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KOTA KINABALU: The European Union (EU) has commended Sabah for strong leadership and a long-standing commitment to sustainable forest management and climate action, saying the State is ahead in aligning economic development with environmental responsibility.

EU Ambassador to Malaysia Rafael Daerr (pic) said Sabah’s efforts through the Sabah Timber Legality Assurance System Plus (TLAS+) reflected high awareness and responsibility by the State Government, the Sabah Forestry Department, industry players and the people of Sabah, speaking at the launch of the TLAS+ Booklet at a hotel here on Thursday.

He said the launch came at a critical time as climate change impacts such as flooding were being experienced in Sabah and Europe, adding that the EU had placed sustainability at the core of growth through the European Green Deal and legally binding measures under the “Fit for 55” package to cut emissions by at least 55 per cent by 2030 and pave the way for a 90 per cent reduction by 2040.

Daerr said the EU Deforestation Regulation and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive applied primarily within the EU and were driven by the need for a level playing field, to avoid EU demand causing environmental or social harm elsewhere, and to secure commodities such as timber, palm oil and coffee, including from Sabah, noting Malaysia’s efficiency and sustainability in production.

He said EU–Sabah cooperation dating back to 2006 had delivered results including community-conserved areas, improved livelihoods and ecotourism, added that TLAS+ updates since 2024 were undertaken with the Sabah Forestry Department to meet future market requirements, and said Sabah was leading as the first state in Malaysia to integrate deforestation-free and due diligence requirements into its timber legality system.