KUCHING: The Federal Government has agreed to enact carbon trading legislation based on laws drafted by the Sarawak Government.
Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg stated that this decision was made during the National Financial Council Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim last week.
He mentioned that he had previously informed the Prime Minister about the need to expedite the drafting of carbon trading legislation.
"We (the Sarawak Government) cannot do it alone as a state because this must be a national policy, and I informed him (the Prime Minister) that the Federal Government needs to introduce carbon laws promptly.
"So, the Federal Government will send relevant officials to study and incorporate Sarawak's laws into federal legislation," he said.
He made these remarks when speaking to the media during the Premier Sarawak's 2024 Aidilfitri Open House at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here on Wednesday.
For the record, Sarawak became the first state in Malaysia to draft legislation related to carbon trading after the Environmental Conservation Bill (Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction) 2023 was passed in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) session last November.
The bill aims to mitigate the effects of climate change and pave the way for Sarawak to generate revenue through carbon trading or credit sales.
The Sarawak Premier added that Sarawak's carbon legislation is comprehensive and recommended by the World Bank.
He emphasised that federal legislation is essential because carbon trading involves agreements between governments that Sarawak, as a state, cannot participate in.
"So, to move forward, we must have legal parameters to engage in international carbon trading and reduce carbon emissions," he added.-UKASnews
