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Asia-Pacific Climate Digest Issue #16 : Week 1, July 2021

Compiled by : Purnima Joshi


The world and all its regions continue to grapple with meeting climate objectives as it is also established that higher-elevation forests store comparatively more carbon than lowland forests. Southeast Asia is home to roughly half of the world’s tropical mountain forests, which support massive carbon stores and tremendous biodiversity, including a host of species that occur nowhere else on the planet. Amidst these earlier established facts, a new study shockingly reveals that mountain forest loss in Southeast Asia is accelerating at an unprecedented rat, and throughout the region approximately 189,000 square kilometers (73,000 square miles) of highland forest was converted to cropland during the first two decades of this century.


In this week's issue, we have articles on pioneering work and announcement of the first green2green single-risk policy, the prospect of rising sea levels impacing 15million people across 7 Asian cities by 2030, new frontiers in climate risk analysis, the risks of climate change to cotton crops, end more.

Happy Reading!



ENVIRONMENT


Why isn’t water top of the climate agenda?

Eco Business, 30 Jun 2021

In water-stressed Asia, governments and industry are only beginning to prioritise water risks. Non-technological innovations and greater political will are needed, said experts at Singapore International Water Week 2021.



Rising Sea Levels Due to Climate Change Will Impact 15 Million People Across 7 Asian Cities By 2030

GreenQueen,com, 30 Jun 2021

A new report by non-governmental environmental organization Greenpeace East Asia analyzes the estimated economic impact of extreme rising sea levels in seven Asian cities in 2030. These cities are Hong Kong, Bangkok, Tokyo, Jakarta, Seoul, Tapei, and Manila.



Climate Change May Lead to More Landfalling Tropical Cyclones in China

Mirage, 21 Jun 2021

Tropical cyclones (TCs) can bring strong wind, heavy rain, and storm surge. Meteorologists are concerned that the effects of global warming may change how these storms impact humans.



FINANCE


For banks that backed PH coal boom, the path to renewable energy comes with roadblocks

Pcij.org , 29 Jun 2021

Banks in Asia and the Philippines are moving at a snail’s pace in defunding coal. At least 10 Philippine banks gave $841 million in loans and participated in $1.3 billion worth of underwriting activities involving at least five coal companies since the 2015 Paris climate agreement


Asia Pacific:Euler Hermes announces first green2green single risk policy

AsiaInsuranceReview, 30 Jun 2021

Euler Hermes, the world's leading trade credit insurer, and NORD/LB, a state-owned German commercial bank based in Hanover, have announced the closing of Asia Pacific's first Green2Green Single Risk credit insurance policy ...



Australian Emissions Reduction Investors Set Their Eyes On Asia-Pacific Climate Action

Mirage, 24 Jun 2021

Protecting and restoring Asia-Pacific ecosystems such as forests, mangroves and coral reefs will support regional communities while helping to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees – and corporate Australia has the expertise and

appetite to invest.



Japan insurers struggle to pinpoint climate change cost estimates

Channel News Asia, 25 Jun 2021

As the world tries to price the cost of climate change, Japan's second largest non-life insurer MS&AD foresees the potential rise in claim payments in 2050 to be anywhere between 5per cent to 50per cent from current levels.


FOSSIL FUEL


Asia's new coal plant plans jeopardise climate targets, report says

Reuters, 30 Jun 2021

Five Asian countries are responsible for 80% of new coal power plants planned around the world, the Carbon Tracker group said on Wednesday, saying most would prove uneconomical and the new plants would put international climate goals out of reach.



ENVIRONMENT


Why isn’t water top of the climate agenda?

Eco Business, 30 Jun 2021

In water-stressed Asia, governments and industry are only beginning to prioritise water risks. Non-technological innovations and greater political will are needed, said experts at Singapore International Water Week 2021.




Rising Sea Levels Due to Climate Change Will Impact 15 Million People Across 7 Asian Cities By 2030

GreenQueen,com, 30 Jun 2021


A new report by non-governmental environmental organization Greenpeace East Asia analyzes the estimated economic impact of extreme rising sea levels in seven Asian cities in 2030. These cities are Hong Kong, Bangkok, Tokyo, Jakarta, Seoul, Tapei, and Manila.



