Sabah poised as global hub for green investments, says STARSabah chief

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 24): Sabah is positioning itself as a promising destination for global investors seeking opportunities in conservation, green energy and nature capital, as the world accelerates its transition away from fossil fuels and environmentally harmful industries, said STARSabah president Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

While addressing an international group of investors at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Friday, he said global investment trends are increasingly centred on reducing carbon emissions, expanding green energy and adopting circular economic practices to address climate change, creating new avenues for sustainable investment.

“Sabah offers significant potential in these areas, including opportunities within the Blue Economy, the Green and Nature Capital Economy, as well as sustainable food production,” he said.

Dr Jeffrey highlighted that the Sabah government had earlier made a strategic decision to set aside two million hectares of forest for a 100-year conservation period.

The initiative, he said, was aimed not only at environmental protection and climate change mitigation, but also at generating long-term carbon credit income for the State.

However, he emphasised that investment should go beyond carbon markets alone.

“Investment in nature capital creates greater long-term value and income potential, while at the same time sustaining life on this planet,” he said.

Dr Jeffrey noted that the contribution of nature capital to the global economy is estimated to range between US$125 trillion and US$140 trillion annually, yet remains poorly understood by many.

He also underscored the critical role of the Borneo rainforest in regulating regional and global climate systems, pointing out that Australia’s rainfall and river systems depend significantly on the continued existence of Borneo’s forests.

In addition, he encouraged investors to explore innovative financial instruments such as green coins backed by nature capital and supported by robust regulatory frameworks.

Such initiatives, he said, should be driven not only by profit, but by a shared responsibility to safeguard the planet for future generations.