Coastal Cities Must Balance Economic Growth and Environmental Challenges

Leaders of coastal cities met in Kota Kinabalu in October 2026 to share and exchange ideas on the challenges impacting coastal cities and especially those which are centres of trade, tourism and economic activity. The challenges include rising sea levels, extreme weather and pollution.

“We can share ideas and knowledge in building cities towards safer, cleaner and resilience,” Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said at the opening of the Kota Kinabalu International Mayors’ Dialogue (KKIMD) 2026 on 12th October 2026 at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Kota Kinabalu.

“Coastal cities must balance economic growth and environmental protection and strengthen their resilience to climate change. Climate adaptation must be part of everyday city management, from drainage, sanitation and flood control to coastal protection and the restoration of mangroves and rivers. Nature-based solutions can help protect our communities and the ecosystems that sustain our Blue Economy.”

Participants from eight countries and 15 cities, including representatives from Indonesia, South Korea and the United States attended the dialogue. Sabah is part of the Coral Triangle, one of the world's most biodiverse marine regions and the state is surrounded by seas which support livelihoods, food security, maritime industries, thus making protection of the seas essential for long-term economic sustainability, Hajiji said.

Sabah has established the huge Tun Mustapha Park to strengthen the protection of its marine ecosystems; and it has established the Blue Economy agenda, which seeks to create sustainable opportunities in fisheries, aquaculture, marine biotechnology, maritime services, coastal and island tourism, marine renewable energy and logistics.

“Our objective is to develop these opportunities responsibly, so that Sabah’s seas continue to sustain both our economy and our communities,” Hajiji said. “We are also advancing the Sabah Biotechnology Action Blueprint 2024–2034, which links biodiversity conservation with socio-economic development”.

The proposed Kota Kinabalu Joint Statement could establish a shared commitment towards cooperation in the Blue Economy, digital governance, urban resilience and international partnerships, while the proposed KKIMD Network and annual progress review could help translate these commitments into sustained action, Hajiji added.