KUCHING: Minister for Transport Sarawak Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, on Thursday received delegates from the Empowering Youth Across ASEAN (EYAA) programme as part of their youth exchange initiative aimed at fostering leadership, environmental stewardship, and cross-cultural collaboration among ASEAN youths.

The programme brought together young leaders from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Singapore.

During the courtesy visit, the delegates engaged in a dialogue with the Minister on key issues including environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation, and youth-led innovation in sustainable development.

“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,” Dato Sri Lee said in a statement.

He emphasised the critical role of education and soft skills in driving change and shared Sarawak’s ongoing efforts to reduce emissions and transition to green mobility.

“Our Ministry is doing its part through the development of hydrogen-powered Autonomous Rapid Transit (ART) system. This clean-energy transport initiative supports our commitment to a low-carbon future,” he said.

Dato Sri Lee also highlighted broader Sarawak initiatives, including the development of the hydrogen economy, biomass energy, carbon capture technologies, and producing Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) from microalgae.

The delegates actively participated in the dialogue by posing thoughtful questions related to sustainability and Sarawak’s green policies. Dato Sri Lee addressed each query, sharing insights on the Sarawak's strategic direction, challenges, and future plans in tackling climate change.

The EYAA delegates expressed appreciation for Sarawak’s environmental leadership and innovative policies, with the session ending in an exchange of ideas on how ASEAN youth can champion sustainability across the region. -UKASnews