TBILISI, Georgia, May 4. We must not be late in responding to climate change, ADB President, Masatsugu Asakawa said, during the opening ceremony of the ADB Board of Governors meeting held in Tbilisi on May 4, Trend reports.
"This threat cannot be ignored, and our response cannot be delayed. 2023 was the hottest year on record. We see its effects on people and risks to future development. Crops and food systems are increasingly vulnerable. Melting glaciers are causing tremendous devastation downstream. And workers, from the fields to factories, especially women, are suffering tremendously from heat stress. This is a grave threat along many dimensions — from food security; to infrastructure; to water resources; to health, employment, and equality. And so, the future depends on how we support people, sectors, and ecosystems affected by heat," he said.
The opening session of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Governors has kicked off in Tbilisi. The Opening Session marks the official start of the Annual Meeting. It is a high-profile event attended by the Guest of Honor from the host country.
The theme for the 57th Annual Meeting to be held from May 2 through May 5 is “Bridge to the Future.”
The Annual Meeting is an opportunity for ADB governors to consider development issues and challenges facing Asia and the Pacific. Several thousand participants, including finance ministers, central bank governors, senior government officials, members of the private sector, representatives of international organizations and civil society organizations, youth, academia, and the media, regularly join the meeting.