The seventy-ninth session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will be held from 15 to 19 May 2023 at the United Nations Conference Centre in Bangkok.

Guided by the theme “Accelerating climate action in Asia and the Pacific for sustainable development”, the annual session will be an opportunity to strengthen regional cooperation on climate change.

The session will bring together Government leaders from across Asia and the Pacific and other key stakeholders to discuss policy options and areas of regional cooperation required to accelerate climate action in the region and beyond. With dedicated discussions on catalysing climate finance and investments, complemented by a climate solutions fair, the session will allow identifying opportunities, sharing solutions and facilitate engagement of a broad set of partners and stakeholders, to both reduce the risks and impacts of climate change and foster ambitious climate action in Asia and the Pacific towards net-zero pathways and limit global temperature rise to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The theme study sets out the transformations that are needed for Asia and the Pacific to transition to a net-zero-carbon future in support of sustainable development. It provides an outline of the regional context of climate change and identifies policies and actions that could be taken in various sectors of the economy to support the global climate agenda, while also making broad economic, social and environmental gains. To close the emissions gap in key sectors, efforts must be made to transition away from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy. Low-carbon mobility and logistical solutions are crucial for accelerating innovation, developing technologies and tapping into greener fuels. The move towards low-carbon transport options requires an integrated approach to land use and urban planning, as Asia and the Pacific is rapidly motorizing. Furthermore, Governments need to boost their climate-smart trade and investment sectors so that they can decarbonize industries that are currently notable for exporting carbon-intensive goods. Trade and investment should be utilized as force multipliers to combat climate change but are still missing from the existing regional climate landscape. The theme study also contains information on climate-related financing needs in the region and addresses data gaps for better monitoring. Given the carbon neutrality commitments from the majority of Asia-Pacific countries, the report recommends strengthening regional policy dialogue and technical cooperation on low carbon, climate-resilient transition.

CREDENTIALS AND REGISTRATION

Each delegation is required to submit a letter of credentials, duly signed by the appropriate authority of the respective Government or organization, at the earliest convenience, preferably by 11 May 2023 to [email protected].

All participants who appear in the letter of credentials are requested to register online at https://indico.un.org/event/1003482/ as soon as possible but no later than 11 May 2023. Only the names of duly accredited and registered participants will be included in the list of participants.