Increase Environmental Resilience
Asia faces growing vulnerability to natural disasters, flooding, drought and other transboundary environmental problems, with severe consequences for rural and urban communities, food security, economic growth, and political stability. Ultimately, solutions require collective political will: stakeholders from across sectors working toward a shared vision for socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable development. The Asia Foundation, drawing upon 60 years of governance experience, plays an essential role in helping Asian countries address critical national and regional environmental challenges.
Outcomes
- More effective management of natural resources for sustainable development
- Increased ability of government, business, and private communities to mitigate natural disasters, flooding and other weather extremes
- Increased incorporation of environmental considerations into national and urban plans and policies
Natural resources management
Natural disasters, flooding, and other weather extremes pose a significant threat to the infrastructure, economies, and progress in Asia’s development. For over 20 years, The Asia Foundation has been helping communities to strengthen their resilience, planning and response to these challenges. It cultivates leadership within local and national governments, builds the capacity of vulnerable communities, and engages the private sector in disaster risk management and severe weather adaptation planning.
Disaster risk management
Natural disasters and climate change pose a significant threat to the infrastructure, economies, and progress in Asia’s development. For over 20 years, The Asia Foundation has been helping communities to strengthen their resilience to natural disasters and climate change. It cultivates leadership within local and national governments, builds the capacity of vulnerable communities, and engages the private sector in disaster risk management and environmental planning.
Green growth
Many of the key social and environmental problems facing Asia—poverty, ecological degradation, weather extremes, water shortages, and rising inequality—are integrally linked to the pathways countries have taken to achieve economic growth. More governments are recognizing that they can no longer afford to pursue growth strategies that negatively impact the well being of communities and the environment. The Asia Foundation is strategically positioned to promote and implement the green growth agenda.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESILIENCE NEWS
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Virtual Event – 2020 Northeast Asia Policy Dialogue Forum: Perspectives on Sustainable Infrastructure Cooperation in the Era of Covid-19
Seoul, South Korea
December 1-3, 2020
Events
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The Best InAsia Podcasts and Posts of 2020
January 7, 2021
Blog
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Virtual Event – 2020 Global Citizen Awards
San Francisco
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Events
Program highlights
Strengthening cooperation between Northeast Asian cities on green growth
The Foundation organized the first Northeast Asia Mayors’ Forum on Green Growth, bringing together municipal leaders from eight cities in China, Mongolia, and Korea. The forum created a platform for participants to exchange best practices and discuss common challenges in working toward inclusive and sustainable urban development. The Foundation also supported the development of Ulaanbaatar’s progressive Green Development Strategic Action Plan.
Disaster alerts via Thailand’s smartphones
The Foundation works in Thailand to expand the reach of early warning systems. With 62% of Thailand’s population using smartphones, there is an untapped opportunity to link existing alert systems to broader internet-based networks. In collaboration with the National Disaster Warning Center and the Department of Disaster Mitigation and Prevention, the Foundation engages Thai entrepreneurs, software developers, and civic tech experts to enhance access to data, and to integrate delivery of real-time alerts to citizens through social media.
Engaging civil society in transboundary water governance in South Asia
Rivers in South Asia bear the brunt of the growing demand for fresh water. Working in partnership with civil society organizations in Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, the Foundation began providing small grants in 2013 to enhance the capacity of civil society organizations in the South Asia region to engage more effectively on transboundary water governance issues while fostering basin-wide dialogues to advocate for policy change and joint management of water resources.
HIGHLIGHTS ACROSS ASIA
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Our Predictions for 2021, Following a Year That Defied Prediction
January 19, 2021
Blog -
Virtual Event – Don’t Mess With Me: Combating Gender-based Violence in South Asia Through Art and Engagement
San Francisco
Wednesday, February 17, 2021
Events
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Peripheral Vision: Views from the Borderlands – Fall 2020
January 12, 2021
Publication -
The Best InAsia Podcasts and Posts of 2020
January 7, 2021
Blog
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The Asia Foundation Supports APEC Policy Brief on Women, Covid-19, and the Future of Work
January 4, 2021
News -
North Korean Refugee Entrepreneurs in South Korea: Unveiling Korea’s Hidden Potential
December 30, 2020
Publication
Impact Report 2020
Leading through change