The Mekong River Delta is one of the most important rice granaries in Viet Nam, but being a low-lying coastal region, it is particularly susceptible to floods. Š Bartosz Hadyniak/iStock
in CO2 per unit of gross domestic product (GDP) compared to the 2005 level by 2020 (Lommen 2011). With one of the world’s greatest potentials for mitigating CO2 emissions being reduced deforestation alongside improved land-use management (ADB 2009a), Asia and the Pacific can make significant contributions to global efforts at climate change mitigation. Accessing climate funds to enable these contributions, however, is a major concern for developing countries in the region. Although UNFCCC Article 3 was selected by the regional consultation, three other goals (UNFCCC Article 2, the Bali Action Plan and the Delhi Declaration) selected by the GEO High-Level Intergovernmental Advisory Panel were also considered because adaptation, mitigation, capacity building and financing need to be considered as an integrated package of policy measures. Biodiversity The imminent threat of mass extinction of species, brought about by continuing habitat fragmentation, degradation and loss, overexploitation of resources, invasive alien species, illegal wildlife trade, pollution and climate change are priority
Box 10.2 Selected biodiversity goal: Convention on Biological Diversity Article 1 The objectives of this Convention, to be pursued in accordance with its relevant provisions, are the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies, taking into account all rights over those resources and to technologies, and by appropriate funding. Source: CBD 1992
environmental concerns in the Asia and Pacific region (Box 10.2). The Global Biodiversity Outlook 3 concluded that the 2010 goal of reversing biodiversity loss had not been achieved (CBD 2010). The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity for 2011–2020 embodying the Aichi Biodiversity Targets now provides the general framework for biodiversity conservation. Links with the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI) Paragraph 44 and its provisions (WSSD 2002) also need to be established. Freshwater As outlined in Part 1, the key environmental priorities in the water sector being faced by the region are the quantity and quality of water resources (Box 10.3), climate change, access to safe drinking water and transboundary issues. All of these key challenges are reflected in the selected goal. The regional consultation also noted that JPOI Paragraphs 25d and 7a should be included in the assessment, as well as taking an innovative approach to links with other themes.
Box 10.3 Selected freshwater goal: Johannesburg Plan of Implementation Paragraph 26c Improve the efficient use of water resources and promote their allocation among competing uses in a way that gives priority to the satisfaction of basic human needs and balances the requirement of preserving or restoring ecosystems and their functions, in particular in fragile environments, with human domestic, industrial and agriculture needs, including safeguarding the quality of drinking water. Source: WSSD 2002
Asia and the Pacific
263