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This report synthesizes 30 research projects from the SUMERNET 4 All program (2018–2024) to address water insecurities in the Mekong region. It finds that water insecurity is driven by a combination of climate change, unsustainable development, and governance failures that marginalize women, ethnic minorities, and rural populations. Key interventions identified include people-centred infrastructure (e.g., rainwater harvesting, solar pumping), adaptive agricultural practices, and the co-production of knowledge through multistakeholder engagement. The report highlights critical gaps in transboundary groundwater governance and the need for more inclusive, decentralized water management models.

The Mekong Thought Leadership and Think Tanks Network is a 3-year program supported by the Australian Government's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Led by the Stockholm Environment Institute - Asia Centre, the program aims to develop evidence-based solutions for water, energy, and development challenges in the Mekong Region to improve policy and practice for vulnerable and marginalized communities.

This report assesses progress toward Goal 5 of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), which aims to restore and maintain 350 million hectares of landscapes and forestlands by 2030. It highlights a significant gap between political commitments and actual implementation, noting that previous targets were not met and that monitoring remains technically challenging.

The 2020 assessment of NYDF Goal 5 finds that the target of restoring 150 million hectares of forest by 2020 is not on track, with only 18% of the goal met since 2000. While some Central American countries like El Salvador and Costa Rica show net tree cover gains, others like Nicaragua and Honduras show net losses. The report highlights significant challenges in monitoring restoration due to satellite data limitations and emphasizes the need for better financial transparency and planning to scale forest landscape restoration (FLR).

This guide by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) Asia provides practical tips for organizing sustainable meetings in Asian cultural contexts, where reducing resource consumption can sometimes be perceived as a lack of respect or status.

This executive summary evaluates progress five years after the 2014 New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF), concluding that the goals to halve tropical deforestation by 2020 and end it by 2030 are unlikely to be met. The report highlights an acceleration in the loss of primary forests, inadequate restoration progress, and a significant gap between 'grey' finance for agriculture and 'green' finance for forest conservation.

The 2019 five-year assessment of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF) finds that the 2020 goals to halve tropical deforestation and restore 150 million hectares of degraded land are likely unattainable. Despite some progress in Indonesia and the existence of corporate commitments, tropical forest loss remains unsustainable, driven largely by agricultural expansion and poverty. The report highlights a critical lack of 'green' financing and a need for stronger governance and recognition of indigenous land rights to prevent further loss of primary forests.

This report examines the complex relationship between trade policy, climate change, and food security in mainland Southeast Asia, using Cambodia as a case study to highlight the need for holistic, participatory, and long-term policy strategies.

This policy brief examines China's strategic investments in bauxite mining and infrastructure within Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, highlighting the lack of regulatory oversight and the potential for significant transboundary environmental impacts.

This policy brief examines China's increasing economic influence in the Mekong region, specifically Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam. It details how China's domestic demand for natural resources has driven foreign direct investment (FDI) and trade, filling an investment vacuum left by international financial institutions. While providing infrastructure and capital, Chinese investments in hydropower, mining, and agribusiness present significant environmental and social risks due to a lack of adherence to international sustainability standards.

This policy brief examines China's strategic pursuit of bauxite resources in the Mekong region, specifically Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, to support its growing aluminum industry. It analyzes the economic drivers, the role of Chinese state-owned enterprises, the regulatory challenges in host countries, and the significant environmental and social risks associated with bauxite mining and smelting.

This policy brief examines China's strategic pursuit of natural resources and its expanding investment footprint in the Mekong region, specifically in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It details China's shift toward securing raw materials through direct investment and state-backed financing, while highlighting the resulting environmental and social risks for host countries.

This policy brief examines China's expanding economic role in the Mekong region, specifically its investments in natural resources, energy, and infrastructure in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. It highlights China's strategic shift toward securing foreign resources to fuel its domestic industrial growth and the resulting environmental and social challenges in host countries.

The SUMERNET PLUS fact sheet describes a transboundary programme running from July 2025 to December 2029, funded by the Swedish Government. The initiative aims to enhance climate resilience in the Mekong Region through scientifically robust research, inclusive policy development, and the adoption of sustainable practices by the private sector.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) strategy for 2025–29 focuses on accelerating the implementation of climate and sustainability goals through five new strategic directions and three core impact areas: climate transitions, nature and resources, and health and wellbeing.