Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced to prepare a future action plan for analysing the climate condition for six coastal cities including Karachi, where a rise in coastal water temperature will exacerbate the toxicity of cholera and increase endemic morbidity and mortality from diarrhoea and other related diseases.
With co-operation, ADB-World Bank-Japan Bank for International Co-operation, Initiative on Climate Impact and Adaptation in Asian Coastal Cities, ADB is supporting an analysis of future climate conditions in Karachi, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Jakarta, Kolkata, and Manila, and assisting local government to adapt their investment plans to those future conditions.
According to ADB update study revealed that the "Changes in the earth's climate" would adversely affect different regions of Asia in varying ways. In general, the impact of climate change will reduce crop yields by 2.5-10percent by 2020, putting 132 million people at risk of extreme hunger by 2050, said Asian Development Bank study.
According to study, the real and emerging threat of climate change will affect both faces of Asia - growth may be jeopardised and poverty further exacerbated. Without water, no community or country can flourish. The impacts of climate change must be diligently studied and proactive measures taken to make the region more resilient.
One of ADB's challenges is to help the region become less vulnerable to natural climate variability and human-induced climate change. With ADB's assistance, countries should be able to integrate climate variability and climate change considerations into national economic development and sectoral strategies of water, agriculture, human health, and coastal zone management.
On the whole, climate change is likely to introduce high levels of risks and uncertainties that the water profession may not be able to handle effectively, at least in the short term. More research and capacity development will be needed if serious water-related stresses and climate change vulnerabilities are to be avoided.
According to ADB future plan, ADB will strengthen its operational emphasis on the environment to realise environmentally sustainable growth for the region. ADB will expand its promotion of, and investment in, sound environmental management, while simultaneously capitalising on its operational strengths, such as infrastructure development and finance. In its programmes, policies, and strategies, ADB will emphasise the following:
(i) Climate change: ADB will help developing member countries (DMCs) move their economies onto low-carbon growth paths by: (a) improving energy efficiency; (b) expanding the use of clean energy sources; (c) reducing fugitive greenhouse gas emissions, such as methane released from landfills; (d) modernising public transport systems; and (e) arresting deforestation. ADB will also help DMCs adapt to the unavoidable impacts of climate change-including those related to health-through national and municipal planning, investments in defensive measures, support for insurance and other risk-sharing instruments, and "climate-proofing" projects.
Disaster risk management will be a vital part of the development process. Sustainable management of forest and other natural resources for provision of clean water supplies, protection of biological diversity, and sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere to offset greenhouse gas emissions will be part of ADB's assistance to address climate change.
Liveable cities: To reduce the carbon footprint of Asia's cities-ie the amount of harmful greenhouse gases produced-ADB will assist DMCs and their municipalities in addressing a range of environmental problems resulting from rapid urbanisation. These include reducing air and water pollution, supporting cleaner modes of transport, improving systems for solid waste management, and reducing urban waste.
(iii) Complementary actions: ADB will assist with mainstreaming environmental considerations into DMCs' policies and investment programmes, while strengthening the legal, regulatory, and enforcement capacities of public institutions in regard to environmental considerations. ADB will continue to reinforce environmental safeguards in its operations and in country systems, promote and support regional co-operation to provide effective approaches and solutions on shared environmental public goods, and facilitate the transfer of knowledge on environmental management and new technologies.
To address the risks and challenges facing the region, and to meet the many different requirements for achieving inclusive growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration, ADB will engage in partnerships with a more diverse group of institutions.
According to ADB plan, partnerships with international development agencies, multilateral and bilateral institutions, the private sector, non-government organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations, and foundations will become central to planning, financing, and implementing ADB operations. It will make use of all its natural attributes as Asia and the Pacific's home development institution, including on-the-ground capabilities provided by more than 20 resident missions across the region.
ADB has also developed productive relationships with DMC governments, World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Trade Organisation, United Nations agencies, and other major multilateral and bilateral institutions. However, "ADB Strategy 2020" will expand the scope of ADB's partnership agenda beyond its current mainly official development finance partners to include endeavours with the private sector and private institutions.
ADB will be open to a new range of future partnership activities that can deliver aid effectively, improve development results, and improve disaster and emergency assistance. Underpinning these partnerships are likely to be the promotion of new assistance modes, greater use of DMCs' technical and managerial skills, and closer collaboration with the private sector in project co-financing and use of market-based investment instruments.
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