Search

The global public health crisis of COVID-19 highlights the importance of digital technology. The digital economy is also booming during the pandemic, which has become one of the major driving forces of economic recovery. Given the vital importance of digital technology and the digital economy, this book provides an in-depth understanding of their implications for the sustainable development of ASEAN-China relations from various perspectives. In addition, authors also contribute their resourceful insights on the sustainable development of both China and ASEAN Member States (AMS) through the lens of eco-tourism, carbon neutrality, social inequality, and others.This book provides a series of high-quality policy recommendations. Specific policy recommendations include: 1) China and ASEAN should launch a project to identify connectivity gaps and detail how this might evolve in future investment in digital and ICT (science, technology and innovation). 2) Efforts should be intensified in digital literacy programs, capacity building, and promotion of digital skills to build workforce capacity in the digital age. 3) As a pacesetter in the digital inclusion agenda in the healthcare sector, China can cooperate with other AMS on digital healthcare projects. 4) Action plans should increase collaborative manufacturing and develop mutual trust in supply chains. 5) China and ASEAN should align STI policies with industrial policies and cooperate in adopting frontier technologies while diversifying their production bases by mastering many existing technologies.6) ASEAN and China should continue facilitating e-commerce, including paperless customs clearance, electronic transaction documents, digital authentication, and electronic and online payments.

ASEAN's real gross domestic product (GDP) had declined sharply due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The economic downturn and the uncertainty about the future reduced the new investments in green projects drastically. Besides this, many governments rolled back environmental regulations and taxes and increased fossil-fuel intensive infrastructure and electricity to stimulate economic growth. Post-Pandemic Green Recovery in ASEAN consists of several empirical studies using fresh data, with regional and country-level perspectives on ways to keep the greenness of the economic recovery plans. The chapters look at various aspects and sectors, including tourism, infrastructure, energy, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), employment, and livelihood, by assessing the effectiveness of various tools and instruments, including green finance, carbon taxation, green Sukuk, credit guarantee, cash transfer payment, power purchase agreements, and the related policies. They also provide practical policy recommendations useful for the ASEAN member states and other developing regions for the green recovery in the post-pandemic. Reiterating the importance of green and low-carbon mechanisms and climate change tackling policies besides the usual economic recovery strategies, this book is a precious resource for the researchers of economics, finance, ASEAN and Asian studies, and policymakers.

India and the South-East Asia are typical case studies of interest for students of development economics. These countries have served as role models for most of the emerging economies.Sustainable Development in India and South-East Asia attempts to explore and analyse the nature of economic relationship between India and the South-East Asia. It assesses the prospects for this relationship to grow and flourish. Finally, it makes suggestions to strengthen and carry forward this relationship.Print edition not for sale in South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Bhutan)

This book assesses the progress in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in ASEAN, India and China using the above framework conditions in the context with three main propositions. First, translating the SDGs into regional economic integration strategies during the pandemic recovery can enhance the link between global objectives and the multifaceted reality of an ASEAN community building process, and providing a strategic option to strengthen the regional approaches. Secondly, a regional approach on complementarities to SDGs can facilitate the definition of relevant targets/indicators and enhance the monitoring and evaluation framework. In so doing it could also offer the scope to integrate more closely ASEAN community's social and environmental concerns into existing economic, social and political frameworks. Thirdly, focusing just on the geo-economic sphere – the area where south east and East Asian economic integration is relatively more advanced – will prove the hypothesis that effective regional integration through mega trade agreements such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) can support the Asia's transformation agenda and foster more inclusive and sustainable growth.

The Asia-Pacific region has been experiencing rapid development in the past 30 years, and issues relating to sustainable development will become increasingly important in the coming decades. This comprehensive overview presents sustainable development from the perspectives of Asia and the Pacific, with contributions from more than 70 leading international experts. The first part focuses on the theories and practices of sustainable development, including national and regional perspectives, as well as international policies and law concerning climate change. The second part highlights the challenges and opportunities of sustainable development and poverty reduction amid the changing ecological, social, cultural, economic, and political environment in this region. These include issues such as the importance of science for sustainable development and related areas, including sustainable energy, stratospheric ozone depletion, climate change, land-use change, biodiversity, and disaster risk reduction. The volume is an invaluable reference for all researchers and policy makers with an interest in sustainable development.

