Asia
Indonesian government under pressure to stamp out toxic haze
Rampant forest fires are causing polluting smog to travel to neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore, sending air quality plummeting in Southeast Asia
Car boom brings gridlock misery to ‘green and happy’ Bhutan
Bhutan’s growing economy brings growing gridlock – and a potential threat to the country’s vaunted carbon-negative status
Trains deliver emergency water to drought-hit Chennai
Millions of people are experiencing water shortages as Chennai’s reservoirs are running dry and other sources of water are dwindling
AIIB must stop backing gas in climate-hit Bangladesh
The Beijing-headquartered development bank is skewed towards fossil fuels, when it should be helping poorer countries access clean renewable power
China scrubs its coal projects from ‘world heritage in danger’ decision
Three coal plants that threaten the Sundarbans tiger habitat were removed from a draft text, while Unesco members declined to list the site as ‘in danger’
Japan sets carbon neutral goal with focus on capturing emissions
The coal dependent country focuses on innovation as it moves toward ending its contribution to climate change
Indonesian VP candidate named in alleged coal scam
Sandiaga Uno may have personally benefited from payments made by one of Indonesia’s biggest coal miners to an offshore firm he owned, Global Witness says
Indonesia says it will ‘mainstream’ low-carbon development
By 2045, Indonesians could be as wealthy as those of the Netherlands or Germany today if green policies are chosen, a government report found
European Commission classifies most palm oil fuels as unsustainable
Deforestation-linked stocks cannot be counted towards renewable targets, commission rules, but green group angered by small farm loophole
EU set to tighten rules on palm oil for biofuels
Indonesia and Malaysia say the EU measure will unfairly disadvantage their crops, while environmentalists worry it won’t be tough enough on deforestation
Two Koreas build green cooperation
As part of broader thawing of relations, the north and south are working together in the fight against a tree-killing worm
South Korean province joins international coal phase-out club
South Chungcheong becomes the biggest coal user and first Asian region in the Powering Past Coal Alliance, reflecting local opposition to polluting plants
Call for climate justice as millions brace for intense storms
Typhoon Mangkhut and Hurricane Florence are set to make landfall on opposite sides of the world, bringing destruction likely exacerbated by climate change
Pakistan to apply strict green rules on Chinese coal deals: Imran Khan advisor
The country is locked into “potential disaster” coal projects, says new PM’s climate chief Malik Amin Aslam, promising to make the “best out of a bad situation”
Imran Khan says Pakistan will plant 10 billion trees
The former cricketer and newly elected prime minister is set to promote tree-planting and green jobs, although coal use will continue to expand
EU-Japan trade deal first to carry Paris climate clause
The world’s largest ever trade deal is also the first Europe has signed that commits both parties to upholding the UN climate accord
Why is the world’s newest development bank investing in coal despite its green promise?
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank is backing a coal-fired cement works in Myanmar through an intermediary, in a worrying sign for its climate credentials
Pakistani senator calls for climate cooperation with India amid water crisis
As drought bites, senate opposition leader Sherry Rehman says climate action is a security priority for South Asia
Tokyo 2020 Olympics confirms use of rainforest timber in stadium build
Admission prompts calls for transparency over Tokyo 2020 supply chain with timber sourced from deforestation hotspot
Standard Chartered ‘breaching climate policy’ with Vietnam coal plant investment
The London-based bank plans to co-finance Nghi Son 2 power plant, which NGOs say uses dirty old technology, against company and OECD guidelines