The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) will serve as Secretariat for a new initiative to develop the Asia-Pacific Synergy Report: Addressing the SDGs and the Triple Planetary Crisis (APSR). The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), the United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP ROAP) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), with support from the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ), will lead coordination on the report that will be elaborated as the key output of a new regional initiative to advance synergy-driven policymaking and accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The APSR is a collaborative regional initiative that will serve to engage governments, international organisations, research institutions, private sector leaders and civil society, with the aim of mainstreaming synergies into policy and action. The APSR will tackle the triple planetary crisis characterised by climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, and its development officially begins with a side event during the 2025 Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) .
A Critical Moment for the Asia-Pacific Region
Home to over 60% of the world’s population, the Asia-Pacific region stands at a pivotal moment in its pursuit of sustainable development. The region is not on track to achieve any of the 17 SDGs, with the greatest shortfalls in environmental targets. While international frameworks such as the Paris Agreement, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction provide essential guidance, implementation gaps remain. Policymakers, businesses and stakeholders across sectors require integrated and actionable solutions to drive transformative change.
The APSR will provide practical policy tools, concrete case studies and strategic guidance to help governments and organisations implement synergistic approaches effectively. This is to ensure that development policies maximise co-benefits while minimising trade-offs and fostering forward-looking policies that address emerging risks and opportunities in sustainability transitions.
A Collaborative Effort for Sustainability
Stakeholders from across the Asia-Pacific region are invited to contribute to this development process by sharing best practices, case studies and strategic insights. To support this effort, a dedicated APSR webpage will be launched soon. This platform will enable organisations, businesses and experts to submit case studies, thereby facilitating knowledge-sharing and collaboration. A template for case studies is now available, and stakeholders are encouraged to submit their contributions in advance using the link below:
https://sites.google.com/iges.or.jp/synergy-case-studies/home
Find the information on the APFSD side event:
https://www.iges.or.jp/en/events/20250226
Secretariat
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES)
Coordinating Organisations
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)
United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (UNEP ROAP)
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Sponsoring countries
Japan (Ministry of the Environment, Japan (MOEJ))
For more information please contact:
Asia-Pacific Synergy Secretariat
E-mail: [email protected]
Communications Manager
Otsuka Takashi
E-mail: [email protected]