Asia and the Pacific’s unrelenting industrial development has been a driving force in the economic growth of scores of countries in the region and beyond. This shift has led to greater prosperity, increased urbanization and sustained population growth. Yet as the region has become the “world’s factory”, it is increasingly realizing not only the benefits but the challenges of industrial development. These challenges are often environmental in nature. The 6th Global Environment Outlook, showed us that sustainable development was at risk from a number of factors. This report, a special product of GEO-6, further examines how these environmental problems are caused - and can be addressed - by the region’s rapid industrialization.