The Fifth Meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Environmental Management (WGEM) was held in Singapore at Environment Building from 3 to 5 June 1997. Delegates from ASEAN countries and the ASEAN Secretariat attended the meeting.
2 The WGEM is one of six Working Groups formed under the auspices of the ASEAN Senior Officials on the Environment. Each Working Group is chaired by an ASEAN country. Singapore assumed the chairmanship of the WGEM in 1994.
3 . The scope of the WGEM covers the following:
- Establishment of common principles and programmes on environmental management for ASEAN countries.
- Identification of areas in environmental management for co-operation amongst ASEAN countries.
- Preparation of project proposals relating to environmental management.
4. At the meeting, the WGEM reviewed its programmes and proposed revision to the ASEAN long-term goals for river water quality to reflect the various beneficial uses of rivers. The meeting also proposed a set of ASEAN Initiatives for achieving the ASEAN Long-Term Environmental Goals for Ambient Air and River Water Qualities. The proposed ASEAN Initiatives will be presented to ASOEN for its endorsement at its next meeting.
5 ASEAN countries also presented the status on the implementation of ISO 14000 Standards in their respective countries. The WGEM will play a catalytic role to promote greater awareness of ISO 14000 Standards amongst the industries and regulators in ASEAN countries.
