Ocean Finance. The global community has set ambitious commitments and targets for achieving healthy marine ecosystems. While science and policy are important tools to protect the oceans, the biggest challenge for ocean protection in finance. The cost to save the oceans and scale up investments is massive. However, funding for oceans is small, piecemeal, and generally focused on mitigating the impacts of industry. The funding gap widens as domestic and donor resources are being redirected to immediate relief and stimulus packages for COVID-19.

Coastal Resilience. Massive investment at scale is needed in both nature and transformational adaptation to build the resilience of Asia and the Pacific’s critical coastal and marine ecosystems, communities, cities, and island nations to climate and disaster-related shocks and stresses. Nature-based solutions such as the protection and restoration of coral reefs, mangrove forests, wetlands, and sandy beaches, enhance ecosystem resilience and the protection of coastal cities and communities while providing multiple economic, societal, and climate mitigation co-benefits.

Plastic waste and pollution are urgent issues for Asia and the Pacific and the health of its ecosystems and communities. Over 80% of all marine plastic pollution comes from Asia, while Pacific island countries are exposed to ocean currents that accumulate large volumes of marine litter that eventually washes up on their shores. Countries are developing strategies to reduce plastic pollution by addressing waste mismanagement, reducing marine debris, and enabling a transition to a circular plastics economy.

This presentation gives an overview of what the PEDF system is and how it has been implemented in rural areas.

This presentation gives an overview of planning guidelines for piloting China green low carbon small towns.