environment for development MDG 7: Ensure Environmental Sustainability Mr Razi Latif Senior Programme Officer UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific May

environment for development MDG7: Challenges in Asia & the Pacific 66% of world’s poor – In world’s most densely populated region 34% of global GHG emission – Due to high economic growth (Annual per capita GDP growth: 7.5% in 2010) Lowest ecological carrying capacity amongst world’s regions

environment for development MDG 7: Where are we? Asia-Pacific:  Achieved 4 out of 6 MDG indicators (early) – especially Middle Income countries:  Forest Cover (North & Central Asia, South Asia)  Protected areas (All sub-regions)  ODP substitute consumption (All except North & Central Asia)  Safe drinking water (South Asia, South-East Asia)  Is making no progress on reducing CO 2 emissions (Except the Pacific)  Slow progress on providing basic sanitation (All sub-regions)

environment for development MDG7: Challenges in Asia & the Pacific Increased resource use and degradationClimate change CO 2 emissions - highest in the world Our common future depends on Asia and the Pacific’s production and resource consumption patterns

environment for development MDG 7: Where do we need to be? Himalaya  More than 7 billion people and only 1 planet.  Estimated 4-5 planets needed for everyone to live like an average US resident  Most estimates of the earth’s carrying capacity are between 8 and 16 billion people, many say around 8 billion;  People are at the centre of environmental use, degradation and challenges. People are therefore the solution.  We need to educate and change the way we view, use and interact with the environment – towards sustainable consumption and production.

environment for development The Poverty Environment Initiative Investing in the environment to achieve MDGs Focus on innovative approaches, policy, governance and capacity building to address the Poverty- Environment Agenda Khon Kean - PEI pilot site in Thailand to address inconsistent agro-industry policies

environment for development MDG 7: What can the Media do? Himalaya A lot:  Educate and inform ordinary people about the issues, the solutions and what they can do;  Campaign to catalyze change and action by decision makers as well as the general public;  Highlight new developments and findings, bringing them to the widest possible audience;  Investigate, name and shame wrong-doers;  Publicise and highlight innovators and good practices.

environment for development GEO-5 Coming Soon! UNEP’s fifth Global Environment Outlook Report (GEO-5) Will be launched on 6 June 2012 in Rio de Janiero, New Delhi, Beijing and around the world Part 1: State and trends of the global environment Part 2: Solutions – promising policies from regions including Asia-Pacific Part 3: Options for action towards sustainable development The GEO-5 report provides a sobering balance sheet of the last years

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