Sarawak Forest Dept MoU with Osaka Metropolitan University to use Japan’s satellite for greenhouse gas emissions monitoring

KUCHING (Nov 11): Sarawak is taking a major step forward in advancing scientific cooperation with Japan through a new partnership that will use satellite technology to monitor and verify greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Sarawak Forest Department and Osaka Metropolitan University in Tokyo last night (Nov 10), which will involve the proposed collaboration on the use of Japan’s Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (Gosat) for assessing and monitoring GHG emissions through the Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) measurement.

According to the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas), the MoU complements the state’s existing collaboration with Japan’s National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES), which was formalised in 2023 under the Premier’s mandate.

For Sarawak, the collaboration will further strengthen the state’s credibility in independent reporting within the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM), as Gosat provides scientifically verified and independent data streams.

The scope of the partnership also covers joint research activities in forest ecosystem studies and biodiversity conservation, as well as joint publication of research outcomes between both parties.

The exchange of the MoU was carried out between Sarawak Forest Department director Datu Hamden Mohammad and Osaka Metropolitan University representative Prof Dr Yayoi Takeuchi.

The delegation will next proceed to Osaka, where Hamden is scheduled to deliver a lecture titled ‘Strengthening Forest Management Through Research, Monitoring and Innovation in Sarawak’ at Osaka Metropolitan University tomorrow (Nov 12).