Answer for Oral Question PL172

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Dr. Awang Haji Mahali bin Haji Momin

YANG BERHORMAT DR. AWANG HAJI MAHALI BIN HAJI MOMIN requested the MINISTER DI JABATAN PERDANA MENTERI to state how the Government balances Brunei’s role as the host of the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change with reports recording the highest per capita carbon emissions in ASEAN. What measures are being taken to strengthen local decarbonisation efforts (local decarbonisation) in demonstrating regional leadership and ensuring measurable progress under the National Climate Change Policy?

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri

The Government takes note of reports on the ranking of the per capita carbon emissions of Negara Brunei Darussalam in comparison with ASEAN countries. Per capita carbon emissions are one of the comparative metrics used to measure a country’s greenhouse gas emissions. Per capita emissions are calculated by dividing a country’s total emissions by its population.

With the lowest population in ASEAN, namely approximately four hundred and sixty thousand (460,000) people, the absolute emissions of fifteen (15) million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent are also among the lowest in ASEAN.

Therefore, per capita emissions need to be interpreted together with the absolute amount and the national context, such as the economic structure and level of development.

The country’s greenhouse gas emissions account for zero point zero two per cent (0.02%) of global emissions. Although the country’s emissions are very small in comparison with global emissions, the country also retains approximately seventy-two per cent (72%) forest cover, among the highest in ASEAN, which acts as a natural carbon sink.

However, as a responsible society, we still need to continue playing our part in reducing carbon emissions. The use of energy, food and everyday goods also affects the amount of emissions.

In this country, the Government has taken various measures to ensure that basic services such as electricity and water supplies are available to support the well-being of the people and the competitiveness of local industries. However, these facilities also contribute to higher consumption patterns compared with the regional average. Therefore, the Government encourages more responsible, prudent and efficient consumption across the board, including reducing the wastage of energy, food and other resources, as well as participating in initiatives such as Protokol Hijau and 3R practices (Reuse, Reduce, Recycle).

The role of Negara Brunei Darussalam as the host of the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change (ACCC) reflects the country’s commitment to addressing climate change. As a think tank, knowledge hub, strategic coordinator and integrator of ASEAN climate action initiatives, ACCC will support efforts to strengthen cooperation, knowledge-sharing and the coordination of climate action, while also supporting the country’s efforts towards a low-carbon and climate-resilient transition, as well as its Net Zero aspirations.

The Dasar Kebangsaan Perubahan Iklim Negara Brunei Darussalam (BNCCP) serves as the main framework for the low-carbon transition through 10 mitigation, adaptation and resilience strategies, as well as enabling strategies. Since the launch of the BNCCP in 2020, the country has successfully reduced its greenhouse gas emissions compared with the Business-as-usual scenario each year.

In line with the direction of the BNCCP, the Government continues to strengthen the implementation of strategies and initiatives towards emissions management and low-carbon growth throughout the value chain, such as reducing emissions from venting and flaring activities in the oil and gas sector through improved operational efficiency, more effective monitoring and the utilisation of gas that was previously released or burned.

Renewable energy capacity, particularly solar energy, has been increased to sixty-three (63) megawatt-peak (MWp) from seven (7) megawatt-peak (MWp) in 2024.

At the same time, the Government continues to expand energy efficiency and conservation measures to foster more efficient and prudent electricity consumption, including adjusting the commercial sector electricity tariff rates from regressive to progressive, which will be implemented in 2028. All these efforts are being implemented in an integrated manner to support the achievement of the objectives of the BNCCP, particularly in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and driving the country’s low-carbon growth.

To ensure measurable progress, the country has also submitted its Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement, supported by the BNCCP and the Mandatory Reporting Directive, which was launched in 2023 for mandatory reporting. At the regional level, the country has also driven capacity-building efforts by organising training programmes such as the ASEAN Regional Workshop on Carbon Pricing and Carbon Markets and the Workshop on Greenhouse Gas Inventories Asia.

Overall, the country’s climate action focuses not only on emissions reduction but also on building resilience through a pragmatic, balanced and proactive approach to support the well-being of the people and the country’s economic development.