Asia
Afghanistan at risk of hunger amid drought and Taliban takeover
As the Taliban seizes control of Afghanistan, experts warn severe drought could worsen the humanitarian crisis triggered by an exodus of western forces
Sri Lanka rules out new coal power, promotes rooftop solar
The government wants 70% of the island’s electricity to come from renewables by 2030 and is offering cheap loans to install rooftop solar
‘Hottest games ever’: At the Tokyo Olympics, elite sport met the climate crisis
Athletes fainted as wet bulb temperatures reached dangerous levels in Tokyo, raising questions about the future of major sporting events in an overheated world
A week of wildfires has left thousands homeless in southern Turkey
Experts say forest management and firefighting equipment is needed to prevent future disasters, as climate change brings hotter and drier conditions
Indonesia to burn coal well into the 2050s, under updated climate plan
The world’s second biggest coal producing country is depending on carbon capture to keep the industry alive in its “low carbon” scenario
UK calls on Indonesia to set out roadmap to net zero emissions
During a three-day visit to southeast Asia’s largest economy, Alok Sharma met with a host of ministers to discuss how to transition the nation from coal to renewables
With Indonesia’s answer to Elon Musk in jail, electric vehicles are going nowhere
Electric vehicle pioneer Dasep Ahmadi was imprisoned over a failed experiment, with a chilling effect on innovation
Asian Development Bank plans exit from coal finance
As Asian lenders are turning their back on coal, campaigners warn against treating methane gas as a “transition fuel”, calling for an end to all fossil finance
Meet the Indian climate experts desperately trying to save lives from Covid-19
Climate researchers and journalists are working to connect Covid sufferers with oxygen supplies and hospital beds as India’s health crisis deepens
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