Green Building Development in Sarawak, Malaysia: A Comprehensive Approach to a Sustainable Future and Net-Zero Buildings by 2050

Abstract

The overall global consumption of energy and carbon emissions from the building sector is significant, and therefore building construction is a key area for achieving net zero emissions by the year 2050. This article uses PRISMA-lite structured narrative review methodology and thematic synthesis to provide an overview of green building development and net zero pathways in Sarawak, Malaysia. This review is based on publications from 2010 to 2025 published on Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The review uses a qualitative thematic synthesis method with descriptive quantitative analysis to include 4 distinct dimensions: policy frameworks, technological innovations, financing mechanisms, and stakeholder dynamics. Overall, the study indicates that the two most studied strategies are energy efficiency and renewable energy integration (72% and 65%, respectively). Additionally, Policy and Governance (60%) and Lifecycle Carbon Assessment (55%) represent two additional major research clusters. While there are many types of technological solutions available, including passive design systems, smart technologies, and materials that have low carbon footprints, their use is limited by insufficient policy enforcement and financial constraints, as well as the lack of coordination among stakeholders. Additionally, there is a consistent gap between designers' predicted performance versus the performance of buildings during operation; this is especially so in the context of developing countries with tropical climates. The goal of this study was to create a comprehensive policy-technology-finance-stakeholder framework to portray green building transitions as a combination of both socio and technical systems instead of identifying them as only technical problems. The study concluded that achieving net-zero buildings in Sarawak by 2050 is technically possible but will require more efficient institutional coordination, financial innovations, and capacity development.