Growing Together: Economic Integration for an Inclusive and - escap

FIGURE TITLE
V.3. Availability of water resources per capita, by region and subregion, 2008
Source: FAO, AQUASTAT, Information system on Water and Agriculture (accessed 8 February 2012).
with about 60 per cent of the world’s species.
However, as of 2010, nearly one-third of all
threatened plant and animal species are found
in the region. 32 Forests too are being degraded,
with many primary forests being replaced
by plantations based on non-native species,
in some cases to produce biofuels. With the
laudable exception of Bangladesh, mangrove
forest cover has been reduced in most Asian
countries, increasing the risks of flooding in
coastal areas. Changes in forests are not only
leading to further environmental degradation
but also resulting in additional carbon
emissions and increasing vulnerabilities to
disasters and water insecurity.
Other environmental concerns that threaten
the sustainability of economic growth include
increasing sulphur dioxide emissions, the
rapid accumulation of solid waste, and the
increasing prices and scarcity of many natural
resources. Indeed, by 2005, Asia and the Pacific
had become the world’s largest resource user,
consuming 35 billion tons per annum of key
materials, such as biomass, fossil fuels, metal
ores and industrial and construction materials.
This represents 60 per cent of the global use
of resources (see figure V.4). 33
At the same time, the composition of
materials used in the region’s economies
has also changed significantly. In 1970 the
biomass category accounted for 47 per cent
of materials used in the region, but by 2005,
construction materials, such as sand, gravel,
concrete and steel, had become the largest
category, representing 49 per cent of the total.
The price volatility of these commodities
increases uncertainty and creates new risks
and limits to the growth of certain sectors (see
figure V.5).
Regional responses
Recognizing that pressures on natural
resources and many other related environmental
problems pose threats to economic
growth and poverty reduction, the region’s
leaders have been developing regional
responses. One of the important approaches
involves the promotion of green growth, as
discussed at the Fifth Ministerial Conference
on Environment and Development in Asia and
the Pacific held in Seoul in 2005 and the Sixth
Asia and the Pacific Ministerial Conference
on Environment and Development held in
Astana in 2010.
Economic policy system changes are required
to enable technological innovations and
research and development to improve eco-
and resource efficiency. This will further create
important economic and financial savings
and gains, which can be invested in poverty
reduction and social welfare programmes.
The Asian and Pacific Regional Preparatory
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