Insights

South-East Asia is becoming a leader in combating plastic pollution, showcasing innovative solutions and cross-border cooperation. The Republic of Korea's advanced waste management, including strict recycling policies and producer responsibility, aims for a 50% reduction in plastic waste by 2030. ASEAN has adopted several initiatives, such as the Bangkok Declaration and the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework, to address marine debris collectively. National Plastic Action Partnerships (NPAPs) in countries like Indonesia and Vietnam focus on local ownership, evidence-based strategies, and inclusivity to tackle the plastic crisis effectively. Various initiatives highlight collaborative efforts among governments, businesses, and communities to promote recycling and environmental consciousness.
Singapore
How Asia can be an example in the fight against plastic pollution
Asia-Pacific's role in globalization is transitioning from low-cost manufacturing to leadership in innovation, culture, and investment. The region leverages legacy strengths, such as cost and resources, while embracing innovation through rising R&D investments and cultural exports, contributing significantly to global markets. Companies like Aurobindo Pharma and TSMC exemplify this shift, harnessing operational efficiencies and cutting-edge technology. Simultaneously, APAC's cultural influence has surged, with its exports growing 3.5 times from 2004 to 2019. This transformation positions APAC businesses to emerge as global leaders across various industries.
Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Barbados, Bolivia, Cambodia, Chile, Costa Rica, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Taiwan, China, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Viet Nam | Financial services, Health
How Asia-Pacific’s powerhouses are being reshaped
Entrepreneurship enhances workforce resilience by fostering essential leadership traits such as creativity, adaptability, and risk-taking. Programs that integrate entrepreneurship into education empower youth to contribute to their communities and develop skills crucial for a changing job landscape, where 375 million workers may need to switch careers by 2030. Successful examples, like Ireland's Foróige, demonstrate the impact of experiential learning in cultivating a mindset for innovation. Additionally, sustainability-focused entrepreneurship initiatives, such as those in Mexico, not only drive economic success but also strengthen community resilience and civic engagement, highlighting the multifaceted benefits of entrepreneurship education.
Education
How youth innovation builds workforce resilience through entrepreneurship
Karol Nawrocki's victory in the 2025 Polish presidential election has dashed hopes among liberal and pro-EU citizens for democratic renewal in Poland. The election highlighted a clash between democratic values and national-conservative, far-right Euroscepticism. Nawrocki's win, resembling previous PiS victories, underscores ongoing societal polarization influenced by a long-standing rivalry between Donald Tusk and Jarosław Kaczyński. Despite a shift to the right by Tusk's coalition, the election exposed significant challenges to rule of law reforms and failed promises on critical voter issues, reflecting a broader discontent that risks entrenching Poland's democratic backsliding.
Poland
Poland’s presidential election – the end of re-democratisation?
Now is a critical time to increase investment in climate technology despite geopolitical challenges. Climate tech has the potential to generate returns of up to $19 for every dollar invested and is driving job creation, cost savings, and resilience. Innovations such as artificial reefs and soil-to-soil circularity models demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits. Technologies like AI-powered farming tools enhance yields and revenue for smallholders. Cutting investment could jeopardize progress and innovation, exacerbating climate impacts and related costs, which have already amounted to over $3.6 trillion since 2000.
Nigeria | Financial services, Education
Why now is not the time to stint on climate tech investment
Ukrainian security services conducted Operation Spider Web on June 1, involving over 100 drones targeting multiple Russian airfields, significantly damaging Russia's air power. This meticulously planned 18-month operation showcased Ukraine's counter-intelligence superiority over Russia, inflicting $7 billion in damage and hitting 34% of the Russian bomber fleet. The attack has been compared to Pearl Harbor as a surprise strike on a powerful enemy, although the comparison is deemed mostly symbolic. The operation underscores Ukraine's capability to assert itself militarily and politically within the ongoing conflict.
