Abstract Carrying out Transboundary Environmental Assessment (TEA) is one feasible option to evaluate the enormous environmental transboundary impacts of such an international initiative as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This article examines some challenges to carry out TEA for BRI projects. General critical issues for conducting TEA were identified through literature review. In addition, institutional theory was used for analyzing the regulatory and cultural aspects that influence the environmental assessment systems in ten member-countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which are involved in the BRI. This as a way to identify the potential challenges the ASEAN countries may face if TEA takes place for BRI projects. The findings of the study suggest that there is a lack of a common regulatory framework to guide TEA procedure, and proposes that there is a need for strengthening transboundary procedures in the region.

中文翻译：

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在东盟国家开展跨界环境评估的挑战

摘要 开展跨界环境评估（TEA）是评估“一带一路”等国际倡议的巨大跨界环境影响的一种可行方案。本文探讨了为 BRI 项目实施 TEA 的一些挑战。通过文献回顾确定了进行 TEA 的一般关键问题。此外，制度理论被用于分析影响东南亚国家联盟 (ASEAN) 十个成员国环境评估系统的监管和文化方面，这些国家参与了“一带一路”倡议。如果对“一带一路”项目进行 TEA，这是确定东盟国家可能面临的潜在挑战的一种方式。