Far more people at risk of rising seas than feared: Climate study

LONDON: Climate change will put three times more people at risk of coastal flooding by 2050 than previously thought, according to a study published on Tuesday (Oct 29), with swathes of Asia and cities in North America and Europe all vulnerable to rising seas. The research by Climate Central, a US-based non-profit climate science and […]
Biogas as a sustainable energy solution for Southeast Asia

The recent advent of a circular economy highlights the importance of anaerobic digestion and biogas. Anaerobic digestion is a process where large organic matter is broken down into small molecules in the absence of oxygen. During this process, biogas is produced, which consists of 60-70 per cent methane and 30-35 per cent carbon dioxide, with the remainder being […]
Cleaning up a dirty industry: ASEAN is becoming more dependent on coal but it has an obligation to mitigate its environmental impact

Universal electricity access is a key pillar of ASEAN’s development goals. The regional bloc has committed to providing every citizen with an electricity supply by the early 2030s. To achieve this end, the region will need to increase its power capabilities by some 60% by 2040. To quench the thirst for power, Wood Mackenzie, an energy research company, estimated […]
Asean coal power plant construction falls

US-based climate group Global Energy Monitor reported that 1.5 gigawatts (GW) of new coal generation began in Asean in the first half of 2019, all of which was in Indonesia. Across Asean, 53.4GW of capacity is listed as at pre-construction stage but 69.6GW has been cancelled since 2015. Construction started on power stations with a capacity of […]
Even in Southeast Asia, coal is losing its lustre—only Indonesia has been building new plants in 2019

Southeast Asia is the only region in the world where coal has a growing share in the energy mix. But according to new data from San Francisco-based non-governmental organisation Global Energy Monitor (GEM) the signs are that the coal industry is on the wane, even here. In the first six months of this year, only Indonesia, the […]
While Coal Still Dominates in South East Asia, Growth of Wind Power is Urgently Needed

Around the world, there is a palpable sense of urgency to accelerate the energy transition. With millions of citizens participating in the #FridaysForFuture movement and still more facing intensifying natural hazards like typhoons, droughts and hurricanes, climate change has become an indisputable condition of our modern world. Wind and renewable energy have achieved strong progress […]
Southeast Asian conglomerates to pump US$30 million into renewable projects in Myanmar

Two Southeast Asian business conglomerates have teamed up to invest at least US$30 million in renewable energy projects in Myanmar, which has one the region’s lowest rates of access to grid electricity. Myanmar-focused Yoma Strategic Holdings, which is listed on the Singapore stock exchange, will form a 50:50 joint venture with AC Energy, the energy […]
Deal signed to meet $210 billion annual green infrastructure investments needs

The Asian Development Bank has signed an agreement with Singapore’s Infrastructure Asia to mobilise the much-needed funding for sustainable infrastructure across Southeast Asia. The two will help governments in the region to develop sustainable finance models as well as identify and develop bankable infrastructure projects. ADB and Infrastructure Asia will target state-owned enterprises and regional […]