A new report says the Asia-Pacific region can be a world leader in “green” or environmentally sustainable growth, but only by adopting a new development strategy.

The Asian Development Bank says the region has been the world's largest resource user since the 1990s. The report warns that the area's carbon emissions are on a pace to triple by 2050, causing an “unbearable strain” on the earth's ecosystems.

The Manila-based lender says the Asia-Pacific region is already leading the world in green investment, despite the high cost of providing environmentally friendly goods and services, such as renewable energy facilities. The report urges policymakers to consider measures such as tax reforms that reward those who invest in low-carbon, resource-friendly activities.

The ADP says helping poor and other disadvantaged groups fully benefit from green growth is essential to the region's success.

The report was a joint study among the Asia Development Bank, the United Nations Environment Program and the U.N. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.