BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Brunei Darussalam’s goals of reducing waste generation to one kilogramme per person per day and achieving a recycling rate of 30 per cent by 2035 remains a national priority, Minister of Development Datuk Seri Setia Awang Muhammad Juanda Abdul Rashid said.
He said to achieve these “we continue to implement three main strategies – waste minimisation through 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), public awareness and empowerment and adoption of waste to resource technology.”
The minister said this during the 18th Asean Ministerial Meeting on the Environment in Langkawi, Malaysia.
He reaffirmed that the Sultanate remains resolute in advancing its environmental agenda in line with Brunei Vision 2035 and the United Nations (UN) 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
He added, “The Ministry of Development’s (MoD) Strategic Plan 2024–2029 outlines clear national priorities to promote sustainability, strengthen climate resilience, and ensure the responsible stewardship of our natural resources. The plan reflects the country’s determination to pursuing balanced economic growth and environmental protection while safeguarding the well-being of present and future generations.”
Such efforts, he said, “are further reinforced by the recent endorsement of three blueprints during the Second Meeting of the Legislative Council session: the Social Blueprint, the Economic Blueprint, and the Manpower Blueprint for Negara Brunei Darussalam. Each of these strategic documents emphasises sustainability, inclusivity, and resilience, which align with Asean’s overarching vision of peace, sustainability, and prosperity for the region”.
In support of the 3Rs principles and promoting a circular economy, he mentioned the government continues to strengthen its efforts to promote sustainable practices.
This includes the launch of the Food Waste Management Initiative on Feb 27, aimed at encouraging the public to adopt environmentally friendly practices of managing food waste through composting for use as fertiliser.
Plastic waste, he said, “remains a pressing challenge and growing concern in Brunei Darussalam, in which plastic waste makes up 26 per cent of Brunei’s total landfill waste.
Eighty per cent of waste collected from beaches and the Brunei River during clean-up campaigns was mostly plastic bottles”.
On climate change and sustainability, he said, “Climate change remains at the forefront of Brunei’s environmental priorities. Guided by the Brunei Darussalam National Climate Change Policy (BNCCP), launched in 2020, we have charted a clear course towards a 20 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, relative to business-as-usual levels, and our long-term aspiration of net-zero emissions by 2050”.
He added, “Our mandatory greenhouse gas reporting directive, requiring facilities to report quarterly and annually, has strengthened national MRV capacity and ensures credible progress towards our climate targets.”
The minister said, “We also look forward to the operationalisation of the Asean Centre for Climate Change (ACCC), which Brunei Darussalam is honoured to host. The centre will serve as an intergovernmental hub for knowledge exchange, policy advice, and regional collaboration on climate change.”
Regarding youth participation, he said, “Brunei remains committed to engaging its youth in environmental sustainability through targeted initiatives involving young people at all levels – schools, higher institutions and also non-governmental organisations.”
The minister also touched on biodiversity and nature conservation, where the Sultanate continues to safeguard its rich ecosystems.
With 41 per cent of the country’s land designated for protection and conservation, he said, “we exceed global conservation benchmarks and remain committed to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
“We also reaffirm our pledge to plant 500,000 new trees by 2035, as part of our climate mitigation and greening efforts.”
On sustainable cities and air quality, the minister said, “Brunei Darussalam recognises that urban sustainability is central to building a greener future. We commend the work of the Asean Working Group on Environmentally Sustainable Cities (AWGESC), and we are pleased to announce that Brunei will host the 24th AWGESC in 2026.”
In terms of partnerships and regional cooperation, he added that Brunei believes its success in addressing pressing environmental challenges depends on strong partnerships, knowledge sharing and mobilising resources.
“We remain fully committed to working with Asean member states and our partners to advance a greener, cleaner, and more resilient Asean Community,” he concluded. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
