Southeast Asian Environmental Economics Conference: Cross-disciplinary Approaches to Sustainability and Advancing Quality of Life

The annual conference “Southeast Asian Environmental Economics - Cross-disciplinary Approaches to Sustainability and Advancing Life Quality”, collaborated by Economy and Environment Partnership for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA), UEH College of Economics, Law and Government with Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), and Environment for Development Initiative Vietnam (EfD-Vietnam), successfully took place during 1^st-3^rd, December 2021. This was a forum promoting environmental economics research by using cross-disciplinary approaches to upgrading sustainability and advancing life quality.

In Covid-19 context, this annual EEPSEA conference was organized via an online platform – Zoom; howeverit attracted the participation of almost 450 participants including presenters, panelists, and guest speakers from around the world.

Balancing the limits of the planet to assure a sustainable economy

Delivering opening and congratulation speeches at the conference, Prof. Su Dinh Thanh - President of UEH and Dr. Eren Zink - First Secretary, Research Advisor, Embassy of Sweden in Thailand highly appreciated the role and meaning of the conference in environmental economics.

Prof. Su Dinh Thanh shared: “With the desire to construct sustainable values for the community and society, we are extremely proud of accompanying partners on organizing EEPSEA Scientific Conference to seek and boost environmental economics research, upgrading sustainability and advancing quality of life. I believe that the annual EEPSEA conference will be a meaningful forum for all scientists, researchers, and specialists in the world. Your concerns and enthusiastic participation are the inspiration for UEH to make more and more efforts in teaching and researching activities towards internationalization.”

Prof. Su Dinh Thanh delivering the opening speech of the conference

Dr. Eren Zink delivered the congratulation speech on behalf of Sida

Next, there was an important remark delivered by Prof. Arnold Tukker fromLeiden University, Netherlands, on the topic of investing capital to develop a sustainable economy under the moderation of Dr. Pham Khanh Nam Deputy Head of UEH College of Economics, Law and Government, and Director of Economy and Environment Partnership for Southeast Asia.

Prof. Tukker informed the necessity of balancing respecting borders of the planet and adapting ecosocial targets of human beings. The presentation one more time emphasized the role of research in supporting policymakers and practitioners to select clever policies.

Prof. Arnold Tukker discussed capital investment for a sustainable economy

Subsequently, 3 parallel discussion sessions were held upon different topics: Session 1A - Environmental health, Session 1B - Environmental issues on the whole economy; Session 1C - New research recommendations.

Researchers attending the conference

Climate change is a top urgent environmental challenge

The second day of the conference started with a roundtable discussion on research topics for the future of Southeast Asia. Moderated by Dr. Gem Castillo - Director of Environmental Economics Foundation of the Philippines, the discussion session received the participation of Members of the Management Board of Economy and Environment Partnership for Southeast Asia (EEPSEA) from the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. This was an interactive session, participating members can raise their ideas regarding environmental issues, concerning research topics, and curious content related to the upcoming training courses of EEPSEA. The result of the survey revealed that climate change is a top urgent environmental challenge that the globe is facing, together with other involved challenges to the Asian Region listed as: waste and pollution, over-exploitation causing resource shortage, and weak management. Besides, the conference had many pieces of research on other fields: management, business, and society. As a result, the diversity of research contexts and the passion of participants opened hopeful topics for the future.

In addition, the conference also had 3 parallel sessions as follows: Session 2A - Ocean resource management; Session 2B - Environmental Valuation; Session 2C - New research recommendations.

Discussion results of environmental and economic issues in Southeast Asian Nations

Dr. Hermi Francisco, host of a parallel discussion session

In the program framework, Dr. Pham Khanh Nam declared detailed information and registration procedure of the EEPSEA research sponsorship program - Seed Grant and Small Research Grant. These sponsorships would provide supportive fees for Southeast Asian researchers with research projects applying economics tools in analyzing environmental challenges related to policies and promotions for cross-disciplinary methodology users.

Involved issues need cross-disciplinary research solutions

The third day of the conference began with 3 parallel sessions upon environmental valuation, new research recommendations, and a meeting session of Environment for Development Initiative Vietnam (EfD-Vietnam) on environment and development.

Prof. Phoebe Khoudouri - Athens University of Economics and Business, President of European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (EAERE) had an important remark on cross-disciplinary research for sustainable growth, under the moderation of Prof. Arief Yusuf - Director of Economy and Environment Institute (EEI) Indonesia, Professor at Padjadjaran University, Indonesia. Therefore, Prof. Phoebe Khoudouri emphasized the most important thing was to deliver research findings and engage various related units to involve in this process to take science out of laboratories, generating realistic impacts.

Prof. Phoebe Khoudouri President of EAERE emphasized the necessity of solutions and cross-disciplinary research for sustainable growth

At the conference, Organizing Board awarded 2 excellent research articles comprising: Sustainability prize for the excellent article “Sự ưa thích của ngư dân đối với các biện pháp can thiệp rác biển ở Việt Nam” (Fishermen’ enjoyment in terms of ocean rubbish intervention methods in Vietnam) of Dr. Bui Bich Xuan - Nha Trang University, and Green prize for a young female researcher Kiki Amalia Tazkiyah from University of Indonesia with “Tín dụng vi mô cho nước và vệ sinh cải thiện phúc lợi hộ gia đình: Một bằng chứng từ Indonesia” (Microcredit for water and sanitation improving household welfare: An evidence from Indonesia” Presentation

Dr. Phumsith Mahasuweerachai, Director of Economy and Environment Institute Lower Mekong Subregion (EEI Lower Mekong Subregion) declaring “Sustainability prize” for the most excellent article and “Green prize” for a young female researcher

Although the conference was held completely online, it attracted international experts’ participation and concerns. “The conference is extremely successful in creating conditions for researchers to connect with each other, exchange their information, and cooperate. This is a mission of EEPSEA in encouraging cross-disciplinary research for development and the environment as well” - Dr. Pham Khanh Nam stated to conclude the conference.