Convening under the theme “Towards a Healthy Rebound for People, Nature and Economies,” the Inaugural Regional Session of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Science-Policy-Business Forum for Asia and the Pacific (AP-SPBF 2021) examined pathways for a sustainable, equitable, and inclusive rebound from COVID-19.

East Asia and the Pacific contain some of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, but also bear the impacts of the majority of the world’s natural disasters. The AP-SPBF explored how ambitious, coordinated action from governments, business, and society can act by transforming social and economic systems to put nature and its value at the heart of our actions and decisions.

The programme included:

• A high-level opening session, based on the theme of the Forum;
• A session on Towards Greater Transparency and Sustainable Investment: Turning the Tide on Ocean Plastic Pollution; and
• A session on Mitigating Zoonotic Diseases–Healthy Planet Healthy People.

The meeting is the first of the UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment’s (UN-SPBF) regional mechanisms and will be launched in conjunction with the 4th session of the Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia-Pacific, hosted by the Republic of Korea.

The UN-SPBF, which was launched at UNEA-3 in December 2017, is a framework designed to strengthen the interface between science, policy, business, and society. It convenes in conjunction with, and feeds into, the UNEA process.

Funding for Earth Negotiations Bulletin coverage of AP-SPBF 2021 has been provided by UN-SPBF.