By Chris Lidom & Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Aug 19: Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS) and Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore and develop Nature-based Solutions (NbS) projects in Sarawak.
According to a press release, NbS are activities related to the conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems to remove greenhouse gas emissions.
NbS projects must be of high quality and integrity and meet internationally recognised certification standards.
Under the MoU, both parties will identify and explore potential sites in Sarawak for developing NbS projects that will generate and provide co-benefits to the local communities and biodiversity.
The collaboration will also prioritise the development of local capabilities and knowledge required to implement the NbS projects.
Carbon credits generated through NbS are integral for PETRONAS to offset residual and hard-to-abate emissions, complementing the Company’s Net Zero Carbon Emissions by 2050 Pathway.
In the carbon mitigation hierarchy, reducing emissions is the top priority after first taking measures to avoid producing them.
Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg witnessed the MOU signing ceremony held at the Hilton Hotel here today.
PETRONAS was represented by its Corporate Sustainability’s senior general manager (Strategy, Policy & Regulation) Wan Sayuti Wan Hussin, and senior manager (Nature-based Solutions) Mohamad Azhar Omar, while SFC was represented by its general manager Abang Arabi Abang Aimran and deputy general manager (Conservation) Dr Melvin Gumal.
In her speech, PETRONAS Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer for Corporate Sustainability, Charlotte Wolff-Bye, noted that Malaysia is one of the world’s most biologically diverse countries, with Sarawak being the most visibly blessed with rich and plentiful flora and fauna.
“We hope that our collaboration with SFC, and the other two collaborations that will be announced today, will lead to meaningful and lasting impacts.
“We believe that with continued commitment, coupled with scientific expertise, we can make significant strides in addressing climate change, protecting our natural habitats and biodiversity,” she said.
Meanwhile, Abang Arabi said there was a need to document sites and locations in Sarawak which are degraded, replant indigenous trees with ones that will in future be nesting trees, flowering and fruiting trees for wildlife and also serve as wildlife corridors for these animals to pass through.
He also said trees are vital as they sequester carbon dioxide (CO2) and release oxygen (O2) into the atmosphere.
Trees also serve to hold down soil and are an important component as they help absorb water after rains, especially in water catchments, he added.
“Fortuitously for us, our process of doing so dovetails into international frameworks and procedures called ‘Rewilding’ and these procedures, together with the ‘Monitoring, Reporting and Verification’ (MRV) component, are vital to entities looking at reducing their carbon footprint.
“It is here that we began talking and discussing with PETRONAS about looking at NbS sites, and after many months of negotiations, we have signed and, today, we are exchanging MoUs witnessed by the Premier of Sarawak,” he stated in his speech.
Also present were Deputy Minister for Urban Planning Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh; Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni; Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain; Sarawak Attorney-General (SAG) Datu Saferi Ali; and ESG Malaysia director Datin Esther Mujan Balan. — DayakDaily
