KUCHING, March 19: The two-day Clean Energy Collaboration Forum (CEC) has resolved that it is time for Sarawak and Malaysia to ramp up investment in small-scale renewables and to collaborate with indigenous communities in the process.
In a recent press statement, event organiser Sarawak Save Rivers said after two days of discussions and panels between ministers, government officials, community members, civil society organisations, and industry experts, the resulting message of the CEC was clear – Malaysia has an incredible opportunity to lead the renewable energy transformation in the region, and communities around Malaysia are already leading the way.
“The event saw ministers and deputy ministers speaking bluntly about Sarawak’s obligations to defend its land against destructive industries such as mega-dams, as well as the federal government’s role in ensuring Sarawak invests in local clean energy systems to eliminate energy poverty,” said Sarawak Save Rivers.
The NGO said the indigenous communities who have been directly impacted by large-scale energy projects were present at the meeting.
“More than 50 delegates from Belaga and Baram shared their experience implementing successful renewable energy projects, spearheading micro-hydro systems in remote areas in partnership with civil society organisations.
“These communities have built and maintained their own systems despite facing displacement from mega-hydro projects. They are showing that community engagement is cleaner and more effective than mega energy projects that bypass remote and rural communities, destroy rainforests and displace local communities,” said Sarawak Save Rivers.
Deputy Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Isnaraissah Munirah Majili had opened the event by committing to this approach: “We are interested in working with communities and listening to all stakeholders, to create the most effective projects and have reliable energy from the Petronas Towers to the kampung.
“Large dams can only serve as very last resort after having explored all other options for energy generation.”
Isnaraissah also reaffirmed Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Yeo Bee Yin’s international commitment to reducing Malaysia’s emissions by 35 per cent by 2030, as well as Malaysia’s renewable energy target of 20 per cent by 2030 where local and international energy experts were quick to point out that neither of these targets will be met if large-scale destructive energy projects continue to be pursued by the Sarawak government.
The deputy minister also pointed out that Malaysia can be a regional and international renewable energy leader.
“We can not only set new standards for renewable energy in the region but build an industry that will be able to support other countries down the road. This leadership is not only the right thing to do, but will create many new opportunities for business development, entrepreneurship, research and technological leaps.
“We are excited to be part of the clean energy revolution that is taking place around the world,” said Isnaraissah.
Professor Daniel Kammen from the University of California, Berkeley spoke frankly about the need for Sarawak to end mega-hydro projects.
“With the world turning to green energy, Sarawak can choose clean energy and community health, or it can stay with environmentally destructive mega-dams that cost more, employ less and turn away green energy investors from Malaysia,” said Kammen at CEC.
He said the transition to renewables was framed not only as a moral and social imperative, but as an economic opportunity.
Meanwhile, former Australian Senator Christine Milne in her keynote address at CEC asserted that there is affordable technology in the market to bring electricity to people at an affordable price.
“The off-the-shelf technology now exists at a price that makes it financially attractive to decouple the generation of energy from fossil fuels and mega-dams. You can now bring electricity to people wherever they live at an affordable price and without damage to the environment,” said Milne. — DayakDaily
