Asia
South Korea to implement Green New Deal after ruling party election win
Seoul is to set a 2050 net zero emissions goal and end coal financing, after the Democratic Party’s landslide victory in one of the world’s first Covid-19 elections
Japan’s woeful climate plan amounts to science denial
Japan reiterates past pledges for 2030 rather than mapping out a radical overhaul needed by the world’s fifth largest greenhouse gas emitter
Japan sticks to 2030 climate goals, accused of a ‘disappointing’ lack of ambition
Japan has reaffirmed its 2015 goal to cuts emissions by 26% by 2030 despite UN plea for far tougher action this year to tackle the climate crisis
Coronavirus slows developing nations’ plans to step up climate action in 2020
‘We are entering into unknown territory’ – coronavirus delays developing nations’ ability to design new climate plans before Cop26 summit in November in Glasgow
South Korea urged to exit coal by 2029 to stick to Paris climate agreement
Climate Analytics research group calls on Seoul to phase out existing coal-fired power plants, stop new construction and halt funds for coal projects in other Asian nations
Climate Home News launches front line climate justice reporting programme
We want your story ideas about how communities – especially women, youth and indigenous peoples – are building resilience to climate change
Turkey withdraws bid to host 2020 UN climate talks, paving way for Glasgow
Ankara has been the final obstacle to the UK’s proposal, with Glasgow already named as the preferred site for the critical meeting
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