This book discusses management and governance initiatives undertaken by agencies and stakeholders towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) in the Southeast Asian region, specifically Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore. It highlights the theories, methodologies and action plans involved in implementing the goals in these countries and the importance of developing a positive relationship between the public and government agencies. With contributors coming from a range of disciplines and backgrounds across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, this edited collection provides a holistic quantitative and qualitative approach to achieving the SDGs. In order to realise these development objectives, it argues that a strong understanding of the basic principles of governance across all levels is required, supported by effective citizen participation and conflict resolution. It provides a detailed overview of the importance of governance at the country level, addressing the key elements of an integrated framework to support sustainable transitions. Regional case studies highlight processes and recommendations for improving governance and risk management and elevating citizen awareness and participation. Good Governance and the Sustainable Development Goals in Southeast Asia is a comprehensive and valuable companion for researchers, government agencies, and professionals with an interest in the SDGs in Southeast Asia and beyond.

As Southeast Asia reels from the impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), domestic resource mobilization (DRM) has never been more challenging or more critical. Prior to the pandemic, many countries in the region were not achieving a tax yield of 15% of gross domestic product—the level considered to be the minimum for sustainable development. The pandemic has further reduced tax revenues and public expenditures are facing increasing pressure. This publication identifies technical, policy, and administrative tax capacity issues faced by ten countries in Southeast Asia. It also explores potential policy and administrative measures to strengthen DRM.

Since 2019, Network of ASEAN-China Think-tanks (NACT) has been publishing joint researches of all its Working Groups. This book is a collection of research papers contributed by ASEAN and China scholars.This book is published at a time of growing debate in the region over connectivity. The contributing scholars provide their ingenious and insightful thoughts from either a national or regional perspective. The book also contains Working Group Report that include innovative and practical policy recommendations on strengthening the connectivity between ASEAN and China.

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has seen governments across developing Asia move significant amounts of capital into relief efforts that have saved countless lives and livelihoods. But emerging economic recovery packages must not upset the sensitive balance between economic growth and the region's natural capital. Many global thinkers are advocating the critical role of green infrastructure in supporting economic growth and livelihoods, while safeguarding the Paris Agreement targets. This publication examines green and innovative finance mechanisms that can be incorporated into government recovery strategies to incentivize green infrastructure investment. These mechanisms can play a key role in catalyzing much-needed funds from private capital for a green and sustainable regional recovery.

The international community has come together to pursue certain fundamental, common goals over the coming period to 2030 to make progress toward ending poverty and hunger, improving social and economic well-being, preserving the environment and combating climate change, and maintaining peace. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have been agreed to by states, which have in turn adopted national targets and action plans. This volume studies the governance and implementation of these goals in Southeast Asia, in particular the difficulties in the shift from the international to the national, the multi-level challenges of implementation, and the involvement of stakeholders, civil society, and citizens in the process. Contributors to this volume are scholars from across Southeast Asia who research these issues in developing (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar), middle-income (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam), and developed countries (Brunei, Singapore) in the region. The perspectives on governance and the SDGs emerge from the fields of political science, international relations, geography, economics, law, health, and the natural sciences.

This book gathers a collection of essays presented from the perspective of a spatial planner whose working life has been immersed in South Asia. It concerns some of the serious challenges that need to be confronted in the South Asian context, including the externalities and ethical concerns that arise in the process of development. The mid-20th century saw a considerable focus in the West on assisting those countries emerging from European colonial domination. Theories were propounded and international agencies established to facilitate a process called ‘development'in these countries. However, even after six decades of extraordinary expenditures and effort, millions among the targeted populations remain illiterate, live in abject poverty, and are the most vulnerable groups to external disasters, debilitating diseases and untimely death. In addition, the book reveals the theoretical inadequacies that negatively impact ongoing development efforts. Lastly, it identifies an availablealternative set of science-based approaches that could facilitate the serious pursuit of equitable progress in South Asia and potentially also in other low and middle income countries.

This book presents a comprehensive analysis of the status and progress of China-ASEAN green development and examines the common development issues in China and ASEAN Member States (AMSs). It also explores development trends within the framework of global and regional environmental governance and discusses the approaches towards green development in China and AMSs, offering its own definition of green development and using a “pressure-state-response” (PSR) model to build a framework for assessing green development. The book includes typical policy measures and numerous practices for green development in China and AMSs in the form of tables, figures and boxes. Based on detailed analysis, it argues that the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development brings significant opportunities to China and AMSs, that the ongoing pragmatic cooperation should be further advanced, and that a connection between the Belt and Road Initiative and green ASEAN Community should be established to achieveregional sustainable development. As such it furthers readers'understanding of environment and development and practical policy advice for promoting China-ASEAN cooperation on environment and green development. Intended for decision makers from the government, business sector, and civil societies who are working to boost green development and China-ASEAN cooperation, it is also a valuable resource for government officials, researchers and non-experts interested in creating a balanced relationship between the environment and development.