Climate Change May Lead to More Landfalling Tropical Cyclones in China

Mirage, 21 Jun 2021

Tropical cyclones (TCs) can bring strong wind, heavy rain, and storm surge. Meteorologists are concerned that the effects of global warming may change how these storms impact humans.



BIODIVERSITY


Forest loss in mountains of Southeast Asia accelerates at ‘shocking’ pace

Mongabay.com, 28 Jun 2021

Southeast Asia is home to roughly half of the world’s tropical mountain forests. These highland ecosystems support massive carbon stores and tremendous biodiversity, including a host of species that occur nowhere else on the

planet.



In India, forest rights means forest conservation

Indian Express, 29 Jun 2021

On June 14, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the UN High-Level Dialogue on Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought



ENERGY


Experts Recommend Steps for Integrated Energy Transition in Asia-Pacific

Iisd.org, 28 Jun 2021

The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) convened an event on the side of the Ministerial Thematic Forums for the UN High-level Dialogue on Energy.




GOVERNANCE


Climate And Environmental Governance: Yes, we CAN

The Edge Markets, 24 Jun 2021

We cannot deny that we are witnessing unprecedented economic, environmental and social changes on a global scale and at an accelerating pace, which are disrupting our ways of life and how we conduct business.



ASEAN REGION


Southeast Asian nations missing from push to protect 30% of planet

Thomson Reuters Foundation News, 29 Jun 2021

Cambodia is the only Southeast Asian nation to have signed up to the goal so far, although it has been endorsed by countries in other parts of Asia-Pacific



Securing Indonesia’s future by building on its climate response

The Jakarta Post, 26 Jun 2021

Climate change, if not managed, could deliver large social and economic impacts around the world, and in many ways, Asia appears more vulnerable than other regions. And within Asia, Indonesia may face greater potential impacts than many other major Asian nations.


AGRICULTURE


One third of India’s cotton growing regions face severe climate risks by 2040

unitednewsofindia.com, 23 Jun 2021

The first ever global analysis of climate risk to global cotton production reveals that runaway climate change could expose half of all global cotton growing regions to high risks from temperature increases, changes to rainfall patterns and extreme weather events by 2040.



CORPORATE


Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani unveils $10bn green energy push

Al Jazeera, 24 Jun 2021

Indian tycoon Mukesh Ambani unveiled an ambitious push into clean energy involving 750 billion rupees ($10.1 billion) of investment over three years, marking a new pivot for one of the world’s biggest fossil-fuel billionaires.



Kansai Electric shareholders vote down proposal to exit coal

Channel News Asia, 25 Jun 2021

Kansai Electric Power shareholders on Friday rejected a proposal requiring the company to stop using coal and decarbonise its business in a victory for the board over

activist demand for climate action.


POLICY


New frontiers in climate-risk analytics

Eco Business, 28 Jun 2021

In recent years, record-breaking temperatures and extreme weather events have highlighted the overwhelming impact of greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions on the global climate. Moreover, the costs of such events are mounting.



ADDITIONAL READS :


Climate change has driven 16% drop in ‘snow meltwater’ from Asia’s high mountains

Carbon Brief, 24 Jun 2021





Tencent, TiMi Call on SEA Students to Act on Climate Change

Finance.yahoo.com, 28 Jun 2021



Bangladesh scraps 10 coal-fired power plants

The Straits Times, 27 Jun 2021





CP takes on climate change, vows to be carbon neutral

Bangkok Post, 24 Jun 2021





Audi will stop manufacturing fossil fuel cars by 2033 and plans to go all-electric

lifestyleasia.com, 30 Jun 2021


CGM's Asia-Pacific Climate Digest is compiled by communications consultant Purnima Joshi.

With over two decades of experience in corporate communications, Purnima combines her skills in creative and communication along with her passion for working for the community.

She has worked on a multitude of projects in waste management, circular economy, building active citizenship in the community, some of which have won awards.

These also include a project on building climate resilience for UNICEF as well as some award-winning projects. She has been associated with several NGOs in an advisory capacity for over 10 years.


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