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The Asia and the Pacific region is becoming the hub of global production. However, its rapid economic growth is placing more burden on the region's limited environmental pressure caused by rapid urbanization and changing consumption patters, along with insufficient environmental infrastructure and lagging development of wastewater treatment, solid waste management, and public transportation facilities.
The extent of further economic growth necessary to reduce the poverty that the region has to support is yet enormous. Thus, environmental |
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pressure arising from economic growth has to be reduced if economic growth is to be continued in the long run. Ensuring environmental sustainability is necessary condition for maintaining economic growth.
Conventional environmental management has primarily focused on improving environmental performance in the areas of pollution control and ecosystem management. However, in view of the limited environmental carrying capacity of the region and in the interest of present and future generations, there is a need to shift the development orientation from a "grow first clean up later" approach to one of Green Growth, as a way of introducing environmentally sustainable growth into the broader community.
"Green Growth" s an approach which harmonizes economic growth with environmental sustainability. In order to move towards this approach of Green Growth, it is essential to initiate a policy concept and system change towards :
 Presenting the environment as an opportunity for economic growth, investment, marketing, industry, employment and technological development
Creating a win-win synergy between the environment and the economy
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Introduction 
