This publication reviews available evidence to explore the strengths, weaknesses, and uncertainties associated with various sources of information on sea-level rise in the Pacific islands. It aims to provide advisory standards for the planning, testing, and design of Asian Development Bank projects in the area.

This publication examines opportunities for pursuing pro-poor urban resilience initiatives to reduce the increasing impacts of heat stress faced by urban populations in Asia and the Pacific. Cities in the region are increasingly at risk of heat waves, which are expected to be more severe and persistent due to global warming. The urban poor are especially vulnerable to heat stress and associated health and productivity impacts as they often work outdoors and tend to live in overcrowded housing without adequate ventilation or cooling. The publication emphasizes that policies and investments...

This report assesses the current ecosystem for tech-based startups in Thailand, focusing on climate change, education, agriculture, and health. It discusses the challenges facing tech startups and provides recommendations to overcome them. Technology-based startup enterprises are an increasingly important part of the business landscape in Asia and the Pacific. By applying innovative technologies to create new products and services, they can make a significant contribution to economic development while generating social and environmental benefits. However, to survive and then thrive, tech...

This publication draws on findings from a survey on the green bond market in the Lao People's Democratic Republic to provide insights on what support is needed to further develop the country's sustainable finance market. The survey assessed the interest of institutional investors in green bond issuances in the Lao PDR. It helped identify drivers and impediments for the development of country's sustainable finance market as well as priority areas in which ADB and other development partners could provide support.

This publication explores lessons from Sri Lanka's experience of reforming electricity distribution through the Lanka Electricity Company, a distribution utility created in 1983. It discusses the problems the company set out to resolve, its achievements, constraints, and emerging challenges and future directions. The work involved overhauling distribution systems, improving service standards, and establishing independent management.

This report explores how the central securities depository and real-time gross settlement (CSD-RTGS) linkage model could be applied to collective investment scheme (CIS) passporting frameworks in Asia to enhance post-trade efficiency. In Asia, there are a number of multilateral CIS passporting frameworks, but little attention has been given to how delivery versus payment settlements can be facilitated under such frameworks. The report finds that the CSD-RTGS linkage model has considerable potential to be applied in Asia as a settlement engine for other cross-border financial instruments....

This publication provides updated statistics on a comprehensive set of economic, financial, social, and environmental measures as well as select indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report covers the 49 regional members of ADB. It discusses trends in development progress and the challenges to achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth across Asia and the Pacific. This 53rd edition looks at how most economies in the region have bounced back to varying degrees from the COVID-19 pandemic. A gradual recovery of cyclical industries, the release of pent-up...

This publication discusses how Fiji's laws and policies could help tackle gender inequalities in relation to climate change and disaster risk management. Globally, women are disproportionately impacted by climate change and disasters due to gender inequalities and limited opportunities to participate in decision-making processes. Addressing this imbalance requires the integration of gender equality in laws and policies on climate change and disaster risk management, as well as ensuring gender equality in building social and economic resilience. This publication shares findings from a...

This report examines Viet Nam's tech-based startups in two sectors: agriculture and health. It assesses the challenges for creating a more enabling ecosystem to scale up startups in these sectors and makes recommendations to overcome them. Technology-based startup enterprises are an increasingly important part of the business landscape in Asia and the Pacific. By applying innovative technologies to create new products and services, they can make a significant contribution to economic development while generating social and environmental benefits. However, to survive and then thrive, tech...

This publication draws on findings from a survey on the Philippines' green bond market to provide insights on what support is needed to further develop the country's sustainable finance market. The survey assessed the interest of institutional investors in green bond issuances in the Philippines. It helped identify drivers and impediments for the development of country's sustainable finance market as well as priority areas in which ADB and other development partners could provide support.