This side event marks the official kick off the development of the “Asia-Pacific Synergy Report to Address the SDGs and the Triple Planetary Crisis,” a collaborative initiative aimed at driving sustainable development in the region, with the report scheduled for release in 2026.
The report will examine how synergies can accelerate progress on sustainable development in Asia-Pacific. It aims to offer a wealth of case studies and practical examples, providing policymakers and practitioners with valuable guidance for on-the-ground implementation of synergistic solutions. Experts from across the Asia-Pacific region will be invited to join this collaborative effort, bringing diverse perspectives that will enhance the report’s relevance and practical utility. Through this work, the initiative is expected to deepen understanding of what is needed to make synergies a reality in local actions and national policies across the region, support Voluntary National Review, strengthen regional partnerships, and contribute to future discussions on post-2030 frameworks.
During the event, experts and stakeholders will discuss the report’s role in driving tangible outcomes, particularly in addressing the unique socio-environmental challenges in Asia-Pacific. Context-sensitive synergistic approaches will be highlighted as essential tools for achieving the SDGs. While emphasising SDG 14 (Life Below Water) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), the event will also demonstrate how such approaches can yield co-benefits across all SDGs.
Guiding questions:
- 1. How can context-sensitive synergies be effectively implemented to accelerate progress on sustainable development in Asia-Pacific?
- 2. What types of case studies and examples will most effectively support policymakers in integrating SDG synergies into local and national planning?
- 3. What specific regional perspectives or expertise are essential for maximizing impact, and how can experts across Asia-Pacific be effectively engaged in co-developing these solutions?
- 4. In what ways can synergistic approaches highlighted in this initiative contribute to the design of future design of post-2030 sustainable development frameworks?
Event Details
UNESCAP, Bangkok
Presentation Materials
MC: FUJINO Junichi, Programme Director, Integrated Sustainability Centre, IGES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening: | |||
| Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) | |||
| Dechen Tsering, Director, Regional Office of Asia Pacific, UNEP ROAP | |||
| WATANABE Yoko, Director, Environment, ADB | |||
| Special Remarks: | |||
| Amenatave V.YAUVOLI, H.E. Ambassador, Fiji to the Republic of Indonesia; Permanent Representative to UNESCAP | |||
| Panel Discussion: | |||
| Overview of the report | |||
| TAKEUCHI Kazuhiko, President, IGES | PDF（1.9MB） | ||
| Expectations and suggestions from 3 Co-Leads | |||
| Bernadia Irawati Tjandradewi, Secretary General,United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific (UCLG ASPAC) | |||
| Ma Jun, Director, Institute of Public and Environmental Affairs (IPE) | |||
| Soumya Swaminathan, Chairperson, Chairperson, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, Former Chief Scientist, World Health Organization (WHO) | |||
| Case study presentation, facilitated by ESCAP Sangmin Nam. | |||
| YANASE Tatsuya, Environment and Climate Change Specialist, ADB | PDF（1.4MB） | ||
| Maria Katherina Patdu, Associate Programme Officer, Asia Pacific Clean Air Partnership, UNEP | PDF（524KB） | ||
| MITOMORI Koji, Director, Office for Sustainability Management. (Climate Change, Nature), JICA | PDF（2.5MB） | ||
| Chris Di Gennaro, Senior Program Officer, Manager of the Urban SDG Knowledge Platform. CityNet Secretariat | PDF（4.8MB） | ||
| Q & A | |||
| Closing: | |||
| MATSUZAWA Yutaka, Vice-Minister for Global Environmental Affairs, MOEJ | |||