23 March 2009: The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) will launch the 2009 edition of the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific, on 26 March 2009, in 20 cities across the region as well as New York, US, and Geneva, Switzerland. The Survey examines the impact of the convergence of three global crises – the economic downturn, food and fuel price volatility and climate change – on Asia and the Pacific, and how the region can tackle them.

ESCAP’s flagship publication analyzes the threats posed by these crises and outlines ways in which economies in the region can move forward. The Survey concludes that some countries in the region are in a stronger position to not only help themselves, but others as well, in smoothing the impact of the crises and strengthening regional cooperation. According ESCAP, the converging crises could be turned into an opportunity to jumpstart a regional reorientation towards a more inclusive and sustainable development pathway. [ESCAP Press Release]