Protecting ecosystems could unlock major gains in jobs, productivity, and fiscal resilience, according to a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report. Investing in nature is vital, the report notes, as 75% of the region's output comes from sectors that depend moderately or heavily on nature which is degrading at an alarming rate.

The Asia-Pacific Climate Report 2025: Unlocking Nature for Development calls on governments to make protecting nature a core part of how their economies operate. It urges countries to upgrade their “operating system”—the governance, policy, and data foundations that guide investment—to create the enabling conditions for private finance to flow into conservation, resilience, and innovation.

“Healthy ecosystems are not environmental extras in the region's growth story. They are productive assets at the core of Asia’s growth and resilience,” said ADB Chief Economist Albert Park. “Countries that invest in nature are investing in their own competitiveness and fiscal stability.”

Nature remains undervalued and underfinanced. Of more than $270 trillion in global financial assets, about $200 billion a year—under 1%—supports nature-positive investments. These include sustainable farming, such as growing diverse crops that improve soil and biodiversity, or using wetlands and mangroves, which not only manage floods but also improve water quality, store carbon, and support fisheries. Closing the biodiversity and climate financing gap in Asia and the Pacific will require over $1 trillion annually.

Public finance should focus on building the systems that attract private investment, says the report. By directing public resources toward governance, policy, and data reforms, governments can unlock large-scale private capital for nature-positive growth.

The report presents a 10-year road map to help economies bring nature into economic and financial systems, recognizing that each is starting from a different place. It calls for near-term actions including subsidy reform, natural-capital accounting, and planning at the right spatial scale, which can extend beyond national borders. Longer-term reforms focus on aligning governance, data, and finance to deliver both environmental and economic benefits.

Economies in Asia and the Pacific are already taking steps to value nature as productive capital and are well positioned to lead the world in upgrading their economic systems to sustain long-term prosperity. Development finance institutions like ADB can play a key role in unlocking nature’s potential for development by mobilizing finance, providing technical assistance and fostering regional cooperation.

ADB is a leading multilateral development bank supporting inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across Asia and the Pacific. Working with its members and partners to solve complex challenges together, ADB harnesses innovative financial tools and strategic partnerships to transform lives, build quality infrastructure, and safeguard our planet. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members—50 from the region.