Kota Kinabalu: WWF-Malaysia urged the GRS-led State government to prioritise environmental integrity by integrating Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) principles into Sabah’s mining governance framework.
WWF-Malaysia said the ESG ranking system introduced by Sabah Mineral Management (SMM) earlier this year was a significant step toward transparency and sustainability.
The immediate challenge is for the newly-formed State government to convert these principles into enforceable safeguards.
WWF-Malaysia Conservation Sabah Chief Dr Robecca Jumin emphasised that Sabah must recognize mining as fundamentally extractive and finite.
WWF-Malaysia acknowledged the crucial role of minerals and metals in energy, infrastructure, and technology, and recognises their importance in achieving global climate and biodiversity goals under the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
She said robust governance is essential to avert irreversible harm, and responsible mining involves early risk identification, impact minimization, and ensuring remedy and compensation where necessary.
“The introduction of ESG principles in the mining sector is a welcome move toward greater accountability and sustainability,” Robecca said.
“We urge all candidates to reinforce these principles with clear policies, inclusive governance, and science-based safeguards that protect Sabah’s forests and biodiversity.”
WWF-Malaysia supports responsible practices that aid the energy transition, provided they adhere to strict environmental safeguards and avoid mining in Totally Protected Areas (TPAs) and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
While WWF recognises the short-term increase in demand for certain minerals to achieve a net-zero, nature-positive economy, this must be balanced with strategies to reduce overall material demand through circular-economy approaches, sufficiency, and efficiency.
Mining should not exacerbate biodiversity loss or infringe upon the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.
Strong environmental and social safeguards, including Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), must be central to all mining decisions, she stressed.
WWF believes that mining activities must not cause irreplaceable loss or degradation to critical ecosystems vital for biodiversity, water regulation, and climate resilience, as evidenced by the lasting environmental damage at Mamut.
WWF opposes mining operations that lead to the downgrading, downsizing, or degazettement of protected and conserved areas.
Priority must be given to restoring impacted areas, considering ecological connectivity and ecosystem services.
WWF-Malaysia urges the duly elected candidates and political parties to make a public commitment to:
- Define “Responsible Mining” in Sabah’s context, emphasising sustainability, transparency, and inclusivity.
- Develop a State Responsible Mining Framework aligned with ESG principles and biodiversity conservation goals.
- Ensure mining decisions comply with the Sabah Structure Plan 2033, particularly provisions on Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs).
- Mandate cost-benefit analyses and feasibility studies before approving any mining projects.
- Commit to the complete restoration of mining sites post-operation to rehabilitate ecosystems and support community resilience.
