A division of the World Bank has just made its first so-called “green loan” to a bank in Vietnam, meant for businesses to help with environmental problems in a nation that has one of the world’s highest emissions rates relative to its economy.   Vietnam has a fast growing economy but also has a fast growing […]

Two uninhabited islands in South Sumatra have vanished, and four are on the brink, thanks to rising sea levels. The Indonesian Forum for the Environment (Walhi) says Betet Island and Gundul Island are now completely submerged because of climate change and are sitting one and three metres below sea level, respectively. “These islands were uninhabited. One of […]

Southeast Asia stands to gain the most from the addition of plastic waste to the Basel Convention in 2019. All 10 ASEAN member states are signatories to the Basel Convention, a treaty that controls the movement of hazardous waste from one country to another. A major global environmental problem, plastic waste pollution has reached catastrophic […]

This working apartment in Singapore shows how much things will stay the same once the climate changes—and also how much we’ll have to adapt. Right now, visitors in Singapore have the chance to wander through a family’s apartment. The first thing they’ll see is a kayak resting against the exterior wall, and as guests enter […]

Severe weather conditions triggered by climate change can adversely affect the operation of power plants. Heavy rainfall, heatwaves and lightning can disrupt electricity transmission and distribution networks and cause power outages. A 2019 World Bank report showed natural shocks and climate change caused 44% of power outages in the US between 2000 and 2017 and 37% […]

Rising temperatures, drought and heavy rain will affect rubber yields and disease outbreaks. Rubber growers can boost resilience by adopting better cultivation methods, but will need more support. Dr Sara Bumrungsri grew up farming food crops in central Thailand. After moving to southern Thailand, where he began working at the Prince of Songkla University in 1997, […]

The funding from IFC will enable VPBank to expand its lending to small and medium businesses and boost financing for projects that help reduce carbon emissions A new financing package of $212.5 million (£162m) has been announced to support climate-friendly projects in Vietnam. The funding from IFC, a member of the World Bank, will enable VPBank to […]

KAMPONG LUONG, Cambodia — For more than half a century, January meant prime fishing season for Pang Bin. He took his wooden boat out into Cambodia’s largest lake, his catches and their sales sustaining his family for much of the year. This month, the 75-year-old decided to call it quits, but not because of age […]

It pledges to become carbon neutral by year end, with eye on halving emissions of portfolio firms by 2030 LONDON • Temasek International may accelerate its climate change goals as the company puts environmental, social and governance principles at the heart of its strategies. Temasek International is the management and investment arm of Singapore investment […]

Singapore can present itself as a model for concentrated efforts to thwart the effects of climate change in Asia. Singapore is preparing its defenses for war, but not for a military conflict. “These are life and death matters,” proclaimed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in August 2019 during his annual National Day Rally speech. Climate threats, he […]