| The Asia-Pacific region extends from Mongolia in the north to New Zealand
in the south and from the Cook Islands in the east to the Islamic Republic
of Iran in the west. It embraces the world’s largest ocean (the Pacific
at 165 million square kilometres), the third largest ocean (the Indian
at 73 million square kilometres) and a range of other important seas (ESCAP,
1992; ESCAP, 1995a). The region also encompasses three of the largest and
most populous countries in the world (China, India and Indonesia) as well
as several mountainous and land-locked states (e.g. Bhutan and Nepal),
and 22 small archipelagic states, territories and protectorates. Although
it accounts for only 23 per cent of the world’s total land area, about
58 per cent of the world’s population live in the Asia-Pacific region (ESCAP,
1992; ESCAP, 1995a). The economies of this region have experienced high
growth rates in the recent past and in 1994 the average GDP growth rate
was 8.2 per cent (ADB, 1995a). Despite this rapid rate of economic growth,
poverty persists. Estimates indicate that of the world’s 1.2 billion people
who live in absolute poverty (that is with a per capita income of less
than US$ 1 per day) over two-thirds reside in this region (ADB, 1994a).
Rapid population growth is exerting pressure on the environment and on
the natural resources of the region. Urbanization and industrialization
have also led to high pollution loads and social stress. Table 1 highlights
some selected environmental concerns and trends in the region. (See
table 1)
Major issues of
concern vary across the region and include land degradation, deforestation,
declining availability of freshwater, deteriorating water quality and the
degradation of marine and coastal resources. The consensus in the region
is that deforestation, inadequate water supply and water quality need priority
attention (ADB, 1994a). Air pollution is an increasingly serious problem
for the large megacities of the region, such as Bombay, Bangkok, Jakarta
and Manila. By contrast, the small island states of the Pacific, such as
Fiji, Maldives and Western Samoa, suffer from irregular and inadequate
solid waste disposal facilities. Furthermore, environmental degradation
places additional burdens on women, especially those living in and depending
on fragile ecosystems.
In response to the environmental issues recognised in the Asia-Pacific
region numerous initiatives have been launched at national, sub-regional
and regional levels. Further details of these are discussed in Chapter
2. (See table 2) |
