Background

Human well-being and economic welfare heavily depend on infrastructure, including energy, transport, and industrial systems, which are vital for interconnected societies and economies. In Central and Southeast Asia, the post-COVID recovery and climate challenges present an opportunity to build infrastructure that is decarbonized, climate-resilient, and nature-positive. With over 60% of global greenhouse gas emissions coming from existing infrastructure, decisions made in the next five years— especially in fast-growing Asia—will shape emissions and biodiversity outcomes for decades. Southeast Asia's significant biodiversity assets face growing risks, threatening nature-dependent economies, but infrastructure can also drive nature-positive growth. Aligning investments with the Paris Agreement, the Global Biodiversity Framework, and the SDGs offers a pathway to sustainable economic recovery and long-term climate goals.

Objectives

The Programme aims to help Central and Southeast Asian countries better reconcile their infrastructure investment decisions with long-term commitments such as the Paris Agreement, the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, and the SDGs. To do so, the overall Project will help countries:

Expected Results

• Output 1: Foster sound investment decision-making to prioritise infrastructure projects compatible with a green recovery and long-term low-emission, resilient development pathways.
• Output 2: Promote enabling policy frameworks to scale up investment in sustainable, low-emission infrastructure
• Output 3: Promote Responsible Business Conduct and green, inclusive finance and investment principles
• Output 4: Develop capacity, increase the knowledge base, and create opportunities for regional and international policy dialogues and peer learning.