In the context of Strategy 2020 and in the follow-up to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), ADB prepared the report Environment Operational Directions, 2013–2020. The report aims to provide a coherent overview of its environment operations and to articulate how it will step up efforts to help the region achieve a transition to environmentally sustainable growth or green growth. Building on ADB sector and thematic plans, this paper provides a brief review of recent ADB experience in environment operations, and identifies effective approaches for the development of “greener” country partnership strategies, investment projects, and associated knowledge and technical assistance activities. The paper is aligned with key elements of relevant ADB sector and thematic operational plans, particularly for sectors where environmental sustainability is a priority. These include the Sustainable Transport Initiative Operational Plan, the Urban Operational Plan, the Water Operational Plan, the Energy Policy, and the Sustainable Food Security Plan, as well as the Climate Change Strategic Priorities.

The annual Asian Development Outlook, generally launched in April, presents an analysis of developing Asia’s recent economic performance plus its prospects for the next 2 years. This Update shows whether these forecasts were met, explaining divergence between forecasts and the actual outturn, and firms the forecasts for the next 18 months or so.

Clean Up the World is an annual environmental campaign and is celebrated during the third week of September. It originated in Sydney, Australia in 1993 and is held in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The main objective of the Clean Up the World is to bring together non‐government organisations, community groups, schools, governments, businesses and individuals to undertake activities to improve water quality, clean up local streets, parks, forests, rivers and canals as well as educate children about the environment. This year the commemoration of this event took a broader dimension with the approval of MID Policies, Strategies and Action Plan by Cabinet in May 2013. One of the MID Environment Policies is to enhance the natural environment and built up areas within the Republic and one of the four priority programmes developed to implement this policy is “Cleaner, Greener, Pollution‐Free Mauritius”.

The 2012 Annual Report details UNEP's wide-ranging activities in what proved to be the most momentous year in the organizations history. At Rio+20, Heads of State and governments decided to strengthen and upgrade UNEP. This was followed by the adoption of a resolution at the 67th session of the UN General Assembly later in the year that granted UNEP universal membership and called for increased resources. The report details UNEPs work across its six thematic areas: Climate Change, Disasters and Conflicts, Ecosystem Management, Environmental Governance, Harmful Substances and Hazardous Waste, Resource Efficiency and Sustainable Consumption and Production. It also highlights the key role UNEP plays in providing environmental leadership to the UN system and the international community, showcasing dozens of collaborative initiatives that drive the agenda of international environmental governance.