Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah noted that the country has an integrated plan, the Brunei Darussalam National Climate Change Policy (BNCCP), which takes a whole-of-government approach to addressing climate change.
Introduced in 2020, the BNCCP has, by 2023, facilitated a 15 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to business-as-usual levels. This reduction results from implementing strategies outlined in the BNCCP, which aligns with the country’s efforts to develop a clearer direction towards achieving the ‘net-zero’ aspiration by 2050.
This statement was in response to an inquiry from Legislative Council (LegCo) member Yang Berhormat Hajah Rosmawatty binti Haji Abdul Momin regarding a master plan to coordinate green project initiatives during the 21st LegCo session.
The minister added that various mitigation measures have been implemented to reduce GHG emissions in the four years since the BNCCP’s introduction.
These measures include reducing GHG emissions in the industrial sector by minimising flaring and venting at oil and gas production facilities and enforcing the mandatory reporting of GHG directive, which requires facilities and agencies to report GHG emission data periodically.
Increased use of renewable energy is being pursued through projects such as the Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP) three megawatt (MW) solar project, the 30MW Kampong Belimbing project, the flagship public-private partnership (PPP) project, the 48MW by Hengyi Project Sinar and small-scale rooftop solar projects actively pursued by the commercial sector, including Expro Sdn Bhd, Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) and the academic sector, such as Jerudong International School (JIS).
Reduction of GHG emissions from energy generation and use is being addressed through efforts to improve the generation efficiency of all power stations and the implementation of the Energy Efficiency (Standards and Labelling) Order, 2021, to encourage the use of more energy-efficient equipment.
Reduction of GHG emissions from the land transport sector is being achieved through increased sales of electric vehicles (EVs).
Reduction of waste disposal rates is being pursued through waste reduction using the 3R concept (reduce, reuse and recycle), composting and waste-to-energy technology, to reduce land use for landfills and the volume of waste requiring disposal.
Increased carbon absorption (carbon sink) is being achieved through afforestation and reforestation.
Furthermore, efforts to balance climate action with the country’s development needs are crucial to ensure national resources are allocated strategically and balanced between mitigation and adaptation measures and sustainable economic growth. This approach aligns with the aspirations of Brunei Vision 2035 and the Brunei Economic Blueprint.
However, the success of these efforts depends on several factors, notably adequate financial support, continuous capacity building and innovative technological advancements to ensure more effective implementation.
To enhance the effectiveness of mitigation and adaptation, the country, through the Climate Change Office and the Ministry of Education, is actively implementing education and awareness programmes in schools nationwide.
The government is also actively conducting public awareness campaigns through eco-friendly technology exhibitions, community programmes such as tree planting and recycling and disseminating information via social media, radio and television.
The climate change segment on Radio Television Brunei’s Rampai Pagi is a recent initiative, held monthly as a public awareness platform on climate change issues in the country.
Energy efficiency and conservation (EEC) initiatives play a vital role in optimising the use of valuable resources, such as oil and natural gas, for long-term needs and to ensure a stable energy supply. Public involvement is also essential for advancing green initiatives.
The Department of Energy released a video on practical energy-saving tips last year, shared via television broadcasts and social media. Additionally, a guidebook on EEC initiatives will be distributed to encourage public participation, an effort that will help the country optimise valuable resources, such as gas and foster responsible consumption behaviour, the minister stated. However, several challenges have been identified in the implementation of green project initiatives, including the availability of policies for green projects, local capacity in handling green technology and public acceptance of green projects.
Taking a whole-of-nation approach, a project team has been established to implement existing green project initiatives and design new initiatives, in line with the strategies under the BNCCP.
This project team is currently and will continue to, hold stakeholder engagement sessions, including with the private sector, educational institutions and non-governmental organisations, to gather information and obtain feedback regarding their capabilities and availability in exploring green development in the country.
“Overall, these green project initiatives are also closely monitored under the Energy Security and Efficiency Steering Committee (ESESC) to ensure their implementation is according to the set timeline.” – Lyna Mohamad
