Regional Centre in Bangkok

The Regional Environmental Governance Programme For Asia Pacific

The UNDP Regional Centre in Bangkok, through Capacity 2015, is currently managing the Regional Environmental Governance ("REG") Programme for Asia Pacific. This programme aims to empower local communities to take part in the decision making processes that may impact on the environment, and also ensures fair and equal access to natural resources and the environment. It envisions greater opportunities for face-to-face dialogue between peer-to-peer networks and non-traditional partners, both within countries and across boarders. On a regional basis, it advocates for demand driven solutions and innovative strategies occurring at the local level, with a view to improving policy making relating to environmental governance. Pursuing effective environmental governance requires a shared vision, balancing the diverse interests of all stakeholders, well-articulated goals and targets, an institutional setting for policy coordination, the use of efficient and equitable policy instruments, and appropriate monitoring, evaluation and accountability mechanisms.

It also entails that:

1. decisions should be made at the appropriate level;
2. there should be access for all to information, participation and legal redress in matters relating to the environment; and
3. environmental considerations should be integrated into all decision-making processes.

In summary, the goal of promoting environmentally sustainable development to reduce human poverty requires that all aspects of governance that are unique to the field of environment be taken into account. Expert inputs into the REG programme are guided by Core Team and Steering Committee members, including individuals from prominent civil society organizations.

Environmental Governance entails enforcing global norms of good governance, some of which include:

Access to Information: The opportunity for citizens to obtain environmental information from the relevant authorities;

Access to Participation: The opportunity for citizens to participate in an informed, timely and meaningful way in the formulation of national, as well as local policies and plans and in the design of projects with potential environmental impacts;

Access To Justice: The opportunity for citizens to seek legal remedy and redress when there is a failure to provide information and allow for participation or when citizens wish to dispute a decision impacting on the environment or have such a decision independently reviewed.