The “metaverse” is an emerging concept that could open the door to new service delivery and job creation. But what is the metaverse exactly and how could it affect developing economies in Asia and the Pacific? In this podcast, Beth Ann Lim, director of policy programs and campaigns at Meta Asia Pacific, and Professor Yong Lim at the Seoul National University AI Policy Initiative discuss the metaverse, its economic implications, and policy options to maximize its potential to support inclusive growth in the region. Transcript: adbi.me/3nQIGSz ..read more

The realization of carbon net-zero economies in Asia and beyond will depend on the capacity of sectors to adopt decarbonization solutions. In this podcast, Professor Frank Jotzo, Professor Llewelyn Hughes, and Dr Tom Longden from the Australian National University Crawford School of Public Policy discuss hydrogen’s potential to support the global transition to clean energy and the decarbonization of heavy industry sectors such as steel production. They also highlight policies and financing mechanisms that could help. Transcript: adbi.me/3ltgmFk ..read more

Fast-growing developing and emerging countries in Asia and beyond are facing the dual challenges of meeting increasing energy demand while tackling carbon emissions to fight climate change. In this podcast, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank(AIIB) Chief Economist Erik Berglof describes policy tools a state can use to accelerate private sector-backed carbon net zero transition, such as state-owned financial institutions and private-public partnerships. He also explains how these tools can be integrated into national strategies to promote innovation and technology adoption. The discussion draw ..read more

COVID-19-induced school closures have significantly disrupted learning and contributed to learning losses that could have lasting socioeconomic impacts. In this podcast, Harvard University education professor Fernando Reimers examines the pandemic’s effects on education, disparities faced by developing countries, and lessons for mitigating future education disruptions. The discussion draws upon his ADBI Featured Speaker Webinar on building resilient education systems after the COVID-19 pandemic. Transcript: adbi.me/3kFlEwG ..read more

Supply chain disruptions linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its economic impacts continue to undermine energy and food security. They are also prompting economies and businesses to rethink how they obtain critical raw materials and component parts. In this podcast, Alexander Plekhanov of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) discusses new research on the impacts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on economies and global supply chains, highlighting mechanisms and policy options to restore economic activity and ingrain resilience. He also describes international trade ..read more

Under the concept of “inclusive sanitation,” access to a safe and clean toilet is considered a right, not a privilege. Yet the world still has work to do to deliver sanitation for all by 2030, as targeted by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and recent efforts to consider gender minorities in the sector are an emerging imperative. In this podcast, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Urban Development Specialist Alexandra Conroy, ADB Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Specialist Shuvechha Khadka, and WaterAid’s Head of Policy and Advocacy Seema Rajouria discuss how gender identity af ..read more

Asia and the Pacific account for over 50% of the world’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Recognizing the urgent need for action to limit global warming to 1.5°C and fight climate change, governments in the region are increasingly committing to the ambitious target of net-zero carbon emissions by around mid-century. In this podcast, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Climate Envoy Warren Evans explains the benefits of climate change mitigation efforts to developing countries in Asia and the Pacific and discusses some solutions for achieving their carbon reduction commitments, and provides a blueprint ..read more

In this podcast, Nobel laureate Michael Kremer, an economics professor at the University of Chicago, discusses digitalization experiences and lessons learned within the agricultural sector and prospects for digital rural and agricultural development. Transcript: adbi.me/3UzcXS5 ..read more

Indonesia is the world’s fourth-largest producer of coal, Southeast Asia’s biggest gas supplier, and the largest biofuel producer globally, according to the International Energy Agency. Yet oil imports in Indonesia are increasing as incomes and consumption rise among the 250 million people of the archipelago, which holds the Group of 20 (G20) presidency in 2022 and will chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2023. In this podcast, ADBI’s Dina Azhgaliyeva, ASEAN Centre for Energy Executive Director Nuki Agya Utama, and Kuki Soejachmoen, co-chair of the climate and energy tr ..read more

Asia and the Pacific is the world’s primary region for investment in low-carbon transition technologies. Despite recent growth trends, however, investment in clean energy still falls short of the level needed to meet global carbon emission reduction targets and fight climate change. In this podcast, ADBI’s Dina Azhgaliyeva and John Beirne, and Ranjeeta Mishra from the Reserve Bank of India explain the effect of government renewable energy policies on private investment, drawing upon developments in Asia and the Pacific. They also discuss possible next steps for stimulating private investment i ..read more