In 1998, APEC's work on the Economic Leaders’ initiative, “The Impact of Expanding Population and Economic Growth on Food, Energy and the Environment (FEEEP)”, moved progressively from an analytical phase to a policy phase in a number of areas. It has come to be widely recognized that the FEEEP initiative, by examining and highlighting the key potential constraints to, and opportunities for, sustained growth and equitable development in the region, is in effect providing a focused, forward-looking approach to sustainable development issues more generally.