Brunei cuts carbon emissions by 15% amid climate action efforts Government cites industrial emission cuts, renewable energy expansion, and stricter carbon reporting as key drivers, but electric vehicle adoption remains low.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Brunei has successfully reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 15% compared to the business-as-usual scenario, following the implementation of climate change mitigation strategies, the Second Minister of Finance and Economy said Monday.

Speaking at the Legislative Council, Dato Dr Hj Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah attributed the reduction to lower industrial emissions from power generation plants and oil and gas facilities, as well as the enforcement of mandatory carbon reporting.

The minister was responding to questions from Legislative Council members Chong Chin Yee and Hjh Rosmawatty Hj Abdul Momin on the effectiveness of Brunei’s climate policies.

He explained that oil and gas facilities have minimised venting and flaring, while power plants have improved energy efficiency, resulting in reduced industrial emissions.

Brunei has also expanded its renewable energy capacity, with key projects including the 30 MW BSP solar plant in Kg Belimbing and the 48 MW Hengyi solar project on Pulau Muara Besar, alongside several smaller-scale initiatives. The government has set a target for renewable energy to make up 30% of the power generation mix by 2035, primarily through solar photovoltaic technology.

However, other climate initiatives, such as the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), have seen less success. Despite the government’s ambitious target of 60% of car sales coming from EVs by 2035, Brunei has only 136 registered EVs on the road so far.

“Why has EV adoption not been very encouraging? This is mainly because Brunei’s fuel prices remain relatively low, so the public does not yet see significant savings from switching to EVs,” Dato Dr Hj Mohd Amin said, referring to the country’s heavily subsidised petrol prices.

He added that Brunei does not need to rush EV adoption but should instead learn from other countries’ experiences to implement a well-structured strategy when the time is right.

The minister reaffirmed that Brunei remains on track to meet its commitment to reducing greenhouse gases by 20% by 2035, as part of its nationally determined contribution under the Paris Climate Agreement.

Additionally, he announced that the Brunei Climate Change Office (BCCO) will update the national climate change policy this year, revising the framework first introduced in 2020.

The BCCO has also been upgraded from its previous status as the Brunei Climate Change Secretariat, reflecting its expanded mandate in managing the country’s climate commitments.

The office oversees mandatory emissions reporting, the national greenhouse gas reporting system, emission reduction frameworks, and the initial setup of the ASEAN Climate Change Centre. It also plays a key role in assessing Brunei’s international climate position in major forums, including the UNFCCC Conference of Parties (COP).