In Southeast Asia, Jakarta and Bangkok are sinking fast. In fact, Bangkok, located 0.5–2 metres above sea level, is sinking at a rate of 2–3 centimetres each year. It is predicted that a large part of the capital city will be underwater by 2030, 2050, or the conservative estimate of 2100.
Category: Region
Selected environmental stories from media outlets in the Mekong region and beyond.
Fishermen resort to illegal methods to make ends meet
With Covid-19 rearing its head along the Mekong River, desperate fishermen have been resorting to illegal methods during the closed season to feed their families.
‘Drastic forest development’: Vietnam to plant 1 billion trees — but how?
Past reforestation campaigns have succeeded in increasing the country’s overall tree cover, but mainly by establishing plantations of non-native species that are regularly clear-cut for paper or timber. Some organizations and farmers are working to change the way Vietnam approaches reforestation.
Japan ready to freeze all Myanmar development aid: Motegi
Japan provided 189.3 billion yen ($1.74 billion at current rates) in development aid to Myanmar in fiscal 2019, more than any other country with disclosed figures — numbers for China have not been released.
As Banks Shun Coal, Vietnam Emerges an Unlikely Solar Champion
That same shift to clean energy needs to happen in more developing countries if emissions worldwide are to be zeroed out by mid-century—a timeline needed to avoid catastrophic global warming.
Kampot: Blue crab and livelihoods in Cambodia’s Trapeang Ropov fishing community
Blue crab, with its delicious meat, can be caught year round in Kampot and it sustains the economy of the fishing communities in the coastal province thanks to its high demand across the country. However, even though fishing and crab sustain them, the communities are not free from the difficulties and environmental issues caused by development.
Myanmar Regime Reorganizes Committees to Press Ahead With BRI Projects
With international investors shunning the military regime, China is one of the few countries willing to do business with the coup leaders and invest heavily in the country.
Megaprojects threaten water justice for local communities
The study, published in the journal Cities, focussed on the Phu My Hung project in Vietnam, the Amarapura project in Myanmar and Boeung Kak Lake in Cambodia, and is the result of Dr Hawken’s engagement with recent calls from the United Nations for greater accountability in megaprojects globally.