The government has been reluctant because the private sector and some government agencies fear the new rules will affect their thriving recycling factories that rely on the import of foreign scrap materials to boost their margins beyond what is achievable from only taking in local refuse.
Category: Region
Selected environmental stories from media outlets in the Mekong region and beyond.
Laos-China Railway to open for freight transport before allowing passengers
Lao government still plans to launch the Laos-China Railway in December, but with a focus on freight traffic first, followed by tourist transportation when conditions allow.
Vietnam’s hidden debts to China expose its political risks
Although Vietnam’s Chinese debt burden is low compared to some of its neighbors, it is still a worry for the Communist Party mandarins in Hanoi. So why does Hanoi continue to seek Chinese lending? In part it is a political calculation, hoping that being tied more closely to China will limit Beijing’s bullying and aggression.
Europe invests another $17 million to modernise the Kingdom’s agriculture system
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has secured $17.4 million from the European Union to invest in sustainable agriculture projects in Cambodia. The EU bank will invest the money in the Sustainable Assets for Agriculture Markets, Business and Trade (SAAMBAT) project. A tenth of the money is earmarked for preparation to speed up the implementation of the project.
Mekong water level still low in Nakhon Phanom
On Sunday morning, the water level dropped to only 4 metres high — the lowest in five years during October. This part of the country has seen much lower rainfall than in past years.
Rhetoric, meet reality: how to green the Belt and Road Initiative
After much talk, concrete frameworks and guidelines are finally arriving, and the stage is set for China to improve its green credentials on the Belt and Road
Vietnam approves new $2.3 bln LNG project
The plant, which is based in the central province of Quang Tri, will be developed by Vietnamese and South Korean companies and have an initial capacity of 1,500 MW.
Vietnam to Indonesia: the Asian countries hit hardest by China’s clampdown on new coal-fired power plants overseas
According to data compiled by the Green Innovation and Development Centre (GreenID) in Vietnam, 18 proposed coal power projects – with installed capacity totalling 20.4GW – are now unlikely to reach financial closure after China’s moratorium.
Fires lit for agriculture boost air pollution in Mekong Region
Reducing fires lit for agricultural management and deforestation, which unduly affect poorer populations, could help prevent 59,000 premature deaths per year.