Asia
Pakistan explores debt-for-nature scheme to accelerate its 10 billion tree tsunami
Creditors could grant Pakistan debt relief in exchange for meeting nature restoration targets, under a proposed first-of-its-kind bond
Cyclone Seroja kills 160 people, exposes Indonesia’s climate vulnerability
Campaigners say a government rollback of environmental regulations increases Indonesia’s vulnerability to flash floods and landslides
Japan set to raise ambition of 2030 climate goal
The Japanese government is proposing to cut emissions 45% from 2013 levels by 2030, while campaigners push for deeper reductions
Coal-backing Japanese bank bids for Green Climate Fund partnership
Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation is applying to channel money from the Green Climate Fund, against opposition from green campaigners over its coal lending
China makes no shift away from coal in five-year plan as it ‘crawls’ to carbon neutrality
Beijing set out incremental increases in climate targets to 2025, allowing for continued expansion of “clean” coal, to the disappointment of climate watchers
UN suspends climate work with Myanmar government following military coup
The military takeover in Myanmar raises fears of pollution, deforestation and revival of a controversial hydropower dam, as international agencies put climate projects on hold
Bangladesh scraps nine coal power plants as overseas finance dries up
The rising costs of coal imports and Bangladesh’s role as chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum contributed to the decision to axe power projects, analysts say
It’s time to end subsidies for burning wood from forests
Trees are worth much more to humanity alive than dead, say 500 scientists in an open letter to leaders in the EU, US and East Asia
Indian farmers head for showdown with government over agricultural reform
Already bearing heavy costs from climate change, Indian farmers fear the government’s market reforms will drive them deeper into debt
Exclusive: Japan uses ‘environmental’ fund to finance Vietnamese coal plant
The Japan Bank for International Cooperation approved a loan to the controversial Vung Ang 2 coal project from a facility intended for “environmental preservation”
Pakistan signals coal power exit, in potential model for China’s belt and road
Imran Khan announced his government would not approve any more coal power plants and pivot to renewables, contrary to the grid operator’s forecast of a coal boom
As Taiwan models net zero scenarios, campaigners push for 2050 target
The island nation is a major manufacturer and campaigners hope it will follow Japan and South Korea in setting a 2050 net zero target next year
Malaysian bank to phase out coal finance, in a victory for campaigners
CIMB has been hailed as the first major bank in an emerging market to publish a coal exit strategy, after investing $2.6 billion in the sector last decade
China’s environment ministry floats ‘ban’ on coal power investment abroad
A Chinese government-commissioned report proposes stricter environmental standards for “belt and road” investments, but it needs buy-in from financial institutions
In Bangladesh, the marginalised Munda face extra barriers to climate adaptation
Shut off from microfinance and benefits, members of the Hindu minority in coastal Bangladesh have struggled to rebuild their lives after Cyclone Amphan
In Java, a Japanese-financed coal plant threatens our health and livelihoods
The Indramayu coal plant will dirty our air, destroy our livelihoods and worsen the climate crisis. Japan must stop financing it immediately
Asian net zero wave leaves Australia’s Scott Morrison isolated
While China, Japan and South Korea set net zero emissions targets and polls show strong support for Australia to follow, Morrison is standing by the coal industry
South Korea formally commits to cutting emissions to net zero by 2050
President Moon Jae-in’s announcement follows a three-day visit by Cop26 president-designate Alok Sharma to South Korea
Philippines declares moratorium on new coal power plants
The move could scrap 8GW of planned coal projects which haven’t been fully approved, sending a strong signal to investors in the region coal is out of favour
Who will build the world’s last coal plant?
Banks, companies and governments are axing support for coal, driven by climate concerns and competition from renewables, but hundreds of plants are still in planning