22 May 2015: Participants at the second Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) suggested formulating a regional road map for sustainable development, emphasizing green and inclusive growth as a priority for the region. Outcomes of the Forum were expected to be reported at the 71st session of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), convening on 25-29 May 2015, and also conveyed to the High-Level Political Forum on sustainable development (HLPF) in July 2015.
The Forum was organized by ESCAP, and took place on 21-22 May 2015, in Bangkok, Thailand. APFSD participants discussed four sets of issues: integrating the economic, social and environmental dimensions of sustainable development; regional perspectives on the post-2015 development agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); a potential regional monitoring and review mechanism; and the role of the Forum beyond 2015.
Countries highlighted examples of national efforts that balance the environmental, social and economic dimensions of development, including: Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness model; Cambodia’s green growth road map; Tonga’s energy road map; Sri Lanka’s universal health coverage; Japan’s efforts toward a circular economy; and Pakistan’s socioeconomic targets for poverty alleviation, good governance and environmental safeguards.
Civil society organizations called for bilateral trade and investment agreements to be assessed for their human rights impacts. They highlighted the need for equitable access and control over land and other productive resources, and for marginalized communities to have access to appropriate and environmentally sound technology. They also called for support to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IIU) fishing.
On a follow-up and review mechanism, Member States at the Forum supported the voluntary sharing of country experiences, based on self-assessment. They suggested the Forum could serve as a regional platform for review and stocktaking of SDG implementation, and they supported establishing a regional trust fund for statistical development, noting the importance of statistical information for policy making on sustainable development.
Civil society proposed developing a regional road map to address regionally relevant issues “both within and outside the post-2015 development agenda,” including an assessment of the impacts of trade, technology and investments on sustainability.
In closing remarks, ESCAP Executive Secretary Shamshad Akhtar said the Forum had agreed on the need to focus on an inclusive, balanced and sustained growth path, while respecting planetary boundaries and social needs. She added that the Forum had recognized the need for national and local ownership of the sustainable development agenda, and “quality of growth” must go beyond gross domestic product (GDP) toward expanded notions of well-being. [Report of APFSD] [ESCAP Press Release] [ESCAP Presentation of Main Messages, Agenda, Way Forward]