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Compiled by Purnima Joshi
As South-East Asia continues to grow rapidly, its economic growth has naturally been accompanied by a huge appetite for energy, and cleaner energy will be required if future growth is to be sustainable, as the region’s energy needs are growing twice as fast as the global average. To this effect, the island state of Singapore moves to implement its ‘Green Plan’ and begins to take its first step in exploring the potential of Hydrogen playing a role in its economy going forward.
In other features in this issue, China continues to come under pressure from the US to declare moratorium on financing coal projects while the recent BRICS Environmental Ministerial meet called for collective action against climate change; Mumbai claimed to become the first South Asian city to work on a climate action plan; with the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26 to be held in November at Glasgow, Scotland and the IPCC assessments as a backdrop, the Indian voice would be consequential during this event, being the only G20 country as it claims to be on course to meet the Paris agreement climate goals. And there’s lots more.
Happy Reading!
ENERGY
Green energy: Shifting from fossil fuels to sun, wind & water
StraitsTimes, 29 Aug 2021
South-east Asia is growing rapidly — from populations and incomes, to its colourful, bustling cities.
But its economic growth spurt has come with a voracious appetite for energy, and a cleaner energy diet will be needed if
future growth is to be sustainable.
INDIA
India chairs BRICS Environment Ministerial meet, calls for collective actions against climate challenge
ANI, 27 Aug 2021
India on Friday chaired Environmental Ministerial meet 2021 and called for collective global actions against the and climate challenge, a press release said.
Mumbai first South Asian city to work on climate action plan: BMC Commissioner
India Today, 29 Aug 2021
Iqbal Singh Chahal, Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said on Sunday that Mumbai is the first city in South Asia to launch the Mumbai Climate Action Plan, which is rolling in now.
Floods threaten hundreds of thousands in north-east India
Straits Times,31 Aug 2021
Flood waters rose on Monday (Aug 30) across north-eastern India, where hundreds of thousands of people are stranded on the roofs of their homes or have fled to higher ground as more torrential rain fell.
India Inc’s race to raise the ESG quotient
Live Mint, 2 Sept 2021
The Mumbai-based chief executive officer (CEO) of one of India’s largest lenders to the power sector is a worried man these days.
80% of Nariman Point, Mantralaya will be under water by 2050: BMC chief
Business Standard, 28 Aug 2021
Mumbai municipal commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal has made a sinister prediction for the city, saying that by 2050, a major portion of south Mumbai, including the business district of Nariman Point and state secretariat Mantralaya, will go under water due to the rising sea level.
IPCC report and India’s opportunity to lead the world on climate change
The UN Climate Change Conference, COP26 would be held in November at Glasgow, Scotland with the IPCC assessments as a backdrop. Indian voice would be consequential during this event, as we are the only G20 country on course to meet the
Paris agreement climate goals.
SOUTH-EAST ASIA
When climate adaptation fails, who is responsible? Indonesia is asking.
The CS Monitor, 26 Aug 2021
The fishermen of Asilulu knew something was up when the tuna fled their shores for cooler waters. They didn’t grasp that global warming was heating the ocean and displacing the fish on which their livelihoods depended.
Flooding in tropics expected but brace for more ‘extreme weather’, even prolonged dry spells in Singapore, experts say
Today, 28 Aug 2021
Some experts in environmental science are warning that Singapore can expect more erratic weather events to occur in future, such as the hours of intense rainfall earlier this week that led to the recent deluge in Bukit Timah.
Energy in ASEAN: Hydrogen in Asia Pacific
Jdsupra.com. 25 Aug 2021
In our most recent article, “Energy in ASEAN: Hydrogen in Singapore”, we highlighted some of the key developments in Singapore’s hydrogen sector as the island state moves to implement its “Green Plan” and begins to take its first steps in
exploring the potential of hydrogen playing a role in its
economy going forward. Read further ...
CHINA
Kerry presses China to declare moratorium on financing coal projects
The Hill, 27 Aug 2021
John Kerry, President Biden’s special envoy for climate, is reportedly looking to push China to issue a moratorium on financing coal projects during a trip to the country next week.
FINANCE
Realizing The Benefit Of A Global Carbon Tariff – Analysis
Eurasia, 28 Aug 2021
Taxing the carbon content of imports, if done right, can contribute to cutting global emissions and slowing climate change.
Two Global X ETFs to Take Advantage of Southeast Asia’s Green Push
Nasdaq, 30 Aug 2021
The green push can extrapolate investment gains from Southeast Asia, particularly the Global X FTSE Southeast Asia ETF (ASEA) and the Global X CleanTech ETF (CTEC).
IFC eyes record investment in East Asia
Business World, 30 Aug 2021
THE INTERNATIONAL Finance Corp. (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, is ramping up investments in East Asia and the Pacific economies to as much as $5 billion to help the region rebound from the pandemic and combat climate change, a top official said.
BIO-DIVERSITY
Threats To Land Biodiversity Highest In Southeast Asia, Madagascar
Forbes, 30 Aug 2021
New research published in the scientific journal Nature Ecology and Evolution has identified the location and intensity of key threats to biodiversity on land.
How would planting 8 billion trees every year for 20 years affect Earth’s climate?
The Conversation, 23 Aug 2021
Politicians, business leaders, YouTubers and celebrities are calling for the planting of millions, billions or even trillions of trees to slow climate change.
Plastic threatens migratory species in Asia-Pacific: UN
France24.com, 31 Aug 2021
From endangered freshwater dolphins drowned by discarded fishing nets to elephants scavenging through rubbish, migratory species are among the most vulnerable to plastic pollution, a UN report on the Asia-Pacific region said Tuesday, calling for
greater action to cut waste.
Mangrove restoration done right has clear economic, ecological benefits
Mongabay, 31 Aug 2021
In the green and dimly lit mangrove forests of West Papua in Indonesia, towering Rhizophora trees loom more than 40 meters (130 feet) overhead into the canopy, their tangled roots
taller than a human
EVENTS :
ADDITIONAL READS
Climate Change is the Biggest Threat to Indian Ocean Security
The Diplomat, 31 Aug 2021
Scientists: Tibet climate risks may soar despite short-term gains
Al Jazeera, 24 Aug 2021
The Climate Conversations - S2: The future so green: Talking to the young who will fill the climate and sustainability jobs of tomorrow
Channel News Asia, 27 Aug 2021
Note down your city’s date with a watery grave
TimesOfIndia, 30 Aug 2021
Forest fires a reminder of climate crisis
ChinaDaily, 30 Aug 2021
The US, Britain and Europe ‘led’ in creating climate change. China, Japan and Australia can lead the solution
South China Morning Post, 30 Aug 2021
Who speaks for Afghans? Climate realities with the Taliban takeover
Asia Pacific Report, 28 Aug 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.