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Overview Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education plays a significant role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4—ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. It promotes 21st-century skills by using real-world, complex problems as instructional contexts. It also advances employability skills, entrepreneurship, and innovation by integrating engineering and technology with science and mathematics. STEM education also provides an opportunity to rethink teaching and learning in practical and intuitive ways. A publication from the Asian Development Bank draws inspiration and lessons from case studies in four countries on how to implement STEM education. Each country has its own approach to STEM learning, but they all focus on promoting 21st-century skills and preparing students for the future. Their curriculum also puts emphasis on convergence across various disciplines, innovating instructional methodology, and collaboration among students. Project-Based Learning in Thailand Located near Bangkok, the Roong Aroon School approaches STEM education based on three success factors: (i) interdisciplinary connections; (ii) the need for new, ambitious instructional practices in enacting a STEM approach; and (iii) the engagement of students in real-world problem solving. It offers project-based learning, which encourages students to become self-directed learners and enhances their collaborative skills as they work with others. Students, in collaboration with teachers, identify a real-life problem within or outside the school community and make it the focus of their STEM project. They discuss, identify, and research the knowledge required, come up with a work plan, share the group work, present their design to the teachers, work on and try out experiments to solve the problem systematically, and prove their project inventions. Teachers guide students with a lesson framework to plan key educational concepts in terms of content, learning objectives for knowledge, understanding, learning skills, values/attitudes, learning processes, and evaluation. They support and guide students through projects and inventions without the need for any extensive lecturing. STEAM Integration in the Republic of Korea The Republic of Korea (ROK) has included the arts (hence, STEAM) as a way to promote critical thinking. Its STEAM education focuses on increasing students’ interests and understanding of science and technology and nurturing their STEAM literacy and problem-solving ability. To achieve its goal, ROK launched initiatives to systematically implement STEAM from the national to the school level. At the national level, the STEAM education framework involves operating model schools that integrate 20% of STEAM-related content in syllabi for science, mathematics, technology and home economics, and music and art classes. It also includes providing teacher training and supporting the teacher community, making a STEAM education platform, and involving science-related institutes as agencies for STEAM education. The framework for integrated STEAM classes consists of the following steps: A Focus on Applied Learning in Singapore The STEM Applied Learning Programme in Singapore has been implemented in secondary schools since 2014. It aims to promote interest in STEM and encourage students to pursue related careers. The program focuses on hands-on activities and presenting a challenge or problem statement relevant to the real world for students to solve. This method establishes relatedness among subjects, encourages learning through play and exploration, and stimulates development of 21st-century competencies, such as collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills. As students find solutions to the problem, teachers facilitate, guide, motivate, and challenge them to reexamine the solution, modify its aspects, and test it. At the end of the STEM program, students collaborate and apply their knowledge to build and complete a prototype solution. The STEM program covers 124 mainstream secondary schools that focus on one of eight areas: Key personnel of the school and education and curriculum experts discuss and finalize the design, development, and implementation of a customized curriculum. Schools invite industrial engineers and partners to schools and work together with teachers. The government provides financial support and sends a STEM educator to the school to give on-site support, including conducting professional development workshops for teachers. Enabling a Creative Learning Environment in Finland A group of educators who wanted to change the traditional way of teaching started STEAM education in Yli-Ii school in Oulu, Finland. This initiative began as the new national core curriculum for basic education was taken into use in secondary schools from 2017 to 2019. The new curriculum sought to reinforce student activity, increase the sense of meaning in studying, and enable experiences of success through the development of creative learning environments and new ways of working. Yli-Ii school’s STEAM learning requires combining more than one subject together with 21st-century skills. It is being implemented through a learning environment called Värkkäämö that promotes student-centered learning. Activities are designed to support students’ competence, autonomy, and involvement, and highlight cooperation between students and teachers. Students take an active role in designing their studies and the school’s STEAM working space. They can choose their working methods, platforms, and technology as they hone their skills and know-how.  Teachers, meanwhile, collaborate in teaching cross-curricular subjects and open their classroom doors to teachers and students to seek the best solutions. As students are encouraged to set learning goals themselves and learn collaboration and communication skills, they become motivated, develop self-directness, and think like mathematicians and scientists. Recommendations The strong demand for STEM skills to meet economic and environmental challenges require education reforms. To foster 21st-century skills, education needs to be designed to present the content in real-life context and make students experience inquiry and collaboration in schools. The following measures need to be considered when implementing STEM education: Promote a common understanding of STEM education. There should be a common understanding of what STEM education means among all stakeholders, including the Ministry of Education, teachers, parents, and students, and non-formal education sectors. Renew the curriculum. Teaching and learning materials need to be updated by converting content-based curriculum into competency-based curriculum that focuses on students’ future competencies, such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration. Education must be highly relevant to real-life needs and encourage collaboration between students. Provide teacher pre-service and in-service education. Teachers must have multidisciplinary knowledge in various subjects and learn to work with other

Overview The tea industry has played a crucial role in the economic development of Sri Lanka, which is a major producer and exporter of tea in the world. While its relative importance has waned over the years due to lack of dynamism and rapid growth of the nonagricultural sector, tea remains a vital industry in terms of its contribution to national output, employment, and net foreign exchange earnings. However, for the industry to continuously contribute to economic growth, it needs to sustain a healthy production level while maintaining its quality and uniqueness. This is a summary of the publication Sri Lanka Tea Industry in Transition:150 Years and Beyond—a collection of researches from the Institute of Policy Studies of Sri Lanka that discuss how the industry can be made sustainable amid domestic and global challenges. Role of Tea in the Economy The tea industry provides employment directly and indirectly to a million people, supporting livelihoods of poor communities in estates and remote rural areas of the country. At the farm level, tea is a cash crop that generates income for both the farmers and workers, paying for food, schooling, and health care. The industry also generates a significant amount of valuable foreign exchange. Tea was the highest foreign exchange earner until about the 1980s when it