This UNESCAP publication looks at recent developments in CSR with particular attention to the growing role of impact investment and the need for greater convergence of global CSR instruments.

The Asia-Pacific region has been battered in recent years by a relentless series of shocks. Some have been related to natural disasters, such as earthquakes or droughts or floods. Others, such as the 2008 financial crisis, have been caused by convulsions in global markets.

The 2013 edition of the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific argues that macroeconomic policies can play a key role not only in supporting the economies of the region in the short term, but also in reorienting the region towards a more inclusive and sustainable pattern of development.

The Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Report aims to deepen understanding of regional trends and developments in trade and investment; emerging issues in trade, investment and trade facilitation policies; and impacts of these policies on countries’ abilities to meet the challenges of achieving inclusive and sustainable development.

This assessment report presents an overview of the energy access situation in the Asia-Pacific region, including prevalent policies and programmes to address them, with the view to identify common challenges that could be addressed through regional cooperation.

Falling demand in the developed world has led to a broad-based economic slowdown in Asia and the Pacific, lowering economic growth forecasts. The impact of slowdown will challenge regional inclusive and sustainable development with job growth and household income predicted to decline.

Water-related disasters and extreme weather events are occurring with increasing frequency in Central Asia and in the countries that surround it. Floods, landslides/mudflows, droughts and earthquakes, which frequently affect the region, cause enormous economic and social damage and often lead to massive loss of human life.

The ESCAP/UNISDR Asia-Pacific Disaster Report 2012, Reducing Vulnerability and Exposure to Disasters provides an analysis of the impact of disasters on Asian and Pacific countries between 1970 to 2011, and discusses the twin challenge faced by the region of increasing exposure of its people and economic assets, and heightened vulnerabilities exp

As cities are growing in terms of population and physical size, their contributions to national GDP are also increasing due to increased economic activities in urban areas. Now in many countries the contribution of cities to national GDP is 80 percent or more of the total GDP.

The Asia-Pacific region’s rapid growth since the 1950s had been supported by a favourable external economic environment and opportunities arising from globalization. This, however, has changed dramatically in the aftermath of the global financial crisis of 2008-2009.