Promoting transformative actions for sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region
Progress on the environment-related Sustainable Development Goals has lagged in Asia and the Pacific and the triple crises of food, energy and finance associated with COVID-19, conflicts and climate change have highlighted the inherent socio-economic and environmental vulnerabilities in the region. Without coordinated action, climate change and environmental degradation will cause increased socioeconomic consequences, harming human health and wellbeing, especially for the most vulnerable population and countries in Asia and the Pacific.
Member States need to accelerate action to reach the goals of the 2030 Agenda and the Environment and Development Division supports this process by mapping paths to a green, resilient and more equal Asia and the Pacific. EDD applies transformative futures methods, systems thinking and behavioral sciences to develop scenarios for a more sustainable region and to identify the actions needed to realize this vision.
Our approach
At the Environment and Development Division, our workplan is designed strategically around four thematic areas:
The Environment and Development Division offers a comprehensive intersectional approach to accelerate actions for achieving the goals of the 2030 Agenda. Our focus includes support to meet specific targets and to identify pivotal interventions that may catalyze positive results for more than a single Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).
Our services
The Environment and Development Division delivers its services through the Environment and Development Policy Section (EDPS) and the Sustainable Urban Development Section (SUDS). Our division prioritizes work related to intergovernmental support, the development of knowledge products and tools, and technical assistance to build capacity in the region.
- Intergovernmental support: EDD supports member States to enhance regional cooperation in the form of transformative, integrated environmental actions that can contribute to planetary health. Regional cooperation together with good governance and appropriate policies can help to integrate sustained improvements for green, resilient and sustainable development pathways.
- Knowledge products and learning tools: EDD’s work includes the development of knowledge products in the form of flagship reports, policy briefs, technical papers and theme studies throughout the year. All resources are available to the general public in digital format. In addition, EDD manages the Sustainable Development Goals Help Desk, one-stop online service providing access to SDG-related tools, knowledge products, data portals, expertise, advice and opportunities for peer-learning and regional South-South cooperation through thematic areas, covering a multitude of topics.
- Technical assistance and capacity building: In line with our thematic areas and cross-cutting issues, the division provides technical assistance and capacity-building activities to support governments at the local, subnational and national levels to strengthen skills, knowledge and tools, as well as to improve knowledge-sharing and resource utilization.
More information on the EDD partnership with member States and Stakeholders is available here.
Key publications
2025 Review of climate ambition in Asia and the Pacific : readiness for NDC implementation is the fifth in a series of annual reports on regional climate action, developed by ESCAP and UNEP as co-chairs, and UN Women as a member of the Issue-based Coalition on Raising Ambition for Climate Action.
This report offers a clear and comprehensive overview of the readiness of countries in Asia and the Pacific to effectively plan, implement and set the goals of future NDCs, and how far the current NDCs 3.0 are aligned with the Paris Agreement goals. It highlights progress in creating enabling environment for uptake of renewable energy and coal abatement, just transition, carbon markets, collaborative governance, strengthening institutional and legal frameworks, including for climate finance.
- The Series of the Review of Climate Ambition in Asia and the Pacific can be accessed here.
Protecting Our Planet through Regional Cooperation and Solidarity in Asia and the Pacific. This flagship report provides an overview of the state of the environment in Asia and the Pacific, highlighting that the region accounts for more than half of global greenhouse gas emissions and two-thirds of premature death, due to air pollution, and causing a quarter of endemic species in the region to face high risk of extinction. The report identifies a number of policy recommendations and calls for reinvigorating multilateralism to protect our environmental commons, which is fundamental for human health and well-being.
- Series of the Asia-Pacific State of the Environment and Development reports can be accessed here.
State of Blue Carbon Ecosystems for Climate Action in Asia and the Pacific. This publication assesses the coverage of key coastal ecosystems and their conservation and restoration potential in the Asia-Pacific region, with particular reference to Bangladesh, Indonesia, Maldives and Samoa. The assessment and the notional targets for mangrove restoration presented therein are intended to support national dialogue among stakeholders and underline the need for country-driven assessments, where they do not exist.
The Future of Asian-Pacific Cities Report 2023 entitled, Crisis Resilient Urban Futures, is a comprehensive analysis and assessment of sustainable urban development in the Asia and Pacific region at a time of great disruption and uncertainty resulting from multiple interlinked global crises in a post-pandemic era. This report aims to provide valuable insights into the spatial, economic, social, environmental and governance aspects of cities, offering holistic policy recommendations towards a sustainable urban recovery from these crises.
- Series of the Future of Asia-Pacific Cities reports can be accessed here.
Air Quality Status and Trends in the Asia-Pacific Region. This report leverages science-based solutions and the latest available technologies to analyse the status and long-term trends of air pollution in the Asia-Pacific region. A new perspective is introduced by examining air pollution through the framework of hotspots and airsheds. In East Asia, significant improvements have been observed over the past decade, largely due to the enforcement of stricter emission regulations. In contrast, South and Southeast Asia continue to experience high seasonal pollution levels, driven by agricultural burning and synoptic meteorology. Interpreting these findings through a policy lens highlights both areas of progress and persistent challenges.