Ukraine
Ukraine: Lessons from Spider Web. The Value of Counter-Intelligence Dominance
Asia is becoming a global leader in innovation, especially in AI, climate technology, and deep tech, driving sustainable economic growth. With 60% of the global population, the region's innovation ecosystems foster collaboration between governments, organizations, and entrepreneurs. Despite a projected slight economic slowdown, Asia remains crucial for global expansion, with sectors linked to energy transition potentially unlocking $4.3 trillion by 2030. Investment strategies are shifting towards deep and hard tech, supported by strong manufacturing supply chains. Key to success is establishing integrated ecosystems that bridge funding, infrastructure, and market access, particularly in clean energy initiatives across the continent.
Australia, Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nigeria, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Taiwan, China, Thailand, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Viet Nam | Financial services, Health, ICT, Education
How Asia’s innovation economy is driving growth and a global market shift
In 2025, the World Economic Forum recognized 100 innovative companies as Technology Pioneers, marking its 25th anniversary. This cohort showcases advancements in emerging technologies like AI, robotics, and quantum computing, with a focus on addressing global challenges. Significant areas of innovation include circular economy solutions that reduce waste, AI-driven cybersecurity measures, sustainable food and water practices, next-generation energy systems, and breakthroughs in quantum computing hardware and software. The selected start-ups come from 28 countries, reflecting a growing global emphasis on sustainable technology that can positively impact the future.
ICT, Education
Meet the Technology Pioneers driving innovation in 2025
Physical AI, which interprets the world through sensor data, offers solutions to global challenges like supply chain disruptions and labor shortages. Unlike traditional robotic automation, Physical AI aims to augment human capabilities, assisting smaller teams in managing complex environments efficiently. It synthesizes vast amounts of sensor data across various industries, such as energy, manufacturing, and construction, to provide actionable insights, enhance decision-making, and address critical workforce gaps. The focus is on creating intelligent tools that empower humans rather than replace them, enabling better responses to increasing complexities in the physical world.
Physical AI is helping us understand our world — not just automating it
Southeast Asia is increasingly vulnerable to climate change, necessitating urgent adaptation efforts that are currently fragmented. The report presents "adaptation through water" (AtW), a strategy centered on optimizing natural and engineered water cycles to combat climate impacts. This approach offers private sector investment opportunities in solutions that enhance climate resilience, including nature-based strategies, efficiency technologies, and innovative financing. The report provides an action framework, opportunity analysis, and global case studies, while also establishing the Southeast Asia Partnership for Adaptation through Water (SEAPAW) as a regional initiative focused on this critical adaptation approach.
Bangladesh | Health
Adaptation through Water: Mobilizing the Private Sector for Climate Adaptation in Southeast Asia
SMEs and mid-sized manufacturers are essential to the global economy and achieving net-zero goals, making their sustainability transition crucial. This white paper presents a five-stage roadmap to integrate environmental sustainability into operations and business strategies, transforming sustainability from a perceived cost into a growth opportunity. It highlights the necessary support mechanisms from public and private sectors in finance, knowledge, networks, policy, and implementation to facilitate large-scale transitions, thereby enhancing competitiveness and contributing to a more sustainable global economy.
Sustainability Meets Growth: A Roadmap for SMEs and Mid-Sized Manufacturers
SMEs and mid-sized companies are essential to the global economy and crucial for achieving net-zero goals. Accelerating their sustainability transitions can help meet Paris Agreement targets while creating opportunities for economic growth. A global survey of manufacturing SMEs and mid-sized firms informs a five-stage roadmap for integrating environmental sustainability into operations and strategies, enhancing growth and competitiveness. The paper emphasizes the need for public and private sector support in finance, knowledge, and policy for effective transitions. Ultimately, these companies can become key players in fostering a sustainable and resilient economy.
Estonia, Germany, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Republic of Korea, Senegal, Singapore, Slovakia, Sweden, Tanzania, United Kingdom
Sustainability Meets Growth: A Roadmap for SMEs and Mid-Sized Manufacturers
Buddhist monks and scientists conducted a ceremonial puja for the Yala glacier in Nepal, which is on track to be declared dead due to significant retreat and shrinkage from climate change. Once measured in the 1970s, Yala has lost 66% of its mass, prompting concerns about local environmental impacts. The event aimed to honor both the glacier and bridge the gap between scientific research and local community practices. Participants expressed hopes for the future, emphasizing both spiritual reverence for the glacier and a shared commitment to ecological preservation.
Antarctica
Scientists and monks perform last rites for a Himalayan glacier
The issue of the Asian Development Review (Volume 42, Number 2) focuses on strategies to tackle poverty and inequality in Asia and the Pacific. It includes research on government-business relationships in China's poverty alleviation, multi-economy analyses of income inequality, and the effects of natural disasters on low-income neighborhoods in the Philippines. It also covers topics such as retirement, wage differentials between local and migrant workers, medical insurance outcomes in China, education expenditure trends, and the role of service trade in industry growth and sustainability.
Bangladesh, Philippines, South Africa, Taiwan, China | Health
Asian Development Review: Volume 42, Number 2
Cooling and refrigeration significantly contribute to climate change through high energy consumption and the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which have a much higher global warming potential than CO₂. In Asia, rising temperatures and urbanization are increasing the demand for cooling solutions, leading to greater greenhouse gas emissions—nearly 10% of global emissions come from cooling, with Asia contributing 62%. Policy solutions include developing a legislative framework for climate-friendly cooling, improving energy efficiency standards, and promoting low-carbon technologies. Effective labeling and compliance with efficiency standards are crucial for informed consumer choices and reducing environmental impact.
Antarctica | Financial services
Cooling Without Warming: Policy Solutions for Asia’s Rising Cooling Demand
The UNHCR is facing significant cuts in aid due to funding reductions, leading to the closure of approximately 42% of its community centers in Syria. This will impact around 500,000 people who rely on essential services amidst a worsening economic crisis. As refugees return to Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, the UNHCR emphasizes its need to adopt more selective support strategies for those in dire need. The cuts threaten vital programs, including educational support and livelihood assistance, exacerbating the struggles of families like those of Fatima al-Abbiad and Ayoub Merhi Hariri, who are already facing instability and hardship.
Homes smashed, help slashed: No respite for returning Syrians
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has increased in size and complexity, driving up demand for computational power and natural resources while transparency regarding its environmental costs has declined. This lack of data has led to misinformation about AI's environmental impacts, driven by inaccurate estimates of greenhouse gas emissions. The paper examines myths surrounding AI's environmental effects, their origins, and their dissemination in media and academia. It emphasizes the necessity of data transparency to correct misconceptions and provides recommendations for AI developers and policymakers to reduce negative environmental impacts.
Misinformation by Omission: The Need for More Environmental Transparency in AI
Artificial intelligence can act as a "Devil's Advocate," providing systematic criticism without personal consequences, thus enabling more genuine human conversation. This AI, referred to as the Critical Friend, facilitates candid feedback by removing the risk of damaging professional relationships. By automating dissent, teams can rigorously assess initiatives without navigating office politics. Regular AI-generated critiques encourage open discussions about weaknesses, leading to more honest strategies that acknowledge risks and assumptions. Ultimately, this approach transforms criticism into a data-driven process, fostering productive dissent.
The Devil's Advocate: What Happens When Dissent Becomes Digital
ChatGPT's rapid rise has generated excessive amounts of low-quality AI-generated content, undermining the development of future AI models. This saturation of data leads to a phenomenon known as "model collapse," where AI increasingly mimics inferior AI outputs rather than human-created content. Consequently, data produced before ChatGPT's emergence has become significantly more valuable, akin to “low-background steel” sought after for sensitive scientific uses. The proliferation of AI chatbots parallels the contamination effects seen in materials following the atomic bomb detonation, affecting the quality and reliability of future AI learning.
ChatGPT Has Already Polluted the Internet So Badly That It's Hobbling Future AI Development
Climate finance is predominantly directed towards mitigation, with only $68 billion allocated for adaptation in 2022 compared to $1.2 trillion for mitigation. This imbalance poses challenges for climate-vulnerable developing nations that require adaptation funding due to high capital costs. Strategies to reduce risks associated with adaptation finance have shown promise, such as the CAFRI II project in India, which linked commercial finance with renewable technologies to bolster agricultural resilience. Similarly, Brazil's GainForest Labs utilized innovative technologies to reduce deforestation, securing farmer participation through financial incentives. These approaches can attract commercial investment and scale adaptation finance effectively.
Indonesia | Financial services
How removing adaptation finance risks can help investments scale

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