The ASEAN Airport Environmental Management System (Airport EMS) has its origins in the ASEAN Air Transport Working Group (ATWG). Its development has progressed through several key stages:

Inception:

At the 41st ATWG meeting, Thailand proposed a draft version of the ASEAN Guidelines on Airport EMS. This draft was welcomed by the member states as a useful reference.

Formation of the Technical Expert Team:

The 42nd ATWG saw the establishment of the Airport EMS Technical Expert Team, comprised of seven ASEAN Member States (AMS). This team was tasked with developing the ASEAN Guidelines on Airport EMS.

Refinement and Adaptation:

The 43rd ATWG meeting reaffirmed commitment to developing the ASEAN Guidelines, building upon the initial draft presented at the 41st ATWG. The focus shifted to creating "a tool that fits the ASEAN context."

Endorsement:

In 2022, the ASEAN Guideline of Airport Environmental Management System (Airport EMS) achieved significant milestones, receiving endorsement from:

• The Fifty-Fourth ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting (STOM) held in Bali, Indonesia on 14-15 October 2022.
• The Twenty-Eighth ASEAN Transport Ministers (ATM) meeting held in Bali, Indonesia on 16 October 2022.

Implementation Phase:

With the development phase and the work of the Technical Expert Team completed, the Airport EMS entered the implementation phase in 2023. Thailand, as the leading country and team leader, established the Airport EMS Taskforce to manage the new missions associated with implementation. The Taskforce includes representatives from Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Lao PDR., and Myanmar.

Collaboration and Support:

The implementation phase benefits from the collaboration and support of the Japanese Government through the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT).