Young people under the age of 30 from across Asia and the Pacific who are passionate about sustainable development have an opportunity to participate in the

The APFSD Youth Forum 2027 is inviting applications from young people aged 13 to 30 across the Asia-Pacific region to participate in discussions on

Are you a young changemaker from Asia or the Pacific passionate about sustainable development, climate action, and human rights? The Asia-Pacific Forum on

The Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) Youth Forum 2025 will be organised ahead of APFSD 2025 by co-conveners, Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW), You…

Asia-Pacific leaders meet to fast-track action on water, energy, cities and development partnerships ahead of 2030 deadline The window to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is narrowing and regional progress must speed up. This was the clear message set forth as government officials, development experts, business leaders, civil society representatives and youth gathered today for the opening of the 13th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) in Bangkok.  “The recent weakening of multilateralism threatens to erode the global partnerships we have forged and to unravel established channels for technology transfers, as well as the financing needed for sustainable development,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).   She added, “With Asia and the Pacific now a stronghold for both technology and finance, the region holds the means of implementation for sustainable development in its hands.  We must collectively consider anew how regional cooperation could provide solutions for our rapidly evolving world.”  H.E. Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) underscored the importance of the Pact for the Future which reaffirmed commitments to strengthen multilateralism and reform international cooperation. “When Asia and the Pacific act collectively - whether on climate resilience, connectivity, trade or social protection - it reinforces stability, reduces fragmentation and strengthens the credibility of the international system. Strong regional cooperation does not dilute global ambition; it anchors it in practical collaboration and shared accountability.”  Persistent development gaps highlight need for practical action H.E. Fane Fotu Fituafe, Minister of Internal Affairs of Tonga was elected as Chair of the 13th APFSD. She emphasized the four-day Forum’s importance as a key platform to review regional progress and discuss equitable, innovative, coordinated actions for sustainable development priorities moving forward at a fast pace. Progress has remained imbalanced across the region. While access to basic drinking water and sanitation has improved over the past decade, safely managed sanitation services remain uneven, especially in poorer and climate-vulnerable countries. Droughts, floods and saltwater intrusion are making water security more fragile, particularly in landlocked developing countries and small island developing States. Electricity access is now nearly universal across the region. But in many remote rural and island communities, power supply remains unreliable and expensive. Connecting the “last mile” and making energy affordable is still a major challenge. The region has also expanded digital infrastructure rapidly. Yet being connected does not always mean being included. Gaps persist in digital skills, affordability and accessibility, especially for persons with disabilities and low-income households. Beyond regional commitments, much of the work will depend on national and local action. Speakers at the APFSD further emphasized three practical enablers: political leadership willing to take difficult decisions, better use of timely data to adapt policies as conditions change, and stronger collaboration with businesses and civil society to deliver results on the ground. Wannapong Yodmuang, representative from the Asia-Pacific People’s Forum called for development to be rooted in human rights, care, justice and accountability. “Decision-making power must shift to the people most affected – leading solutions for their own communities.” “We urge meaningful and sustained engagement for young people. Our recommendations are grounded in equity and justice, and we insist that every young person, in all our diversity, is recognized, included and empowered without exception,” shared youth representative Michelin Sallata. New regional report highlights rising urban inequality; calls for inclusive and resilient solutions On the sidelines of the Forum, ESCAP, together with the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme, also launched the 2026 Asia-Pacific SDG Partnership Report, Inclusive Urban Futures: From Inequality to Opportunity. The report warns that while cities in Asia and the Pacific are growing rapidly, inequality is growing alongside them: 697 million people live in slums, more than 65% of urban workers are in informal jobs, and 2.3 billion people breathe unsafe air.  The report calls for urgent action to make cities more inclusive and resilient. It showcases people-centred solutions that deliver results, including community-led housing and service delivery, initiatives to expand decent work and social protection for informal workers, and approaches to improve air quality, waste management and climate resilience.  eng editor 1 Tue, 2026-02-24 - 15:28 * Pick to Post * UN Sustainable Development Goals * Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development * UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Feed generated with FetchRSS)

New Delhi [India], February 28: In a strong call for integrated and scalable action on water security, the India Water Foundation, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), UN-Habitat, and UNESCO, successfully convened a high-level side event titled “Accelerating SDG 6 through science-based solutions and enabling frameworks across the Water–Climate […]

With multilateral cooperation at a critical juncture, the data revealed in the report "Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2026" — launched at the 13th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development, or APFSD, in Bangkok from Feb 24 to 27 — could not have come at a more telling time. The report's progress chart presents a mixed picture across the region. China stands out with nine of the 17 sustainable development goals showing strong positive trends. In comparison, South Korea shows progress in five goals, India in four, Japan in two, while Australia records progress in one. These variations reflect the diverse development pathways across Asia-Pacific. Yet beneath these national comparisons lies a broader regional challenge. The report reveals a stark contradiction: while the Asia-Pacific region is at the forefront of economic growth and technological innovation, driving industrialization, and showing notable success in reducing poverty and improving health and well-being, these gains are being undermined by the failure to reduce inequality. "At the current pace, we risk missing a staggering 88 percent of the measurable targets. The question before us is clear — will we act decisively to change course, or will we allow the current trends to continue unchallenged?"...

BANGKOK, Thailand | 5 March 2026 (IDN) — The US President Donald Trump may like to believe that it is the US with its powerful military that is driving the global order, but, the recently concluded 13th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) reflected the newly evolving global order is driven with new technology and financial systems that the Americans don’t control anymore. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) released its ‘Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2026’ at the beginning of the forum on February 24th, which warned that with only 5 years left until the deadline of reaching the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the region is falling behind on the pursuit of the SDGs, except for China that has reached 9 of the goals. “The data in this report delivers a stark warning: at the current pace, we risk missing a staggering 88 per cent of the measurable targets. The question before us is clear – will we act decisively to change course, or will we allow the current trends to continue unchallenged?” asked Indonesian Economics Professor and the Executive Secretary of ESCAP, Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana,...

The window to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is narrowing and regional progress must speed up. This was the clear message set forth as government officials, development experts, business leaders, civil society representatives and youth gathered today for the opening of the 13th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) in Bangkok. “The recent weakening of multilateralism threatens to erode the global partnerships we have forged and to unravel established channels for technology transfers, as well as the financing needed for sustainable development,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). She added, “With Asia and the Pacific now a stronghold for both technology and finance, the region holds the means of implementation for sustainable development in its hands. We must collectively consider anew how regional cooperation could provide solutions for our rapidly evolving world.” H.E. Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) underscored the importance of the Pact for the Future which reaffirmed commitments to strengthen multilateralism and reform international cooperation. “When Asia and the Pacific act collectively - whether on climate resilience, connectivity, trade or social protection...