S’wak being recognised for role in advancing climate action — World Bank lead economist

KUCHING (March 4): Sarawak is gaining recognition for its growing role in advancing climate action, said World Bank Lead Economist for Malaysia Apurva Sanghi.

He said the state’s strong political commitment to sustainability and its leadership in renewable energy and low-carbon development pathways provide solid foundations for long-term climate governance.

“These foundations position Sarawak not only as a key contributor to Malaysia’s climate agenda, but as an emerging regional leader,” he said in his opening remarks at the launch of the Subnational Climate Change Institutional Assessment (CCIA) Report here.

Apurva said the World Bank’s partnership with Sarawak has expanded beyond climate into broader governance strengthening.

“We have been working together on strengthening public sector and economic governance, including support on state-owned enterprise reforms, public financial management, and results-based budgeting.

“These efforts are about ensuring that Sarawak’s considerable economic strengths and natural resources translate into sustainable, inclusive and well-governed long-term growth,” he said.

On the key findings of the Subnational CCIA, he noted that while there is strong commitment to climate action across state agencies, coordination mechanisms can be further strengthened to ensure policies translate effectively into implementation.

“Second, climate considerations are increasingly integrated into planning processes.

“Continued investment in monitoring systems, data frameworks, and evaluation mechanisms will help ensure progress is measurable and sustained,” he said.

Apurva also highlighted the importance of strengthening climate-informed budgeting, expenditure tracking and investment prioritisation as climate financing systems evolve.

Federal–state alignment, he said, remains critical as climate risks do not stop at administrative boundaries.

“Clear institutional roles, coordinated planning, and shared data systems help ensure climate action generates benefits not just for individual states, but for Malaysia as a whole,” he said.

The Subnational CCIA Report was officiated by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, marking a significant milestone in strengthening the state’s institutional readiness for climate action and green economic growth.

The initiative is a collaboration between the Sarawak Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Sabah Climate Action Council, and the World Bank, and underscores the state’s proactive approach in aligning policy, governance and implementation frameworks to address climate risks while driving sustainable development.

This Subnational CCIA report provides a comprehensive assessment of Sarawak and Sabah’s institutional landscape in managing climate change, including governance structures, regulatory frameworks, inter-agency coordination, financing mechanisms and capacity development. It outlines strategic recommendations to enhance institutional effectiveness, improve policy coherence and accelerate the transition towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy.

The study was conducted over a two-year period through extensive engagement with more than 150 officials across climate-related ministries and agencies in both Sarawak and Sabah, enabling an in-depth understanding of the practical governance and implementation challenges encountered in delivering climate action on the ground.

The event brought together policymakers, industry leaders, development partners, academia and civil society representatives, reflecting a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to climate governance.

The CCIA is expected to serve as a key reference document in strengthening the Sarawak state’s climate institutions and supporting their climate and sustainability ambitions, positioning them at the frontier of subnational climate governance in the region, driving innovation at the state level while contributing meaningfully to Malaysia’s national climate goals.

Also present were Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki, Minister in the Premier’s Department Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai, and Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni.