Boao Forum analysis: Environmental hurdles and sustainable transformation in Asia
During the opening press conference on Tuesday, the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) presented its annual report detailing Asia's initiatives and obstacles in tackling climate change.

Titled "Sustainable Development: Asia and the World Annual Report 2025 – Addressing Climate Change: Asia Going Green," the report is divided into four chapters: Climate Gap and Green Growth, Asia's Approach to Going Green, Investing in Nature as Infrastructure for Resilience Building, and Carbon Market Connectivity.
The report highlights that Asia is home to nearly 60 percent of the global population and occupies about 30 percent of the Earth’s land area. Additionally, the region was responsible for over 50 percent of global CO2 emissions in 2023, a situation exacerbated by rapid industrialization and increasing energy demand.
The report points out significant climate incidents, including Typhoon "Yagi" in southern China and wildfires in Indonesia over the past year, stating, "These incidents did not happen in isolation; they are the dire consequences of escalating climate issues, reflecting the pressing need for accelerated and comprehensive climate action."
To address these pressing challenges, the report stresses the critical need for climate action in Asia, which faces heightened risks due to its dense population, reliance on fossil fuels, and vulnerability to extreme weather.
Despite these challenges, the report notes that Asia is making strides in its green transition. "The International Energy Agency estimates a threefold growth of the clean energy technology market in the next decade. Asia is already leading the way."
Examples of this transition include China, the world's largest exporter of clean technologies; India, which is rapidly advancing in hydrogen energy development; and significant new energy investments in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, alongside ASEAN countries exploring their green potential.
According to the report, green development has established a new growth paradigm that promotes coordinated economic, social, and ecological progress throughout much of Asia.
The report emphasizes that achieving a green transition hinges on two strategic pillars: infrastructure and cross-border carbon markets.
"This will be impossible without concerted efforts from governments, international organizations, businesses, civil society groups, and other stakeholders," it observed.
Using the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership as a case study, the report suggests maximizing institutional mechanisms to enhance capital flows, facilitate technology exchanges, and establish rule-making frameworks, thereby propelling global climate action.
The BFA Annual Conference 2025 will take place from March 25 to 28 in Boao, located in the Hainan Province of southern China, with the theme "Asia in the Changing World: Towards a Shared Future."
Navid Kalantari contributed to this article for TROIB News
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