Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Muhammad Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid has highlighted Brunei’s commitment to environmental preservation and the enforcement of the Environmental Impact Assessment for designated development projects, citing the Environmental Protection and Management Act Chapter 240.
He said this at the 9th Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers (ICEM9) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, which focused on fostering collaboration among the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member nations to promote environmental sustainability in line with the 2030 global agenda.
Chaired by Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Environment, Water, and Agriculture Dr Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al Fadley, the conference centred discussions on vital topics such as green innovation, climate change adaptation and the implementation of smart and sustainable cities. Dato Seri Setia Awang also highlighted Brunei’s successful coastal cleanup initiative, which has collected over 12,352.84 kilogrammes of marine debris to date.
Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Muhammad Juanda also underlined Brunei’s efforts in reducing carbon emissions and promoting green growth.
Notably, the country aims to increase its forest reserves from 45 to 55 per cent by 2025 and has already planted 48,871 trees under the National Climate Change policy, striving to plant 500,000 trees by 2035.
Addressing the issue of non-revenue water wastage, the minister discussed Brunei’s implementation of the Internet of Things (IoT) to monitor water pressure and distribution, demonstrating the country’s commitment to reduce non-revenue water waste from 45 per cent in 2021 to 30 per cent by 2025.
Prior to the conference, the minister and the Brunei delegation participated in the third award ceremony of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Award for Environmental Management in the Islamic World (KSAAEM).
Brunei’s active involvement in regional environmental discussions underscores the nation’s dedication to sustainable development and environmental conservation. – James Kon