was overtaken by foreign employment, garments, and tourism. In 2016, 12.3% of total export earnings were from black tea. Ceylon Tea, grown in the highlands of Sri Lanka—which was formerly known as Ceylon, fetches a premium in the global market. Sri Lanka is the fourth largest tea producer in the world and contributed to 6.5% of global production after the People’s Republic of China (40.5%), India (23.3%), and Kenya (8.6%). Challenges Faced by the Industry The global tea industry is increasingly under threat on many fronts. A range of complex domestic and global issues have affected the quality and quantity of tea produced and exported while increasing international competition has had a significant impact on price and profitability. One of the key issues confronting the tea industry is the decline in productivity, notably in tea plantations of such major producers as Kenya, India, and Indonesia. The causal factors for the low productivity and production include inadequate replanting, inconsistent fertilizer applications, aging and debilitating tea bushes, soil erosion, high wages, lack of worker and staff training, shortage of labor, poor living and working environment, high cost of production, and low profitability. More tea workers are finding alternative work while the young generation aspire for upward social mobility. Tea production is also influenced by the agricultural condition of estates, the topography of the tea lands, and other environmental and climatic conditions. In recent times, climatic changes that are taking place in different parts of the world, including tea-growing areas, have changed the quality of the tea that is being produced. Changing buyer interests, increasing health and environmental concerns, and stringent regulations have increased the number and nature of standards governing the industry. Future Growth Factors Conserving natural resources and developing human capital The tea industry in Sri Lanka uses more land and labor but less capital. While the industry deploys the land for its growth, it also gradually degrades the land with pollutants associated with fertilizer, engendering soil erosion. Thus, the long-term sustainability of the industry depends on how well the land is conserved. Moreover, in a growing economy, it is difficult to retain manual labor as new generations acquire higher-level knowledge and skills, and do not wish to be engaged in manual work. Aside from mechanization, one solution is providing a pathway for the younger generation to acquire high-quality human capital, which could then be their ticket to fields or production areas where such human capital is needed. Sri Lanka plantations are also experimenting with out-grower systems, where workers receive plots of land from plantations to independently cultivate and supply green leaf to factories.  This could solve various moral hazard problems associated with hired labor. Development of physical infrastructure Transport and communication networks, the most important physical infrastructures, have improved significantly over the last 2 decades because of government efforts to develop the road network. However, transport infrastructure within and between the tea-producing areas and the marketing centers still require vast improvements. Maintaining sound macroeconomic policy Macroeconomic policy is the combination of fiscal and monetary policies run by independent government institutions. A sound macroeconomic policy produces macroeconomic stability characterized by low and stable inflation, stable exchange rates, and sufficient public financing for national development. Stability is essential for the development of any sector in the economy, not just the tea sector. Adopting appropriate trade policies Trade policy determines the degree to which a country is open for trade in goods and services. Open trade policies permit the import of goods to a country that substitutes or complements local goods, benefitting consumers, some producers, and exporters. The importation of tea into Sri Lanka does not substitute for the local tea and would not benefit local consumers since almost all Sri Lankans prefer Sri Lankan tea. It would complement exporters of blended tea since imported tea is much cheaper than Sri Lankan tea. Exporters would have the option to blend imported tea varieties with varying shares of local tea and use the phrase “packeted in Sri Lanka,” as a sign of high quality already established by the Pure Ceylon Tea brand. Thus, the Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) will need to exercise some standards to maintain the quality and unique taste of tea blended in the country. Ensuring quality and enhancing competitiveness Quality and competitiveness are essential to a healthy industry. Maintaining the quality of tea is a “public service,” which is nonexclusive, requiring funding by the government or a common source. There is a need for an effective administration infrastructure to maintain quality. Otherwise, the quality of Sri Lankan tea will suffer to the detriment of the industry. Likewise, competitiveness of Sri Lankan tea increases with the quality of the product and profitability of suppliers. The higher unit price

Introduction Asia and the Pacific is home to almost 60% of young people in the world. The opportunities to maximize their potential for innovation and sustainable development is vast. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) Strategy 2030 suggests that demographic dividends are often correlated with strong economic development and social progress, but this is contingent on the ability of countries to offer quality jobs and maximize workers’ productivity. In fact, the youth of the region face significant barriers to social and economic inclusion, especially in terms of education and employment. COVID-19 risks entrenching these inequalities.  Young people are suffering from job losses, reduced working hours, disrupted education and training, and difficulties in transitioning from school to work.  A 2020 quantitative assessment conducted by the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the ADB showed that 15- to 24-year-old workers in the region face worse short- and long-term consequences than older workers because of the effects of the pandemic. Evidence from previous socioeconomic shocks also indicates disproportionate negative impacts on youth labor market prospects. There is a growing body of knowledge that shows meaningfully engaging youth in programs and policies leads to more relevant and effective solutions. ADB’s Youth for Asia (YfA) initiative convened two regional intergenerational consultations in order to learn more about how young people are navigating education and employment during the COVID-19 pandemic and their priorities for response and recovery. This article shares the findings of the consultations and provides recommendations for increasing youth-adult collaboration. Analysis Figure 1: Plausible Futures for Youth Pandemic Recovery Among major funders of youth employment globally, there has recently been a growing commitment to understanding more about why and how the engagement of youth in measures intended to support them improves outcomes. For example, earlier this year, the Youth Employment Funders Group published: “Youth Voices in Youth Employment: A Roadmap for Promoting Meaningful Youth Engagement in Youth Employment Programs”. This guide sets out the case for inclusive and participatory design and implementation processes for and with youth and presents a five-part framework for development partners to improve their youth engagement practices. It provides a useful basis for coordinated action and ongoing research. Safe spaces for intergenerational dialogue are an important feature in ensuring youth voices are heard in the regional policy discourse on youth employment. Analyzing and sharing the findings from two consultations convened by ADB YfA adds nuance and depth to what we learn through quantitative research. The first consultation was held at Asia Pacific Youth Symposium (APYS) in August 2020. The second one is part of the Southeast Asia Development Symposium (SEADS) last March 2021. This article is released on the second APYS in celebration of International Youth Day 2021. Three priorities are identified to support the economic recovery of young people in the region. Furthermore, participants highlighted different enablers and barriers to consider when leveraging these