By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 28: Climate change is no longer a challenge for the future or newer generations— they are challenges that are already happening.
According to Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, climate change is a global challenge that causes extreme weather phenomena such as major floods, droughts, rising temperatures, coastal erosion, soil erosion, haze, as well as the increasing loss of biodiversity.
To tackle this, Awang Tengah said that sustainable development to strengthen the balance between the economy and the environment continues to be a key agenda of the Sarawak government in ensuring that the State’s economic progress goes hand in hand with efforts to preserve natural resources and strengthen resilience against the challenges of climate change.
“We are now facing many climate changes. They are no longer challenges for the future or for a new generation; they are challenges that are already happening,” he said at the opening ceremony of a seminar on Empowering Community Leaders and Headmen (KMKK) in Environmental Stewardship Towards Sustainable Development for the Limbang district on Monday (July 27), as reported by the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas).
The Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development said that development in Sarawak is planned comprehensively by taking sustainable land use into account, while strengthening forest conservation efforts and protected areas to ensure that the balance between development and environmental protection continues to be maintained.
He also said that the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) will continue to be strengthened to coordinate environmental management in Sarawak, including gradually taking over the functions of the Department of Environment (DOE) after obtaining the agreement of the federal government. — DayakDaily
