Charting a Greener Future: ASEAN, EU Deepen Regional Dialogue on Natural Capital
Charting a Greener Future: ASEAN, EU Deepen Regional Dialogue on Natural Capital
On 28 May 2025, key stakeholders from across ASEAN and the EU came together in Bangkok (and online) for the ASEAN Natural Capital Roadmap (ANCR) Validation Workshop. While formal endorsement of the roadmap is still forthcoming, the workshop demonstrated strengthened regional collaboration, identified key areas for alignment, and reinforced a shared ambition for nature-positive development.
The workshop began with reflections on the region's progress, from the initial Natural Capital Status Report in 2021 to three multi-stakeholder online workshops held from October 2024 to February 2025, which gathered ideas from policymakers, businesses, finance experts, civil society, and academia. This dialogue laid the groundwork for the draft roadmap, which aims to mainstream natural capital in decision-making by 2045, aligning with ASEAN’s long-term vision.
At the workshop, participants engaged in focused discussions around four action tracks: data and knowledge sharing, policy and institutional reform, sustainable finance, and coordination. These exchanges highlighted strong interest across sectors, but also a shared understanding that further refinement is needed, and that the draft roadmap should be viewed as a living document.
ASEAN Member States shared valuable insights on how to make the roadmap more practical, inclusive, and anchored in regional realities. There was strong consensus that the roadmap had to do more than offer high-level guidance. It should support implementation at all levels, from ASEAN institutions and governments to Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs), civil society, academia, the private sector, and investors. It should enhance coordination across sectors, align with ongoing initiatives, and result in tangible, country- and company-level actions on natural capital integration. Crucially, its success will depend on clear ownership, adequate resourcing, and sustained commitment across the region.
The EU, through the Enhanced Regional EU-ASEAN Dialogue Instrument (E-READI), has emphasised its commitment to supporting ASEAN in this effort, offering technical guidance, facilitating dialogue, and helping to build bridges across sectors and regions. This long-standing partnership continues to play a central role in shaping a shared vision for sustainable development in Southeast Asia.
Next steps include revising the draft roadmap based on feedback and continuing consultations ahead of a potential launch later this year. As the process moves forward, the workshop reaffirmed strong momentum and a shared commitment to embedding natural capital in ASEAN’s future.
Explore how E-READI supports the ASEAN Natural Capital Roadmap:
