KUCHING: Sarawak can become a green energy regional powerhouse that exports sustainable power to neighbouring countries and beyond by 2035, said Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.
He said Sarawak's commitment to renewable energy and the green economy was the cornerstone of the state's economic transformation.
"With substantial hydropower capacity, the state already leads the region in clean energy production," he told the Sarawak Future Forum here today.
He said Sarawak was expanding its renewable energy portfolio, targeting an impressive capacity of 15GW by 2035.
To reach that goal, Abang Johari said, the state was laying the groundwork for a future where financial success was aligned with environmental stewardship.
He said decoupling the state's economic growth from carbon emissions and resource depletion would ensure long-term economic and ecological resilience.
A speaker at the forum is Joseph Stiglitz, a US economist and professor renowned for his work on inequality, information asymmetry and global economic policy. He was a recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 2001.
Abang Johari said Sarawak's economy was historically reliant on oil, gas and timber, which were finite resources.
He said Sarawak was committed to sustainable growth.
He said the state's Post-Covid Development Strategy 2030 was a roadmap for this transformation, with environmental sustainability a fundamental component of economic progress.
He said the roadmap was the state's vision to "build a strong, diversified and sustainable economy that benefits all Sarawakians".
"As we continue to develop economically, we must be mindful of the impact we have on the environment and our communities."
He said one of the goals of the roadmap was to double Sarawak's gross domestic product from RM136 billion in 2019 to RM282 billion in 2030.
He said in that 11-year period, 195,000 new jobs would be created.
On green initiatives, Abang Johari said green hydrogen was at the forefront of the state's clean energy strategy.
He said the zero-emission fuel could decarbonise hard to abate industries.
"Sarawak aims to become a key exporter of hydrogen, particularly to South Korea and Japan, aligning with their national net-zero strategies."
He said to meet export targets, Sarawak was developing "a robust hydrogen transportation and storage infrastructure", allowing for seamless export to international markets.
"By leveraging its geographical advantage and proximity to key Asian economies, Sarawak can become a major supplier of clean hydrogen, further diversifying its economy."
At the heart of the state's development strategy was the principle of inclusivity, he said.
"We are determined to ensure that the benefits of economic progress are shared by all segments of society.
"Social equity must be a guiding principle as we develop policies and programmes that ensure every Sarawakian, regardless of background, has access to opportunities for education, employment and entrepreneurship.
"To truly measure our success, we must ask ourselves, are we creating a society where everyone has a chance to succeed? Are we building a future where no one is left behind?
"These are the questions that must guide our work in the years ahead."