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p. 47 of 57 BACK | NEXT I. The Changing Environment II. Driving Forces of Change III. Options and Opportunities IV. Toward Policy Integration V. Call to Action Regional Policy Recommendations Economic Reform Actions Institutional Reform Actions Governance Reform Actions Sector-specific Actions Conclusions

Asian Environment Outlook 2001 : V. Call to Action

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Regional Policy Recommendations

Three pillars support the shift from environmental decline to environmental vigor. First, the concept of policy integration is fundamental to successfully moving forward with policy reforms. This translates to infusing national environmental objectives into national economic development plans and processes and achieving environmental goals through the actions of corresponding public sector development authorities and private sector interests instead of depending on national environmental (enforcement) agencies.

Second, development by design must be emphasized as the guiding instrument for development. National, subnational, urban, and industrial development, as well as infrastructure projects, need guidance and monitoring in accordance with integrated environmental and economic development plans.

Third, an abiding political will is essential to translate national environmental rhetoric into actions if (i) an appropriate level of environmental compliance is to be achieved, (ii) budgets and human resources commensurate with the job at hand are to be provided, and (iii) subsidies that lead to resource degradation are to be eliminated. The implicit message is that access to information is critical.

Ensuring sustainable economic growth, which implies environmental soundness, is one of the core areas of intervention in ADB’s long term strategic framework (LTSF) 2001-2015. The other two core areas include (i) inclusive social development which will include investments in social support programs and a policy reform agenda that will promote equity and empowerment; and (ii) improve governance for effective policies and institutions which will include support for public sector management at all levels, legal and judicial reform, and improving public accountability, processes, and procedures for more effective participation in decision making, including by civil society, particularly to promote equitable and inclusive growth.

Understanding the meaning and scope of policy integration is a fundamental prerequisite to ensure environmentally sustainable development. The entry points where such integration can be initiated (discussed in Chapter 4) and the options and opportunities for sustainable development (discussed in Chapter 3) are highlighted below under three broad cross-cutting areas of reform: economic actions, institutional actions, and governance actions. Further details on how these concepts can be translated and implemented in the region will be published through the AEO series of documents (see Box 5-2 at end of chapter).

Economic Reform Actions

Institutional Reform Actions

Governance Reform Actions

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