Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific ESCAP

The Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is one of the five regional commissions of the United Nations. ESCAP is particularly concerned with the promotion of economic and social development in Asia and the Pacific through regional cooperation and infrastructure projects. The commission was created in 1947 as a forum for regional collaboration in working towards post-war reconstruction and economic development. While its initial mandate was more narrow, the commission has since expanded to addressing areas such as social development, sustainability policy, energy policy, and disaster-risk reduction in addition to things such as trade, investment, economic policy, and infrastructure for the almost 4.1 billion people who are citizens of ESCAP’s member states. This session will give delegates the opportunity to consider how states in Asia and the Pacific can work together on economic, social, and environmental policy to ensure the continued wellbeing of their citizens.

Topic A: Sustainable Urbanization in Climate Crises
In Asia and the Pacific there has been rapid urbanization in the past three decades. While this rapid urbanization is a reflection of economic growth in the Asia-Pacific, it is also the cause of many of the problems faced by the region, including lack of access to adequate and affordable housing, unsustainable consumption and production models, lack of disaster-preparedness, and increasing economic inequalities. As the frequency and severity of climate crises increase, without support from governments and international institutions, the existing problems faced by people in urban centers in the Asia-Pacific will be exacerbated and new ones will inevitably emerge. In addressing this topic, we will ask delegates to consider how countries in the Asia-Pacific can support urban development that improves economic output while also taking care to ensure that residents of urban centers maintain a high-quality of life, with a particular focus on the effects of climate change on
urban centers.

Documents