The window to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is narrowing and regional progress must speed up. This was the clear message set forth as government officials, development experts, business leaders, civil society representatives and youth gathered today for the opening of the 13th Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development (APFSD) in Bangkok.
“The recent weakening of multilateralism threatens to erode the global partnerships we have forged and to unravel established channels for technology transfers, as well as the financing needed for sustainable development,” said Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
She added, “With Asia and the Pacific now a stronghold for both technology and finance, the region holds the means of implementation for sustainable development in its hands. We must collectively consider anew how regional cooperation could provide solutions for our rapidly evolving world.”
H.E. Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) underscored the importance of the Pact for the Future which reaffirmed commitments to strengthen multilateralism and reform international cooperation. “When Asia and the Pacific act collectively - whether on climate resilience, connectivity, trade or social protection - it reinforces stability, reduces fragmentation and strengthens the credibility of the international system. Strong regional cooperation does not dilute global ambition; it anchors it in practical collaboration and shared accountability.”
Persistent development gaps highlight need for practical action
H.E. Fane Fotu Fituafe, Minister of Internal Affairs of Tonga was elected as Chair of the 13th APFSD. She emphasised the four-day Forum’s importance as a key platform to review regional progress and discuss equitable, innovative, coordinated actions for sustainable development priorities moving forward at a fast pace.
Progress has remained imbalanced across the region. While access to basic drinking water and sanitation has improved over the past decade, safely managed sanitation services remain uneven, especially in poorer and climate-vulnerable countries. Droughts, floods and saltwater intrusion are making water security more fragile, particularly in landlocked developing countries and small island developing States.
Electricity access is now nearly universal across the region. But in many remote rural and island communities, power supply remains unreliable and expensive. Connecting the “last mile” and making energy affordable is still a major challenge.
The region has also expanded digital infrastructure rapidly. Yet being connected does not always mean being included. Gaps persist in digital skills, affordability and accessibility, especially for persons with disabilities and low-income households.
Beyond regional commitments, much of the work will depend on national and local action. Speakers at the APFSD further emphasised three practical enablers: political leadership willing to take difficult decisions, better use of timely data to adapt policies as conditions change, and stronger collaboration with businesses and civil society to deliver results on the ground.
Wannapong Yodmuang, representative from the Asia-Pacific People’s Forum called for development to be rooted in human rights, care, justice and accountability. “Decision-making power must shift to the people most affected – leading solutions for their own communities.”
“We urge meaningful and sustained engagement for young people. Our recommendations are grounded in equity and justice, and we insist that every young person, in all our diversity, is recognised, included and empowered without exception,” shared youth representative Michelin Sallata.
New regional report highlights rising urban inequality; calls for inclusive and resilient solutions
On the sidelines of the Forum, ESCAP, together with the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Development Programme, also launched the 2026 Asia-Pacific SDG Partnership Report, Inclusive Urban Futures: From Inequality to Opportunity. The report warns that while cities in Asia and the Pacific are growing rapidly, inequality is growing alongside them: 697 million people live in slums, more than 65 per cent of urban workers are in informal jobs, and 2.3 billion people breathe unsafe air.
The report calls for urgent action to make cities more inclusive and resilient. It showcases people-centred solutions that deliver results, including community-led housing and service delivery, initiatives to expand decent work and social protection for informal workers, and approaches to improve air quality, waste management and climate resilience.
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