‘We are serious’: Premier reaffirms S’wak’s commitment to UN-aligned net-zero goals by 2050

By Doreen Ling

KUCHING, Nov 18: Sarawak is serious about its commitment to contributing to the mitigation of carbon emissions, in line with the United Nations’ (UN) target of net-zero emissions by 2050, which is just 25 years away, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

Speaking during a dinner in conjunction with the officiation of the International Conference on Forest Plantation Research and Innovation (ICFPRI) 2025 held at a hotel here on Monday (Nov 17), he said some industrialised nations may struggle to meet this target, but they must play their part.

“That is where forests are no longer valued merely for timber products, but rather, a scientific process through modern technology to enrich our biodiversity as well as to conserve it,” he said.

The Premier added that while the growing demand for wood-based products must be recognised, natural forests alone cannot meet these demands without facing serious degradation.

He said this is where well-managed forest plantations play a crucial role by ensuring a renewable and sustainable supply of raw materials, which would not only reduce harvesting pressure on natural forests but also contribute to climate resilience, economic growth, and innovation within the forestry sector.

“The management of tropical forests has become complex in the face of rapid climate change. Sustainable forest management is crucial to conserve forest resources, maintain a vital ecosystem and safeguard the many benefits forests provide for future generations,” he said.

He reiterated the Sarawak government’s commitment to mitigating carbon emissions, saying that carbon can only be reduced if it’s taken out of the atmosphere through absorption by trees, biodiversity, and land, as well as through carbon capture and storage (CCUS) and other innovations.

“With this shift in economic emphasis, we (Sarawak) also have to shift the way we manage our forests. We must plant a lot of trees as a carbon sink. Yes, we have our natural forests, but we have to enrich them by planting more trees—either from seeds or grafted trees.

“This is where science comes in. We must do a lot of research to plant more trees within a short period of time and build the storage area for us to absorb more carbon while producing more oxygen,” he said.

Also present were the Sarawak Deputy Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration, and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh; the Sarawak Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni; and FDS director, Datu Hamden Mohammad. — DayakDaily

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