Pongsiri, M.J. & Arthakaivalvatee, V.

Key Messages

1. The Southeast Asia region is at risk of losing hard won health and development gains due to the global and local environmental changes we are now experiencing.

2. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is the opportune regional platform to actively engage at the environment and health nexus as a strategic approach to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

3. ASEAN is committed to delivering on the SDGs through coordination, information sharing and reporting, with Thailand as the designated ASEAN lead country.

4. The ASEAN Declaration on Culture of Prevention (CoP) for a Peaceful, Inclusive, Resilient, Healthy and Harmonious Society is essential to how we address the environment and health nexus in the region because our increased attention to the environmental determinants of health presents new opportunities to improve the environment, to improve health, and to prevent adverse health risks in ASEAN communities.

5. It is time to work with ASEAN to help address the region’s linked environment and health priorities by demonstrating the use of knowledge-based tools for integrated assessment, monitoring, modeling and valuation – all priority policy needs for demonstrating the value of addressing environment and health together (the “environment and health nexus”) rather than as separate sectoral issues.