With approximately 1/4 of the world's population, East Asia faces the difficult tasks of achieving economic success, increasing standards of living, and protecting the environment. This is all while its population continues to grow, urbanize, and industrialize. China's record of improving well-being is slipping as a result of the very activities that produced its dramatic economic turnaround. China some of the most severe environmental problems on the planet; these problems could prevent future progress.

• What are 3 challenges the region faces in achieving economic success?
• What are 3 challenges the region faces in protecting and cleaning up the environment?
• What are 3 challenges the region faces in increasing human well-being?
• Discuss what will happen as the growing elderly population must be supported by a relatively small and diminishing group of working age people.