Since ASEAN included the environment on its agenda some 30 years ago, the number and variety of environmental instruments and initiatives have increased tremendously. It is now recognized that ASEAN has an important role to play in developing environmental sustainability in the region and also in facilitating the implementation of multilateral environmental agreements, which in turn requires greater integration and cooperation not only among its member countries but also at national and global levels. This calls for an empowerment of the people and a critical examination of the work of ASEAN in this area.

Setting the Stage for ASEAN Environmental Cooperation: 1967: The ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration); 1997: ASEAN Vision 2020; 2001: Joint Communique of the 34th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting; 2006: ASEAN Obtains Observer Status in the United Nations; 2006: Joint Communique of the 39th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting; 2007: Cebu Declaration on the Acceleration of the Establishment of an ASEAN Community by 2015; 2007: Cebu Declaration on the Blueprint of the ASEAN Charter; 2007: Charter of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (including Annexes 1-4); 2007: Singapore Declaration on the ASEAN Charter; 2007: Joint Declaration of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit; 2008: Singapore Declaration on the 15th ASEAN Regional Forum; 2008: Joint Communique of the 41st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting One ASEAN at the Heart of Dynamic AsiaA"; 2008: Statement by Mr George Yeo, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Singapore and Chairman of the 41st ASEAN Standing Committee at the Closing Ceremony of the 41st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and Handing Over of the ASEAN Standing Committee; General Legal Frameworks and Other Instruments on the Environment: Programmes, Strategies and Plans of Action: 1978-1982: ASEAN Environmental Programme Phase I; 1983-1987: ASEAN Environmental Programme Phase II; 1988-1992: ASEAN Environmental Programme Phase III; 1994-1998: ASEAN Strategic Plan of Action on the Environment; 2007: Joint Declaration on ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Partnership; 2007-2010: 2nd ASEAN-Canada Joint Cooperation Work Plan; 2007-2017: ASEAN Plus Three Cooperation Work Plan; 2007: Joint Communique of the 40th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) One Caring and Sharing CommunityA"; 2008: Plan of Action to Implement the Joint Declaration on ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Partnership; Declarations, Resolutions, Accords and Statements: 1981: Manila Declaration on the ASEAN Environment; 1984: Bangkok Declaration on the ASEAN Environment; 1987: Jakarta Resolution on Sustainable Development; 1992: Singapore Resolution on Environment and Development; 2000: Kota Kinabalu Resolution on the Environment; 2006: Cebu Resolution on Sustainable Development; 2007: Chairman's Statement of the 13th ASEAN Summit, One ASEAN at the Heart of Dynamic AsiaA"; 2007: ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Sustainability; and other documents.