CONCLUSIONS

This paper advocates adopting a holistic model for planning, designing, and constructing resilient and inclusive linear infrastructure in the ASEAN region. Key to the proposed approach is recognizing the significant efforts made in ASEAN to adopt a strong safeguards system and recommending a holistic model that can protect the integrity of, and further strengthen, the existing EIA arrangements in the region. The paper also advocates the need to establish this holistic model through domestic regulations to provide certainty for all stakeholders about the standards and processes, and to ensure coordination across the holistic model and at all stages of the linear infrastructure project lifecycle. Transitioning to this regulated, holistic model will take concerted effort from ASEAN, ASEAN member states, project proponents and financial institutions, and development partners including multilateral development banks.

Adopting the proposed regulatory framework alone will not be sufficient to ensure the successful implementation of the proposed holistic model. Strong political will, followed by establishing clear institutional arrangements for each country, is necessary to ensure coordination among all stakeholders—both within and external to government—across all aspects of the linear infrastructure project lifecycle. This includes ensuring institutional arrangements are made for monitoring and compliance. In addition, enhanced data and improved data sharing are needed to ensure inputs are incorporated into landscapelevel planning for linear infrastructure and that there is a strong evidence base for decisions made at all stages of the holistic model. Finally, strengthening the capacity of all stakeholders—governments, project proponents and financial institutions, and civil society—requires attention and continuous support to ensure the holistic model can be implemented effectively and achieve its objectives.

The following recommendations highlight actions that can be taken by various actors to support the transition to a holistic approach.

Recommendations For National Governments

A. National governments should adopt a regulatory framework governing the holistic model for linear infrastructure planning, design, approval, and construction. Annex 3 provides an outline for developing the framework.

B. Where a strategic landscape plan for linear infrastructure has not been finalized, national governments should conduct an interim strategic assessment of potential linear infrastructure proposals using a SEA, sector-wide impact assessment, or another model that, at a minimum, considers: a. climate change and disaster risks; b. community needs and aspirations; c. ecosystems and the services they provide; d. potential cumulative impacts of linear infrastructure development in the landscape; e. locations and other strategies that would avoid significant negative environmental and social impacts.

C. Where a strategic landscape plan for linear infrastructure has not been finalized, government discussions with project proponents should be informed by a preliminary risk screening. Annexes 4 and 5 provide recommended screening checklists.

D. The existing EIA system should be reinforced by using: a. the recommended upstream screening checklists (provided in Annexes 4 and 5) to inform the formal EIA screening and scoping phases to ensure that consideration is given to issues of resilience and inclusivity in linear infrastructure projects when formalizing the scope and terms of reference for the EIA; b. the Guidelines on Public Participation in Environmental Impact Assessment in the Mekong Region to set expectations about public participation processes to be followed when undertaking EIAs on linear infrastructure project proposals; c. the recommended standard approval conditions (provided in Annex 7) and EMP checklist (provided in Annex 8) for any linear infrastructure projects approved for implementation.