CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

ASEAN provides a platform and opportunity for collective action. However, transitioning to a regulated, holistic model will also take concerted effort from the national governments of ASEAN member states, project proponents and financial institutions, and development partners, including multilateral development banks. To map a pathway for the implementation of the holistic model, the following recommendations are directed to various actors who can support the transition.

Asean

ASEAN should promote the benefits of a regulatory approach, including increased investment certainty, increased connectivity, and reduced conflict in the region. ASEAN can also play a key role in developing guidance on land acquisition and resettlement, as well as providing a forum for sharing experiences, facilitating data collection, and supporting project proponents and financial institutions in their due diligence and risk assessment processes.

National Governments

Until a strategic landscape-level plan can be finalized, national governments should use SEAs or sector-wide impact assessment tools to evaluate key factors including climate change and disaster risks, community needs and aspirations, ecosystems and the services they provide, potential cumulative impacts on the landscape, and alternative locations that would avoid negative environmental and social impacts. National governments can also reinforce the existing EIA system using tools provided in the annexes of this report.

Project Proponents And Financial Institutions

Project proponents should employ upstream screening checklists to ensure that they undertake due diligence at all stages of the linear infrastructure project lifecycle. Financial institutions, including multilateral development banks, should require evidence of due diligence that considers resilience and inclusivity issues and should enter into an ESG covenant to promote compliance by the borrower for all environmental and social obligations associated with the project.

The Development Community

The development community should support the adoption and implementation of a regulatory framework by offering ASEAN member states technical assistance in drafting regulations and by supporting pilot projects to demonstrate successful implementation of the holistic model. The development community should seek to increase capacity within ASEAN member states and support civil society organizations working to help local communities understand resilience and inclusivity, identify risks, and provide input into linear infrastructure development.