The World Meteorological Organization’s State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report warns that the region is warming nearly twice as fast as the global average, driving more extreme weather and posing serious threats to lives, ecosystems, and economies. In 2024, Asia experienced its warmest or second warmest year on …
This working paper explores the benefits and trade-offs of harnessing private sector health services as governments look to build more resilient, accessible, and affordable health systems and support the post-pandemic recovery. It considers why governments must continuously decide whether to produce or buy-in services, analyzes how public–private collaborations can bolster …
Across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the greatest progress made in the Asia-Pacific region has been towards Goal 7. There has been considerable success in providing electricity access to urban and rural populations. South and South-West Asia performed exceptionally on electricity access, which helped accelerate progress on SDG 7. There …
The Asia-Pacific region has made considerable progress on improving economic and social welfare over the last decade. Water resources have contributed greatly to this transformation through water and sanitation hygiene (WASH), provision of basic services, agricultural expansion, food security and nutrition, and ecosystem services. This was most notable during COVID-19 …
As the Asia-Pacific region grows increasingly urbanized, the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 is a comprehensive and action-oriented blueprint for advancing sustainable cities and communities. It proposes to readdress how plan, finance, develop, govern and manage cities and human settlements in line with the New Urban Agenda. In essence, SDG …
This report shows how smart trade and investment policies, and regulatory cooperation in the Asia and Pacific region can help economies tackle climate change, recover from the pandemic, and support resilient and sustainable development. Analyzing topics including global value chains, investment, the movement of people, and regional cooperation initiatives, it …
This report presents case studies that highlight how ADB's teams are working together to design innovative urban projects across the Asia and Pacific region that leverage its value-added services and support sustainable economic growth. Based on interviews with teams in countries including Mongolia, India, and Uzbekistan, the report explores the …
Climate-driven injustice is a significant economic and social concern associated with transition towards net-zero future, and that requires global and domestic environmental policies to be more sustainable and socially just. To help policymakers envision what policies might be deployed to make a net-zero transition just, this paper reviews concepts of …
More than at any time in the history, climate change is having an increasingly unprecedented effect on human lives. Economies are affected severely in terms of sovereign risk due to climate change variations influencing the macroeconomy. Asian countries are highly susceptible to economic downturn due to the consequences of climate …
This report presents an overview on the impact of the global food crisis on the Asia Pacific region, with a focus on the impact on food security, nutrition, and the capacity of key actors to respond. The protracted conflict in Ukraine and the global food crisis are having substantial impacts …
Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions are the main driving force of climate change, and all economic sectors need to internalize their costs. Food systems (including land use, production, refrigeration, food processing) account for a quarter of global GHG emissions. Agricultural exports in Asia-Pacific account for 18% of total exports, twice as …
Smart city policy goals are becoming mainstream in South East Asia but lack a supply of innovative smart city business models, products and services. ESCAP is joining the movement to support the acceleration of smart innovative solutions for cities through its Smart Cities Innovation Lab project. The project builds on …
The East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region has been less exposed to the food price shock arising from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine than other world regions. East Asia and Pacific economies have not imported much directly from the war-affected countries and have consumed less wheat (prices for which spiked) and …
The COVID-19 pandemic, climate disasters and ongoing conflict have deepened inequalities among children in Europe and Central Asia, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said in this report, calling for more robust support for boys and girls at risk of poverty and social exclusion. The report on children’s rights is the …
In an era of multiple crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the 2023 Asia-Pacific SDG Partnership Report – titled ‘Delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals through Solutions at the Energy, Food and Finance Nexus’ focuses on solutions at the nexus of the energy, …
Poor diets and malnutrition in all its forms are among the greatest global social challenges of our time. The Nutrition Year of Action spotlighted the urgent need for more action whilst ensuring that all stakeholders are held accountable for their commitments. The 2022 Global Nutrition Report provides an analysis of …
This publication provides key highlights and takeaways from the Asia-Pacific Rural Development and Food Security Forum 2022 on four main areas: sustainable, resilient, and inclusive food systems; financing for sustainable agriculture and natural capital; nutrition security; and the rural–urban divide. The publication shares insights from the forum to support policymakers …
This report analyzes future energy market options for Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program members to help facilitate sustainable energy infrastructure investment. The report provides forecasts at individual country and regional levels. It aims to equip investors and policy makers with insights on regional trends to help identify potential …
This study analyzes the exposure of energy and transport assets in Asia and the Pacific to climate change and earthquake hazards and highlights how multi-hazard assessment can help strengthen the resilience of crucial infrastructure. Geolocating and undertaking a multi-hazard assessment of more than 30,000 infrastructure assets, the study identifies significant …
The Transport and Communication Bulletin for Asia and the Pacific is a peer-reviewed journal that is published once a year by the Transport Division of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The Bulletin is a medium in which knowledge, experience, ideas, policy options …
This paper was prepared as part of background research for the Economic and Social Survey for Asia and the Pacific 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of inclusive and resilient growth and the role of fiscal policy in ensuring a better outcome. This policy brief examines the relationship …
