Asia is of global significance, particularly when considering future pathways towards sustainability.

Many Asian countries are fast-growing economies, contributing to more than half of the global GDP. At the same time, Asia, home to a rich biodiversity and diverse ecosystem, is threatened. Biodiversity within and between ecosystems is declining rapidly in Asia, with human interventions negatively impacting the delicate balance of the natural ecosystem. 

 The degradation of natural ecosystems is anticipated to have far-reaching economic and societal consequences, including increased occurrence of diseases, crop yield reduction, water stress and loss of livelihoods.

The increase in environmental threats is a direct consequence of population and economic growth and intensification of agriculture. Due to the high societal dependence on environmental services (e.g. fisheries) that healthy rivers and wetlands provide in Asia, there are human environmental threats to the well-being of future and present generations. 

Nature loss and climate change are interconnected; failure to address one will exacerbate the other. Climate change impacts, such as extreme weather events and natural disasters, are degrading nature-based solutions and contributing to ecosystem collapse.