opportunities. Ensuring inclusive quality education, training, and jobs Nearly all APYS (14 out of 16) and SEADS (4 out of 5) groups highlighted the importance of ensuring that labor market opportunities remain inclusive to all youth regardless of gender, socio-economic status, disabilities, among other factors. Jobs and livelihood opportunities must provide decent wages, align with their passions, and be accessible to all. Collaboration between private and public institutions was highlighted to help connect the youth with emerging productive opportunities during and after the pandemic. This will entail breaking down barriers such as high upfront costs in education and training and the lack of role models for the youth. Leveraging the potential of digital and green transformations to create new job opportunities Increased digitalization and the transition to green economies can generate new lines of work that benefit young people, who are digital natives. While these sectors offer great potential for youth employment, high-entry costs to access such occupations, in particular skills needs, were cited as a significant barrier alongside a concern for the “digital divide” among vulnerable youth. Reimagining intergenerational partnership Participants reflected on the importance of collaboration between young people and adults to drive positive learning and employment outcomes, especially in this pandemic. Consultation and participation processes need to be strengthened to create more opportunities to engage youth in policymaking and programming, for example through governance or leadership roles in jobs and livelihood projects or policy-making forums. Efforts to reduce prejudices or biases from both youth and adults’ sides will be required. Young people must be seen as contributors, not just beneficiaries. Figure 2: Positive Vision to Positive Action Recommendations Increasing young people’s economic empowerment requires the active commitment of stakeholders. The government is central to creating an enabling environment that promotes opportunities and inclusive growth. The private sector—including micro, small, and medium enterprises—is the engine of quality job creation. Investments and support by businesses in youth recruitment, training, and lifelong learning will expand prospects for the youth affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Civil society also plays a critical role particularly in reaching marginalized youth and addressing data gaps. To increase the meaningful engagement of youth in programs and policies, practical steps that stakeholders can take include the following: Active involvement of youth throughout a program’s lifecycle strengthens the relevance and sustainability of youth employment interventions. A positive intergenerational relationship will help maximize each generation’s contributions to attain better development outcomes for all. Resources Asian Development Bank (ADB). 2018. Strategy 2030: Achieving a Prosperous, Inclusive, Resilient and Sustainable Asia and the Pacific. Manila. ADB and International Labour Organization (ILO). 2020. Tackling the COVID-19 Youth Employment Crisis in Asia and the Pacific. Bangkok: ILO and Manila: ADB. H. Osborne, P. Vandenberg, and C. Morris. 2020. Putting Youth Employment at the Center of Asia’s Pandemic Recovery. Development Asia. 20 November. ILO. 2020. Youth & COVID-19: Impacts on Jobs, Education, Rights and Mental Well-being. Geneva. ILO. 2021. ILO Monitor: COVID-19 and the World of Work. Seventh Edition: Updated Estimates and Analysis. Geneva. ILO. 2021. Statistical Brief: An Update on the Youth Labour Market Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis. Geneva.

Overview A rapidly growing population, improving standards of living, and increasing consumption levels have contributed to a steep rise in Seoul’s waste generation. When the existing landfill space neared its capacity limit, it was urgent for Seoul—Republic of Korea’s capital and its largest city—to find a solution for its mounting waste problem. Seoul implemented a clean incineration measure by setting up resource recovery facilities. The facilities do not only burn solid waste but also generate renewable energy for the city. This case study was adapted from Turning Waste into Energy: Resource Recovery Facility, part of a series of briefs on Waste Management published by the Seoul Urban Solutions Agency. Challenges Limited landfill space became a challenge to Seoul’s waste management. The growing population coupled with the people’s higher standard of living and consumption level translated into a steep rise in the city’s waste generation. Context As early as the 1980s, Seoul saw an urgent need to manage the city’s wastes as its existing landfill space neared its capacity limit. The goal was to develop a clean, sustainable alternative to burying its waste. It wanted to reduce the amount of waste going to a landfill, and to find innovative ways to put its waste to good use. Solutions Seoul’s choice was clean incineration which not only burns solid waste but also generates renewable energy in the process. Starting with the Yangcheon Resource Recovery Facility in 1996, four such facilities were built over a decade. The four resource recovery facilities are now capable of dealing with 2,850 metric tons of solid waste every day, with each resource recovery accepting non-recyclable solid waste from a number of adjacent districts. As the name highlights, resource recovery facilities are more than simple trash burners. The idea is to recover valuable energy resources from waste. State-of-the-art incinerators burn solid waste at 850-950℃ and produce heat energy that is used to provide heating for the surrounding area and to generate clean electricity. Even bottom ash, the non-combustible residue from incineration, also finds its use as a recycled construction material. Numbers and facts Results Less waste for landfill Since 1996, the amount of waste from Seoul going to landfill has fallen by almost 90%. Over the same period, clean incineration has increased by three to four times, replacing 30% of waste that would have ended up in the landfill. Energy from waste The four facilities across Seoul generate enough energy to provide heating for 518,000 households. This renewed supply of heating energy reduces over 60,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions every year by replacing liquefied natural gas. Steam from incineration is also used to generate clean electricity which is fed back into the national power grid. Two facilities have gone further with on-site solar panels for power generation. Clean waste management Over 50% of construction costs for resource recovery facilities were dedicated to installing cutting-edge equipment for filtering and removing pollutants. Regular inspection of flue gas shows all four facilities emitting only a small fraction of legal standards for pollutant emission. Lessons It was important to build public consensus and overcome the “not in my backyard” mentality of residents who did not want to have one of the recovery facilities built in their areas. Public consultations Seoul held more than 600 resident consultations over a decade to garner public support for resource recovery facilities against widely-held fears about the negative impact of incineration. For each facility, residents in the area are invited to form a citizen’s council to monitor the facility’s operation and discuss the terms of community incentives. Community incentives In return for hosting resource recovery facilities in their neighborhood, residents living within 300 meters from the facilities receive various benefits such as a discount on their electricity bill, housing maintenance subsidy, medical support, and the use of public space on facility sites for public education and entertainment programs. Full disclosure of operations From waste intake to emission rates, every aspect of facility operation is meticulously monitored around the clock. Real-time emission data from the facilities are made public through display boards on the site and websites. Display boards show operational information such as emissions at the Resource Recovery Centers, keeping residents informed and the city government accountable. Photo credit: Seoul Urban Solutions Agency Resources Seoul Urban Solutions Agency. Turning Waste into Energy: Resource Recovery Facility. Seoul. Urban SDG Knowledge Platform. Waste Heat Recovery Project.

