Selective border permeability: Governing complex environmental issues through and beyond COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Environmental governance
• Transboundary environmental management
• Socio-ecological systems

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted global and regional border permeability.
• Transboundary environmental governance regimes have been reconfigured by altered cross-border flows.
• Southeast Asia faces challenges in economic recovery and managing illicit trade post-pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess policy challenges and opportunities arising from shifting border permeability in transboundary environmental governance.
• To analyze the implications of pandemic-induced border changes on sustainability initiatives in Southeast Asia.
• To examine the impact on environmental democracy, socio-ecological justice, and sustainability.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of policy documents and case studies from Southeast Asia.
• Examination of changes in cross-border flows of people, resources, finance, and technology.
• Assessment of the scaling down of transboundary environmental agreements and programs.

Main Results:

• Selective border re-opening in Southeast Asia for economic recovery has increased agro-exports and regional inequities.
• Widening inequities have fueled cross-border illicit commodity flows, including trafficked wildlife.
• Pandemic-related border restrictions have led to the rollback of transboundary environmental agreements and programs.

Conclusions:

• Shifting border permeability presents significant policy challenges for environmental activities at various scales of transboundary governance.
• The pandemic's effects necessitate adaptive strategies to uphold environmental democracy and socio-ecological justice.
• Opportunities exist for redefining environmental cooperation in light of altered border dynamics.