Turning today's challenges into tomorrow's opportunities is the main task that aspiring, young leaders are facing around the globe. The session will offer a platform for young professionals to discuss and exchange innovative pathways to 2030 for Asia and beyond.

While Asia remains one of the fastest growing regions in the world, inequalities are widening within and between countries. As demographics are changing, Asia may grow old before it becomes rich - a trend that goes far beyond questions of economic prosperity and affects human security and well-being. Ultimately, the Asian 'miracle' will not be measured in incomes but in outcomes, shaped by the way countries implement inclusive and more equitable growth.

Fast economic development, resource use and urbanization rates are outstripping the earth's carrying capacity and putting critical strain on the resilience of ecosystems and our natural capital. Environmental tipping points are approaching fast and make societies ever more vulnerable, most tragically shown in the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami as well as the "Triple Disaster" that hit Japan on March 11, 2011. Options and life chances in 2030 will therefore be directly shaped by today's decisions on energy, water and food security in the context of climate change.

On an increasingly interconnected earth, opportunities and challenges have become global - yet the world struggles to develop a workable architecture for multilateral governance. Cooperation within and between regional blocs will be crucial to tackle problems that reach beyond national borders, however, a lack of functioning institutions and political will is still hindering effective cooperation. The success of Asia and other regional blocs will ultimately depend not only on visionary leadership but also on how countries can manage the distances between themselves.

PARTICIPANTS OF THE SEMINAR AND FORUM WILL CONSIDER THREE SCENARIOS:

• Regional Co-operation: Will common interests be strong enough to overcome historical legacies and political differences? What would be the ideal form for a cooperative framework of regional institutions and rules in Asia?
• Energy and Resource Security: what steps need to be taken now for a sustainable future? What energy choices can countries make to bring them in line with global environmental limits?
• Innovation and Equity in Aging Societies: how can inclusive growth be realized for Asian societies? What can specific countries do to tackle the problem of aging populations and integrate social protection strategies?

The Salzburg-style Seminar will be held in Kyoto, Japan, involving a faculty of experts and 30 rising leaders and offering an opportunity to develop cross-cultural scenarios and robust conclusions. This interactive event will be followed by a half-day Public Forum in Tokyo where participants will present and discuss their findings and proposals before a more senior audience of media, business, government, academic and NGO representatives, sparking an intergenerational exchange of ideas and debates.

Session Bibliography
Session Bibliography
Session Documents
ADB - Aging, Economic Growth and Old-Age Security in Asia
ADB - City Cluster Development
ADB - Framework of Inclusive Growth Indicators 2013
Asia, the Multilateral Development Banks and Energy Governance
Green Growth, Resources and Resilience
Living in the Futures
Paths ahead for East Asia and Asia-Pacific Regionalism
Salzburg Global Seminar Report - A Climate for Change: New Thinking on Governance for Sustainability

Salzburg Global Seminar Report on China in the 21st Century: What kind of World Power?

The Brookings Institution - BUILDING ASIA PACIFIC REGIONAL ARCHITECTURE: THE CHALLENGE OF HYBRID REGIONALISM

The North South Divide, Equity and Development – the Need for Trust-building for Emergency Mobilization

The Pacific Review: Resource insecurity and international institutions in the Asia-Pacific region

Transformative Social Protection: Reflections on South Asian Policy Experiences

Urbanization and Sustainability in Asia