Regional implications of the AGF recommendations: Asia

The document analyzes Asia's climate investment requirements, estimating annual mitigation needs at US$90–180 billion and adaptation costs at US$40–45 billion by 2030. It argues that while private finance can drive mitigation in major economies like China and India, public resources are essential for adaptation and for less developed countries. The briefing highlights opportunities in carbon markets and public-private leveraging, but warns that the Copenhagen Accord's US$100 billion target is insufficient for Asia's needs and that transport or financial transaction levies could negatively impact Asian trade and financial hubs.

• Asia's annual investment requirements for climate change mitigation by 2030 are estimated between US$90 billion and US$180 billion, with the energy sector providing the greatest potential for emission reductions.
• Annual adaptation costs for Asia may reach US$40–45 billion by 2030, with India and China requiring US$20–24 billion and Asia's least developed countries (LDCs) requiring US$5–6 billion per year.
• The Copenhagen Accord target of US$100 billion per year is considered insufficient for Asia, as the region's own investment requirements are projected to be 1.5–2.25 times that amount.
• Private finance is expected to cover most mitigation investment in China, India, and South-East Asia, whereas concessional public resources are needed for other Asian countries and for adaptation efforts.
• Proposed AGF revenue sources such as auctioning emission allowances and redirecting fossil fuel subsidies are viewed as attractive for Asia and unlikely to have negative effects.
• Certain AGF recommendations pose risks to Asia, specifically transport levies that could threaten export-oriented growth and financial transaction taxes that could reduce activity in major hubs like Singapore and Hong Kong.

APA

Fankhauser, S., & Ward, J. (2010). Regional implications of the AGF recommendations: Asia. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/AGF-Implications-Asia-CDKN-Special-Briefing-small.pdf

Chicago

Fankhauser, Sam, and John Ward. Regional implications of the AGF recommendations: Asia. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2010. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/AGF-Implications-Asia-CDKN-Special-Briefing-small.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Fankhauser |first1=Sam |last2=Ward |first2=John |title=Regional implications of the AGF recommendations: Asia |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=November 2010 |url=http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/AGF-Implications-Asia-CDKN-Special-Briefing-small.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{fankhauser2010regional, author = {Fankhauser, Sam and Ward, John}, title = {{Regional implications of the AGF recommendations: Asia}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2010}, month = nov, url = {http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/AGF-Implications-Asia-CDKN-Special-Briefing-small.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }