This newsletter is significant for a number of reasons. First this newsletter focuses on North East Asia Subregional Programme for Environmental Cooperation (NEASPEC), second this is the first such issue to come out since the Member countries named SRO-ENEA as their secretariat, third this is my first newsletter since joining SRO[1]ENEA as its director!

Our Executive Secretary Dr. Noeleen Heyzer had highlighted the role of the subregion best when she said that the subregion “will remain a vast engine of growth for the world for decades to come, and it will be a global leader in ensuring stability and security.” What we notice is that, the Member countries have taken on the task of identifying solutions to address the social and economic disparities and environmental challenges with a zeal never before seen in the subregion. That in essence is the work of SRO-ENEA and NEASPEC in a nutshell.

This newsletter however is not just about NEASPEC but about the role of subregional entities in dealing with environmental consequences beyond national borders. Examples are drawn from NEASPEC as well as ASEAN and from UNECE’s Convention on Long-range Transboundary Air Pollution. The hope of our office is to be the hub of multilateralism in the region and the hope for this newsletter and others to come is that it will keep you informed on pressing matters of development and environment. As always we welcome your views.