By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, Nov 23: Sarawak is forming its own carbon registry, according to Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability Dr Hazland Abang Hipni.
Dr Hazland, who is also the Demak Laut assemblyman, stated this when responding to Tanjong Datu assemblyman Azizul Annuar Adenan’s supplementary questions in today’s Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting at the DUN complex here.
Azizul raised two supplementary questions about what carbon credits are and how carbon offset project standards are verified.
“Carbon credits are measurable, verifiable reductions in carbon emissions that can be measured using a formula, and there is now another technology that can use satellites to measure the carbon content of forest carbon.
“And these credits are tradable units that can represent the amount of carbon that has been removed or avoided.
“As a result, one carbon credit equals one tonne of carbon. Carbon credits are now priced between USD8 per tonne and about USD50 per tonne. So we can estimate the amount of revenue that Sarawak will receive if we engage in carbon trading,” Dr Hazland explained.
He went on to say that for carbon offset verification, there are three layers of measurement: the first is done by the government through the Forest Department, the second by carbon consultants or carbon traders, and the third by an independent international body.
“It cannot be done simply; it must be licenced, and Sarawak is in the process of issuing and developing the rules and regulations for carbon trading through carbon licensing, as well as forming our own carbon registry,” he added. — DayakDaily
