LIMBANG: Sustainable development that strengthens the balance between economic growth and environmental conservation remains a key priority of the Sarawak government, ensuring the state’s economic progress goes hand in hand with preserving natural resources and enhancing resilience against climate change.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the state adopts a sustainable development approach by balancing economic development with environmental protection to safeguard long-term prosperity without compromising the sustainability of its natural resources.
“We are now facing the realities of climate change. It is no longer a challenge for the future or for the next generatio. It is a challenge that is already upon us.
“Climate change is a global issue that we must confront. We need to be prepared to face increasingly frequent extreme weather events such as major floods, droughts, rising temperatures, coastal erosion, soil erosion, haze, and the continued loss of biodiversity,” he said when officiating at the opening of the Community and Village Chiefs (KMKK) Empowerment Seminar on Environmental Stewardship Towards Sustainable Development Series 1/2026 for Limbang District recently.
Awang Tengah said Sarawak’s development is planned comprehensively, with emphasis on sustainable land use while strengthening forest conservation and the protection of environmentally sensitive areas to ensure development and environmental stewardship remain in balance.
He added that Sarawak is also close to achieving its target of gazetting at least one million hectares of forest as Totally Protected Areas (TPA), reinforcing the state government’s commitment to conserving biodiversity and protecting ecosystems.
Meanwhile, he said the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) will continue to be strengthened to coordinate environmental management in Sarawak, including progressively assuming the functions of the Department of Environment (DOE) following the Federal Government’s approval.
Awang Tengah noted that the state government is promoting the adoption of waste-to-energy technology to convert waste into energy, while expanding the use of renewable energy and fostering greater public awareness that environmental conservation is a shared responsibility that should be instilled from a young age.