Introduction Community participation by local groups can play a significant role in processes that support sustainability. It can fill the gaps in human and financial resources that hamper government’s capacity to deliver public services. Through volunteerism and by building social cohesion, local groups can help authorities identify activities that can improve the welfare of the community. When a tsunami struck Maldives on 26 December 2004, partnerships with community groups made the country’s road to recovery smoother.  In particular, the Women’s Development Committees helped affected communities develop livelihood opportunities and raise awareness on climate change adaptation and disaster management. These committees were created to eliminate gender disparities and improve the health, education, and economic wellbeing of women as well as increase their political participation. Analysis Maldives is an archipelago of over 1,190 small coral islands. Some 80% of the land is less than 1 meter above sea level. The highest point is only 2.8 meters, which is the lowest highest point in the world. As a result, many of the inhabited islands are ecologically at risk of climate and disaster-induced changes. The 2004 tsunami directly affected about one third of the population. All except nine islands were flooded, and the communities in 13 islands were completely evacuated. The losses were estimated at $470.1 million or 62% of the gross domestic product, excluding environmental damages. There was pressure for the government to provide humanitarian services quickly. However, logistical challenges—inadequate human resources and transport issues as the islands are widely dispersed—and the emphasis of international aid organizations on a participatory approach led to a system with close working relationships with civil society groups in the islands. For example, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) worked closely with the Women’s Development Committees and other community groups to reach out to affected families. This includes finding shelter and developing livelihood opportunities. In the initial process for identifying individuals with lost assets, those who worked in the informal sector were not included and most of them are women. In Maldives, women with small businesses often had no official business registration documents. They had no way to prove that they had lost their livelihood. The Ministry of Gender and Family requested the assistance of Women’s Development Committees to conduct a participatory verification process. Maldives aimed to build back better after the tsunami. This involved restoring and improving damaged facilities and raising the people’s climate and disaster awareness and capacities.  UNDP initiated programs to help communities develop livelihood activities. Women were particularly targeted among the internally displaced populations, and the livelihood activities were those that also promoted adaptation to climate change. On Alifushi island, the Women’s Development Committees promoted sustainable farming. A supply sales center was established to make it easier and less expensive for farmers to buy materials instead of traveling all the way to the capital, Malé. Farmers were also guided on pest control measures and sustainable farming practices. They learned the best ways of using fertilizers and how to avoid further polluting the groundwater that was already affected by increased saltwater intrusion because of the tsunami. On Ukulhas island, the Women’s Development Committees initiated and developed hydroponics farming as an alternative source of income for the fisher families. Implications Resources Asian Development Bank ADB. 2014.  Maldives: Gender Equality Diagnostic of Selected Sectors. Manila. A. Kute and S. Ronchini. 2005. Rapid Assessment Report of the Impact of the Tsunami in the Maldives. World Food Programme. E. Scheper et al. 2006. Impact of the Tsunami Response on Local and National Capacities. Tsunami Evaluation Coalition. M.T. Hamid et al. 2015. Assessment of Women’s Development Committees in the Maldives. Transparency Maldives. UNEP. 2012. Global Environment Outlook GEO 5: Environment for the Future We Want.

