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Methane matters : a handbook on sources, impacts and mitigation strategies
No full textRecognising the extensive impacts of climate change, countries worldwide are actively collaborating to reduce GHGs and limit further temperature increases. The 2015 Paris Agreement aims to limit the global temperature rise to well below 2℃ above pre-industrial levels, to keep it below 1.5℃. Realising this objective necessitates significant reductions in GHG emissions, including non-CO2 gases. Methane is the second most anthropogenically emitted GHG after carbon dioxide, accounting for about 16 per cent of global GHG emissions and over 30 per cent of current global warming. Despite comprising only 0.00019 per cent of the atmosphere, methane emissions have been steadily increasing, with 2021 seeing the most considerable annual rise of atmospheric methane concentration in four decades. This handbook aims to emphasise the importance of methane mitigation by providing comprehensive knowledge on the subject, analysing its impacts, highlighting recent progress in global, regional, and national methane discussions, and raising awareness.The funding-supported work of the Environmental Defense Fund,Introductory note ........... v
List of citations ...................................... 1
Commodities .......................................... 1
Culture .............................................. 1
Development assistance ............................... 2
Documentation, information and library science .......3
Economic co-operation and integration ................... 4
Economic conditions ............................ 8
Economic development and planning ....................... 9
Economics ............................ 13
Education and training .................................. 14 Environment............................................. 15
Food and agriculture .................................... 20
Geography, biography and history ........................ 28
Human settlements ....................................... 29
Industry ................................................ 31
International relations ................................. 36
International trade ..................................... 37
Investments .......................................... 43
Law.................................................. 44
Management............................. 46
Manpower and employment ........................... 47
Money, banking and finance .............................. 50
Natural resources .................................... 51
Natural resources: energy ........................... 53
Natural resources: minerals ......................... 55
Natural resources: water ............................ 56
Physical planning .................................... 57
Politics ............................................... 58
Population............................ 59
Public administration ................................ 61
Public finance ........................... 61
Public health and medicine .............................. 63
Reference works ......................................... 64
Rural development ....................................... 65
Science and technology .................................. 67
Shipping, ports and inland waterways ....................71
Social development, services and welfare ............ 74
Social sciences ..................................... 75
Statistics .......................................... 76
Technical co-operation .............................. 78
Transnational corporations .......................... 79
Transport, communications and tourism ............... 82
United Nations system ............................... 83
Women and youth..................................... 83
Author index .......................................... 89
Title index ............................................. 125
Area index.... ......................................... 14
Analysis of best practices for ESG supervision and recommendation to the Bank of Mongolia
No full textThis discussion paper assesses Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting practices in Mongolia’s banking sector and outlines a roadmap for the Bank of Mongolia to institutionalize ESG risk-based supervision. In the context of increasing climate risks and a financial system concentrated in high-emitting sectors, the paper highlights the role of financial supervision in supporting stability and sustainable finance. It reviews international ESG frameworks, evaluates Mongolia’s current reporting standards, and identifies gaps in alignment, data quality, and coverage of key indicators such as financed emissions and biodiversity risks. The paper proposes a phased supervisory approach, supported by harmonized reporting templates and improved data infrastructure, and provides recommendations to strengthen the regulatory framework and supervisory capacity. These measures aim to embed ESG considerations within Mongolia’s financial system and support a resilient and sustainable financial sector.Funded under the Partnership Action Fund (PAF) of the NDC PartnershipDisclaimer 02
About this report 03
Acknowledgements 04
List of Tables and Figures 06
Explanatory Notes 07
Abbreviations and Acronyms 09
Executive Summary 11
I: Introduction 15
II: Definition and Best Practice 19
II.I ESG Principles, Standards, and Frameworks 19
III: ESG Risk-Based Supervision 29
III.1 Risk Identification 37
III.2 Risk Assessment 39
III.3 Risk Management 42
IV: ESG Reporting in Mongolia 51
VI: Conclusion 6
SatGPT for flood impact analysis : enabling AI-driven decision support through capacity development in Asia and the Pacific
No full textThis working paper presents the development and capabilities of SatGPT, an AI-powered flood mapping and spatial decision support tool developed for disaster risk management in Asia and the Pacific. This paper examines some of the limitations of conventional flood impact analysis approaches and describes how the integration of natural language processing, cloud computing, and Earth observation data can lower technical barriers to accessing and using flood risk information. Drawing on structured capacity development activities conducted between 2024 and 2025, the paper synthesizes high-level insights from applied case studies to assess the potential applications of SatGPT in the local context, as well as its scalability and possible contributions to informed decision-making. This working paper focuses on how digital innovations, when complemented with a structured capacity development design, can strengthen evidence-based decision-making and support the uptake of AI-enabled tools within existing geospatial and disaster risk management workflows.Table of Contents
