Asia-Pacific Summit
Sustainable Industry Development
Economic growth in the East Asia and Pacific region has lifted millions of people out of poverty in the recent decades. This growth is mostly caused by heavy industry that has high demands for energy and materials, resulting in depletion of natural resources, greenhouse gas emission, and pollution. This rapid growth is seen as unsustainable because resources can disappear, because of the damage from pollution, and because of global warming from greenhouse gases. Pollution and carbon emissions are leading to climate extremes, disease, and sea level rise in the region. According to the World Health Organization, each year 537,000 people in Southeast Asia and the Pacific die prematurely due to air pollution. The Alliance of Small Island States, which includes many Pacific islands, is most concerned with sea level rise because their islands could disappear. Nations throughout the region must lower pollution emissions and lower the amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gases released.
The UN is planning to promote “green” standards for economy, growth, and industry. But the East Asia and Pacific nations themselves must agree on how they will make their industry sustainable with cleaner industry that will minimize greenhouse gas emissions and damage to the population and environment. They must also institute clean energy sources and other eco-friendly services.