‘Double Dividends’ from Better Urban Management in the Pacific
A new report by Asian Development Bank (ADB), Moving from Risk to Resilience: Sustainable Urban Development in the Pacific, argues that efforts to improve urban management in the Pacific can improve both the quality of life in the region’s cities and towns and, at the same time, build greater resilience to natural hazards and climate change-induced events.
Your Questions Answered: Why Are We Experiencing Heat Waves and What Can Be Done?
Le Lan, an environmental economist working on agricultural, environmental, and natural resources management in East Asia, answers questions about the heat waves that are rolling across parts of Asia and the rest of the world.
Your Questions Answered: How Do We Achieve Decarbonization?
Jonathan Walters, an economist and senior advisor for the infrastructure consulting firm Castalia and Akiko Terada-Hagiwara, an ADB Principal Economist, answer questions on how to work through the issues towards decarbonization in Asia and the Pacific.
Yolanda Response Shows Power of the Virtual Citizen
A year ago this last weekend, Typhoon Haiyan (locally known as Yolanda) hit the Philippines, the strongest tropical cyclone in recorded history. You may have heard about this tragedy via traditional media but it is likely you heard more about it through social media.
Worsening Climate Emergency and Tepid COP25 Underscore Need for Urgent Global Action
After a disappointing 2019 United Nations Climate Change Conference, there is a need to restore confidence that the intergovernmental process can deliver on mitigation, adaptation, and finance.
World Water Day: How We Can ‘Unflood’ Asia
On World Water Day, it’s time to reflect on how several of Asia’s developing countries are especially vulnerable to floods. What can we do to better address this problem? Adopt a holistic approach to flood management and resilience.
Window of Opportunity Still Open on Climate Action
A set of reports by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the last of which was released on November 2, 2014, sets the scene for governments to renew their efforts on the issue through ambitious commitments for a comprehensive climate agreement in Paris in December 2015.
Will the Green Climate Fund Pledges Create a Momentum for Ongoing Climate Negotiations?
The recent formal pledging session for the Green Climate Fund (GCF)—more than $9 billion in just 5 months—is by far the most successful resource mobilization ever seen for a multilateral climate fund. The US has pledged $3 billion, followed by Japan ($1.5 billion), UK ($1.13 billion), and Germany and France (with $1 billion each). Four developing countries—Indonesia, Mexico, Mongolia, and Panama—have made pledges, breaking the traditional donor boundaries.
Why Partnering with the Private Sector is Key to Inclusive Growth
Over the past couple of decades, no one can deny that the Asia and Pacific region has represented a remarkable success story. Absolute poverty levels have fallen significantly and the region is on course to achieve a number of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Why Don’t We Act on the Facts of Climate Change?
Immediate action is needed on climate change and we must overcome skepticism.