Dr Hazland: Malaysia can learn from Sarawak’s approach on green economy

KUCHING (Sept 18): Participants of the National Sustainable Development Goals Summit 2024 can learn from Sarawak’s innovative approach and explore how similar strategies can be applied across Malaysia and the Asian region, said Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni.

The deputy minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability, who was invited as a panellist for the Summit, deemed the participants’ engagements and ideas at the conference as crucial in shaping and implementing the strategies to achieve a net zero economy.

In this regard, he highlighted the needs for integrated actions among the government, private sectors, civil society, and local communities to effectively address climate change and seek sustainable solutions to this.

The sustainable solutions to this global issue, he pointed out, could be resolved by adopting the ‘nature-based’ solutions such as forest conservation, reforestation, mangrove restoration, as well as peat and wetland protection.

“The other ‘technological-based’ solutions are (through the utilisation) of carbon capture usage and storage, hydroelectric power, solar energy, wave kinetic energy, wind energy, hydrogen, synthetic fuel, bio energy and liquefied natural gas,” he said.

Sarawak, he said, has the capacity and potential for carbon credits and carbon trading, due to the state’s diverse ecosystem and abundance in natural and mineral resources.

“Additionally, Sarawak is blessed with many rivers, which have enabled the development of hydroelectricity, floating solar energy, and the hydrogen industry,” he said.

Moreover, the visionary leadership of Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has made these green initiatives under the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability and the Sarawak cabinet possible, he added.

“Sarawak will be able to double its gross domestic product (GDP) to RM282 billion by 2030 if the implemented strategies are successful,” he opined.

To facilitate these initiatives, he said the Sarawak government had created an ‘Energy Transition Policy and Green Economy Policy’ where Petroleum Sarawak Bhd (Petros) was assigned as the Resource Manager for the use and storage of carbon capture (CCUS) and oil & gas industries.

“Any capable CCUS company is invited to collaborate with Petros in the CCUS industry,” he said.

The Summit at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre was declared open on Sept 17 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Also present was federal Deputy Minister of Economy Dato Hanifah Hajar Taib.