Climate change putting Asia’s food security at risk

Food security is in jeopardy as global warming happens, especially in regions vulnerable to its negative impacts. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization says four dimensions of food security can be particularly affected by the changing climate – food availability, food accessibility, food utilization and food systems stability. The U.N. food body said agriculture is important for food security...

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Thai utility buys EV’s

Thai power utility Metropolitan Electricity Authority placed orders for three long-range, all-electric, five-passenger e6s vehicles and charging pedestals from Chinese company BYD. The EV’s are part of the utility’s campaign to promote the development of the EV industry in Thailand, and to introduce the company’s Green City Solution and build momentum for intelligent city building in the country.

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First ‘solar city’ to rise in northeast India

Northeast Indian capital Agartala will be the region’s first “solar city” according to the city government. The city aims to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and replace at least 10 percent of its regular power use with solar energy. The plan calls for integrated solar hot water systems in all hotels, school hostels, hospitals, nursing homes and health centers, government offices, homes, temples...

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APEC leaders emphasize ‘green technology’ in summit

Officials in the recently concluded Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit agreed to cut tariffs on 54 environmental goods and services or “green technologies.” Meeting at Vladivostok, Russia, the 21 APEC leaders decided to bring down subsidy by five percent by 2015 on wind turbines, solar batteries and bamboo floor panels, as well as equipment for treating waste water, recycling and environmental...

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India creates green rating scheme for small buildings

Most low-carbon measures for buildings are usually intended for large structures since they are pump spew large amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. But what about small buildings? While smaller structures’ carbon footprint is not as much as that of the skyscrapers, they could altogether account for a big quantity of emissions. India has recognized this fact, spearheading a new green rating scheme...

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Nanotechnology institute in Singapore develops advanced fuel cell material

Researchers at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology in Singapore developed a more efficient and longer lasting fuel cell material using a compound of gold, copper and platinum nanoparticles. They discovered that by replacing the innermost part of the catalyst of the fuel cell with gold and copper alloy while leaving just the outer layer in platinum, the new amalgam can deliver five times higher activity.

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Philippines readies new climate change fund

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III signed a new law creating a 1 billion peso ($24 million) “survival fund” for the country’s battle against climate change. The fund is especially allotted for climate change mitigation projects in the region, which is visited by more than 20 typhoons per year that result into massive damages to properties and threats to the lives of citizens.

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Singapore taps technology, innovations in climate change battle

Recently, Singapore strengthened its commitment to battle climate change with the release of its national climate change strategy. The document “Climate Change and Singapore: Challenges, Opportunities, Partnerships” highlights the country’s plans to advance its position in curbing its environmental impacts and coping. Singapore aims to reduce its emissions across all sectors,

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China buries 40,000 tons of carbon emissions underground

China, a major carbon emitter, is facing great pressure globally to curb its immense contribution to global warming. In response, the country has been making an effort to make up for its environmental impacts. Just recently, it buried more than 40,000 tons of carbon emissions in the past 15 months in North China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region through its carbon capture and storage project,

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Philippine capital immobilized by ‘new normal’ of heavy rains, floods

The Southeast Asian archipelagic nation of the Philippines is now facing the idea that extreme weather brought on by climate change is the “new normal.” After being pummeled by several weeks of rain, the last days of which accelerated into heavy, non-stop outpouring, floods struck the nation this week. High water was reported in communities across the country – including capital Manila.

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