ABU DHABI: Sarawak showcased its integrated approach to energy development, environmental sustainability and infrastructure resilience at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026, highlighting how coordinated planning, strong institutions and firm regulatory enforcement have delivered tangible results.

Sarawak Deputy Minister for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Dr Hazland Abang Hipni, said resilient systems depend on how energy, environmental and urban infrastructure are designed to function together, particularly during periods of stress. He was speaking during the panel session “Resilient Systems, Real Results.”

He said Sarawak has adopted an integrated development framework that aligns energy, environmental management and economic planning, enabling the State to move beyond policy formulation to effective implementation.

“At the core of Sarawak’s approach is integration. By aligning energy, environment and development planning under a single framework, we have been able to move from strategy to delivery,” he said.

Sarawak’s efforts are guided by the Sarawak Sustainability Blueprint 2030 (SSB 2030), a unified and publicly accessible strategy that sets clear targets across sectors.

The Blueprint has helped synchronise planning cycles among state agencies, align investments and improve coordination, addressing past fragmentation in infrastructure development and environmental governance.

Infrastructure modernisation remains a key focus. Sarawak is upgrading its electricity transmission and distribution networks to support higher renewable energy penetration and system reliability.

Hydrogen refuelling stations are being developed alongside electric vehicle charging facilities, while industrial corridor planning is aligned with renewable energy hubs to ensure balanced growth between power generation and demand.

Environmental protection and climate adaptation are embedded in development planning.

Initiatives include forest restoration programmes targeting up to 10 per cent of degraded areas over five years, expansion of protected areas, and stricter emissions controls under the Environment (Reduction of Greenhouse Gases) Ordinance 2023, including limits on flaring and venting.

Energy and sustainability initiatives are aligned with the State’s broader economic agenda under the Post COVID-19 Development Strategy 2030 (PCDS 2030).

Leveraging low-cost hydropower, Sarawak anchors energy-intensive industries within the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) to support economic growth and long-term resilience.

Datuk Dr Hazland said progress has been driven by flagship projects and firm enforcement, including hydrogen infrastructure projects and the enforcement of restrictions on routine flaring and venting from November 2025. Sarawak aims to achieve at least 60 per cent renewable energy in its power mix by 2030.

He said Sarawak’s experience offers practical lessons for other regions pursuing integrated and sustainable development. -UKASnews