Overview Relevant and practical integrated waste management approaches are crucial for countering public health impacts of uncollected waste and environmental impacts of open dumping and burning. Medium to large cities in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) considers this as a pressing need to help them attain environmental sustainability and improve the quality of life of their citizens. Turning municipal solid waste into energy through the waste-to-energy process is one of the popular strategies of solving the rise of generated waste. It involves incinerating waste to produce energy in the form of electricity or heat. Unfortunately, lack of access to finance and a gap in technological knowledge made it difficult for cities to adopt this strategy. Project Information 43901-014 : Municipal Waste to Energy Project in PRC Project Snapshot Dates Cost Institutions / Stakeholders Context The People’s Republic of China is the world’s largest producer of municipal solid waste, generating about 215 million tons in 2017. This is expected to increase to 500 million tons per year by 2025 as urban population continues to rise. The ineffective disposal of solid waste poses serious environmental and social challenges in the cities. It contaminates soil and groundwater when dumped in un-engineered landfills. Meanwhile, a number of emission control and leachate treatment facilities in engineered landfills also lack adequate clean technologies and operational know-how. These expose many urban poor, especially those living near landfills, to severe air and water pollution and the threat of infectious diseases.   Incineration is recognized as an effective method for waste treatment since it reduces waste volume by 90% and eliminates methane emissions. Waste-to-energy technologies recover energy from the incineration process to produce electricity and heat. By replacing fossil fuel combustion and avoiding methane, these technologies help avoid greenhouse gas emissions and mitigates climate change. Development Challenges The government of the People’s Republic of China enacted laws and regulations between 2004 to 2007 to promote waste management and control environmental pollution and city-level public-private partnership (PPP) based on concession agreement. Despite the recent policy shift in favor of waste-to-energy and the increased interest of municipal governments in clean technologies, market barriers still limit the expansion of waste-to-energy projects with clean technologies in the country. One of the key bottlenecks is the lack of access to finance due to the following:  Solution To reduce the environmental impact of unhygienic waste disposal, ADB in 2009 approved a $100 million long term loan to support, through PPP, the construction and operation of waste-to-energy projects in the People’s Republic of China. The project aimed to:  China Everbright International Limited served as the project sponsor while China Everbright Environmental Energy Limited (CEEEL)—in charge of building, operating, and maintaining waste-to-energy plants based on the concession agreements with the municipal governments —was the borrower.  The project featured an efficient private sector participation model in waste-to-energy projects through PPP for multiple projects in medium-sized municipalities. Located in different cities, these multiple waste-to-energy projects are often too small for banks to finance on a standalone basis. ADB structured a facility to support portfolio subprojects efficiently using a portfolio approach. Under this approach, the ADB loan was provided to a holding company and channeled to the waste-to-energy project companies. This model encouraged the private sector to invest in waste-to-energy projects with clean technologies. It mobilized available domestic funds, creating better awareness among commercial banks and willingness to finance more waste-to-energy efforts. A $653,000 technical assistance grant funded by the Clean Energy Fund was also used to support the reporting and environmental management of the waste-to-energy facilities. Results The project benefited approximately 18 million city dwellers, 12.5% more than the target. It helped create better living standards in the cities of Jinan, Suzhou, Zhenjiang, Pizhou, and Sanya. By reducing the amount of untreated waste delivered to landfills, the waste-to-energy plants reduced pollutants and improved air quality in the said cities. Likewise, the project diversified energy sources and reduced greenhouse gas emissions in the People’s Republic of China. In 2014, the project generated 956 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of green electricity and reduced 1.2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions by eliminating methane and replacing fossil fuels. Since 2011, the project has generated 3,642 GWh of electricity and reduced 4.7 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Waste-to-energy plants received local awards and served as demonstration models for efficient municipal solid waste management. For example, the Jinan plant received the Luban Award–the nation’s highest honor for project quality in 2012–2013, while the Zhenjiang plant received the highest score in the Jiangsu Provincial Assessment. Moreover, the project has encouraged other cities in the People’s Republic of China to replicate the business model. As of 2014, several local governments such as Fujian, Qinghai, Anhui, Hunan, and Sichuan have been piloting or implementing PPP projects. China Everbright International Limited has set market standards and benchmarks and helped the government plan enabling laws at both the national and municipal levels. Lessons The project highlighted the importance of ensuring a robust project design, partnering with the right sponsor, providing technical assistance for capacity building to upgrade operations and skills, and facilitating the transfer of knowledge and technology. Choosing the right project sponsor is key to ensuring smooth and successful implementation. China Everbright International Limited is a leading environmental protection company in the People’s Republic of China focusing on waste-to-energy, wastewater management, and renewable energy businesses.  The technical assistance that was implemented together with the loan helped China Everbright International Limited upgrade its operations and management process, and establish new municipal solid waste management and waste-to-energy standards. Many subsequent private sector projects have replicated this dual-assistance arrangement and applied the knowledge and technology improvements learned from this project.  In 2012, ADB signed another loan with China Everbright International Limited to reduce the environmental impact of agricultural waste through municipal-level PPP projects in Viet Nam. In 2017, ADB approved a USD$100 million facility which will support the construction and operation of a series of waste-to-energy plants with advanced clean technologies, including flue gas emission control to meet European Union standards, in multiple municipalities in