Abstract ............................................................................................................................... 5
1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 6
2. Limitations of Conventional Flood Impact Analysis Approaches .............................. 9
3. SatGPT: An AI-Powered, Data-Driven Solution for Disaster Management .............. 11
3.1 The AI-Assisted Workflow: Bridging the User-Data Gap ...................................... 11
3.2 Accuracy Assessment............................................................................................ 13
4. Creating an Enabling Environment for Digital Innovations through Capacity Development Initiatives ................................................................................................... 15
5. Evaluating the Potential of SatGPT for Actionable Intelligence – A Collection of Case Studies ..................................................................................................................... 19
References ........................................................................................................................ 2
Accelerating the mobilization of domestic and international private finance towards the sustainable development goals
No full textThis policy brief draws from a section of the Issues Paper, “Strengthening Financing for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific: A discussion of Selected Policy Areas”, prepared as a background document to facilitate discussions at the High-level Regional Consultation on Financing for Development in Asia and the Pacific, held in Bangkok and online on 17 and 18 December 2024
Impact of climate change-related risks on monetary policy and operations
No full textFull-text in EnglishThis report examines the growing influence of climate change on Mongolia’s monetary policy and the critical role of the Bank of Mongolia in addressing associated risks. Mongolia faces significant physical risks, such as extreme weather events disrupting key sectors, and transition risks stemming from global decarbonization efforts that threaten carbon-intensive industries. These challenges pose inflationary pressures, financial stability concerns, and heightened credit risks, necessitating proactive integration of climate considerations into monetary and prudential frameworks. Drawing on global best practices and case studies, the report outlines actionable steps for the Bank of Mongolia, including embedding climate variables into policy analysis, institutionalizing scenario-based risk assessments, and exploring climate-aligned operational levers. Strengthening analytical capacity, enhancing communication, and implementing calibrated prudential measures will be essential to mitigate vulnerabilities and support a sustainable economic transition. By adopting forward-looking strategies, the Bank of Mongolia can safeguard long-term financial stability and position itself as a leader in managing climate-related risks.NDC PartnershipDisclaimer 2
About this report 3
Acknowledgments 4
List of Figures and Tables 6
Explanatory Notes 8
Acronyms 10
Executive Summary 11
1 : Introduction 14
2 : Climate change and monetary policy framework 18
2.1 Overview 18
2.2 Climate change, inflation and price stability 21
2.3 Climate risks impact on economic output 33
2.4 Natural rate of interest (R*) 39
2.5 Inflation expectations 42
3 : Climate risk and monetary policy transmission 48
3.1 Interest rates 51
3.2 Exchange rate channel 57
3.3 Asset prices 69
3.4 Bank lending 74
4 : Overview of Bank of Mongolia’s operational framework 83
4.1 Bank of Mongolia‘s current institutional framework and analytical toolkit 84
4.2 Bank of Mongolia Open Market Operations 84
4.3 Pricing to collateral 84
4.4 Overview of collateral framework and counterparty eligibility 86
4.5 Forward looking analytical framework for monetary policy decision making 89
5 : Climate risk considerations under the operational framework 91
5.1 Credit operations 95
5.2 Collateral framework 103
5.3 Asset purchases 110
5.4 Macro and micro prudential policy tools 114
6 : Recommendations and policy options for central banks 11
The inclusive business case for governments
No full textGovernments around the world are facing critical challenges. In emerging economies, growing populations and inequality highlight the need for an inclusive growth approach that leaves no one behind and enables people to have access to goods, services and economic opportunities that allow them to meet their basic needs and fulfil their potential as human beings. As of 2023, more than 23 per cent of the world’s population lives on less than USD 3.65 per day, and 45.9 per cent live on less than USD 6.85 a day.1 The COVID-19 pandemic has reversed progress in poverty reduction across developing countries in Asia and the Pacific.
In 2022, adverse impacts including falling incomes, remittances and consumption, have driven nearly 90 million people into extreme poverty (less than USD 1.90 per day). An additional 150 million individuals now live on less than USD 3.20 per day, and 170 million on USD 5.50 a day.
This report makes the case for governments to support inclusive business as a private sector approach to reduce inequality, alleviate poverty and strengthen economic development along the following lines:
Chapter 1 establishes the benefits of inclusive business. It features examples of companies contributing to poverty reduction and to improving the access of low-income people to basic goods and services, as well as to innovation and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Chapter 2 argues that although profitable business models exist, the market conditions are often challenging. Incentives and support by the government can attract more players into the market and enable existing businesses to increase their reach and impact.
Chapter 3 discusses the measures governments can take to promote inclusive businesses, and provides examples from ASEAN Member States.
Chapter 4 shows how governments can get ready to support inclusive business by creating awareness, building skills and leveraging networks
Presentation. Achievement 2023-2024 and Work Plan 2024-2025 of ESCAP. Fifth session of the SPECA Working Group on Innovation and Technology for Sustainable Development
No full textPart II: review of SPECA WG on ISD Activities and work plan 2024-2025
Central Asia's trade in virtual water : SPECA policy brief on sustainable trade and water management. Event on Sustainable Trade and Circularity under the SPECA Working Group on Trade
No full textSession IV : Advancing climate-smart trade through sustainable trade,trade facilitation, digitalization, and circularity, under the SPECA Working Group on Trade Dushanbe, 26 November 2024This policy brief for session IV of the 2024 SPECA Economic Foru
