Rapid economic growth in the past two decades has brought prosperity to millions of people across Asia and Pacific, but it has come at an enormous cost to the environment and climatic changes, according to ADB director-general (regional and sustainable development) Bindu Lohani.

Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of ADB's 39th annual meeting here on Saturday, Lohani said that ADB has been seeking ways to address this by promoting the development of clean energy resources and supporting measures for cost-effective renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

"ADB is going to fund $ one billion for energy efficiency projects by 2008. It remains committed to increase the access of clean, affordable energy to people throughout the region, particularly the poor," he said.

"Energy use in Asia and the Pacific is fueled by rapid growth and dominated by fossil fuels. In 2003, total primary energy supply (TPES) for Asia was 2,655 million tons of oil equivalents, representing 25 per cent of the world's total energy supply. Three decades ago, Asia's TPES was only 13.3 per cent of the world's total. This trend is neither economically nor environmentally sustainable," he pointed out.

He said that ADB's renewable and efficient energy policy, approved in 1995, emphasized the acceleration of the widespread application of renewable energy and efficiency in its developing member countries. "Japan is the most energy efficient country in the world," he said.

As part of its commitments in the area of clean energy, ADB has brought together funds from the Governments of Denmark, Canada, the Netherlands and Finland under renewable energy and energy efficiency and climate change," Lohani added.

Stating that he smog-filled air, fetid water and garbage that foul many of Asia's big cities and the rapid depletion of its natural resources in rural areas are inevitable, he pointed out that "ADB is working through its environment policy of 2002 to reshape views on environmental management."

The main objective is to promote direct environment interventions which also reduce poverty; build partnership for environmental improvement and preservation in cooperation with NGOs; maintain the global and regional life support functions of natural environment etc."

"Air pollution kills about half-a-million Asians each year. The region's forest cover is the world's lowest per capita, while wetlands and wildlife habitat are disappearing fast. The rural people are often forced to flee for the city as natural resources are depleted," he observed.