Asia-Pacific region contributes to over 55% of the global greenhouse gas emissions.
It also sees the most rapid and serious decline in biodiversity-related ecosystem services among all regions, with 25% of the region’s endemic species at high risk of extinction, 28% of the region’s land areas degraded and 40% of the region’s coral reefs already disappeared due to urbanization, agriculture expansion, climate change and other anthropogenic drivers.
More than half of the region’s population live in urban area; yet 97 of the world’s top 100 cities with the worst air quality; and 99 of the top 100 cities facing environmental risks are reported in the region.
Today, Asia and the Pacific is the most disaster-prone region in the world and more than 60% of its GDP is at risk of nature loss. This video shows the state of the environment in Asia and the Pacific and highlights some of ESCAP's work.
Video production: Madi Mehta
