09:00, 9 декабря
More than 60% of Asia and the Pacific’s population—about 2.7 billion people—has been lifted from extreme water insecurity over the past 12 years, but these hard-won gains are threatened by accelerating environmental decline and a major financing gap, according to a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report.
The Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO) 2025, publishedyesterday, finds that renewed political commitment, targeted investments, and governance reforms since 2013 have driven this progress.
But ecosystem decline, climate risks, and funding shortfalls for water investments threaten to plunge billions back into water insecurity. Wetlands, rivers, aquifers, and forests that sustain long-term water security are deteriorating fast. Extreme weather events such as storm surges, rising sea levels, and saltwater intrusion threaten a region which already accounts for 41% of the world’s floods. In recent weeks, parts of Southeast and South Asia have been hit by devastating floods.
The AWDO estimates that $4 trillion through 2040—or $250 billion a year—is needed to meet the region’s water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs…
