ADB's South Asia region is comprised of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, extending from the highlands of the Himalayas to the atolls of the Indian Ocean. It is also home to more than 600 million of the world's absolute poor, who will be most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change.

Southeast Asia is on the frontlines of efforts to counter climate change and its impacts. The countries of the region, spread across archipelagos, river basins, and forests, are home to some of the world's most spectacular natural and cultural diversity.

This new ADB study on the current pedestrian infrastructure in 13 selected Asian cities recommends specific actions that can be undertaken by different stakeholders in improving the walkability in Asian cities.

This paper takes stock of developments in Asian and Pacific countries as they prepare to take advantage of emerging financial incentives for forest conservation created through the "REDD+" approach for reducing carbon dioxide emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, and other actions that conserve and enhance forest carbon stocks.

When the water policy of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) was approved in 2001, water was widely viewed as one of the greatest global challenges. The challenge was accentuated by, among others, population growth, urbanization, and changes in climatic patterns.

Developing Asia's rapidly expanding middle class is likely to assume the traditional role of the US and Europe as primary global consumers and help rebalance the global economy, says a report on Asia

It is an empirical fact that it is very difficult to balance economic growth, poverty reduction, and environment protection, particularly for developing and transitional economies.

Strategy 2020 sets the long-term strategic framework of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for 2008-2020.

ADB has upgraded its 2010 growth forecast for the 14 economies of
emerging East Asia to an aggregate 8.1 percent from the 7.7 percent
projected in the former Asian Development Outlook 2010, published in
April.

As the key development partner in Asia, ADB needs to explore opportunities to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (or carbon emissions) and attract eligible funds for low carbon initiatives.