https://www.scmp.com/rss/502915/feed Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana is undersecretary-general of the United Nations and executive secretary of ESCAP. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com With the review of the implementation of a landmark global manifesto on women’s rights ahead of its 30th anniversary next year, a key message has become very clear: Asia-Pacific countries need to take faster, bolder action if they are to realise its vision of “equality, development and peace for all women everywhere in the interest of all humanity”. Since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995, the Asia-Pacific has made significant strides in key areas such as... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3286109/faster-bolder-action-needed-empower-women-across-asia-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/asia-opinion/article/3286109/faster-bolder-action-needed-empower-women-across-asia-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Nov 2024 21:30:07 +0000 Recent climate talks in Egypt have left us with a sobering reality: the window to keep global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels is closing fast – and what is on the table is not enough to avert the worst potential effects of climate change. The latest nationally determined contributions of Asia-Pacific countries, commitments meant to reduce emissions, will instead result in a 16 per cent increase in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 from 2010. The COP27 UN climate change... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3201047/how-asia-pacific-can-make-giant-leap-its-climate-ambition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3201047/how-asia-pacific-can-make-giant-leap-its-climate-ambition?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Nov 2022 00:30:15 +0000 Most of the 2.1 billion-strong workforce in the Asia-Pacific are denied access to decent jobs, healthcare and social protection. However, there are policies and tools governments can use to remedy these deficiencies and ensure the rights and aspirations of these workers and their families are upheld, and that they remain the engine of economic growth for the region. A report due to be released on September 6, “Social Outlook for Asia and the Pacific: The Workforce We Need”, offers solutions to... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/asia/article/3191167/asia-pacific-workers-deserve-decent-jobs-healthcare-and-social?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/asia/article/3191167/asia-pacific-workers-deserve-decent-jobs-healthcare-and-social?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 05 Sep 2022 02:45:19 +0000 The Asia-Pacific region is at a crossroads today. It could further break down or break through to a greener, better and safer future. Since the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) was established in 1947, the region has made extraordinary progress and emerged as a pacesetter of global economic growth that has lifted millions out of poverty. Yet, as ESCAP celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, we find ourselves facing our biggest shared test amid cascading and... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3178234/covid-19-climate-change-and-conflict-have-left-asia-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3178234/covid-19-climate-change-and-conflict-have-left-asia-pacific?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 May 2022 19:30:17 +0000 As Asia-Pacific leaders head to Glasgow for the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), they can be sure that our region will be in the spotlight. Many of the countries that are most vulnerable to climate change are here. G20 members in this region are responsible for over half of global greenhouse gas emissions. The starting point is not encouraging, however. A joint study by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), UN Environment Programme and UN Women shows... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/asia/article/3154102/fight-climate-change-asia-pacific-must-turn-power-its?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/asia/article/3154102/fight-climate-change-asia-pacific-must-turn-power-its?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Oct 2021 06:30:12 +0000 The growing number and share of older people in Asia and the Pacific, thanks to declining fertility and increasing longevity, is the result of advances in social and economic development. This demographic transition is taking place against the backdrop of the accelerating Fourth Industrial Revolution. But Covid-19 has exacerbated the suffering of older people in vulnerable situations and demonstrated the fragility of this progress. Asia and the Pacific is home to the largest number of older... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3150437/covid-19-crisis-chance-bring-more-asias-elderly-digital-age?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3150437/covid-19-crisis-chance-bring-more-asias-elderly-digital-age?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 01 Oct 2021 01:45:19 +0000 Over the past two decades, the Asia-Pacific region has made remarkable progress in managing disaster risk. But countries can never let down their guard. The Covid-19 pandemic, with its epicentre now in Asia, and all its tragic consequences, has exposed the frailties of human society in the face of powerful natural forces. Asian and Pacific countries have reported more than 65 million coronavirus cases and 1 million deaths. This is compounded by the extreme climate events affecting the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3146023/how-strengthen-asia-pacific-resilience-climate-disasters-intensify?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3146023/how-strengthen-asia-pacific-resilience-climate-disasters-intensify?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Aug 2021 19:30:14 +0000 The world is emerging from the biggest social and economic shock in living memory, but it will be a long time before the deep scars of the Covid-19 pandemic on human well-being fully heal. In the Asia-Pacific region, where 60 per cent of the world lives, the pandemic revealed chronic development fault lines through its excessively harmful impact on the most vulnerable. The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) estimates that 89 million more people in the... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3127404/coronavirus-recovery-asia-pacific-must-focus-three-areas-its-post?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3127404/coronavirus-recovery-asia-pacific-must-focus-three-areas-its-post?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 29 Mar 2021 19:30:08 +0000 Since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, women in the Asia-Pacific have shown decisive leadership in steering their countries and communities with effective responses to the pandemic, whether it is managing their businesses and households, or standing at the front lines as health care workers. Yet, in the highest echelons of decision-making and the public sector, we see that many women’s voices are still not being heard. Only a small percentage of political leaders in our region are women,... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3124285/international-womens-day-covid-19-has-shown-we-need-more-women?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3124285/international-womens-day-covid-19-has-shown-we-need-more-women?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 08 Mar 2021 01:15:06 +0000 The past year is one that few of us will forget. While the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has played out unevenly across Asia and the Pacific, the region has been spared many of the worst effects seen in other parts of the world. The pandemic has reminded us that a reliable and uninterrupted energy supply is critical in a crisis. Beyond ensuring that hospitals and health care facilities continue to function, energy supports the systems and coping mechanisms we rely on to work remotely,... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3122447/clean-energy-key-asia-pacifics-green-recovery-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3122447/clean-energy-key-asia-pacifics-green-recovery-covid-19?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Feb 2021 02:15:13 +0000 Great strides have been taken to empower women and girls in the Asia-Pacific region since the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing adopted an ambitious global agenda to achieve gender equality 25 years ago. Gender parity has been achieved in primary education. Maternal mortality has been halved. Today, the region’s governments are committed to overcoming the persistent challenges of discrimination, gender-based violence and women’s unequal access to resources and decision-making.  The... https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3039427/womens-freedom-violence-participation-politics-and-economic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/comment/opinion/article/3039427/womens-freedom-violence-participation-politics-and-economic?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 27 Nov 2019 07:00:10 +0000