Sarawak is set to become the focal point of regional sustainability dialogues as it prepares to host the third edition of the Rainforest Youth Summit (Rays) 2026 in June.
Organised and funded by the Sarawak government, the summit will take place from June 24 to 26, drawing more than 700 youths from 11 Asean countries.
The event will feature speakers from Malaysia, as well as Kenya, the United States and the United Kingdom.
In addition to dialogues, the programme includes youth-led labs and policy discussions focusing on lived experiences and regional perspectives.
Delegates will also participate in curated excursions showcasing Sarawak’s rainforests and culture.
Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the summit played a growing role in highlighting youth voices in the Asean region.
“Rays 2026 reflects Sarawak’s conviction that youths must not be placed at the edge of sustainability conversations, but firmly at the centre,” he said.
“Through this summit, the state is positioning itself as a hub for youth-led climate leadership where diverse voices converge.”
Sarawak Tourism Board chief executive officer Dr Sharzede Salleh Askor said the event offered insights into how community, heritage and conservation efforts intersect and how they might support the state’s tourism sector.
She added that through the Planet Futures Forum, participants could step into roles, constraints and trade-offs that shape real-world governance.
“This forum aims to build youth capacity in design, negotiating and collective decision making,” she said.
For details, visit www.rainforestyouthsummit.com/
