No forests, no flora, no fauna? This is Southeast Asia’s deforestation effect

After global warming, many would argue that deforestation is the second biggest threat when it comes to environmental concerns. However, it turns out that’s not the case after all, especially when it comes to Southeast Asia. Researchers have recently discovered that the rate of deforestation across the highlands of Southeast Asia since 2000 has been much […]

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Smart Cities in SE Asia can deliver real quality of life improvements – report

SINGAPORE: A new report from the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI), in collaboration with the Center for Liveable Cities in Singapore, finds that cities in Southeast Asia could use digital solutions to improve some quality-of-life indicators by 10 to 30 per cent. The report, Smart cities in Southeast Asia, is produced for the World Cities Summit […]

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Young Cambodian women on green mission to build roads with plastic waste

PHNOM PENH: The Cambodian capital Phnom Penh was once fondly known as the “Pearl of Asia”, with pretty post-colonial Khmer architecture, immaculate parks and tree-lined avenues. Today, it is a city of garbage, where mountains of rubbish engulf acres of landfills and grimy streets reek of waste and decay. But one day, it could see […]

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Climate change will make rice less nutritious

This article first appeared on The Conversation. Rice is the primary food source for more than three billion people around the world. Many are unable to afford a diverse and nutritious diet that includes complete protein, grains, fruits, and vegetables. They rely heavily on more affordable cereal crops, including rice, for most of their calories. […]

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UN Environment’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance Initiative and ICLEI launch global goals to promote resilience and sustainability in cities

Montreal, Canada- The UN Environment’s Principles for Sustainable Insurance (PSI) and ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability successfully launched the Insurance Industry Development Goals for Cities at the ICLEI World Congress. The goals are set for cities and industries and encompass economic, social, and environmental sustainability. It also serves as a global action framework for the […]

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#StepUp2018: ICLEI pushes for climate neutrality, calling on Members to set mid-century targets

The new ICLEI vision for the urban era – the ICLEI Montréal Commitment and Strategic Vision – adopted by the ICLEI Council, calls on ICLEI Members to aim for climate neutrality in government infrastructure and operations before mid-century. “We need more cities worldwide to go climate neutral,” said Gino Van Begin, Secretary General of ICLEI. […]

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