Kuching: Sarawak will introduce a carbon levy on facilities in the oil, gas, and energy sectors this year, announced Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg. The Premier revealed that the funds collected from this levy will be allocated to a dedicated Climate Change Fund.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Premier stated that the Climate Change Fund aims to support initiatives such as renewable energy deployment, energy efficiency, forest conservation, grid modernisation, and climate-resilience projects. These remarks were made during his speech at the 2026 Sarawak Premier's Address, an event commemorating his ninth anniversary as the Premier of Sarawak.

The Premier also highlighted that the year 2026 will be significant for Sarawak, transitioning from preparation to performance, with credibility being measured by tangible outcomes. He emphasized that Sarawak has laid the groundwork over the past few years by establishing strategies, institutions, and financing mechanisms necessary for long-term development.

Abang Johari stressed the importance of translating these foundations into visible and tangible results by 2026. He urged for decisive progress on implementation-ready projects and called for resolution of bottlenecks caused by overlapping processes, excessive risk aversion, or unclear authority.