By Amanda L
KUCHING, Mar 3: Sabah and Sarawak’s forests, biodiversity and land-use systems form a central pillar of Malaysia’s climate strategy due to their scale, carbon storage capacity and conservation value, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
According to him, these subnational natural assets contribute directly to climate mitigation efforts and their management requires coordination with international bodies and the Federal Government under both national and international legal frameworks.
“Sabah and Sarawak are important assets to Malaysia because we have significant resources such as forests, land-use systems, and conservation areas.
“We play a role alongside international bodies in managing these assets under both international and national laws, while collaborating closely with the Federal Government on climate matters,” he said.
He said this when met by reporters after the Subnational Climate Change Institutional Assessment (CCIA) report launch at a hotel here today.
Abang Johari noted that responsible management of forests and conservation areas strengthens Malaysia’s overall climate governance framework as land-use planning and biodiversity protection in Sabah and Sarawak directly influence national emissions outcomes.
He added that coordinated legal and institutional structures ensure these natural resources support both domestic climate commitments and broader international climate objectives.
“The role of Sabah and Sarawak in climate governance shows that subnational resources can play a key part in achieving national and global climate targets when guided by clear legal frameworks and coordinated partnerships,” he stressed. — DayakDaily
