Background

The Environmental and Natural Resources Economic Division, or SEASSA, is a section established under the A106 and A110 warrant decisions of the Public Service Department (JPA) effective June 2003, under the Macro Planning Division, Economic Planning Unit. Previously, SEASSA was one of the sub-sections of the Regional and Environmental Economics Section (SEW&AS).

Sustainable development involves socio-economic development that has minimal impact on the environment, utilizing resources optimally to ensure the rights of future generations. Therefore, the establishment of SEASSA is to ensure the planning of sustainable socio-economic growth through the formulation of balanced and effective policies and development plans, considering the three dimensions of sustainable development—economy, society, and the environment. This is to support the achievement of the country’s developed nation status by 2020, while simultaneously ensuring emphasis on economic growth that guarantees continuous good environmental quality and a clean, healthy, and safe environment for the people. SEASSA acts as a focal point in the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) in promoting sustainable growth through a green growth approach, ensuring all economic sectors consider environmental interests, the sustainability of natural resources, and resilience in their planning.

Furthermore, SEASSA also evaluates the needs and effectiveness of, and monitors the implementation of, development projects to ensure they meet the objectives of the country’s sustainable development. To support the initiatives of ministries/agencies, SEASSA takes a proactive role, especially in conducting strategic studies that can steer the country towards sustainable development and subsequently strengthen institutions and capacities to address environmental issues at the national and international levels. To ensure SEASSA’s roles and responsibilities are carried out efficiently and effectively, the SEASSA organizational structure is divided into five main sub-sectors as follows:

• Environmental Management;
• Natural Resource Management;
• Water Resource Management;
• Land Management, Boundary Survey, and Marine;
• Sustainable Development

Objectives

• Achieve effective environmental protection goals by promoting the optimal use of natural resources and reducing the negative impact of development activities on the environment;
• Create a mix of policies, practices, and technologies that ensure socio-economic development that considers environmental protection interests;
• Enhance the use of fiscal policies and promote the use of market-based instruments;
• Strengthen related institutional, legal, and regulatory mechanisms to integrate environmental considerations in development planning and address environmental issues and resource distribution;
• Monitor and participate in international environmental negotiations to ensure the country's interests are not compromised;

Main Functions

• Monitor and facilitate the implementation of natural resource and environmental development projects involving the Ministry of Water, Land, and Natural Resources (KATS), Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment, and Climate Change (MESTECC);
• Promote and develop policies/plans/programs related to environmental economics and natural resources to align with sustainable development objectives;
• Conduct studies on economic instruments related to the environment and natural resources to assess the feasibility of planning instruments for adaptation in environmental legislation;
• Plan, coordinate, facilitate, and monitor the implementation of bilateral and multilateral assistance programs and regional technical assistance programs related to environmental economics and natural resources (excluding programs under GEF funding);
• Act as a focal point for the High Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development and coordinate international issues related to sustainable development, capacity building, and institutional strengthening;
• Participate in international negotiations on environmental and natural resource issues related to sustainable development, climate change, and biodiversity, such as environmental conventions like HLPF, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD), and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) to ensure the country's economic interests are not compromised;
• Facilitate and evaluate the implementation of programs and projects involving national and international commitments, as well as multilateral agreements such as negotiations/conferences/meetings on environmental management issues, etc., towards achieving sustainable development;
• Coordinate negotiations between federal and state agencies in making better decisions related to environmental economics and natural resource management issues;
• Prepare and coordinate reviews on Cabinet Memorandums, coordinate feedback on Cabinet decisions/Ministerial/Council resolutions related to environmental and natural resource issues;
• Prepare and coordinate policy papers, briefing notes, summary notes, and presentations on environmental and natural resources development from an economic perspective;
  Conduct studies on environmental issues for analysis in the planning of the country's sustainable development; and
• Collaborate with departments, agencies, and non-governmental organizations in conducting studies, seminars, and dialogues on environmental and natural resource issues.