Environmental Protection Efforts

 

The Government of Brunei Darussalam is fully committed to the concept of sustainable development as central to socio-economic development. Eight strategies, including environment strategy, have been identified in the Tenth National Development Plan Year 2012 – 2017 to ensure that all aspects of development can be implemented in an organised and effective manner. On 22 April 2016 Brunei Darussalam signed the Paris Agreement, which aims to strengthen the global response to the threat of climate change by keeping a global temperature rise this century well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase even further to 1.5 degrees Celsius; and is one of the first countries among ASEAN member states to deposit the Instruments of Ratification of the Paris Agreement on 21 September 2016. 

Relevant government agencies are responsible to enforce protection efforts of the environment fairly and efficiently for rainforest, food, wildlife, air, water, climate and ocean. One of the government agencies responsible is Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation at the Ministry of Development, which issues Environmental Acts and Guidelines, Pollution Control Guidelines for the Industrial Development, and publish Recycle 123 Handbook as reference and tips on recycling for the general public.

To help accomplish the conserving and protecting the ecosystem of Brunei Darussalam, the government is also working together with businesses and non-profit organizations by undertaking several initiatives including the provision of recycling services, conducting environmental awareness programmes and activities such as ‘No Plastic Bag Weekend’ every Friday until Sunday, car-free day every Sunday during ‘Bandarku Ceria’, participating in Earth Hour, reducing the use of Styrofoam, and more; as well as establishments of environmental clubs such as Beach Bunch, Green Brunei, Panaga Natural History Society, and many more.