Asia is stepping up its game in the fight against climate change, according to a new report launched at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) on Tuesday.
The report, titled \”Sustainable Development: Asia and the World Annual Report 2025 – Addressing Climate Change: Asia Going Green\”, highlights both the challenges and the progress in Asia’s journey towards a greener future.
Home to nearly 60% of the world’s population and covering about 30% of Earth’s land area, Asia’s rapid industrialization has led to significant CO2 emissions—over 50% of the global total in 2023.
\”Recent incidents like Typhoon Yagi in southern China and wildfires in Indonesia are not isolated events,\” the report stated. \”They are dire consequences of escalating climate issues, reflecting the pressing need for accelerated and comprehensive climate action.\”
Despite these challenges, the report notes that Asia is accelerating its green transition. The International Energy Agency estimates that the clean energy technology market will grow threefold in the next decade, and Asia is already leading the way.
For instance, China is the world’s largest exporter of clean technologies. India is boosting its hydrogen energy development. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are seeing a surge in new energy investments. Meanwhile, ASEAN countries are exploring their green potential.
\”Green development has created a new growth paradigm for coordinated economic, social, and ecological progress across much of Asia,\” the report said.
To achieve this green transition, the report emphasizes the need to focus on infrastructure and cross-border carbon markets. It calls for concerted efforts from governments, international organizations, businesses, civil society groups, and other stakeholders.
Citing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership as an example, the report suggests leveraging institutional mechanisms to facilitate capital flows, technology exchanges, and rule-making to drive global climate action.
The BFA Annual Conference 2025 is being held from March 25 to 28 in Boao, south China’s Hainan Province, under the theme \”Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future.\”
