KUCHING (Dec 4): Sarawak is looking into ways to expand forestry while further developing agriculture activities without disturbing the ecosystem, said State Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni. Speaking at the International Workshop on Climate Change Resilience (IWCCR) 2025, Dr Hazland said that the state is currently studying a new forestry-related initiative introduced during his recent visit to Brazil. “There is a new initiative from Brazil and it is a very good idea. “But at the moment, Malaysia has remained silent because we are still waiting for the exact mechanism and how it will be implemented. “They were talking about regenerating agriculture by improving and regenerating soil through technology. So we will wait for further direction, but the initiative is already in place,” he said. Dr Hazland added that Sarawak should take pride in being among the regions with vast forested regions and a strong commitment to preserving them. “We feel that we must be rewarded for maintaining our forests, alongside Brazil, Indonesia, Congo, Thailand and others, in addition to the carbon credit initiatives we have in our state,” he added.
Meanwhile, he said a proposal from a United Nations office suggests that countries could be rewarded through green bonds issued by global investors, with a portion of the bond returns channelled to nations with a strong track record in forest conservation. Dr Hazland also highlighted the passing of the Sustainable Resources and Wastes Management Bill 2025 during the recent Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting. “We have made a significant step because we passed another new law connected to our climate change mitigation efforts. “This is important as it allows us to mitigate climate change while creating new revenue streams for the state. He added that several other ordinances had previously been approved, including the Environment (Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Emission) Ordinance 2023, which came into force in March last year. “The most important component of that ordinance is that our state is the first in the world ― besides Singapore ― to enforce a carbon levy since 2024,” he said. On Tuesday last week, the Sustainable Resources and Wastes Management Ordinance 2025 was legislated to strengthen environmental governance and accelerate the state’s transition toward a circular and renewable-energy driven economy.
Abdul Karim: AirBorneo’s pricing must be sustainable for operations, negative reactions premature
Sarawakians placed in ‘Happy’ category despite poor incomes, four districts found to be ‘Very Happy’
Lahad Datu’s wealth overshadowed by high living costs, poverty, and infrastructure gaps, says rep
Petrol mixed with diesel causes vehicle breakdowns at Petronas station along Samarahan Expressway
Jeffrey Kitingan’s ‘Sabah for Sabahans’ principle has never wavered, says STARSabah info chief
BN Sabah chairman: Walkout over Lamag by-election candidate part of democracy, calls for unity
Flooding hits several areas in Kuching, evacuations carried out in early hours of New Year’s Day
SCCCI to submit lorry operators’ feedback on Speed Limitation Devices to Sarawak Transport Ministry
CVLB Sarawak warns against unlicensed school buses, urges stricter compliance for children’s safety
Have the courage to step aside when no longer able to perform, Premier tells political leaders
More than a fight show: Rentap Championship 7.0 highlights anti-bullying message via campaign
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!
Leave a Comment