KUCHING, June 21 — State Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg today told an international conference here that the state government’s immediate effort is to undertake a study on Sarawak Climate Change Policy and Low Carbon Society Blueprint.
He said the state government will then formulate a state policy on greenhouse gases and develop mitigation and adaptation action plans to address the impact of climate change and low carbon society.
“I have established a new Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability responsible to plan, coordinate and provide direction for the development of green growth, renewable energy, sustainability and climate change,” he said at the opening of an International Digital Economic Conference Sarawak 2022 (IDECS 2022) themed 'Decoding Big Data for Environmental and Energy Sustainability' here.
He said the Post-Covid-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030) specifically highlights renewable energy as a cornerstone to the state’s 10-year plan to accelerate the global transition to clean energy and reach net zero emission.
He said Sarawak is currently Malaysia’s largest provider of renewable energy for a population of almost three million across Sarawak and parts of Indonesia in West Kalimantan.
He added about 78 per cent of the total electricity generation is from Sarawak's hydropower resources which can be harnessed to reduce the carbon footprint.
He said state-owned Sarawak Energy Berhad in 2018, established and commissioned Southeast Asia’s first integrated hydrogen production plant and refueling station capable of producing 130kg of hydrogen per day at close to 100 per cent purity.
“Currently Sarawak is partnering with global players from South Korea and Japan to develop environmentally friendly hydrogen and green ammonia plant at Bintulu,” he said.
Abang Johari said the state government has introduced a number of hydrogen-powered buses in 2020 and is in the process of introducing hydrogen-powered Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART), a rail-less train system designed to be used for urban public passenger transport, to address greenhouse gas emission from the transportation sector.
“With modern and eco-friendly integrated transportation system, we expect the carbon footprint from land transport in Kuching City will be significantly reduced by 15 per cent by 2030,” the premier said.
He said the state government will continue with its initiatives to conserve, protect and manage the state’s resources sustainably
