Green hydrogen produced from water electrolysis with zero-carbon electricity could play a significant role in the fight against climate change, with benefits including zero emissions and high-energy density and versatility. However, green hydrogen production and widespread use face enormous obstacles, such as cost inefficiency and infrastructure limitations.

This ADBI session focusing on Asian economies featured new research on macrofinancial resilience and sustainable economic recovery.

The session highlighted the importance of institutional quality in crisis periods and COVID-19’s impact on households and the implications for human capital development. It also explored the effects of pandemic containment policies using surface heat data from the People’s Republic of China, and factors underpinning research and development (R&D) investment in energy storage technologies.

Mediation, as a party-centered “alternate dispute resolution” (ADR) method, can help address conflicts that arise in the workplace and project implementation. ADR seeks to acknowledge and assess the impact of such conflicts in intra- and inter-personal relationships and encourage ethical communication.

Held during the 2022 World Conference on Transport Research (WCTR) Virtual Meeting, this ADBI-WCTR session examined global international high-speed rail (HSR) policy and project experiences and lessons learned to support HSR network development in Asia.

Post-COVID-19 limitations on fiscal space continue to affect Asia’s economic recovery and development agenda. The region’s sustainable growth challenges are compounded by spiking energy and food prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, exacerbating pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions. Many countries now face a difficult trade-off between retaining safeguards for affected people and firms and rebuilding fiscal buffers to reduce vulnerability and move toward a new normal.

Financial technology (fintech) development could significantly increase access to financial services in Asia and the Pacific, but also poses risks to consumers, especially among disadvantaged groups. A greater understanding of the relationship between fintech, financial literacy, and financial inclusion is needed to design effective policies to promote these imperatives for inclusive and sustainable growth in emerging economies.

COVID-19 pandemic-induced school closures have made technology use an integral component of education. However, significant knowledge gaps exist between policy makers, practitioners, and other stakeholders on how technology can reduce a teacher’s workload, provide differentiated teaching, support efficient school management and teacher professional development, and bring positive social change.