Challenges for Sustainable Urban Development in Asia

Urbanization is a mega trend. Half of humanity lives in cities today, and the figure will increase to 60 percent by 2030. Rapid urbanization exerts huge pressure on basic services and infrastructure in cities. As Asian countries quickly urbanize, the challenges need to be addressed for cities to continue to thrive and grow. This presentation tackles the challenges for sustainable urban development, along with the possible solutions for cities to become "green", inclusive, and resilient.

Sustainable Cities

This presentation speaks identifies the key critical factors in order to achieve urban sustainability. It enumerated various city government initiatives, as well as collective leadership that will drive sustainability.

Ryuichi Kaga

Mr. Kaga currently leads ADB’s PPP operations, including transaction advisory services, at the Office of Public-Private Partnership, which was established on 1 September 2014. Previously, he was a senior advisor at ADB's South Asia Department, heading PPP operations in the region since 2012. Before ADB, he was executive officer for Asia and Oceania at the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) overseeing JBIC’s operations and representative offices in the region. He had been engaged in project finance operations globally for more than 20 years at JBIC.

2016 ADB-Asian Think Tank Development Forum

With the theme, “Promoting Sustainable Urbanization in Asia and the Pacific”, the 2016 Asian Development Bank (ADB)-Asian Think Tank Development Forum gathered around 70 participants representing 24 countries in the region. Held in New Delhi India, this year's forum was co-organized by the National Institute of Public Finance Policy and the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations

Lu Shen

Lu Shen is the Director of the Results and Aid Effectiveness Division of ADB's Strategy and Policy Department. She has worked in the public sector and private sector operations including sovereign lending and project finance and developing water PPPs in Asia and the Pacific and in Latin America. Previously, she worked with the Central and West Asia Regional Department Urban and Water Division, and at the Inter-American Development Bank.

Partnering for Social Accountability

Around 60% of the world's youth population reside in the Asia and Pacific region, and this translates to more than 750 million young men and women with much potential. Unfortunately, they often do not have the opportunity to shape the cities they live in. This presentation by World Vision International tackles this concern by providing an overview of social accountability. It also highlights World Vision International's own approach called Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) that aims to facilitate dialogue between communities and government.

Asia Leadership Program 2016

High-level policy makers and officials exchanged ideas with ADB counterparts at the Asia Leadership Program 2016.

The fourth annual program highlighted co-learning between Asian Development Bank staff and 23 participants, three of which are Executive-Level Policy Makers while the other 20 are Senior-Level Management officials. The program focused on the following sectors and areas:

Low Carbon Development: Moving Ideas to Political and Financial Viability

Center for Climate Strategies’ Scott Williamson and Stephen Roe share their insights on low carbon development (LCD), highlighting its importance and benefits. In this video interview, they explain the aspects of human life that are directly associated with it, and the stakeholders that should be involved. The important elements to be considered in doing LCD are also discussed.

Low Carbon Development: Moving Ideas to Political and Financial Viability

Center for Climate Strategies’ Scott Williamson and Stephen Roe explain the low carbon development planning and analysis system that their organization has been developing over the past years. In this session video, they discuss what the system does, what the organization has been doing with it, and what support and help it can provide in meeting the needs of ADB.