Sabah Promotes Conservation and Green Investment Opportunities at World Economic Forum

24 January 2026

DAVOS , Switzerland: Sabah has positioned itself as a growing destination for investment in conservation, green energy and nature capital, as global investors increasingly shift away from fossil fuels and environmentally damaging industries.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, former Deputy Chief Minister 1 of Sabah Datuk Dr Jeffrey G. Kitingan urged international investors to consider Sabah’s potential in sectors aligned with the global transition towards low-carbon and sustainable economic models.

He said global investment trends are now focused on reducing carbon emissions, expanding renewable energy and embracing circular economic practices to address climate change.

Dr. Jeffrey, who is also STAR Sabah President highlighted Sabah’s opportunities in the Blue Economy, green and nature-based capital, as well as sustainable food production. He noted that the Sabah Government had taken a strategic decision to place two million hectares of forest under a 100-year conservation period.

The move, he said, was aimed at protecting the environment and mitigating climate change, while also generating long-term carbon credit income for the state.

However, Dr Jeffrey cautioned that investment strategies should extend beyond carbon markets alone.

“Investment in nature capital creates greater long-term value and income potential, while at the same time sustaining life on this planet,” he said.

He added that the contribution of nature capital to the global economy is estimated to be between USD125 trillion and USD140 trillion annually, yet remains poorly understood.

Dr Jeffrey also underscored the importance of the Borneo rainforest in regulating regional and global climate systems, noting that Australia’s rainfall patterns and river systems depend significantly on the continued existence of Borneo’s forests.

He further encouraged investors to explore innovative financial instruments, including green coins backed by nature capital and supported by appropriate regulatory frameworks. Such initiatives, he said, should be guided not only by profit, but by a collective responsibility to protect the planet for future generations.