Environment and Climate Change
Acknowledgements
This report was prepared under the direction of the Executive Secretary and the deputy executive secretaries of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and its editorial board.
Asia-Pacific Countries with Special Needs Development Report 2025
Harnessing a New Generation of Programmes of Action for Sustainable Development Ambitions
The Asia-Pacific Countries with Special Needs Development Report is a recurrent ESCAP annual publication that discusses issues of interest for Asia-Pacific least developed countries (LDCs) landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS). The 2025 Report with the theme of “Harnessing a New Generation of Programmes of Action for Sustainable Development Ambitions” focuses on the recently adopted new programmes of action for these groups of countries. It offers a comprehensive understanding of the new programmes their alignments with the Sustainable Development Goals and lessons from previous programmes. It highlights and identifies implementation challenges and strategies for Asia and the Pacific and outlines the role of the international community to assist them in implementing and effectively addressing their unique development challenges.
Introduction
Countries in special situations are a diverse group facing unique vulnerabilities and development challenges.
Conclusion
This report has provided an assessment of the progress made by LDCs LLDCs and SIDS in Asia and the Pacific through past programmes of action while acknowledging the limited progress in some areas with the aim of identifying effective strategies for implementing the new programmes of action.
Foreword
The least developed countries landlocked developing countries and small island developing States comprise more than half of the membership of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.
Explanatory notes
Analyses in the report are based on data and information available up to the end of February 2025.
Executive summary
The least developed countries (LDCs) landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) and small island developing States (SIDS) in Asia and the Pacific comprise thirty out of the fifty-three members of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
État du climat en Afrique 2024
Le rapport « État du climat en Afrique 2024 » révèle que les phénomènes météorologiques extrêmes et le changement climatique aggravent la faim l’insécurité et les déplacements de population en Afrique impactant tous les aspects du développement socio-économique. L’année 2024 a été l’une des plus chaudes jamais enregistrées avec des températures de surface de la mer sans précédent et des vagues de chaleur marines généralisées. Le rapport souligne les graves défis qui se posent à l’agriculture à la sécurité alimentaire et hydrique à la santé et à l’éducation tout en soulignant les opportunités émergentes offertes par l’IA les outils mobiles et les modèles météorologiques avancés. Il appelle à des investissements urgents dans les infrastructures le partage des données et les services inclusifs afin de renforcer les systèmes d’alerte précoce et la résilience climatique.
حالة المناخ في أفريقيا 2024
The State of the Climate in Africa 2024 report reveals that extreme weather and climate change are intensifying hunger insecurity and displacement across Africa impacting every facet of socio-economic development. 2024 ranked as one of the warmest years on record with unprecedented sea-surface temperatures and widespread marine heatwaves. The report outlines severe challenges for agriculture food and water security health and education—while also highlighting emerging opportunities through AI mobile tools and advanced weather models. It calls for urgent investment in infrastructure data sharing and inclusive services to strengthen early warning systems and climate resilience.
State of the Climate in Africa 2024
The State of the Climate in Africa 2024 report reveals that extreme weather and climate change are intensifying hunger insecurity and displacement across Africa impacting every facet of socio-economic development. 2024 ranked as one of the warmest years on record with unprecedented sea-surface temperatures and widespread marine heatwaves. The report outlines severe challenges for agriculture food and water security health and education—while also highlighting emerging opportunities through AI mobile tools and advanced weather models. It calls for urgent investment in infrastructure data sharing and inclusive services to strengthen early warning systems and climate resilience.
Building resilience in mine impacted communities through community capitals: Health service delivery in Papua New Guinea
Mining is generally perceived to bring benefits through compensation royalty payments and other types of assistance to the landowners and surrounding communities. In Papua New Guinea however many mining communities lack access to basic services including health. This paper presents results from a study conducted in three mine-impacted communities in Papua New Guinea based on building resilience through community capitals collaboratively by the stakeholders. This endeavour can sustain service delivery in all stages of mining: beginning operational and beyond mine closure. To achieve sustainable communities resilience must be built through the development and interaction of these capitals.
Editorial
I am pleased to introduce the first Asia Pacific Sustainable Development Journal (APSDJ vol. 32 No. 1) of 2025. The focus of this issue is on the demographic transition in Asia-Pacific countries and its intergenerational implications. The special theme section “Demographic change and intergenerational relations” was coordinated by Sabine Henning of the Social Development Division of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) under the overall supervision of the Social Development Division Director Srinivas Tata.
The Indian Economy: Issues, Policies and Performance
In recent decades global attention has turned to economic progress in India which has been growing at an average annual rate of approximately 7 per cent since the onset of the twenty-first century. India is the most populous country and has the fifth largest economy in the world. The population and resource diversity add to the intricacy of the country’s economic progress.
Economic consequences of population ageing in the Asia-Pacific region and the role of intergenerational support
Although some Asia-Pacific countries still experience demographic dividends all will soon be ageing which will slow the growth of their gross domestic product. The impact of ageing on individual welfare depends on how much older persons rely on income from assets and labour versus public and private transfers which are vulnerable to population ageing and unsustainable as currently structured. Increased fertility would raise economic pressures for many decades before beginning to help. Costs should be shared intergenerationally through higher taxes on workers and through both later retirement and more asset accumulation which would reduce the need for transfers in the future.