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The Asia-Pacific region stands at a historic crossroads. Rapid economic growth and urbanization over recent decades have delivered major social gains, including higher living standards, reduced poverty and expanded access to education. Yet the resource intensive, linear production and consumption model that has underpinned this growth is now...

Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Asia-Pacific region requires understanding the deeply interconnected nature of the triple planetary crisis: climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, while advancing socioeconomic development. Progress depends not only on sectoral achievements, but on the ability of policymakers and...

The previous chapters underscored that addressing climate, biodiversity and pollution crises together can generate synergies and accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Implementing synergistic solutions, however, require a range of strategies and mechanisms that can break down silos and facilitate interactions across...

Addressing material use, waste and pollution, and advancing circular economy transitions in Asia and the Pacific are central to achieving sustainable development outcomes that combine economic prosperity, environmental integrity and human well-being. The region’s development trajectory over recent decades has delivered substantial gains in income...

With more than 2.2 billion urban residents, cities in Asia and the Pacific are well placed to drive the urban transitions needed to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (ESCAP, 2025b). Their large and growing urban population gives them significant influence, but the real strength of cities is in their role as delivery...

The triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution threaten not only the global environment but the global economy. International agreements, such as the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), increasingly call for decision makers to recognize this crisis’ interrelated causes and...

Just as nature is the foundation of life on Earth, biodiversity provides the essential ‘ecosystem services’ required to sustain that foundation (e.g. food, water, medicines, fuel, water and climate regulation, pollination, aesthetic value, recreation, spirituality, education). Yet, globally that foundation is weakening as at least a million animal...

In 2015, the international community agreed on 17 potentially transformative Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Shortly thereafter, the Paris Agreement was adopted at the 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP21), signalling a shared commitment to strengthening global responses to...

From a planetary-health perspective, the transgression of planetary boundaries through climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution is shrinking the safe operating space for humanity. The degradation of air, water, soil and ecosystems undermines nutrition, disease control and resilience. The planetary-health framing therefore highlights the need...

As the Asia-Pacific region navigates the complex intersections of climate change, biodiversity loss, and systemic pollution, the need for integrated, cross-sectoral action has never been more evident. While high-level reports frequently emphasize the theoretical value of synergistic approaches—strategies that align multiple policy goals to maximize...