Brunei Darussalam National Climate Change Policy.

This Brunei Darussalam National Climate Change Policy is a multisectoral document underpinning the principles, values, and strategies to reduce carbon emissions, increase carbon sink, and strengthen climate resilience nationwide. The main goal is to take measures to minimize by 2035 climate impacts by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increasing the capacity to adapt to the changing climate by securing the involvement and support from the public and private sectors, investors, academics, youth, and all the members of the community to progress towards a sustainable Brunei Darussalam. The Policy adopts ten key strategies (1) reduce overall emissions in the industrial sector through zero routine faring and to As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP); (2) increase carbon sink through afforestation and reforestation with a target of planting 500,000 new trees; (3) increase the total share of electric vehicles to 60% of total annual vehicle sales; (4) increase the total share of renewable energy to at least 30% of total capacity in the power generation mix; (5) reduce GHG emissions by at least 10% through better supply and demand management of electricity consumption; (6) impose a price on carbon emissions and establish a proper Monitoring, Reporting and Verifcation (MRV) system; (7) reduce municipal waste to landfills to 1kg/person/day; (8) increase capacity to adapt to climate impacts and in achieving resilience; (9) mandatory monthly and annual reporting of carbon inventory; (10) increase awareness and education surrounding mitigation and adaptation responses against climate change. The low carbon approach shall be adopted in the following three key areas (1) increasing oil and gas exports; (2) environmental sustainability; (3) economic diversification to increase downstream industry economic output contribution and increase new non-oil and non-gas based industry activities.
In particular, regarding the forest cover strategy, the main strategic objectives are (i) strengthen regulations for all deforestation activities for developmental purposes by ensuring afforestation and reforestation programs are carried out, including in degraded areas; (ii) identify areas for carbon sink expansion including forest land, cropland, settlements, wetlands, seagrass; (iii) provide nature-based solutions to prevent soil erosion and flooding as a natural buffer; (iv) establish platforms to financially support afforestation and reforestation programs; (v) maintain local ecosystems and biodiversity to support afforestation and reforestation efforts. The main strategic objectives of the waste management strategy are (i) promote and implement waste minimization through 3R (reduce, reuse, and recycle) to reduce the amount of municipal solid waste and industrial waste going into landfills; (ii) adopt waste-to-energy technologies options to minimize land take and reduce the volume of waste that needs to be disposed of; (iii) increase public education and awareness to the general public by promoting and enhancing their participation in 3R-related initiatives and programs. To strengthen Brunei Darussalam’s resilience against climate change risks and increase its capacity to adapt to the impacts of changing climate, the Policy promotes (i) increasing capacities to adapt to climate-related disasters and safeguard livelihood, properties, and resources, (ii) integrating climate science and monitor existing and future strategies and policies; (iii) increasing collaboration between the Government, private sectors, local institutions, and the public; (iv) enhancing climate science research for climate resilience and adaptation effectiveness with nature-based solutions to construct informed decision-making; (v) securing local food production and stocks by adapting to the impact of climate change.