Asia-Pacific Response to COVID-19 and Climate Emergency Must Build a Resilient and Sustainable Future

Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana is the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of ESCAPBy Armida Salsiah AlisjahbanaBANGKOK, Thailand, Apr 8 2020 (IPS) The unprecedented public health emergency triggered by the COVID -19 pandemic and its multi-faceted impact on people’s lives around the world is taking a heavy toll on Asia and the Pacific. Countries in our region are striving to mitigate the massive socioeconomic impact of the pandemic, which is also expected to affect the region’s economic health. In its annual Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2020 launched today, the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)expectsgrowth in Asia-Pacific developing economies to slow down significantly this year. Armida Salsiah AlisjahbanaBold investments to sustain the region’s physical and economic well-being is imperative. The Survey advises policymakers to protect the economic health of the region with measures thatsupport affected businesses and households and prevent economic contagion.To tackle COVID-19 in developing Asia-Pacific countries, the Survey also calls for an estimated increase in health emergency spending by $880 million per year through to 2030. Fiscal support will be crucial in enhancing health responders’ abilityto monitor the spread of the pandemic and caring for infected people. ESCAP is also calling on Asia-Pacific countries to consider setting up a regional health emergency preparedness ...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Asia-Pacific Climate Change Economy & Trade Environment Financial Crisis Headlines Health Humanitarian Emergencies Poverty & SDGs Sustainability TerraViva United Nations Trade & Investment Source Type: news