Kota Kinabalu: The Borneo Rainforest Law Conference is not merely a gathering of legal minds, but a testament of the legal profession’s collective commitment to environmental and climate justice, says Sabah Law Society (SLS) President Mohamed Nazim Maduarin.
Borneo is home to approximately 22 million hectares of rainforests often referred to as the “Heart of Borneo”, he said, adding these forests serve as the lungs of the planet, playing a crucial role in regulating climate by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen.
“The inception of this conference stems from a shared awareness of the need to protect and preserve our natural heritage,” he said at the opening of the conference at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here Monday.
According to him, it was during a meeting between Brian Speer, Past President of the Commonwealth Lawyer’s Association (CLA), and representatives from the Sabah Law Society in September 2022, that the idea of collaborating on this conference was first conceived.
He said over the past two years, the dedicated efforts of the two co-conveners, Steven Thiru, Vice President of LawAsia, and Datuk Roger Chin, Immediate Past President of the SLS, and their team have culminated in the realisation of this vision in the gathering of 160 legal minds from 23 Commonwealth and non-Commonwealth nations in Sabah, united in the pursuit of environmental and climate justice.
“Everyone here brings their own unique perspectives and expertise, and I am confident that the discussions over the next few days will pave the way for meaningful change. It’s been a long time coming but I know a change is going to come,” he said.
Nazim said SLS stands as a beacon of legal governance, serving to uphold the integrity and standards of the legal profession within Sabah and plays a vital role in shaping the legal landscape of the region, ensuring justice (including environmental and climate justice) and accountability for all.
