On 7 May 2025, ESA’s Global Development Assistance (GDA) programme will contribute to a flagship panel session at the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) 58th Annual Meeting in Milan. The session, titled “Empowering Resilience: A Discussion Around Weather Shocks and Air Pollution,” is convened by the World Bank Group’s Institute for Economic Development (IED) and brings together leading global experts to tackle climate and environmental threats in the context of today’s interlinked global crises.
In a world marked by polycrisis, where climate shocks, air pollution, economic risks, and social inequalities collide, this session will explore how innovation and adaptive strategies can protect the most vulnerable.
ESA’s Christoph Aubrecht, Programme Coordinator for GDA, will spotlight how Earth Observation (EO) is powering transformative change by providing vital data for monitoring air pollution, assessing risk, and informing policy decisions. These capabilities are central to GDA’s mission, and increasingly recognised as critical tools in the resilience-building toolbox.
ADB, a key partner of ESA’s GDA
ESA’s participation at the ADB Annual Meeting also reflects the strong partnership between ESA and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the GDA programme. ADB supports the integration of satellite EO into development planning across Asia-Pacific, advancing data-driven, locally adapted solutions to environmental and climate-related challenges.
A cross-sector panel on resilience
ESA’s GDA joins a distinguished panel of experts who will explore how to unlock resilience by empowering people, markets, and institutions:
- Forhad Shilpi (World Bank) – Author of the upcoming report Rethinking Resilience
- Hélia Costa (OECD) – Economist focusing on climate adaptation
- Massimo Tavoni (EIEE) – IPCC lead author and climate policy expert
- Bénédicte Peillon (NATIVA) – Advocate for regenerative business ecosystems
- Moderated by Silvia Lazzaris, science and climate journalist
Venue: Sala Italia 3, Allianz MiCo, Milan
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM (CET), 7 May 2025