Introduction Tajikistan produces more than 95% of its electricity with hydropower and has a large potential to expand production. However, the country lacks fossil fuel resources and is highly dependent on imported fuel. In the transport sector, these factors make shifting to electricity from fossil fuels very attractive.  A study from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) shows that electric vehicles are a financially viable and environmentally sustainable solution for Tajikistan. The total cost of ownership of electric vehicles is comparable or lower than for fossil fuel vehicles because of low electricity prices. Electric vehicles can also reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Tajikistan by nearly 100% since the country has a low carbon grid factor. The amount of carbon dioxide emitted per unit of electricity is only 0.03 kg CO2e per kilowatt hour.   While switching to electric vehicles is cost-effective for Tajikistan, this will require specific policies because of higher upfront costs, lack of infrastructure (i.e., power charging facilities), and limited information on electric vehicles.   The study suggests tapping climate finance to cover the high capital expenditure. It proposes initial implementation in Tajikistan’s capital city, Dushanbe, which can replace diesel-powered buses with electric buses (e-buses). The second phase can focus on deploying electric taxis. This article is based on ADB’s E-Mobility for Dushanbe report, which examines the environmental and energy impact of using electric vehicles in the city. Analysis ADB selected Dushanbe as one of the cities that can champion the adoption of electric vehicles. The city has about one million residents, who are served with a well-functioning public transport network. The number of cars relative to the number of city inhabitants is low.  The city’s transport-related GHG emissions reached 330,000 total carbon dioxide (tCO2) in 2018. Including indirect emissions, GHG emissions totaled 420,000 tCO2in 2018. This number is expected to double to 850,000 tCO2 by 2030.  The road transport sector of Dushanbe is responsible for around 3% of Tajikistan’s total GHG emissions. Passenger cars are the leading source of GHG emissions, followed by buses. Commercial vehicles (i.e., taxis, buses, trucks), although only representing 18% of all vehicles, are responsible for more than 50% of GHG emissions. Figure 1: Share of GHG Emissions Road Transport in Dushanbe, 2018 (WTW) Passenger cars in the city are gasoline-powered while buses are diesel-powered, both having high particles and oxides of nitrogen emission that can be avoided with electric vehicles. A bus however has the same GHG emission impact as 22 passenger cars. Using a taxi instead of a private car reduces emissions by four times. This is because of the higher annual mileage and higher fuel consumption of buses and taxis compared to cars.  Table 1: Motor Vehicles in Dushanbe, 2018 Vehicle Category Vehicles Gasoline Diesel Electric Annual Mileage Passenger cars 62,131 100% 0% 0% 12,000 km Taxis 2,148 100% 0% 0% 50,000 km Small urban buses 1,849 0% 100% 0% 65,000 km Large urban buses 505 0% 78% 22% 50,000 km Urban trucks 4,379 0% 100% 0% 30,000 km In Dushanbe, four state-owned enterprises operate about 650 buses, including 109 trolleybuses. Apart from the trolleybuses, all units are diesel-powered with new units complying with emission standard Euro V. Four hybrid-electric trolleybuses were tested for 6 months and yielded positive results. The city intends to purchase more hybrids and expand its trolleybus network. Commercial potential of electric vehicles Electric vehicles have a higher investment cost and might require replacement of costly batteries during a vehicle’s lifespan. However, battery costs are decreasing by less than 10% per annum while battery quality is improving in terms of degradation rates and power storage. These factors reduce the difference in capital expenditure between electric vehicles and fossil fuel vehicles. In terms of operational costs, electric vehicles have lower energy costs because of energy efficiency and lower maintenance costs. They also have a longer lifespan with less vibration and moving parts. However, the actual cost will depend on the vehicle category and the number of electric vehicles operated. Small numbers of vehicles result in higher maintenance and vehicle standstill costs incurred from long waiting times for spare parts, lack of qualified mechanics, and the lack of a secondary spare parts market. The total cost of ownership comparison below for different types of commercial vehicles includes only the capital expenditure (including battery replacement based on same-standard lifetime or mileage per vehicle) and energy costs. Figure 2: Total Cost of Ownership per Vehicle km (CAPEX plus Energy) for Dushanbe CAPEX = capital expenditure Source: Grütter Consulting. A comparison of total cost of ownership of e-buses against diesel Euro V buses as recently purchased by the city shows that hybrid trolleybuses and battery e-buses with fast-charging technology have lower total costs than diesel units (slow-charging battery e-buses have slightly higher costs). Hybrid trolleybuses are a suitable option for some routes and battery e-buses for other routes.  Co2 Reduction by Electric Buses in Dushanbe EVs can reduce GHG emissions compared to conventional vehicles by nearly 100% due to the very low carbon grid factor of Tajikistan. They are an effective measure to reduce GHG emissions of the transport sector, whilst also reducing air pollution and noise and the dependency on fossil fuel imports. The following figure shows the GHG potential of electric buses and taxis with the carbon grid factor of Tajikistan. Figure 3: GHG Impact Standard Urban Bus in Dushanbe (gCO2e/km WTW) Source: Grutter Consulting Assuming that electric vehicles in all vehicle categories, including passenger cars, make up 30% of newly purchased vehicles by 2030, GHG emissions could be reduced by up to around 210,000 tCO2e, 25% less than the transport emission projection for Dushanbe in the business-as-usual scenario. Table 2: Modelling Targets for the Share of Electric Vehicles in New Vehicle Purchases in Dushanbe Vehicle Category 2020 2025 2030 Passenger cars 1% 10% 30% Taxis 1% 10% 30% Buses 10% 100% 100% Urban trucks 1% 10% 30% Source: Grutter Consulting. Figure 4: GHG Emissions Transport Sector Dushanbe under a Business as Usual and with EV Scenario Source: Grutter Consulting With the slow

Introduction The spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) since the beginning of 2020 has been dramatic in terms of its speed, scale, and economic and social impact. The highly interconnected nature of 21st century globalization allowed the virus to reach nearly all the corners of the globe within a few months. Transport has played a central role in the spread of the virus. It has also played a critical role in enabling frontline and essential workers to get to work and in delivering essential goods, such as medicines, during the pandemic, and will continue to play an enabling role to support the different needs of the population throughout the different stages of recovery. This article is adapted from the Guidance Note on COVID-19 and Transport in Asia and the Pacific published by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The paper looks at how the pandemic is affecting travel demand and mobility patterns in the region and the role of transport in exit strategies from COVID-19 restrictions. It provides guiding principles and good practices in transport operations to support economic recovery, including detailed bounce-back measures for each subsector. It also looks at the future of transport after COVID-19. Changes in Social and Travel Behavior Mobility restrictions in response to COVID-19 have resulted in drastic changes in travel behavior (see Figure 1). Swift lockdowns across the globe have forced all nonessential workers to work from home almost overnight, and schools to shift to e-learning. With the closure of brick-and-mortar shops and restaurants during the containment period, consumers have flocked to online shopping and food delivery. The sharp reductions in economic activity have also curbed regional and national freight transport activity. Urban freight and logistics, on the other hand, have prospered in many places because of the increased online shopping and food deliveries. Figure 1: Impact of COVID-19 on Transport in Asia and the Pacific The overall picture that emerges is one of a sharp decline in transport activity after lockdowns or other forms of restrictions were imposed in the second half of the first quarter of the year. But there is a silver lining to the reduction in travel—air pollution levels and road accidents have gone down. Transport activity bottomed between mid-April and mid-May, after which a gradual return to pre-COVID-19 levels can be observed following a relaxation of restrictions, either because the virus has been brought under control, or because governments argued that they had no choice but to reopen the economy even though the virus had not been brought fully under control. Concerns over close physical contact have also affected perceptions of quality and attractiveness of different travel modes. While public transit may have been perceived previously as a mostly efficient and affordable mode of travel, initial trends in cities that have reopened have indicated that public