ADB climate change programs: strengthening mitigation and adaptation in Asia and the Pacific

This publication addresses climate change in Asia and the Pacific. It focuses on the action required to both mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and to integrate climate change adaptation measures into planning and investment, at the project, municipal, regional, and global levels, to protect the most vulnerable from the adverse effects of climate change. It describes the Asian Development Bank's (ADB) ongoing and emerging climate change mitigation and adaptation programmes, and its catalytic role in helping Asia and the Pacific meet the challenges brought about by climate change.

It intends to respond to the growing demand for policies, institutions, and investments that can achieve environmentally sustainable economic growth and to build understanding in the region on climate change response options through new policy and institutional approaches, along with an infusion of capital into clean energy projects, new land use practices, and adaptation measures.

This publication (i) explains the causes of climate change and (ii) describes the impact on Asia and the Pacific, such as sea-level rise, more frequent and severe climate–related natural disasters, greater variability of rainfall, and others; it then (iii) gives the case for action and (iv) introduces ADB's climate change programs in mainstreaming climate change (v) mitigation and (vi) adaptation, (vii) turns ideas into action, and finally (viii) looks ahead.