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p. 32 of 57 BACK | NEXT I. The Changing Environment II. Driving Forces of Change III. Options and Opportunities IV. Toward Policy Integration Mounting Pressure for Policy Responses Policy Integration Entry Points for Policy Integration Managing Economic Fundamentals Intrasectoral Policy Integration Intersectoral Policy Integration International Trade and Investment Governance A Framework for Policy Integration Toward an Action Agenda V. Call to Action

Asian Environment Outlook 2001 : IV. Toward Policy Integration

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Mounting Pressure for Policy Responses

A "business-as-usual" scenario is not the most likely future for the Asia and Pacific region. Based on the experience of OECD economies and of higher income economies in the region, it is more likely that mounting environmental and social pressures will force a policy response (albeit delayed) that will bring the goals of environmental quality and economic growth into closer alignment. Over the next two decades, additional resources are likely to be committed to environmental protection and to resource management. Under conditions of economic growth, the more immediate environmental problems within the region will be partially addressed as public pressure for environmental improvement mounts and as the resources available for investment increase. In this context, the critical policy question is how to achieve such a transition at lower overall economic costs and in ways that will minimize the human toll that would accompany a delayed, uncoordinated, and partial policy response.

For the twin goals of environmental improvement and poverty reduction to be met, greater proactive management of the economy-environment interface is needed than the case under existing policy approaches. The capacity to respond positively to new market and public pressures for environmental improvement cannot be presumed. There remain significant real obstacles to rapid and substantial change, including lack of information on technology alternatives, shortage of effective mechanisms for financing change and for amortizing costs, weak institutions, and inappropriate and inefficient policy tools.

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