KUCHING: Sarawak is calling on ASEAN youth to become changemakers in the global fight against climate change, as Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin urged young leaders across the region to take the lead in driving environmental awareness and sustainable innovation.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by participants of the Empowering Youth Across ASEAN (EYAA) programme today, Lee emphasised that climate change requires urgent and collective action, beginning with education and youth empowerment.
“Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and youth must be at the forefront of this movement.
“We need to start by raising awareness in schools – encouraging sustainable practices and environmental consciousness from a young age,” Lee said.
The visit brought together delegates from all ten ASEAN countries including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam for a discussion on Sarawak’s environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation, and youth-led innovation in sustainable development.
Lee highlighted Sarawak’s push for low-carbon solutions, including its hydrogen-powered Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) project and other initiatives in biomass, carbon capture, and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) made from microalgae.
Drawing from his humanitarian background, Lee also shared how he founded the 3R Centre under the Malaysian Red Crescent Society in Miri a decade ago, which promotes household waste recycling and composting.
The minister encouraged delegates to embrace the 5R principles – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, and Rot – and turn them into action aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
During the interactive session, delegates asked about Sarawak’s climate policies and challenges, sparking a meaningful dialogue on how youth-led efforts can influence national and regional strategies.
The engagement concluded with a renewed sense of commitment from the ASEAN delegates, who praised Sarawak’s leadership in green transformation and pledged to carry forward the knowledge to drive change in their own countries.