transit is still considered to be unsafe compared with using private vehicles, cycling, and walking. It is quite likely that a new norm will emerge with increased uptake of these private modes of transport compared with pre-pandemic times. If so, the new behaviors could change trip patterns across the different travel purposes. With a return to pre-pandemic transport activity levels, reductions in air pollution, carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, and road accidents might well be a temporary phenomenon. Three-Stage Strategy and Framework Some governments have launched financial stimulus measures in response to the pandemic. The transport sector is benefitting from these through financial support to the airline industry, the automotive sector, and public transit companies. Within the global transport community, a range of good practices is being developed that policy makers, regulators, and especially transport operators in Asia can take to enhance the health resilience of transport systems and reduce the likelihood of infections of the users as lockdowns are eased. ADB has developed a bounce-back strategy and framework for each transport subsector to assist countries exiting lockdowns (see Figure 2). The strategy covers three phases—the response phase in the immediate term (up to 3 months), the recovery phase in the medium term (up to 1 year), and rejuvenation in the longer term (after 1 year). In the case of repeated waves of transmissions, countries may fall back to earlier phases midway through the recovery, and the successive phases in the three-stage process are repeated. This is a stylized strategy and it is important to be aware that the actual response will vary between countries and cities, and between different transport subsectors within countries and cities. In the response phase, travel is still expected to be limited, with the focus mainly on allowing essential workers to travel and for the shipment of goods. Measures include protecting transport staff and passengers, and frequent cleaning and sanitization. Complementing these measures, a robust system of contact tracing and health monitoring should be put in place. In the recovery phase, travel restrictions are relaxed. Measures to streamline cargo movement include the establishment of dedicated lanes for freight vehicles and coordinated travel documentation requirements across borders to remove duplicative processes. For passenger movement, systems gradually open up with enhanced sanitation, face mask protection, thermal scanning, and tracing measures. Many urban transport systems are relaxing social distancing measures to ensure sufficient capacity. In the rejuvenation phase, further preventive and precautionary operating measures are introduced, together with advanced technology to enable contactless processes and facilitate an agile response. As a complementary measure, capacity for walking and cycling could be scaled up to accommodate people who would normally have taken public transport. To cope with lower and uncertain travel demand on public transit, aviation, and certain strategic freight routes, it is critical to assess if restructuring or subsidies for concessions or service agreements is required to ensure essential transport links are kept open, and core transport and freight operators remain financially viable. Figure 2: Bounce-Back Strategy to Exit a Lockdown Regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic, developing Asia and the Pacific will continue to have a substantial need for additional transport infrastructure and services. There will be a continued demand for multilateral development banks, such as ADB, to play

The global learning crisis is actually a teaching crisis. The quality of teachers has the greatest impact on improving student learning outcomes. Most developing countries in Asia and the Pacific face major challenges in recruiting the best candidates for a long-term teaching career. New models of teacher education are needed in developing countries to enhance their competencies. For instance, if the learning level is poor, greater control of how teaching practices are applied is important, while greater teacher autonomy is needed where the quality of learning is already improving. Another related challenge in many teacher education programs is how to update and innovate practices to sustain higher level of learning to motivate teachers and students. Transformational teacher education reform requires collaborative efforts, resources, and expertise of governments and universities. This is particularly important at a time when the focus is shifting from face to face mass education to personalized blended learning with the goal of developing self-directed lifelong learners. The role of teachers is changing. They serve as facilitators for learners who are lagging behind as well as for highly motivated, well performing students. In this environment, teachers are not the only source of knowledge; rather, teachers should be able to say, ‘I don’t know’ to certain questions, and work with the students to find answers. It is crucial for developing countries to ensure rigorous university-based teacher development programs by drawing on best practices from successful countries. To realize this goal, it is important for governments to prepare a pool of students who have a solid secondary education followed by good performance in college and an interest in teaching. Policy-makers also need to focus their attention on hiring and training teachers from under-represented groups, such as ethnic minorities. Teacher education should be developed as a whole, and not based on short-term project needs. Teachers should be able to gain higher academic degrees through well-developed university programs. Policies and incentives supporting career paths and teacher professional development programs should be articulated in a framework which defines the regulations, structure, and resources required to be a successful teacher. It is crucial for developing countries to ensure rigorous university-based teacher development programs by drawing on best practices from successful countries. More emphasis should also be placed on screening, training and mentoring the most promising teachers to become teacher trainers, educators, and supervisors. They should have a very wide teaching experience, deep subject knowledge, and demonstrated mastery and understanding of effective pedagogical practices. Governments need to ensure that the best teachers are not only recruited and trained, but also deployed to the areas where they are most needed. Adequate compensation, bonus pay, good housing, and support in the form of professional development and career opportunities should be used to encourage trained teachers to accept positions in rural or disadvantaged areas. Selection of teachers through a transparent and rigorous process combined with local recruitment with good incentive packages can also ensure that quality teachers reach children in remote areas. Developing effective teachers during their careers is the key to driving learning outcomes. Teachers should be supported in a systematic way from all the levels of the education system, including school principals, supervisors, and managers at all levels of an education system. In-service teacher education should be updated regularly. It should develop skills, including preparing lesson plans and conducting continuous formative assessment to track and support lagging students. Teachers should be able to grow professionally to become better educators. New innovative approaches are needed. While blended learning approaches may help to scale up teacher development programs, the key will be to ensure that they incorporate knowledge about what works. It must allow teacher trainees to practice, receive feedback on their practice, and constantly engage into practice in order to gradually develop more effective pedagogy. There is a risk that the learning crisis induced by the pandemic will worsen due to protracted learning losses. Since teachers are the key players to address this issue, they will require different types of support, especially in pre-service and in-service teacher education. Fully supporting teachers now will pay off generously over the long term.

