Transformation to Sustainable and Resilient Urban Futures in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Abstract. The fast pace of urbanisation in Southeast Asia has undermined the sustainability of the social, economic and environmental infrastructure of many cities across the region. Urban resilience in Southeast Asian cities is being further impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change. While cities and national governments across the region have developed policies, strategies and programs to re-orient their cities towards more sustainable and resilient development pathways, many cities continue to struggle with the uncontrolled nature of urban development and compounding impacts of crisis events. This article provides an overview of major trends and challenges with urbanisation in Southeast Asia, focusing in particular on Cambodia and Vietnam, as well as the regional, national and sub-national policies and strategies established to address these trends and challenges. Given the current policy implementation gaps and ongoing challenges of urbanisation in Cambodia and Vietnam, the article makes the case for trans-disciplinary research to understand the potential for strengthening urban governance capacities for urban sustainability transformations.

Sustainability practices at higher education institutions in Asia

“…In Cambodia, urban planning measures and policies aimed at sustainably managing land use are being implemented, ensuring that the rapid population growth in urban areas occurs in a way that does not cause negative environmental impacts (Lord, 2020). Through more participatory governance, the Philippines seeks to implement sustainability on research in IJSHE 23,6 HEIs, as it understands that the HEIs act as living labs, and thus contribute to the creation of more sustainable forms of management, which will positively impact the entire environment around them (Blanco, 2021).…”