Far ahead in climate change fight
Meeting Paris Agreement 2015 requirements, Sarawak also wants to explore ways to decarbonise transport system
The agreement is one of the first such regional arrangements in the world, which came into force on Nov 25, 2003, that binds a group of contiguous states to tackle transboundary haze pollution resulting from land and forest fires. Malaysia had also communicated with our neighbouring country through diplomatic channels to extend our willingness and readiness to assist them in firefighting in the event of forest or peat fire outbreaks. Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan
Sarawak is ahead of other states in Malaysia and also the regions across Southeast Asia in meeting the requirements of the Paris Agreement 2015 to deal with climate change, says Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.
He says this is evident in the current energy generation mix in the state, which comprises 70 per cent from hydropower, with the carbon emission intensity of the state’s power system having been reduced by 73 per cent between 2010 and 2021.
“We are exploring ways to decarbonise our transport system using the Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) and integrate with digital solutions to create a seamless experience using hydrogen fuel cells.
“This becomes the foundation towards decarbonising our public transport system, with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint from land transport in Kuching City by 15 per cent by 2030,” he said in his speech for the signing of a memorandum of undertaking (MoU) on the ‘Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for Peat Fire Prevention and Suppression’, between Natural Resources and Environmental Board (NREB) and private landowners in Kuala Baram yesterday.
His speech was delivered by the Minister of Transport Sarawak Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.
According to Awang Tengah, Sarawak is also the first state to have legislations for regulating carbon storage and the reduction of carbon emissions in Malaysia, via the amendments to the Sarawak Land Code (Carbon Storage) Rules 2022 and the enactment of the Forest (Forest Carbon Activity) Rules 2022 to facilitate carbon trading.
These initiatives, he added, were further strengthened when the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) passed the Environment (Reduction of Greenhouse Gases Emission) Bill on Nov 20 last year, aimed at regulating greenhouse gas emissions, promoting carbon capture and storage, and mitigating climate change effects to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Awang Tengah, also Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development as well as Minister of International Trade, Industry and Investment Sarawak, said the control of haze in Malaysia was another chapter in the government’s battle in ensuring that environmental sustainability would be secured for current and future generations.
He said Malaysia had signed the Asean Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution (AATHP) together with nine other member countries in 2002, during the World Conference and Exhibition on Land and Forest Fire Hazards.
“The agreement is one of the first such regional arrangements in the world, which came into force on Nov 25, 2003, that binds a group of contiguous states to tackle transboundary haze pollution resulting from land and forest fires.
“Malaysia had also communicated with our neighbouring country through diplomatic channels to extend our willingness and readiness to assist them in firefighting in the event of forest or peat fire outbreaks,” he said.
On the MoU, he described it as ‘a great and well-planned initiative’ by the NREB in tackling the recurrence of peatfire outbreaks at Kuala Baram, which had about 8,000 hectares of peatfire-prone areas around the vicinity of Bandar Baru Permyjaya, Desa Senadin and Curtin University Malaysia.
Awang Tengah said the effort finally paid off in tackling the annual problem with a significant decline of peat area burnt from 2,218 hectares in 2019, to 683.5 hectares in 2020, and to only 14.5 hectares last year.
“However, this result is only achievable with the support of the agencies and the landowners working as a team through sharing of experience, resources and periodical monitoring of the fire prone areas,” he added.
The MoU was signed between NREB and Naim Land Sdn Bhd, Permy Development Sdn Bhd, Linau Mewah Sdn Bhd, Woodman Sdn Bhd, Curtin University Malaysia, Miri Housing Development Realty Sdn Bhd as well as Miri North City Development Sdn Bhd.
Also present at the ceremony were Deputy Minister I for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Sebastian Ting and NREB Sarawak controller Jack Liam.