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Review on the impacts of climate change on rice production and cross- sectoral transboundary water issues in the Lower Mekong Basin
No full textPrepared by: Space Applications Section, Information and Communication Technology and Disaster Risk Reduction Division, ESCAPThis report presents a comprehensive assessment of the impacts of climate change on rice production and the broader implications for water management in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB), a region of immense ecological, economic, and cultural significance. The LMB's reliance on the Mekong River, a system with complex hydrological dynamics, is now facing unprecedented challenges due to climate variability and human activities.Key Findings:• Climate and Hydrology Dynamics: The LMB experiences two distinct seasons, shaped by the Southwest Monsoon. Climate change introduces significant uncertainties in hydrological patterns, potentially affecting water availability and agricultural productivity.• Agricultural Impact: Agriculture, with rice as the staple crop, dominates the LMB's economy. The region is grappling with the dual challenges of hydropower development and climate change, which are altering natural flow patterns and threatening the sustainability of agricultural practices.• Climate Change Challenges: The document underscores the adverse effects of climate change, such as altered rainfall patterns and increased frequency of extreme weather events (floods and droughts), particularly impacting rice production.• Rice Productivity and Climate Adaptation: Rice productivity in the LMB is diverse, with varying cultivation methods. Climate-induced droughts and floods have already impacted rice yields and are expected to intensify. The report stresses the need for adaptive measures in rice cultivation to counteract the negative impacts of climate change.• Transboundary Water Issues: The transboundary nature of the Mekong River presents complex challenges for water allocation and usage among basin countries. The report advocates for cooperative management strategies to address the intricacies of shared water resources, further complicated by climate change.
Recommendations:The document proposes several key interventions:• Enhancing monitoring and early warning systems to better predict and respond to climate- related events.• Implementing sustainable agricultural practices to increase resilience against climate variability.• Fostering regional cooperation to effectively manage transboundary water resources.• Integrating climate change adaptation into policy and planning to ensure sustainable resource management.
Conclusion:This report provides a strategic overview of the current challenges and potential interventions for the LMB. It highlights the critical need for regional cooperation and proactive adaptation strategies to ensure long-term sustainability and resilience in the face of evolving climate conditions. The findings and recommendations serve as a vital guide for policymakers, stakeholders, and communities in navigating the complexities of climate change and its impact on a crucial lifeline of the region – the Mekong River and its dependent agricultural systems.</p
Experiences in reducing inequalities in birth registration : case studies from the Pacific
Get PDFESCAP initiated a project to develop guidelines and technical support for inequality assessments. The information garnered from inequality assessments should be used to inform future research and policy interventions to bridge gaps in registration between different populations. However, once inequalities have been pinpointed, countries have also identified the need for understanding how best to address them. Information and best practices on how to address inequalities in registration of births and deaths is lacking. Thus, this summary of case studies encompassing good practices to address inequalities in birth registration in Pacific Island countries is meant to serves as a practical resource for countries to ensure all births and deaths are registered so that no one is left behind
SDG 13: Climate action
No full textClimate action in the Asia-Pacific region faces significant challenges. Efforts to update Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) fall short of the ambitious targets needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 (ESCAP et al., 2023). Slow emission-reduction policy roll outs and inaccurate emissions data hinder progress. Prioritizing energy supply is crucial in achieving netzero pathways and the region's significant untapped renewable energy potential could accelerate the energy transition. Addressing emissions in the transport sector, which produces 23 per cent of energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Lah, 2015), is crucial. However, climate action progress is seen in rising climate finance, with the region receiving US329 billion between 2016–2023 from foreign direct investors. The profile for SDG 13 was developed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with inputs from United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Regional Collaboration Centre for Asia-Pacific of the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC/RCC Asia-Pacific) and Office of the UN High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR). </p
Advancing the green transition of SMEs : insights for SME development agencies to support sustainability practices and reporting
Get PDFSmall and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are essential drivers of economic growth, innovation and employment across the globe. As efforts for the green transition accelerate, it is critical to ensure and facilitate the involvement of SMEs in driving the green transition.
