Executive summary

Southeast Asia’s booming economy presents tremendous growth potential, but also big interlinked economic, social and environmental challenges. The region’s current growth model is based in large part on natural resource exploitation, which exacerbates these challenges. Policy makers and leaders from the private sector and civil society across the region are aware of these problems and are seeking a more sustainable growth model. It will take visionary leadership to implement the structural changes needed to simultaneously achieve economic growth, reduce poverty, protect the environment and improve well-being. This report provides evidence that, with the right policies and institutions, Southeast Asia can pursue green growth and thus sustain the natural capital and environmental services – including a stable climate – on which prosperity depends.