KUCHING:, Dec 3 2025: The state government is establishing the Sarawak Climate and Energy Diplomacy Unit under the Premier’s Department to lead all regional and international engagements on climate, carbon and energy transition.
Abang Johari Openg: Through the unit, Sarawak will advance its frontier of green resources, including hydrogen and ammonia and circular economy initiatives
Premier Abang Johari Openg said today that the unit is to advance Sarawak’s long-term climate and energy strategy.
“The Sarawak Climate Change Centre will be placed under this unit as its technical arm, supporting policy, data and scientific work,” he said in his winding up speech at the Sarawak State Assembly today.
He added this governance structure positions Sarawak as a regional leader in climate and energy diplomacy, safeguarding the environmental assets while creating new economic value for Sarawak.
He said through this unit, Sarawak will advance its frontier of green resources, including hydrogen and ammonia, circular economy initiatives, bio-based materials, carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) and sustainable aviation fuel feedstock.
“This includes moving towards a modern circular economy that reduces landfill dependence, cuts methane emissions and strengthens resource efficiency across Sarawak,” the premier said.
He said as Sarawak advances its clean energy agenda, it must also protect the forests and landscapes that sustain the rivers and hydropower dams.
He stressed that conservation is not a cost, but an investment that strengthens water security and creates sustainable income for rural communities.
He added that Sarawak became the first Malaysian region to issue forest carbon licenses to support nature-based carbon projects.
Abang Johari said that Sarawak is now moving from broad commitments to practical, science guided nature-based solutions.
He added the state Forestry Department has granted Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) a carbon study permit to carry out feasibility studies on forest and peatland conservation in key hydropower catchments – safeguarding water resources, strengthening dam safety and exploring long-term carbon revenues.
“Concurrently, SEB has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Union for Conservation of Nature, bringing global best practices to guide biodiversity management around our major infrastructure assets.
“The initiatives are designed to generate an estimated 250,000 carbon credits from preserved forests to offset emissions in hard-to-abate sectors,” he said.
The premier said that the work will involve local and indigenous communities in designing conservation activities, co-managing forest areas and developing livelihood projects linked to restoration, eco-tourism and non-timber forest products.
He added the value created by carbon markets is shared with the people who live closest to these sites.
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