Sarawak hosts Rainforest Youth Summit and world music festival to put young climate leaders centre stage

What is the background?

Borneo’s rainforests and peatlands face pressure from logging, plantations, and rising temperatures. Youth groups across Southeast Asia say global climate talks often discuss their future without giving them seats at the table. Sarawak rainforest conservation efforts now pair policy forums with cultural events so delegates experience the ecosystems they debate.

The Malaysian state of Sarawak — on the island of Borneo — has hosted growing environment and arts programmes in its capital, Kuching. In June 2026, state agencies scheduled back-to-back gatherings that link youth climate summit Malaysia programming with one of the region’s longest-running music festivals.

What happened?

Sarawak is set to host the third Rainforest Youth Summit (RAYS) and the 29th Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) in late June 2026. The Sarawak government and Sarawak Tourism Board fund and organise both events, drawing youth leaders, climate advocates, and musicians from multiple continents to Kuching.

RAYS 2026 runs from June 24 to 26 at the Raia Hotel & Convention Centre Kuching under the theme “Youth: Many Ways, One Planet.” The summit features at least 17 speakers, workshops, and plenary sessions before RWMF opens its three-day celebration of world music and cultural heritage in the rainforest setting that made the festival famous across Southeast Asia.

Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said young people must sit at the centre of sustainability conversations, not at the edge. He noted that holding the summit inside Sarawak’s vast rainforest and peatland landscapes lets participants connect policy ideas to real habitat.

How did it happen?

Organisers built a speaker lineup mixing local Sarawak voices with international advocates. Malaysian wildlife biologist Wong Siew Te heads the programme alongside Sarawak-based chef Achang Libat, fashion designer Allie Jabing, and filmmaker Sarah Lois Dorai.

Global participants include British climate justice campaigner Tori Tsui, Fijian environmental advocate Dylan Kava, Indonesian activist Melati Wijsen, Kenyan leader Elizabeth Wathuti, Panamanian climate advocate Diwigdi Valiente, and United States environmental educator Isaias Hernandez.

RAYS 2026 adds two structured follow-ups. The Planet Futures Forum runs a climate negotiation simulation so attendees navigate real-world environmental trade-offs in teams. The RAYS Fellowship Program selects 10 to 15 participants for a 12-month leadership track that turns summit ideas into community projects after delegates return home.

RWMF follows the summit as a public-facing stage for indigenous and world music acts. Tourism staff coordinate transport, venue access, and cultural protocols so festival crowds learn about forest stewardship while attending performances.

Why does it matter?

Youth-centred design matters because Sarawak’s peatlands store carbon and its rainforests shelter endangered species. When Rainforest World Music Festival audiences meet the same activists who spoke at RAYS, environmental messages reach families who might not read policy briefs.

Cross-border speaker lists — Indonesia, Kenya, Fiji, Panama, the UK, and the US — give Kuching climate summit delegates practical networks for post-event campaigns. Fellowship spots create accountability: selected youth must deliver local projects rather than one-off conference attendance.

For readers searching environmental youth programmes Asia, Sarawak’s model shows how government tourism boards can fund both serious negotiation training and accessible cultural entry points. Borneo rainforest events that combine science, food, fashion, and film reflect how diverse skills contribute to conservation.

What were the key results?

• Third Rainforest Youth Summit (RAYS) scheduled June 24–26, 2026 at Raia Hotel & Convention Centre Kuching
• Theme confirmed as “Youth: Many Ways, One Planet” with at least 17 listed speakers across ecology, food, fashion, and film
• Planet Futures Forum launched as a climate negotiation simulation for participant teams
• RAYS Fellowship Program offers 12-month leadership support for 10 to 15 selected delegates
• 29th Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) follows with a three-day world music and heritage programme
• Sarawak government and Sarawak Tourism Board listed as funders and organisers for both events
• Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah pledged to centre youth voices inside Sarawak’s rainforest and peatland policy context

What happens next?

Fellowship mentors will publish mid-year progress reports on community projects started by the first RAYS 2026 cohort.

Sarawak Tourism Board plans to release attendance and workshop evaluation totals after the June summit closes.

Planet Futures Forum facilitators will refine negotiation scenarios using feedback from delegates who work in peatland communities.

RWMF organisers will track waste-reduction and local-vendor hiring metrics across the three festival days.

Environmental educators in Kuching schools requested summary kits from Melati Wijsen and Elizabeth Wathuti sessions for classroom use in the 2026–2027 term.

Sarawak agencies will assess whether a fourth RAYS edition should rotate rural site visits beyond the convention centre programme.

Regional ASEAN youth networks asked for live-stream access to plenary sessions so students in Jakarta, Manila, and Bangkok can join remotely.