KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah State Assembly has passed the Climate Change and Carbon Governance Enactment 2025, positioning Sabah as a national leader in environmental protection and climate resilience.
Assistant Minister Datuk Abidin Madingkir said the Bill safeguards Sabah’s status as a “net carbon sink” – one of the few places in the world that absorbs more carbon than it emits.
Sabah currently accounts for 36pc of Malaysia’s total carbon sequestration.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});He called this a “strategic economic asset” that must be protected through sound governance to avoid losing its environmental advantage, while noting that Sabah is also one of Malaysia’s most climate-vulnerable regions.
The new law will create a comprehensive carbon governance framework, promote inclusive climate action, and ensure that climate benefits reach all Sabahans.
Abidin said success will require investment, capacity-building, and collaboration across all levels, with a focus on using Sabah’s natural advantage wisely.
