Social bond markets have grown rapidly in Asia and around the world amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Today, the global social bond market is dominated by bonds that address pandemic-related social impact areas. To better understand the potential contribution of social bonds in tackling developing Asia’s most urgent social issues, this study reviews the current status and recent trends of global and Asian social bond markets. It further analyzes social impact areas that can...

This publication explains how ADB’s Environment Action Plan 2024–2030 (EAP) guides its strategic approach to tackling the triple planetary threats of biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change to better support sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific. With over 50% of the region’s economy directly dependent on nature, the publication shows how EAP’s approach revolves around biodiversity and ecosystem management, pollution control and circular economy, and nature-based climate...

Analyzing Georgia’s nascent public–private partnership (PPP) landscape, this report sets out how a robust enabling environment is helping build the country’s infrastructure needs to become a regional transport and logistics hub. It is part of an ADB flagship series that considers financing options and assesses constraints, such as low awareness and insufficient PPP opportunities at both local and national levels. The report also details how Georgia’s PPP Agency and PPP Law are supporting e...

This study outlines actions Cambodia can take to diversify its economy and shows how cutting business costs, tackling human capital deficits, and reducing vulnerability to external shocks can help drive sustainable, inclusive growth. Exploring how Cambodia became one of Asia’s fastest growing economies, the study aims to show how the country can overcome existing constraints and address emerging challenges to reach upper-middle income status by 2030. It identifies opportunities to diversif...

When a disaster occurs, timely support for recovery and reconstruction efforts is critical to minimize long-term setbacks to sustainable and inclusive socioeconomic development. The Build Back Better Sector Guides, a collection of six guides, provide practical, solution-oriented resources to support clients, partners, and staff of the Asian Development Bank to enhance the climate and disaster resilience of communities, infrastructure, and systems through effective and well-designed post-di...

As Asia’s building sector booms, this handbook provides practical tools and guidance to design, evaluate, and finance energy efficient building projects to help make the sector greener and more resilient. Explaining how energy efficient construction can help reduce costs, lower emissions, and improve affordability, the handbook offers practical guidance and tools, covers key project cycle stages, and delves into sustainable heating and cooling strategies. It details ways to improve procure...

When a disaster occurs, timely support for recovery and reconstruction efforts is critical to minimize long-term setbacks to sustainable and inclusive socioeconomic development. The Build Back Better Sector Guides, a collection of six guides, provide practical, solution-oriented resources to support clients, partners, and staff of the Asian Development Bank to enhance the climate and disaster resilience of communities, infrastructure, and systems through effective and well-designed post-di...

When a disaster occurs, timely support for recovery and reconstruction efforts is critical to minimize long-term setbacks to sustainable and inclusive socioeconomic development. The Build Back Better Sector Guides, a collection of six guides, provide practical, solution-oriented resources to support clients, partners, and staff of the Asian Development Bank to enhance the climate and disaster resilience of communities, infrastructure, and systems through effective and well-designed post-di...

When a disaster occurs, timely support for recovery and reconstruction efforts is critical to minimize long-term setbacks to sustainable and inclusive socioeconomic development. The Build Back Better Sector Guides, a collection of six guides, provide practical, solution-oriented resources to support clients, partners, and staff of the Asian Development Bank to enhance the climate and disaster resilience of communities, infrastructure, and systems through effective and well-designed post-di...

This report, as part of a series on energy and emission pathways, examines business-as-usual and low-carbon scenarios for Pakistan. It outlines the technologies, efficiency measures, and the investment costs associated with the low-carbon pathway. The report analyzes various barriers and enablers for the application of the technologies that are part of the cost-minimization pathway. It also identifies the investment needs for each technology, along with potential modalities for sourcing th...