Advancing Environmental Governance: Perspectives from the Regional Environmental Forum for Mainland Southeast Asia

Abstract

"Advancing Environmental Governance is a compilation of papers and a consensus statement from the Regional Environmental Forum (REF) for Mainland Southeast Asia, a forum of environmental experts that met in Phnom Penh in November 2002. The report contains: ? An introduction describing the REF and exploring the functions of a regional civil society forum; ? A consensus statement from participants at the REF providing recommendations to national governments and regional institutions for improving environmental management; and ? Perspective country papers written by experts from Burma, Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam. It explores questions of how governments can strengthen their systems of environmental governance to balance environment and development needs; how regional institutions can promote sustainable development in the midst of rapid regional economic and political integration; and the role of regional civil society in advancing environmental governance, both among regional institutions and national governments."