When the Asian Development Bank (ADB) last held its annual meeting in person in 2019, the pan-regional development bank covered a broad range of issues, from digitisation to intra-regional partnerships, with a view towards the climate crisis. Four years and a global pandemic later, the tone of discussion around the environment has become urgent.
While panels touched on financial inclusion and showcasing host country South Korea, the itinerary was dominated by the impact of climate change and how the region is at the bleeding edge of many of the greatest climate risks.