Climate action in the Asia-Pacific region faces significant challenges. Efforts to update Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) fall short of the ambitious targets needed to limit global warming to 1.5°C and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 (ESCAP et al., 2023). Slow emission-reduction policy roll outs and inaccurate emissions data hinder progress. Prioritizing energy supply is crucial in achieving netzero pathways and the region's significant untapped renewable energy potential could accelerate the energy transition. Addressing emissions in the transport sector, which produces 23 per cent of energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Lah, 2015), is crucial. However, climate action progress is seen in rising climate finance, with the region receiving US$183.7 billion from bilateral donors and multilateral development funds from 2016–2021 and $329 billion between 2016–2023 from foreign direct investors.

The profile for SDG 13 was developed by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) with inputs from United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Regional Collaboration Centre for Asia-Pacific of the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC/RCC Asia-Pacific) and Office of the UN High Commission for Human Rights (OHCHR).