16 May 2018: The 74th session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) agreed to give greater priority to reducing all forms of inequality in efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Member States adopted 11 resolutions at the session, including commitments to improve data collection and statistics and to promote disability-inclusive sustainable development. In conjunction with the session, ESCAP launched its ‘Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report.’
ESCAP’s progress report draws on 66 SDG indicators to make an assessment of the region as a whole, as well as of five subregions. It shows the region has made gains toward eradicating poverty (SDG 1), and promoting health (SDG 3), and is on track to achieving SDG 4 on providing quality education (SDG 4). However, the region has regressed on reducing inequalities (SDG 10), protecting oceans and marine life (SDG 14), protecting terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15) and creating peaceful and inclusive societies (SDG 16), while insufficient progress has been made on decent work (SDG 8), sustainable cities (SDG 11) and climate action (SDG 13). The study was hampered by limited data, as only 25% of the official SDG indicators could be used to assess progress.
The study finds wide disparities across the region. North and Northeast Asian countries emit more air pollutants than other subregions, while Southeast Asian countries face increased inequalities. South and Southwest Asian countries lag behind others in the region in terms of gender equality (SDG 5) and access to clean water and sanitation (SDG 6). Pacific countries have not performed well on peace, justice and strong institutions (SDG 16). The report also presents SDG progress by income group, and the annexes contain detailed charts that show progress or deterioration by each SDG and their available indicators. Commenting on the report’s findings, ESCAP Executive Secretary Shamshad Akhtar stressed that balanced and equitable growth must remain a priority.
The ESCAP session also focused on inequality. In a resolution, (ESCAP/74/RES/11) on ‘Strengthening regional cooperation to tackle inequality in all its forms in Asia and the Pacific,’ Member States pledged to intensify poverty alleviation efforts through a range of measures such as social protection, reduced exposure of the most vulnerable groups to environmental degradation, pollution and disasters, and the promotion of rural vitalization. They also agreed to promote innovation-driven development strategies and to enhance regional connectivity through the regional road map for implementing the 2030 Agenda. The road map was adopted at the previous session. Further, Member States requested ESCAP to conduct deeper mapping and analysis of groups at risk of being ‘left behind,’ provide capacity building to countries, promote policy coordination, and to report back at the Commission’s 76th session.
Member States also adopted a resolution on ‘Implementation of the Ministerial Declaration on Enhancing Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration to Support the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda in Asia and the Pacific’ (ESCAP/74/RES/10). They agreed to continue their efforts towards regional economic cooperation and integration in a manner that promotes the 2030 Agenda, and support the convening of a third Ministerial Conference on Regional Economic Cooperation and Integration in Asia and the Pacific in 2021. The previous conference in this series took place in November 2017.
Other resolutions addressed, inter alia: disability-inclusive sustainable development (ESCAP/74/RES/7); the regional framework for developing and operating dry ports (ESCAP/74/RES/2), road safety (ESCAP/74/RES/3), and sustainable energy (SDG 7 and 13), based on outcomes of the Second Asian and Pacific Energy Forum (ESCAP/74/RES/9). Member States also agreed to work towards universal civil registration (ESCAP/74/RES/8) and improve disaster-related statistics (ESCAP/74/RES/6).
Miroslav Lajcak, UN General Assembly President, reminded delegates that it is in countries’ self-interest to respond to inequalities, which, he stated, fuel conflict and reduce economic competitiveness. Lajcak emphasized that, while inequality is specifically addressed through SDG 10, implementing all 17 SDGs will make the world “a more equal place.”
The Commission session took place from 11-16 May in Bangkok, Thailand. [ESCAP Press Release] [Meeting Documents] [UN General Assembly President’s Remarks] [Publication: Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress] [ESCAP Press Release on the Report][Guest Article: Is Asia Pacific on Track to Meet the Sustainable Development Goals?]