TRADA Urges Sarawak Youth to Support Sustainable Palm Oil Industry

Kuching, Sarawak, 27 June 2024 – Pertubuhan Transformasi Dayak (TRADA) today called upon the youth of Sarawak to support Malaysia’s sustainable palm oil industry.

Given Malaysia’s strong commitment to sustainability, particularly with the implementation of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification scheme, TRADA strongly supports the industry for driving economic growth and providing significant livelihoods for smallholders, including many from the Dayak community.

Joseph Janting, President of TRADA said: “Sustainable palm oil plays a significant role in Malaysia’s economy, contributing to job creation and revenue for smallholders. However, unsustainable palm oil production practices can have the adverse effect on the environment, including deforestation, habitat loss, and
biodiversity depletion.”

TRADA on Sustainable Palm Oil

“By engaging Sarawak’s youth in the sustainable palm oil movement, we can cultivate a new generation of environmentally conscious leaders who are committed to driving positive change in their communities. We believe that Sarawak’s youth have the passion, creativity, and determination to lead Malaysia’s sustainable palm oil drive. By empowering our youth to champion sustainable agricultural practices, we can create a brighter and more sustainable future for our communities,” he added.

TRADA’s call to action comes at a critical juncture as Malaysia seeks to balance economic growth with environmental conservation. As the world’s second-largest producer of palm oil, Malaysia has a unique opportunity to lead by example and set the standard for sustainable palm oil production.

Around 96% of Malaysian palm oil plantations are now MSPO-certified under the Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil scheme. Furthermore, positive government action has continued in more recent years, with a plantation area cap established in 2019 through 2023, and new forestry laws enacted in 2022 to stiffen penalties for illegal
logging.

Refining capacity

Around 96% of Malaysian palm oil plantations are now MSPO-certified under the Malaysia Sustainable Palm Oil scheme. Furthermore, positive government action has continued in more recent years, with a plantation area cap established in 2019 through 2023, and new forestry laws enacted in 2022 to stiffen penalties for illegal logging. 

The initiatives employed by the Malaysian government and oil corporations appear to be bearing fruit with some 83% of palm oil refining capacity now operating under a ‘No Deforestation, Peat and Exploitation (NDPE)’ commitment.

These initiatives have seen the rate of deforestation in Malaysia trending lower, with Global Forest Watch reporting a sharp reduction in forest loss, and showing that reversing deforestation is achievable.

TRADA aims to mobilize Sarawak’s youth in support of sustainable palm oil initiatives. By harnessing the energy and enthusiasm of young leaders, TRADA hopes to catalyse a nationwide movement towards a more sustainable and responsible palm oil industry.