IGES Inputs to 8th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD 2021)

IGES offers their insights into six focuses of APFSD, including Sustainable and Resilient Recovery from the COVID-19 Pandemic, COVID-19 and the environment, SDG 12, SDG 13, other SDGs and Cross-Cutting Themes, and follow-ups and reviews. Regarding the biggest focus of the event, sustainable recovery from COVID-19, IGES advocated for the implementation of economic recovery packages that support clean energy transitions and the redesign of unsustainable infrastructure and socioeconomic systems in the face of the pandemic and the ongoing climate crisis. IGES also pointed out the severe environmental impacts of the pandemic. In terms of SCP, IGES demonstrated how lockdowns have changed lifestyles and work arrangements, altering consumption and transport patterns, while proposed that interventions to maintain sustainable behaviours (e.g. extending cycling paths) while discouraging unsustainable ones (e.g. charges on single-use plastic bags) can transform crisis into opportunity.

IGES also reflected on the Asia-Pacific region’s progress on achieving SDGs. Regarding SDG 12, IGES recommended multiple tools for promoting SCP, such as:

1. national extended producer responsibility policies, 

2. regional mechanisms to harmonize plastic waste policies, 

3. food waste governance with improved interagency coordination and multi-stakeholder networks across supply chains, 

4. regional, national and city waste management strategies and action plans built on practical actions with strong political backing, and

5. long-term vision setting for collective and individual behaviour changes. 

IGES also urged for both localizing SDGs by using regional circulating and ecological spheres (R-CES) development model and international collaboration. The role of businesses in achieving SDGs is also emphasized, and IGES proposed governments establishing knowledge-sharing platforms and straightforward guidelines to deepen businesses’ role.

In addition, IGES spoke on carbon neutrality and zero-waste solutions in the Asia-Pacific region. IGES discussed how to accelerate actions to achieve carbon neutrality as well as contribute to multiple targets in the SDGs, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, by exploring various policy pathways, including green recoveries, in addition to technologies, finance, capacity building and partnerships such as city-to-city cooperation. IGES discussion also focused on how to develop and implement zero waste cities, policies, plans and strategies through peer learning and opportunities to strengthen linkages between local, national, regional and global actors.