Human society is no stranger to catastrophe, but the challenges the world faces today — a ballooning population, intense global connectivity and the unquenchable thirst of human consumption — have synergised to make disruptions more frequent, intense and far reaching.Despite the complexity of these problems, the response should not be to give up and surrender to these forces, the crash can be avoided. Humanity does possess the scientific, technological and social knowledge to not just survive, but also to emerge from the tumult by being more resilient and sustainable societies. The most urgent question, therefore, is how can we act on this knowledge.This book brings together 12 esteemed authors from diverse fields ranging from geology to governance, who have come together to collectively issue a unifying clarion call to action.Published in collaboration with Institute Para Limes.

Urban populations are projected to increase from 54% to 66% of the global population by 2050, with close to 90% of the increase concentrated in Asia and Africa. Cities and towns---a growing source of greenhouse gas emissions---will need to address challenges posed by climate change. A nature-based approach in identifying climate change vulnerabilities and developing relevant adaptation options was conducted in three towns of the Greater Mekong Subregion. Working with local governments, nongovernment organizations, women's groups, and professional associations, town-wide adaptation measures were defined by overlaying climate change projections on town plans and zoning schemes for strategic infrastructure. This publication captures valuable experience and lessons from the project.

This report aims to demonstrate the compelling need to increase investments in natural capital in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) and identifies actions now being taken regionally and nationally to manage natural capital. It also proposes a guiding framework for promoting investments and actions by GMS countries to secure natural capital and thus ensure sustainable and inclusive growth in the subregion.

This volume discusses environmental change, natural resource exploitation and the prospect for ecological sustainability in Southeast Asia. The contributors including sociologists, geographers, anthropologists, economists, political economists and historians, presents the findings of recent archival and field research mainly from ongoing programmes of team research based in European universities and institutes. Among the themes discussed are European and indigenous perceptions of the environment; historical processes of environmental change; the politics of resource use; ecotourism and development; deforestation and smallholding land-use strategies; migration and environmental degradation; disease environment and human geography; demography, sustainability and resource exploitation.

For many developing countries economic growth is an elusive quest. Both economists and policymakers have long known that issues such as education, investment and infrastructure are necessary ingredients for development and yet only a very small number of countries seem to be able to come up with the right mix of these ingredients. Bryan Ritchie demonstrates how political relationships among government, business, academic and labor leaders create different incentives for economic actors to make key decisions to promote economic upgrading and sustainable development. He reveals how these decisions affect matters such as bureaucratic structures, the language of education, a focus on technology and innovation, and the inclusion of labor in business strategy. These shape the institutional structures that in turn create the foundation of government policy. This insightful study shows that whether the political relationships that form are beneficial, or detrimental, to economic upgrading depends critically on levels of systemic vulnerability, a combination of resource endowments, domestic conflict and external military security. Systemic Vulnerability and Sustainable Economic Growth will be warmly welcomed by academics and researchers of political science, economics - development economics particularly - and Asian studies. Policymakers will find invaluable insights in to how government bodies can successfully incorporate actors from the private sector. The book will also appeal to business leaders wishing to know why policymakers act the way they do.

A nuanced look at how nature has been culturally constructed in South and Southeast Asia, Nature in the Global South is a major contribution to understandings of the politics and ideologies of environmentalism and development in a postcolonial epoch. Among the many significant paradigms for understanding both the preservation and use of nature in these regions are biological classification, state forest management, tropical ecology, imperial water control, public health, and community-based conservation. Focusing on these and other ways that nature has been shaped and defined, this pathbreaking collection of essays describes projects of exploitation, administration, science, and community protest.With contributors based in anthropology, ecology, sociology, history, and environmental and policy studies, Nature in the Global South features some of the most innovative and influential work being done in the social studies of nature. While some of the essays look at how social and natural landscapes are created, maintained, and transformed by scientists, officials, monks, and farmers, others analyze specific campaigns to eradicate smallpox and save forests, waterways, and animal habitats. In case studies centered in the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Indonesia, and South and Southeast Asia as a whole, contributors examine how the tropics, the jungle, tribes, and peasants are understood and transformed; how shifts in colonial ideas about the landscape led to extremely deleterious changes in rural well-being; and how uneasy environmental compromises are forged in the present among rural, urban, and global allies.Contributors:Warwick AndersonAmita BaviskarPeter BrosiusSusan DarlingtonMichael R. DoveAnn Grodzins GoldPaul GreenoughRoger JefferyNancy PelusoK. SivaramakrishnanNandini SundarAnna Lowenhaupt TsingCharles Zerner

Environmental Change in South-East Asia brings together scholars, journalists, consultants and NGO activists to explore the interaction of people, politics and ecology. Ostensibly'green'activities - plantation forestry, eco-tourism, hydro-electricity - are revealed as guises used by elites to promote their own political and economic interests. Highlighting fatal flaws in presently exclusive economic and ecological approaches, the authors stress that neither the quest for sustainable development nor the process of environmental change itself can be understood without reference to political processes.