SSB) 2030.
This roadmap outlines 10 thrusts and more than 150 strategies designed to build a resilient, inclusive, and low-carbon economy.
Its core objectives focus on economic growth and prosperity, environmental stewardship, and healthy, resilient communities.
Another key element of Sarawak’s strategy is the establishment of a transparent carbon market. The state plans to introduce a carbon levy framework, developed with technical support from the World Bank, to participate effectively in Article 6 mechanisms under the Paris Agreement.
Importantly, Sarawak insists that the market must reinvest in communities and conservation, ensuring benefits are widely shared.
This governance framework is reinforced by the Environment (Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Emission) Ordinance 2023, which came into force in March 2024.
The legislation requires mandatory greenhouse gas reporting across key economic sectors, marking a turning point in Sarawak’s climate governance and laying the legal foundation for its 2050 net-negative journey.
Officials noted that Sarawak’s proactive stance at COP30 demonstrates its determination to align with global climate goals while simultaneously driving economic transformation and community wellbeing.
