Fourth ASEAN State of the Environment Report

This report comes soon after the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter on 15 December 2008. The Charter represents a significant development in the long history of ASEAN which transformed the coalition of nations born out of the Bangkok Declaration of 1967 into a legal and rules-based entity. The Charter, among others, has emphasized that ASEAN shall promote sustainable development so as to ensure the protection of the region’s environment, the sustainability of its natural resources, and the preservation of its cultural heritage and the high quality of life of its people. The Report takes a holistic approach in presenting the socio-economic conditions, the status and trends in the various environmental sectors, and what ASEAN is doing to promote environmental sustainability while placing priority on socio-economic development. In line with the theme of “Green ASEAN”, the Report has focused on greening the ASEAN economy, highlighting how a sustainable and resilient economic base could be built from the rich natural resources of the region while at the same time ensuring social development and environmental sustainability.