KUCHING: The forests and rich biodiversity of Sabah and Sarawak play a central role in Malaysia’s climate strategy, says Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.
He said these natural assets contribute positively towards mitigating climate change and must be managed in tandem with national and international legal frameworks.
“We are working with the Federal Government to manage climate issues and ensure national coherence.
“Sabah and Sarawak are central to Malaysia because we have significant resources like forests, land use and conservation,” he told reporters after launching the Malaysia Subnational Climate Change Institutional Assessment (CCIA) report.
In his speech, Abang Johari said effective climate governance in Malaysia must recognise the roles and responsibilities of Sarawak and Sabah while ensuring national policy coherence.
He said the Federal Constitution and Malaysia Agreement 1963 granted significant authority to Sarawak over land, forestry, marine and natural resources.
“This is not about drawing boundaries. It is about building bridges so that federal ambition and state implementation reinforce one another,” he said.
Abang Johari said Sarawak remains committed to constructive engagement with the Federal Government and Sabah on policy alignment, investment coordination and shared learning on climate action.
He also welcomed the CCIA’s recognition of Sarawak’s progress in climate action while providing a reform roadmap with short-, medium- and long-term recommendations.
The subnational CCIA initiative is a collaboration between Sarawak’s Energy and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, the Sabah Climate Action Council and the World Bank.
The report provides a comprehensive assessment of both states’ institutional landscape in managing climate change and outlines strategic recommendations to enhance institutional effectiveness, improve policy coherence and accelerate the transition towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy.
