Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
The triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution is no more acute than in the Asia-Pacific region and is directly linked to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) such as Goal 13 on climate action, Goal 3 on enhancing health and well-being, Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation, Goal 7 on expanding affordable and clean energy as well as Goal 11 on building sustainable cities and communities.
Many countries and communities most vulnerable to climate change are in our region. Indeed, our least developed countries and small island developing States are facing the greatest risks, struggling not only with extreme weather events but a critical loss of biodiversity, water scarcity and existential threats from rising sea levels.
Many of our cities are suffocating under unsafe levels of air pollution, threatening the health, lives and livelihoods of our populations.
The proliferation of plastic pollution in waterways, coastlines and oceans has diminished our region’s beauty and threatens freshwater and marine life.
We know that the interconnected nature of the SDGs presents great opportunities for synergies, especially across the environment-related goals. And while we face challenges, our region is also known for its innovations and continues to create solutions that generate co-benefits and synergies.
We have technologies and innovations for accelerating low-carbon transitions. However, this requires ambitious and enabling policies to make the transitions a reality.
Integrated approaches to three main sectors -- energy, transport and industry -- will not only generate necessary reductions in greenhouse gas emissions but will make communities more efficient, cleaner and greener, advancing progress against multiple SDGs.
Threats facing our region -- climate, air pollution, waste and biodiversity loss -- come from the way we are developing. We know that unmanaged growth leads to sprawl, while a lack of well-planned infrastructure investments contributes to the very environmental challenges we face.
Generating synergies naturally will come from more effective and integrated approaches to managing growth, including for future energy, transport, waste and industry needs.
Given the continued challenges we face in achieving the targets of the SDGs, it is especially important that your discussions today, highlighting these synergies, be brought forward, not only at the Forum but in the development of policies at that national and local levels.
We look forward to continuing to work with you to accelerate progress and stand ready to support countries to raise ambition levels across our region.
Thank you very much.