The local governments and relevant stakeholders of Urban-LEDS II cities from Indonesia and Lao PDR shared their key learnings throughout the four-year implementation of the Urban Low Emissions Development Strategies (Urban-LEDS II) project during a regional networking seminar held virtually last 28 July 2021. The Urban-LEDS II Southeast Asia Regional Exchange Session involved the Indonesia governments of Balikpapan, Bogor, Tarakan, Tangerang Selatan, and Bogor Regency; the Lao PDR governments of Pakse, Kaysone Phomvihane, Bachieng Chaleunsouk, and Outhoumphone; and national government agencies, non-government/civil society organizations, associations, academic institutions, and consultants from the two countries. Organized by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability Southeast Asia Secretariat (ICLEI SEAS) the event served as a platform for the above model and satellite cities to discuss their low emission development and climate resilience experiences before the Urban-LEDS II project officially ends this December 2021. The Urban-LEDS project started in April 2017 through the funding of the European Union and through the joint implementation by UN-Habitat and ICLEI. “This peer-to-peer exchange is one of the flagship mechanisms of the Urban-LEDS project in its drive to accelerate local low emission development,” said  Mr. Victorino Aquitania, Regional Director of ICLEI SEAS. “Though this project will soon come to a close, we are hopeful that the project cities will continue sustaining their outputs and outcomes for truly long-term impact,” Mr. Aquitania added. LOCALIZING LOW EMISSION DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES The Indonesian model city of Balikpapan shared lessons on how the city reviewed the climate action plan (CAP) phase I including some remarkable achievements and significant challenges followed by the formulation of the CAP for Phase II. “We ensure that the project outputs, such as GHG inventory report, CRVA report, and Urban-LEDS II CAP, are used as references in the planning processes of Strategic Environment Assessment of Balikpapan Development Planning Agency period 2020-2024, as well as renewal of Balikpapan’s commitment on GHG emission reduction,” said Mrs. Nursyamsiarni D. Larose, Head of Pollution Control and Environmental Damage of the Balikpapan Environment Agency. Mr. Bounthee Saythongvanh, Deputy Head of Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Mitigation Division, Department of Climate Change, Laos Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (DCC-MoNRE), also explained the development of Community-level Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories of the country’s model cities. Mr. Saythongvanh  said “GHG inventories for the two model cities are initiatives, taking into account that the use of inventory tools such as GPC, CIRIS tools are new project learning experience. Data availability and capacity of the relevant sectors are still limited. Therefore, both technical support and financial sources need to be strengthened for capacity and data development in order to enable cities to continue to carry out their own GHG inventory.” Additionally, Mrs. Nouansy Thiphaxay, Head of Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Mitigation Division, Department of Climate Change, Laos Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, emphasized that more resources are needed to implement low emission development pathways. She strongly suggested that strengthening institutional capacity is a vital component in terms of means of implementation. All relevant stakeholders should also work together in breaking barriers in order to accelerate climate actions. REFLECTIONS FROM PARTNERS Dr. Avi Sarkar, UN-Habitat Southeast Asia Regional Advisor, highlighted the global impact of the Urban-LEDS project, saying “Cities have expressed their strong buy-in to continue the outcomes of Urban-LEDS II, where it shall be well maintained in the context of upscaling, replication, co-benefit & long-term impacts along with its sustainability by all relevant stakeholders both at the national and local level.” In his closing remarks, Mr. Ari Mochamad, Country Manager of ICLEI Indonesia, highlighted some reflections as one of the project implementers on the ground. He emphasized the need to engage and involve local parliaments, adding that enhancing the capacity of local parliaments will speed up the approval of the policy and local budgets. Further, understanding among the different levels of governments is crucial in enhancing the municipal framework. “We hope that activities and programs delivered through the Urban-LEDS project will be carried out optimally as cities continue to pursue low emission development and climate resilience.” concluded Mr. Mochamad. FOUR YEARS INTO THE URBAN-LEDS II JOURNEY Mr. Bounthee Saythongvanh of DCC-MoNRE Lao PDR (upper left) and Mrs. Nursyamsiarni D. Larose of Balikpapan Environmental Agency (bottom) served as panelists during the roundtable discussion of learnings, achievements, and opportunities of the Urban-LEDS II project during the Regional Exchange Session. While the pandemic has gained the world’s attention, Urban-LEDS cities continue their work in fulfilling their commitments in addressing the equally urgent global climate crisis. ICLEI and Urban-LEDS II cities in Indonesia and Laos shifted to alternative measures and made adjustments on how the project maintained its main activities, including technical assistance, capacity building, peer-to-peer exchange and learning, local-national dialogue, international promotion, synergies with other initiatives and projects, and access to finance for local project implementations.