United Nations ESCAP

🌏 Can one approach work for a region as diverse as Asia and the Pacific?

From climate risks to digital divides, countries across the region face very different realities. That is why subregional cooperation matters more than ever.

Through tailored partnerships and shared solutions, subregions are helping turn regional goals into practical action, from energy connectivity to digital transformation.

Discover why subregions are becoming the backbone of Asia-Pacific cooperation.

Read more: https://buff.ly/Wh8YWZy

🫠 Cities are getting hotter — and fast.

Across , extreme heat is disrupting daily life.

🌆 The urban heat island effect can make cities like , , and 2°C–7°C hotter than nearby areas.

See what the urban heat island is in our report: https://bit.ly/APDR-2025

🚦Every 44 seconds, someone in Asia and the Pacific loses their life on the road.

The hardest part? Most of these tragedies are preventable.

In this episode of A Region of Solutions, we explore how small, everyday choices like slowing down, wearing helmets and buckling up can save lives.

We also look at how communities and governments across the region are taking meaningful steps to keep people safe.

🛣️ Road safety isn’t just a policy issue. It’s something we all shape every time we use the road.

🎧 Tune in: https://buff.ly/jnXGIFq

What happens when climate risk arrives before certainty?

El Niño may return by mid-2026, with possible impacts on drought, food security, water stress, health and livelihoods across Asia and the Pacific.

Past events show a clear lesson: early action saves lives, protects livelihoods and reduces avoidable losses.

A new ESCAP blog looks at what past El Niño events can teach us, why risks are higher in today’s climate and economic context and where governments can act now: https://unescap.org/blog/el-nino-likely-return-case-early-action : https://unescap.org/blog/el-nino-likely-return-case-early-action

🏠 Did you know some cities are sinking a little every day?

In Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, the ground is changing.

Land subsidence happens when land slowly sinks. It can make flooding worse, damage roads and buildings, and put coastal communities at greater risk.

ESCAP is working with national and local partners to better understand the problem and plan solutions.

Cox’s Bazar is the first pilot city in Bangladesh under ESCAP’s regional initiative, Confronting the Silent Crisis of Asia-Pacific’s Sinking Cities.

At a national and local technical workshop, participants looked at how to:
🌊 monitor where and why land is sinking
🏙️ include subsidence risk in urban planning, water management and disaster risk reduction
🌱 support practical SDG actions

The lessons from Cox’s Bazar will help inform decisions in Bangladesh and support other cities across Asia and the Pacific facing similar risks.

🔗 Read more: https://www.unescap.org/events/2026/national-and-local-technical-workshop-land-subsidence-sdg-acceleration

UN-Habitat Bangkok Office |গৃহায়ন ও গণপূর্ত মন্ত্রণালয় | United Nations in Bangladesh

The Government of and United Nations ESCAP are accelerating inclusive growth.

This week in Bandar Seri Begawan, we launched the National Inclusive Business Landscape Study to drive sustainable growth and economic diversification in .

During the mission, discussions with government officials, business leaders and innovators underscored a shared commitment to the ASEAN agenda.

The priority is turning bold ideas into scalable, real-world solutions. We look forward to strengthening collaboration with for a sustainable future for all.

Ministry of Finance and Economy Brunei Darussalam | Brunei Economic Development Board | Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah | Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam | United Nations ESCAP

Think you’re a good traveller? Try flying thousands of kilometres without a map.

This World Migratory Bird Day, take travel tips from migratory birds that fuel up, rest and navigate thousands of kilometres across North-East Asia.

The 2026 theme, “Every Bird Counts: Your Observations Matter”, reminds us that every sighting helps protect their journey. 🌏

👉 Click to learn from nature’s smartest travellers.

United Nations ESCAP - East and North-East Asia Office

What have 20 years of lessons taught us about resilience? 🌊

Two decades after the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, partnership and preparedness continue to shape stronger coastal resilience across Asia and the Pacific.

The ESCAP Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness Annual Report 2025 reflects on progress made, lessons learned and the power of regional cooperation 🤝

It also launches the Strategy 2025–2030, setting a shared path towards stronger preparedness and resilience in the years ahead.

📘 Read the full report: https://buff.ly/X9ZKa43

Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC) of UNESCO I Regional Integrated Multi-Hazard Early Warning System I Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale I Swiss Development & Cooperation I Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services I Sida - Styrelsen för Internationellt Utvecklingssamarbete I กระทรวงการต่างประเทศ Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand I Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan