Asia-Pacific Falling Behind on Sustainable Development and Climate Targets
February 17, 2025
The Asia-Pacific region is falling behind on its sustainable development and climate targets, according to a new report released today by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP).
The report, titled “Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific: Progress and Challenges,” found that the region is making insufficient progress towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of 17 global goals adopted by the United Nations in 2015.
The report also found that the region is not on track to meet its climate commitments under the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels.
“The findings of this report are a wake-up call for Asia-Pacific countries,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Executive Secretary of UNESCAP. “We need to accelerate progress on sustainable development and climate action if we are to achieve a more sustainable and prosperous future for the region.”
The report identified a number of challenges that are hindering the region’s progress on sustainable development and climate action, including:
- Poverty and inequality
- Environmental degradation
- Climate change
- Population growth
- Urbanization
The report also found that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the region’s sustainable development and climate action efforts.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing challenges and made it more difficult to achieve the SDGs and climate targets,” said Alisjahbana. “However, the pandemic has also provided an opportunity to rethink our development pathways and to build back better.”
The report recommends a number of actions that Asia-Pacific countries can take to accelerate progress on sustainable development and climate action, including:
- Investing in sustainable infrastructure
- Promoting sustainable agriculture
- Protecting and restoring ecosystems
- Reducing emissions from energy and transportation
- Building resilience to climate change
“We need to act now to create a more sustainable and prosperous future for Asia-Pacific,” said Alisjahbana. “The recommendations in this report provide a roadmap for how we can achieve this.”
Asia-Pacific falling behind on sustainable development and climate targets
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