Policymakers and government agencies with a mandate to support SME development can take various policy measures, including regulatory, awareness raising and financial approaches to support SMEs on their green transition journey. One dimension of such support includes the promotion of environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices and reporting among SMEs. Given their scale, SMEs often face challenges in adopting ESG practices. These challenges include limited understanding of the relevance of ESG concepts to their businesses, gaps in the skills needed to incorporate ESG principles in business operations and report on their ESG performance, and obstacles to accessing the practical tools and funding to initiate their ESG journey and support their transition to green business practices.
This report examines strategic programmes and initiatives across the ASEAN region designed to address these challenges and promote the adoption of ESG practices and reporting. It showcases selected case studies from ASEAN countries which illustrate various approaches and programmes supporting SMEs in their green transition, including roadshows, award schemes, digital platforms, capacity-building initiatives and financing mechanisms.</p
WTO JSI agreement on electronic commerce and the framework agreement on facilitation of Cross-Border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific (CPTA)
No full textA review of the stabilized text of an “Agreement on E-commerce” is undertaken to identify potential linkages to the CPTA implementation. The JSI agreement is different in nature as well as much broader in scope than the CPTA but includes a section on Enabling electronic Commerce covering issues related to paperless and cross-border paperless trade, including an article dedicated to paperless trade(ing) and another on electronic single window and interoperability. The provisions related to paperless trade in the JSI text are found to be consistent with the general principles and other provisions included in the CPTA. They remain essentially non-binding in nature and provide parties with much flexibility, and limited guidance and how they may be implemented. In that context, the dedicated and inclusive intergovernmental framework established by the CPTA provides an effective way for the Parties of CPTA to implement the paperless trade-related provisions featured in the JSI text. The countries in Asia and the Pacific keen on pursuing their trade digitalization efforts and that have not yet acceded to CPTA are therefore encouraged to accede to it as soon as possible
Regional Digital Trade Integration Index (RDTII) 2.0 economy profile 2024 : Türkiye
Get PDFThis brief provides a concise summary of Türkiye’s digital trade policy profile, benchmarked against the regional average based on data from 21 Asia-Pacific economies included in the ESCAP-ECA-ECLAC Regional Digital Trade Integration Index, version 2 (RDTII 2.0).
It highlights that Türkiye is generally among the economies with low regulatory compliance costs for cross-border digital trade. Compared to the group average, based on data up to 2023, Türkiye’s digital trade policies related to non-technical non-tariff measures (NTMs), intellectual property rights, foreign direct investment in sectors relevant to digital trade, and internet intermediary liability are relatively enabling. However, compliance costs are relatively high concerning policies on content access, online sales and transactions, and domestic data protection and privacy. Additionally, it highlights new policy measures, proposals related to digital trade, and Türkiye’s participation in trade negotiations involving digital trade.
For more information, please visit Initiative on Digital Trade Regulatory Integration
2024 Review of climate ambition in Asia and the Pacific : from ambitions to results sectoral solutions and integrated action
Get PDFThis report, “2024 Review of Climate Ambition in Asia and the Pacific: From Ambitions to Results: Sectoral Solutions and Integrated Action,” highlights the Asia-Pacific region’s critical role in global climate mitigation, contributing over 50% of global GHG emissions. Seventeen countries, including China, India, and Japan, account for 97% of regional emissions. Despite a 9.3% increase in renewable energy capacity in key countries like China and India, emissions continue to rise, with the region responsible for 52.2% of global energy-related CO2 emissions in 2023. Rapid urbanization, industrialization, and high fossil fuel dependence are driving these increases.
The report underscores the urgency for Asia-Pacific countries to strengthen their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) for 2025, aligning with the IPCC’s 1.5°C pathway. Current NDC commitments fall short, and even full implementation would not halt rising emissions. The report calls for more ambitious targets, particularly in high-emission sectors like energy and transport, and stresses the need for integrated, long-term low-emission strategies and net-zero pledges to drive sectoral transformation and achieve meaningful climate action