The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Energy Absolute Plc (EA) have signed a 1.5 billion baht (US$47.6 million) green loan to finance ongoing renewable energy projects and a countrywide electric vehicle (EV) charging network in Thailand.
Category: Region
Selected environmental stories from media outlets in the Mekong region and beyond.
Mekong River drops to “worrying” levels, some sections turning blue-green
“Continuing this flow pattern could have an impact on river transport, fish migration, agriculture and river weed collection. To help the Lower Mekong countries manage risks more effectively, we call on China and the Lower Mekong countries themselves to share their water release plans with us.”
After Mekong, China focuses to take control over Brahmaputra’s water
Brian Eyler, an expert in rivers who is the director of the South East Asia Program at the Stimson Center said China has built several small- and medium-sized dam and as per an analysis of recent data on Chinese dams, “these operations have delivered deeper and deeper cuts to the downstream communities of the once-mighty Mekong river.”
Nominations open for 2021 Mekong heroes
Nominations are now open for the 2021 Mekong Hero at www.MekongHeroes.com, and the winners will be announced at the 2nd Virtual Destination Mekong Summit in May 2021.
Environment ministry to be proactive in handling environmental issues
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has changed from a passive to a proactive role in handling environmental issues over the last several years, after the country confronted major challenges brought about by an unsustainable economic growth model and climate change.
Youth group set to clean up Phnom Penh, major towns
The Creal Cambodia founder added that there was greater participation from youth groups than initially expected with over 1,000 young people applying in the first month.
Indigenous people ‘under threat’ from Asia clean energy push
Dirty This biomass plant among a “concerning rise” in human rights violations in renewable energy projects, recording about 200 allegations of land rights and indigenous rights abuses, displacement, violence and threats in the last decade.
Laos Planned Railways: Opening a National Rail Network in 2021
The first Laos national rail line is to open at the end of the year with the China-Laos, Kunming-Vientiane link. This will change Laos from ‘land-locked’ to ‘land-linked’ and is hoped to spur significant foreign investment into Laos.
Construction Delays Mean Continued Homelessness for Survivors of Laos’ Worst Dam Disaster
“The company has formulated a new plan under which it will complete 496 houses by the end of the year, 440 of which will be complete before May. About 35 percent of these 440 homes are already complete. But for the remaining 204 homes, we have to wait for the land,” an official said.
Kingdom vows to reduce emissions
“By 2030 we vow that Cambodia will achieve a 40 per cent reduction in our greenhouse gas emissions relative to the scale of our socio-economic development or the equivalent of about 65 million tonnes of green house gases.”