Asia and the Pacific

The document examines the Asia and the Pacific region as a critical driver of global environmental outcomes, highlighting its role as the fastest-growing region with rapidly rising greenhouse gas emissions. It argues that while some progress has been made in mitigation and adaptation, urgent action is needed to achieve low-carbon, climate-resilient societies. The text identifies key pressures from unsustainable economic growth, population increase, and urbanization, and recommends integrated water management, the '3Rs' approach to waste, and governance improvements to ensure sustainable development.

• Asia and the Pacific is the world's fastest-growing region and possesses the most rapidly increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Under a business-as-usual scenario, the region is projected to account for roughly 45% of global energy-related carbon dioxide emissions by 2030.
• The region faces high vulnerability to climate change, necessitating the integration of adaptation into development plans, the climate-proofing of infrastructure, and the promotion of ecosystem-based adaptation.
• Water resource management in the region is challenged by extreme variability, ranging from arid zones to abundant tropics. Achieving freshwater goals requires adaptive and integrated management frameworks that include multi-stakeholder participation and appropriate pricing.
• Increasing wealth in the region has led to a rapid rise in consumption and waste. The document advocates for the '3Rs' approach (reduce, reuse, recycle) and a shift in consumption patterns to reduce waste at the source.
• Sustainable development in the region depends on governance improvements, including the integration of sustainability across policy areas, greening fiscal policy, and improving data collection and accountability.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2012). Asia and the Pacific. https://www.sei.org/publications/geo-5-chapter-10-asia-and-the-pacific/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Asia and the Pacific. 2012. https://www.sei.org/publications/geo-5-chapter-10-asia-and-the-pacific/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Asia and the Pacific |date=6 June 2012 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/geo-5-chapter-10-asia-and-the-pacific/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2012asia, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Asia and the Pacific}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2012}, month = jun, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/geo-5-chapter-10-asia-and-the-pacific/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }