Asia Pacific‘s leading platform for sustainable development
9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Investment in infrastructure and innovation are crucial drivers of economic growth and development. With over half the world population now living in cities, mass transport and renewable energy are becoming ever more important, as are the growth of new industries and information and communication technologies.
Technological progress is also key to finding lasting solutions to both economic and environmental challenges, such as providing new jobs and promoting energy efficiency. Promoting sustainable industries, and investing in scientific research and innovation, are all important ways to facilitate sustainable development.
More than 4 billion people still do not have access to the Internet, and 90 percent are from the developing world. Bridging this digital divide is crucial to ensure equal access to information and knowledge, as well as foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
Read our stories to learn more about SDG Goal 9: Industry, innovation and infrastructure
To adopt SDG 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure, in support of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, please contact us at partners@eco-business.com
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Companies are consolidating, automating production and shifting workers away from factory floors toward sales and advanced products.
Carbon & Climate
Pregnant women with ‘no cool place to go’ face rising heat risks, UN climate chief warns
In a survey across five countries, nearly all maternity workers said they had treated patients they believe were harmed by extreme heat. UN climate chief Simon Stiell calls pregnancy a new fault line in the climate crisis.
Growing water stress is creating financial and supply chain risks for businesses, with many companies still lacking systems to assess and manage their exposure.
AI, robotics, biotechnology and digital infrastructure could help the country boost agricultural productivity and resilience, but fragmented data, high adoption costs and uneven digital access remain barriers to scaling.
Policy & Finance
What will financial institutions do to China’s carbon market?
Policy & Finance
Malaysia to launch new sustainability professionals body by end 2026
Opinion
Climate shocks can disrupt services that millions of vulnerable people rely on, yet care is largely absent from adaptation plans and national funding estimates. Investing in climate-resilient care can prevent cascading health and economic crises while creating jobs and easing pressure on public budgets.
Carbon & Climate
A roadmap for the next UN Secretary-General
The next UN Secretary-General will take over the most prominent position in multilateral governance at a time when multilateralism is arguably at its nadir. Adapting to today’s multipolar reality will require instilling a renewed sense of purpose and demanding more of member states.
While there is no single prescription for energy security, strengthening 'response capacity,' such as by establishing stockpiles, substituting sources, and diversifying suppliers, is essential. The point is not to eliminate vulnerabilities altogether, but to ensure that there are options when disruption arrives.
Policy & Finance
Warming Himalayas: Nepal’s climate justice test
Nepal’s devastating Himalayan floods have exposed the human and economic cost of a warming region, reviving demand for climate justice.
Carbon & Climate
What it means for global warming to exceed 1.5°C
Policy & Finance
For Southeast Asia, the AI race is about access, not supremacy
Carbon & Climate
Who is responsible for Nepal’s tragedy?
Policy & Finance
War and climate
Videos
As water stress intensifies across Thailand, speakers at Unlocking Capital for Sustainability Thailand 2026 examine how policy, finance and business can strengthen water security.
Speakers at Unlocking capital for sustainability Indonesia 2026 discuss how Indonesia can power its mineral boom without compromising climate goals or community trust
In this second episode of Eco-Business’s Resilience podcast series, Singapore's Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary and youth sustainability advocate Man Jing Kong dives into what resilience means for the city-state with Jessica Cheam. Watch as they discuss everything from climate adaptation to mental health and building public trust as an AI-driven economy reshapes daily life.
EB Studio
Singapore's rapidly expanding digital economy is driving a surge in data centre energy consumption, creating new challenges for the country's low-carbon ambitions. This Eco-Business video explores how green software and efficient digital infrastructure can support sustainable digital growth.
Podcasts
In this second episode of Eco-Business’s Resilience podcast series, Singapore's Senior Minister of State Janil Puthucheary and youth sustainability advocate Man Jing Kong dives into what resilience means for the city-state with Jessica Cheam. Watch as they discuss everything from climate adaptation to mental health and building public trust as an AI-driven economy reshapes daily life.
Energy
Geothermal is no longer an underdog technology, but a strategic advantage for the Philippines
EB Studio
Critical to the country’s energy security in the 1970s, geothermal is now re-emerging as the Philippines’ biggest clean energy advantage at a time when countries are seeking reliable, round-the-clock renewable power, says Francis Giles B. Puno, president and chief operating officer of First Gen Corporation.
Southeast Asian energy ministers will meet in October to discuss the future of the region’s power grid. GEAPP’s Kitty Bu tells the Eco-Business podcast what areas they must collaborate on, and how finance and industry can help.
Speaking from the INC-5.2 talks in Geneva, the Singapore Youth for Climate Action president argues that having no treaty is better than a watered-down pact with no limits on plastic production. But there is no explicit Asean-wide support for such caps now, she observes.
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