The Asia Foundation presents at USAID Sustainable Infrastructure Webinar

USAID’s Mekong Safeguards Program hosted Promoting Sustainable Infrastructure via Innovative Financing–Real-world Cases and Best Practices in the Region. The webinar featured speakers from Oxfam, Climate Bonds Initiative, Mekong For the Future implemented by WWF, and opening remarks by Aaron Brownell, director for USAID’s Regional Environment Office. 

During the webinar, The Asia Foundation’s Kim DeRidder, director for Environment and Climate Action, presented findings from Promoting Green Recovery in Asia. The Asia Foundation conducted the study in partnership with Vivid Economics, London. The Asia Foundation’s study examines post-covid stimulus packages in Asia’s four leading economies—China, India, Japan, and South Korea—to assess their relative success in utilizing recovery financing to reset policies and growth trajectories towards greener, low-carbon development.

The report identifies opportunities and proposes realistic actions governments can take to make stimulus packages greener. Including green recovery measures such as investments in renewable energy, low-emission transport, energy efficiency, and nature-based climate mitigation and adaptation solutions. All of which can provide greater employment, better economic returns, and more widespread social benefits.

In all four countries, original drafts of stimulus packages had almost no green components. Yet, there was green advocacy in each country—by government members, academia, NGOs, and even the private sector.  Kim DeRidder’s remarks concluded that this “advocacy prompted policymakers to think bigger, more creatively—to link these stimulus packages to greener, more environmentally sustainable growth trajectories.  Advocacy continues to play an essential role here. “

Read the full report now.

USAID’s Mekong Safeguards, implemented by The Asia Foundation, assists countries in the application of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, improving social outcomes and new development in the region. 

The Asia Foundation is a nonprofit international development organization committed to improving lives across a dynamic and developing Asia. Informed by six decades of experience and deep local expertise, our work across the region addresses five overarching goals—strengthen governance, empower women, expand economic opportunity, increase environmental resilience, and promote international cooperation.

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