KUCHING (Jan 11): A significant step was taken last Friday, Jan 9, to bolster Sarawak’s climate governance framework, as 30 participants attended a Discovery and Needs Assessment Workshop for Phase 2 of the state’s Greenhouse Gas Management System (GHG-MS).

Held at a hotel here, the workshop brought together key stakeholders including representatives from the State Attorney-General’s Chamber (SAGC), the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability Sarawak (MEESty), the Natural Resources and Environment Board Sarawak (NREB), Sarawak Information Systems Sdn Bhd (Sains), Accenture, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).

In a statement, NREB described the event as “a significant milestone in advancing the next phase of the GHG-MS, particularly in relation to carbon levy and carbon credit management.”

The workshop primarily aimed to identify the needs and system requirements for developing GHG-MS Phase 2.

This next phase is designed to enhance Sarawak’s capacity to manage greenhouse gas emissions in line with its climate commitments and regulatory landscape.

Controller of Environmental Quality Sarawak, Datu Jack Liam, in his opening remarks, underscored the importance of building a robust and future-ready system to support the state’s climate governance.

MEESty briefed attendees on relevant policies, strategies, roadmaps, and the proposed carbon levy mechanism to ensure the system’s development aligns with Sarawak’s long-term goals.

The workshop also featured a session on Singapore’s Emissions Data Monitoring and Analysis (EDMA) system and its application in carbon tax administration.

This provided valuable insights into how established systems handle emissions data, taxation mechanisms, and compliance processes.

“A key component was the needs assessment exercise, which enabled participants to identify and define the key deliverables and scope for GHG-MS Phase 2,” said NREB.

The session concluded with a walkthrough of the proposed deliverables, including specific system modules and a proposed timeline, establishing a clear and shared understanding of the path forward.