KUCHING (Sept 24): Sarawak wants environmental literacy strengthened in schools by integrating sustainability concepts and environmental themes into curricula and co-curricular activities.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the move would be among the expected outcomes of the Environmental Education Conference 2026 (EEC 2026), which will bring together educators, environmental practitioners and stakeholders from Malaysia and abroad.

He said the conference would enhance educators’ and practitioners’ knowledge and skills in environmental sustainability, climate change and Sarawak’s environmental priorities.

“It is also to encourage the incorporation of sustainability concepts and environmental themes into schools, curricula, programmes and co-curricular activities,” he told a press conference here today.

Awang Tengah, who is also State Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, said the conference would promote approaches such as experiential learning, place-based learning and interdisciplinary environmental education.

He said quality environmental education was essential to fostering lifelong environmental awareness and developing young leaders capable of championing environmental stewardship.

EEC 2026, themed “Empowering Future Generations Through Environmental Literacy”, will be held from Oct 27 to 28 at the Imperial Hotel here and is expected to be launched by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.

About 350 delegates are expected to attend, comprising 100 international and 250 local participants, including teachers as well as representatives from NGOs, the private sector and government agencies.

The conference is organised by the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) Sarawak in collaboration with the State Ministry of Natural Resources and Urban Development (MUDeNR), State Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability (MEESty), and State Ministry of Education, Innovation and Talent Development (MEITD), together with conference partners and supporting organisations.

Awang Tengah said EEC 2026 would also provide a platform to strengthen collaboration among government agencies, academia, NGOs, civil society organisations, educators and local communities.

International supporting organisations include the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), National Geographic and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Five plenary sessions are scheduled, covering themes including “Localising Environmental Content”, “Global Trends, Innovative Approaches, Sustainable Futures”, “Innovating Environmental Education”, “Educating for the Planet: Trends in EE” and “Nurturing Green Leaders for a Climate-Resilient Future”.

Awang Tengah said the conference was also expected to produce strategic recommendations to guide the next phases of environmental education development in Sarawak.

Also present at the press conference were State Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh, NREB Controller of Environmental Quality Datu Jack Liam and MEITD Education Division head Donald Henry Nohed.