Kuching: Sarawak will be introducing a carbon levy on facilities in the oil, gas, and energy sectors this year, said Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. He announced that the proceeds from this levy will be allocated to a dedicated Climate Change Fund aimed at supporting various initiatives.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Premier Abang Johari highlighted the fund's role in promoting renewable energy deployment, energy efficiency, forest conservation, grid modernization, and climate-resilience initiatives. He made these remarks during the 2026 Sarawak Premier's Address, which was organized to commemorate his ninth anniversary as the Premier of Sarawak.

Abang Johari emphasized that 2026 will be a crucial year for Sarawak, as it will be a time when the groundwork laid in previous years is expected to translate into tangible outcomes. He stressed that Sarawak has established the necessary strategies, institutions, and financing mechanisms for long-term development, and these need to produce visible results in 2026.

The Premier also pointed out the need to overcome obstacles such as overlapping processes, excessive risk aversion, and unclear authority, which can hinder progress. He called for swift resolution of these bottlenecks to ensure that implementation-ready projects can move forward decisively.