Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific
Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific
The Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific (MCED) has been held every five years since 1985. This gathering of ministers of environment and of development has been an agenda-setting forum to assess the state of sustainable development, identify regional perspectives and priorities and decide concerted actions in response to imperatives posed by global and regional environment challenges. The Sixth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Development in Asia and the Pacific (MCED-6) was hosted by the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan from 27 September to 2 October 2010 in Astana.
As the second decade of the twenty first century unfolds, the Asian and Pacific region continues to face persistent development challenges in terms of poverty alleviation, access to basic services, sustainable use of natural resources and enhanced social inclusiveness. This situation is exacerbated by emerging risks and uncertainties including the food, energy and financial crises as well as the threat of climate change. The region remains particularly susceptible to natural disasters, which are likely to increase in frequency and intensity as a result of climate change. All of these severe challenges threaten to slow down, and even reverse, developmental gains that the region has made over the past few decades.
It is increasingly being realized and accepted by policy makers, business leaders and society as a whole that pursuing sustained economic growth that is crucial to poverty reduction and social progress must be undertaken in an environmentally responsible and socially equitable manner. More and more countries have adopted Green Growth and other synergistic development strategies that boost healthy economic development, ensure environmental sustainability and strengthen socio-economic resilience.
Outcomes of previous MSEDS
1985 – UNESCAP action areas
1990 – Regional Strategy for Sound ans Sustainable Development 1995 – 2000
1995 – Regional Action Programme for Environmentally sound and sustainable Development 2001 – 2005 and Kitakyushu Initiative for a Clean Environment
