The current approach to economic development pursued by many countries is putting an unbearable strain on global resources, stoking food and fuel price rises, and driving irreversible damage to the environment. Reversing these trends will require a new development model characterized by systems innovation and highly-efficient use of resources.

In this environment, a new report from ADB, Green Growth, Resources and Resilience―Environmental Sustainability in Asia and the Pacific, provides timely support to policy makers as they prepare for the 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development at Rio de Janeiro in June.

The report notes that Asia and the Pacific has been at the forefront of resource consumption in recent years, accounting for well over half of all global materials used since the mid-1990s. But it is also leading the world in commitments to green investments, including funding for low-carbon power generation and energy efficiency improvements.

The report notes that with the right policies and incentives, "greening" the economy can be made viable and profitable in the long term. About two-thirds of the $8 trillion needed for infrastructure in the region between now and 2020 will be in the form of new investment, opening up huge opportunities for businesses that can design, finance, build, and manage green buildings, transport systems, and other sustainable infrastructure.

The report is jointly produced by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).