diff --git a/google/cloud/aiplatform/initializer.py b/google/cloud/aiplatform/initializer.py
index 01aefe125e..16a8249558 100644
--- a/google/cloud/aiplatform/initializer.py
+++ b/google/cloud/aiplatform/initializer.py
@@ -69,7 +69,9 @@ def _set_project_as_env_var_or_google_auth_default(self):
             # See https://github.com/googleapis/google-auth-library-python/issues/924
             # TODO: Remove when google.auth.default() learns the
             # CLOUD_ML_PROJECT_ID env variable or Vertex AI starts setting GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT env variable.
-            project_number = os.environ.get("CLOUD_ML_PROJECT_ID")
+            project_number = os.environ.get("GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT") or os.environ.get(
+                "CLOUD_ML_PROJECT_ID"
+            )
             if project_number:
                 if not self._credentials:
                     credentials, _ = google.auth.default()
@@ -312,7 +314,7 @@ def location(self) -> str:
         if self._location:
             return self._location
 
-        location = os.getenv("CLOUD_ML_REGION")
+        location = os.getenv("GOOGLE_CLOUD_REGION") or os.getenv("CLOUD_ML_REGION")
         if location:
             utils.validate_region(location)
             return location
diff --git a/tests/unit/aiplatform/test_initializer.py b/tests/unit/aiplatform/test_initializer.py
index 9fa1c13b56..d3993014f0 100644
--- a/tests/unit/aiplatform/test_initializer.py
+++ b/tests/unit/aiplatform/test_initializer.py
@@ -86,6 +86,28 @@ def mock_get_project_id(project_number: str, **_):
         ):
             assert initializer.global_config.project == _TEST_PROJECT
 
+    def test_infer_project_id_with_precedence(self):
+        lower_precedence_cloud_project_number = "456"
+        higher_precedence_cloud_project_number = "123"
+
+        def mock_get_project_id(project_number: str, **_):
+            assert project_number == higher_precedence_cloud_project_number
+            return _TEST_PROJECT
+
+        with mock.patch.object(
+            target=resource_manager_utils,
+            attribute="get_project_id",
+            new=mock_get_project_id,
+        ), mock.patch.dict(
+            os.environ,
+            {
+                "GOOGLE_CLOUD_PROJECT": higher_precedence_cloud_project_number,
+                "CLOUD_ML_PROJECT_ID": lower_precedence_cloud_project_number,
+            },
+            clear=True,
+        ):
+            assert initializer.global_config.project == _TEST_PROJECT
+
     def test_init_location_sets_location(self):
         initializer.global_config.init(location=_TEST_LOCATION)
         assert initializer.global_config.location == _TEST_LOCATION