Battle for Climate Change will be Won or Lost in Asia: Conscripting the Private Sector 

Economic growth in Asia and the Pacific over the past half century has been unprecedented. Millions have been lifted out of poverty. However, this transformation has led to significant environmental degradation, unprecedented demand for energy, and consequent increase in carbon emissions associated. At the same time, Asia is home to the largest population at-risk from climate change. Consequently, it has been frequently observed that the battle against climate change will be won or lost in Asia. 

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been working on climate change in Asia and the Pacific for nearly two decades and its strategy places addressing the climate change challenge at the strategic and operational core of the organization. Its strategy also calls for private sector development to be fifty percent of its operations by 2020. 

Mr. S. Chander, Director General of ADB’s Regional and Sustainable Development Department will talk about efforts in the region to bring the private sector to contribute its creativity, innovation, and financing into the fray.