Asian Cities Urged to Allocate Money for the Poor and Environment
Due to an increase in population among Asian cities the Asian Development Bank (ADB) stated that Asian economies should allocate funds to develop structures aimed at the welfare of the poor as well as environmentally friendly growth.
According to the Bangkok Post, Asia has the highest population density in human history and will be home to most of the world’s megacities by 2025. This has created problems such as an increase in the number of urban poor.
Global slum dwellers in cities such as Bangkok are exposed to more pollution than is acceptable and are at a risk for inland and coastal flooding, according to the ADB.
The ADB ranked Bangkok as the world’s ninth most vulnerable to coastal flooding and 12th most vulnerable to inland flooding.
The ADB said the Sian region could triple its carbon emissions by 2025 in the absence of efficient policies. One recommendation for this is an increase in more efficient mass transportation for commuters.
The ADB recommends that Asian governments ensure transparency in their budgets and promote competition among cities regarding budget efficiency.
