Background

As the 21st-century transitions into a new decade, 453 million people across Asia and the Pacific still defecate in the open. About 1.2 billion people have no access to basic sanitation services. Of these numbers, 72% live in rural areas.

ADB senior management, represented by the ADB President, addressed representatives of civil society organizations (CSOs) and nongovernment organizations (NGOs). It was followed by questions and answers covering topics related to ADB’s support to development across Asia and the Pacific and ADB’s continuing engagement with civil society.

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Infrastructure is central to improving the lives of people and achieving inclusive and sustainable development. ADB recognizes that investing in resilient infrastructure systems is a human, environmental and economic imperative with clear economic benefits. Asia and the Pacific will need to invest $26.2 trillion in infrastructure during 2016–2030 to maintain its growth momentum, eradicate poverty, and respond to climate change.

Michael Abundo talked about the tidal, wave, floating solar, floating wind, and OTEC sources. He also shared insights into how offshore energy is being integrated into the marine environment.

Dan Millison, ADB's Sustainable Development and Climate Change- Energy Sector Group's consultant, talked about the challenges and opportunities created by the deteriorating marine environment. By using marine renewable energy as the entry point with complementary technologies and business models, oceanic regeneration may be able to reverse ocean acidification, but only through rapid decarbonization.

Asia’s future is urban. Cities are booming in Asia because they are hubs of economic and social opportunities for people and enterprises. Increasing urbanization, however, does not necessarily translate to increasing opportunities for the residents of cities.