gained priority and has been realised in some sectors, particularly the industrial sector. Concurrently, energy intensity has steadily declined at the Asia-Pacific regional level (UNESCAP 2018). For SDG 14 (Oceans), progress was made against indicator 14.5.1 (marine protected areas) with Asia-Pacific region’s total increase of 13.8 percent for coastal and marine protected areas in the period 2004-2017 (SDG target 14.5) (The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services [IPBES] 2018). For SDG 15 (Life and Biodiversity), five indicators (15.1.2, 15.2.1, 15.4.1, 15.6.1 and 15.a.1) showed positive progress over the past 15 years. Countries in the Asia-Pacific region saw a 0.3 per cent growth in protected area coverage in terrestrial protected area between 2004 and 2017. Also, many countries in the region are on track to fulfil Aichi Biodiversity Target 11 of declaring 17 per cent of the land as protected areas.
The two areas that require most urgent and significant attention in the Asia-Pacific region are disaster risk reduction and resource efficiency. Indicators in these two areas are related to multiple SDGs and have showed setback during the past 15 years. For instance, disaster-related indicators (persons affected by disasters, economic loss from disasters, national/local disaster risk reduction strategies) belong to SDG 1 (indicators 1.5.1, 1.5.2, 1.5.3, 1.5.4), SDG 11 (indicators 11.5.1, 11.5.2, 11.b.1, 11.b.2) and SDG 13 (indicators 13.1.1, 13.1.2, 13.1.3), holding back progress of these three goals. Considering that the region lies in the ‘Pacific Rim of Fire’ and within the cyclone belt, Asia-Pacific needs urgent and significant attention in disaster risk reduction strategies. Indicators related to resource efficiency (material footprint, domestic material consumption) contribute to the regression of SDG 8 (indicators 8.4.1, 8.4.2) as well as SDG 12 (indicators 12.2.1, 12.2.2) and ultimately threaten the long-term sustainability of the resource- intensive, manufacturing-oriented economies of many countries in the region while contributing to significant environmental degradation with its health-related impacts. Inadequate capacity to manage fast-growing amounts of waste and wastewater undermines progress being made under other SDGs. The Asia-Pacific region alone generates almost 40 per cent of the world’s waste (Kaza et al. 2018) and open dumping of waste continues to be the most commonly deployed waste management approach (UNEP 2017a). As to SDG 3 (Health), progress has been polarised. While a positive change has been observed for one of its 3 indicators (3.9.3), there are signs of major deterioration in condition associated with indicator 3.9.1 on air pollution mortality.
25 Indian states ban plastic bags (Phartiyal and Jadhav 2018). Conclusion
Progress towards the SDGs in each Asia-Pacific sub-region varies significantly. All sub-regions must accelerate progress if they are to achieve the environmental dimension of the SDGs. East and South-East Asia leads the region in its progress towards restoring water-related ecosystems (6.6.1), supporting LDCs in building sustainable and resilient buildings (11.c.1), and ensuring the conservation and restoration of forest area (15.1.1). Oceania has shown positive progress in maintaining the genetic diversity of local breeds (2.5.2) and reducing CO2
per unit of value added (9.4.1), but has faced setbacks in disaster risk reduction, water quality and ecosystems, and sharing biodiversity benefits. The Central and South Asia sub-region shows progress in persons affected by disasters (1.5.1, 11.5.1, 13.1.1) and reducing CO2
but shows set back in biodiversity-related indicators such as local breeds for agriculture (2.5.2), sustainable fish stocks (14.4.1), and strategies for sharing biodiversity benefits (15.6.1).
emission
emissions per unit of value added (9.4.1),
Sustainable Development Goal
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