Abang Johari calls on local communities to help protect Sarawak's forests
He said the Sarawak government places strong emphasis on the sustainable management of its natural assets, in line with its development goals.
"Under our Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030), we have included environmental sustainability as one of the three core pillars. This means we must implement our policies with full consideration of environmental concerns," he said at the state-level International Day of Forests (IDF) celebration at the Forest Research Centre near here today.
"I just returned from Japan a few days ago, where I had the opportunity to speak about our sustainability blueprint and our efforts to produce clean, renewable energy for global use.
"This was during a global hydrogen conference, and we are fortunate that participating countries acknowledged Sarawak's efforts in contributing to a greener global environment," he said.
Abang Johari said the Sarawak government has formulated and implemented various green policies and initiatives that aim to balance development with conservation, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030 Agenda.
He said the state's green policy is a strategic response to the dual challenges of climate change and the need to align economic development with environmental preservation.
"One of the key focuses of this policy is Sarawak's commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050," he said.
He added that the state is working to build a green economy, anchored in the production of green hydrogen, adoption of low-carbon technologies, and nature-based solutions that support sustainable growth.
Through the advancement of the hydrogen economy, Sarawak is tapping into its vast hydropower resources to produce green hydrogen, positioning itself as a regional leader in clean and renewable energy solutions.
Abang Johari said ongoing efforts are also being made to reduce waste, promote material reuse, and improve solid waste management practices.
He added that these efforts are being carried out in close collaboration with local authorities and communities, to ensure a more sustainable and environmentally friendly waste management system.
"However, the responsibility for green policies does not rest with the government alone.
"It requires active participation from all levels of society, including government agencies, the private sector, educational institutions, NGOs, and the grassroots community," he said.
"This is why environmental education from an early stage is so important — to ensure the younger generation understands, appreciates, and adopts sustainable values in their daily lives," he added.
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