First Bar Council Environment and Climate Change Committee Meeting for the 2024/2025 Term

The Bar Council Environment and Climate Change Committee (BCECCC) held its first Committee Meeting for the 2024/2025 term on 26 June 2024. Jia Yaw chairs the BCECCC again this term, taking over the role from Roger Chan. Saha Deva s/o A Arunasalam continues his role as Deputy Chairperson.

A few key goals and activities for the term were discussed:

• advocating for a constitutional amendment to expressly recognise the right to a safe, clean and healthy environment;

• progressing the development of the environmental proceedings’ rules under Order 70A;

• collaborating with the judiciary on upholding environmental justice (i.e., sustainable development);

  • this may progress into co-organising a conference, emphasising the Judiciary’s growing role in improving access to justice;

• providing leadership on Environment, Social and Governance (ESG); and

• mainstreaming the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) framework across the entire breadth and depth of the Bar’s work.

These initiatives were warmly welcomed by the Committee members with several of them volunteering to take up key roles.

Prior to this, Jia Yaw had met with Bar Council President, Mohamed Ezri Abdul Wahab, to discuss the general direction and ambition of the Bar. He was greatly encouraged by the President's support and commitment in enabling the BCECCC to do more.

In this term, the Bar Council has also established a Joint Committee on ESG, chaired by Abhilaash Subramaniam. This demonstrates the Bar's emphasis on ESG as an important agenda for the legal fraternity.

All in all, Jia Yaw is excited about working with his BCECCC colleagues for the new term. There is a strong sense of collaboration and purpose which is essential for taking on the ambitious goals and activities for advancing environmental justice and sustainable development.

(PS: Mellaney also joined the Committee as an invited participant!)

For more information about the 2024-2025 BCECCC:

https://www.malaysianbar.org.my/article/about-us/committees/environment-and-climate-change/environment-and-climate-change-committee-2024-2025-