New UN report warns of a new climate reality where economic losses are set to quadruple Bangkok (ESCAP news) – The relentless sequence of natural disasters in Asia and the Pacific the past two years was beyond what the region had previously experienced or was able to predict – and this is a sign of […]
More dry years ahead for South-East Asia
New UN-ASEAN study reveals slow but devastating impacts of drought in the region Mandalay (ESCAP news) – Future scenarios of drought in many parts of South-East Asia may become even more frequent and intense if actions are not taken now to build resilience, according to the latest joint study by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission […]
Ambitions are affordable for Asia and the Pacific
Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana Three years of implementation of the transformative 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific shows the region has some catching up to do. Despite much progress, the region is not on track to reach the 17 Sustainable Development Goalsset out in the United Nations2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. We […]
Put People and Planet First, says UN report for Asia and the Pacific
Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 is within reach, but more strategic investments are needed Hong Kong, China (ESCAP News) – In its annual report, Survey 2019: Ambitions beyond growth, launched today, the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) – the UN’s regional arm – says that an additional annual investment of $1.5 […]
Lapis Lazuli Corridor – Part 6
UNESCAP (United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) plays an active role in Central Asia. Ms. Azthar Djaymurrina, the head of the transport facilitation and logistics section of UNESCAP delivered an important speech at the conference dedicated to the Lapis Lazuli Corridor. Here is the text of her speech: Your excellency, […]
Going full circle for growth and the planet
LI Yong, UNIDO Director General and Hongjoo Hahm, Officer-in-Charge, ESCAP The business case for making our economy more sustainable is clear. Globally, transitioning to a circular economy – where materials are reused, re-manufactured or recycled-could significantly reduce carbon emissions and deliver over US$1 trillion in material cost savings by 2025. The benefits for Asia and […]
Fighting inequality in Asia and the Pacific
Dr. Shamshad Akhtar Inequality is increasing in Asia and the Pacific. Our region’s remarkable economic success story belies a widening gap between rich and poor. A gap that’s trapping people in poverty and, if not tackled urgently, could thwart our ambition to achieve sustainable development. This is the central challenge heads of state and government […]
Economic and Social Survey for Asia and the Pacific 2018
Mobilizing finance for sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth Dr. Shamshad Akhtar Asia and the Pacific remains the engine of the global economy. It continues to power trade, investment and jobs the world over. Two thirds of the region’s economies grew faster in 2017 than the previous year and the trend is expected to continue […]
Towards Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration in Asia and the Pacific
Dr. Shamshad Akhtar In 2017, Asia and the Pacific will be home to 62 million international migrants. That’s a population larger than the Republic of Korea’s. Even more people from our region – over 100 million–live outside their countries of birth. At the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) […]
Ministerial Summit on Environment – Towards a Resource Efficient and Pollution Free Asia-Pacific
Dr. Shamshad Akhtar and Erik Solheim Senior government officials from across Asia and the Pacific will meet in Bangkok this week for the first-ever Asia-Pacific Ministerial Summit on the Environment. The high-level meeting is co-convened by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP) and UN Environment and is […]