Jeffrey D. Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and Prof. Wing Thye Woo, Vice President for Asia, Head of the Kuala Lumpur Office, Co-Chair of SDSN South East Asia, discussed the establishment of the South East Asia Science Panel for Borneo, consisting of Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, and Indonesia, involving universities from three countries. The panel aims to protect forest resources and megabiodiversity in these three important regions.

The establishment of three science panels for Amazon, Congo Basin, and Borneo aims to protect forest resources and megabiodiversity. The implementation of COP30 in Brazil is crucial, as countries’ commitments to the National Development Goals (NDCs) will be asked for a report on their implementation next year. Sachs also highlighted funding opportunities for the sustainability of biodiversity in the three countries and emphasized the need to ensure access to funding at COP30. In response to questions from participants from Nigeria, England, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, Prof. Sachs emphasized the importance of a combination of science and politics in supporting sustainable development.