From electricity to public transport and logistics, more inter-regional cooperation and investment is needed, as well as innovation.
A decade ago, Asia’s millennials were optimistic the region would set aside conflicts and become more united to meet global challenges such as climate change. Today’s Generation Z, who grew up amid rising geopolitical tensions and major economic disruptions, are no longer so hopeful.
Much like carbon emissions, companies will soon be expected to monitor their impact on biodiversity. Measures to promote and preserve biodiversity will need to go beyond greenwashing practices like pledges to plant trees.
As Asian economies face recession worries, many are putting climate action on the back burner – but climate resilience goes hand in hand with economic stability.
The latest Asia Business Council survey shows firms are worried about geopolitics. Energy is the top concern amid high prices and conflict.
Women are indispensable to Hong Kong’s future growth; closing the wage gap, while providing more support at home, can pave their re-entry to the workforce.
More companies are collaborating to explore how the technology can make operations more efficient, which could form the building blocks of the next-generation internet. Just as the internet allows information and innovations to be shared across borders, the world will benefit most from having an open metaverse.
Increasing supply chain resilience in Asia can help blunt the worst effects of climate change, improve biodiversity and closed loop thinking, and even help eradicate the scourge of modern slavery.
The metaverse is rich with opportunities for digital design and trade, while Asia already boasts high numbers of users and creators. As an innovation hub and key player in the Greater Bay Area, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China can lead the regional development of a tech-enabled creator economy.
With an abundance of capital and talent, Asia’s growing tech hubs are luring investors away from Silicon Valley. Start-ups seeking to solve global issues such as climate change, ageing-related illnesses and supply-chain bottlenecks will offer solid opportunities.
