Timber

Sarawak advances SDG and ESG via PCDS 2030, leveraging hydropower, hydrogen, and carbon capture to attract green investment. However, critical challenges persist in governance transparency, indigenous rights, social equity, and over-reliance on unproven technologies, threatening the credibility and inclusivity of its sustainability transition. This tension is further complicated by the legacy of its timber and oil palm sectors, which have drawn sharp local and international criticism but are now undergoing significant reform efforts aimed at aligning with global ESG standards.

The Sarawak Government has mandated that all long-term licensees for natural forests obtain their forest management certification by 2022. This is to ensure that forest resources in Sarawak are managed sustainably and complied fully with international recognised standards.