By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah should take a leading role in forest conservation and carbon management.
Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup (PBRS-Sook) said the state should leverage its strong forest coverage and progressive state policies.
Arthur, who is also federal natural resources and environmental sustainability minister, said he was proud as a Sabahan to see the state advancing a forward-looking and progressive environmental agenda under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
At the Rio Earth Summit in 1992, Malaysia pledged to maintain at least 50 per cent of the country's land mass under forest and tree cover, he said.
He said recent international data shows that Peninsular Malaysia has fallen short of that obligation, with forest cover declining to 43.18 per cent.
"In Sarawak, forest cover remains at 61.52 per cent; while Sabah stands at 62.53 per cent — the highest.
"It is us that 'saved' Peninsular Malaysia and contributed to the forest coverage," he said when asking a question at the Sabah Legislative Assembly sitting here.
Arthur had asked about the latest status of Sabah Climate Change Action Council (SCAC) since its establishment in 2024 and how the profits from carbon activities could benefit the communities who look after forested areas in Sabah.
He said local communities, particularly rural and indigenous groups, have safeguarded forest resources for generations.
"We must acknowledge that this success would not exist without local communities — villagers who have lived there and protected these natural assets for generations.
"Today, we are the ones benefiting and have the opportunity to monetise them through carbon credits.
"If we monetise forests now and lead the carbon credit agenda, potentially earning billions, how do we ensure that local communities receive fair returns so their livelihoods can grow alongside the rest of society?"
In reply, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Mandela Malakun said under the proposed Climate Change and Governance Enactment 2025, particularly Section 22, the involvement of indigenous communities in carbon-related activities is mandated.
"Section 22 clearly provides that carbon projects involving native areas cannot be implemented without consultation, proposals, benefits, and proper consideration for local communities, including indigenous groups," he said.
As for the SCAC, he said it had implemented two pilot projects, namely a vulnerability assessment on risks arising from climate change and the Sabah Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory Report 2024, both of which confirmed Sabah's carbon-negative status.
"Following the gazettement of the Sabah Climate Change and Carbon Governance Enactment 2025, the state government will establish the Sabah Climate Registration and Inventory Centre (SaCRIC).
"This centre will be responsible for overseeing the enforcement of the enactment on behalf of the state government."
Comments
Post a Comment