From becoming the first major company to become carbon neutral to having the cleanest cloud in the industry, Google has always worked hard to take action against climate change, said Google Chief Sustainability Officer Kate Brandt at the third Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS) held 16–17 March.

In her keynote address, she also announced the launch of a $6-million sustainability seed fund in the Asia Pacific to support nonprofits in addressing some of the most pressing sustainability challenges in the region.

Technology is key to accelerating Asia’s progress toward a greener and more resilient future, said experts at the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) third Southeast Asia Development Symposium held on 16–17 March. In the session, "Building a More Sustainable and Resilient World with Innovation," experts examined how to wield technology to address environmental problems and to bolster communities’ resilience.

The session was organized by Google.

Moderator: Akito Tanaka, Senior Staff Writer and Chief Business News Correspondent, Nikkei Asia

Southeast Asia needs to ensure its recovery in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic will be both inclusive and sustainable, said Asian Development Bank President Masatsugu Asakawa during the third Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS). In his opening keynote, he stressed the need for a recovery that empowers women and ensures that economies work for everyone as well as the importance of intensifying focus on climate change.

SEADS 2022, "Sustainable Solutions for Southeast Asia's Recovery," was held on 16–17 March.

Southeast Asian countries must brace for headwinds including the longer-term risks of future pandemics and climate change, supply chain disruptions, rising oil and commodity prices, and prolonged geopolitical instability, said Singapore Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Second Minister for Finance, and Second Minister for National Development Indranee Thurai Rajah at the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) third Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS).

With COVID-19 hurting the most vulnerable in Southeast Asia, countries need to focus on solutions that would create opportunities and bolster well-being of people hurt the most by the pandemic, including women and girls and the poor, said leaders at the third Southeast Asia Asia Development Symposium (SEADS).

At the CNBC-moderated opening plenary panel, “Building Back Better through Inclusive Solutions,” speakers agreed on the need for relevant sectors to collaborate to foster an inclusive recovery for the region.

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To foster recovery, Southeast Asia needs to build up digital capabilities and arm small businesses with the tools to harness technology, said Grab Cofounder Hooi Ling Tan at the third Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS). She also stressed the need to boost the credit access of small business owners and highlighted the role of fintech solutions to improve financial inclusion.

Two years since COVID-19 hit, economies across Southeast Asia are showing signs of recovery, although growth remains fragile, according to the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) new report, Southeast Asia Rising from the Pandemic, which was launched during the third Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS). In Southeast Asia Rising from the Pandemic Report Launch and Fireside Chat, officials from ADB's Southeast Asia Department examined the damage caused by the pandemic, and the challenges countries continue to face and offered some recommendations to bolster growth.

With micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Southeast Asia contributing about 40% on average to each country's gross domestic product, governments need to ensure small businesses have access to credit and the capacity to deploy technology and take advantage of digital solutions and services, said experts at the third Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS).

Southeast Asia needs to design and develop more bankable projects in order to mobilize private capital to finance its climate ambitions, said experts at the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) third Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS). In a panel, "Accelerating Climate Finance for Green Recovery," speakers explored steps needed to rapidly mobilize climate finance in Southeast Asia and presented examples and initiatives on strengthening the enabling environment and policy frameworks for green and climate finance.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given Southeast Asia the opportunity to reimagine its cities and make them more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable, said experts at the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) third Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS). In a panel, "The Future of Sustainable Cities," experts looked into policy actions and responses, financing options, digital solutions, and other innovations that can help Southeast Asia build more livable cities.

Moderator: Lauren Sorkin, Executive Director, Resilient Cities Network

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