International: Asia
When China makes a climate pledge, the world should listen
3 Oct 2025
A few years ago, one of us (Myles Allen) asked a Chinese delegate at a climate conference why Beijing had gone for “carbon neutrality” for its 2060 target rather than “climate neutrality” or “net zero”, both of which were more fashionable terms at the time.
New Singapore-led initiative to boost protection, restoration of marine habitats for carbon credits
3 Oct 2025
A Singapore-led initiative that aims to boost the protection and restoration of marine and coastal habitats in South-east Asia to generate carbon credits was launched in New York on Sept 24.
Singapore to contract high-quality nature-based carbon credits from four projects in Ghana, Peru, and Paraguay
30 Sep 2025
The Singapore government will purchase 2.175 million tonnes of nature-based carbon credits from projects in Ghana, Peru, and Paraguay, marking one of its largest commitments to international offsets to date.
Human-driven climate change intensified super typhoon Ragasa, researchers find
29 Sep 2025
“Super Typhoon Ragasa intensified over waters made hotter by human-caused climate change. These exceptionally warm sea surface temperatures increased the chances that Ragasa would rapidly intensify…”
Heat stress is a major driver of India’s kidney disease epidemic
29 Sep 2025
Cases of chronic kidney disease unrelated to pre-existing conditions are on the rise in India and other tropical nations. As climate change raises temperatures and humidity, the disease is increasingly prevalent among outdoor laborers without access to rest, shade, or hydration.
How the world’s most elderly country is fighting heat in a deadly double crisis
24 Sep 2025
The alarm device is part of a government push to combat a deadly double emergency: the collision of Japan’s climate crisis and its aging population.
India needs $10tn by 2070 to achieve net zero: Yadav
22 Sep 2025
India needs $10 trillion by 2070 for its net zero goal, focusing on green finance as essential for development and urging developed nations to fulfil their climate commitments.
Tax rebalancing in Indian energy sector: Renewables cheaper, coal costlier
12 Sep 2025
Industry experts and developers have hail GST cuts on clean energy equipment, saying it will be a major enabler for India’s ambitious climate goals.
Digging beyond oil: Saudi Arabia bids to become a hub for energy transition minerals
12 Sep 2025
The top crude exporter is using its oil riches to position itself as a major player in clean energy supply chains. Investors are interested, but hurdles remain.
Pakistan evacuates 25,000 people from eastern city as rivers threaten flooding
11 Sep 2025
Rescuers backed by troops evacuated more than 25,000 people from a city in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province overnight as rising rivers threatened to flood the region.
India emphasises global south's rights in climate talks
5 Sep 2025
In a meeting with COP30 president-designate André Corrêa do Lago, India discussed “the global south’s rights” and ways to “advance work” on carbon markets and climate finance
India-Japan joint credit mechanism clears way for Paris goals amid North-South climate gridlocks
4 Sep 2025
It offers strong bilateral model to scale climate finance, localise low-carbon technologies.
Singapore seals carbon credit deal with Thailand, its first South-east Asian partner
28 Aug 2025
The agreement, the eighth for Singapore, helps both nations meet climate targets under the Paris Agreement, directing finance to Thai projects.
India needs $467 billion climate finance by 2030 to decarbonise 4 key sectors
25 Aug 2025
India will need to mobilise USD $467 billion in climate finance by 2030 to put four of its most carbon-intensive sectors – power, steel, cement and transport – on a low-carbon pathway.
Death toll from northern Pakistan monsoon floods rises to almost 400
21 Aug 2025
Torrential rains across the country's north have caused flooding and landslides that have swept away entire villages.
India misses chance to tackle UK carbon tax in trade pact
28 Jul 2025
India’s efforts to secure a concession for its small and medium enterprises under the UK’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism did not materialise, as the text of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement made no mention of a resolution on the contentious issue.
India to issue climate risk disclosure rules for banks in the next few months, sources say
25 Jul 2025
India's central bank is close to finalising rules for banks and financial institutions to disclose and manage risks from climate change, three sources aware of the matter said.
Heatwave causes water shortages in Iran as temps top 50C
23 Jul 2025
Reservoirs of the dams supplying water to Tehran are currently at their lowest level in a century.
At least 17 dead in South Korea floods and landslides
22 Jul 2025
At least 17 people have died in floods and landslides caused by days of torrential rain in South Korea, the country's disaster management office has said.
A ‘Himalayan tsunami’ has just devastated Nepal. It should be a wake-up call
21 Jul 2025
Massive glacial bursts are becoming more frequent and more dangerous due to the climate crisis, experts tell , warning: ‘They are not going to stop anytime soon’.
Amid stifling summers Japan warns of future restrictions on children’s sport
18 Jul 2025
As soon as 2060, global heating may send temperatures high enough to stop children in most parts of country from taking part in outdoor summer sports, study shows.
Sanctions and climate action crossroads: India must embrace energy sovereignty with justice at its heart
17 Jul 2025
COMMENT: By expanding renewables, India not only reduces emissions but also insulates itself from future geopolitical shocks.
Urbanization is intensifying India’s summer heat and rain
11 Jul 2025
When 28-year-old Sonelal Prasad left home on the morning of June 16 for his job at a construction site in Mumbai—the financial capital of India—he didn’t know he’d be digging his own grave.
Türkiye's Parliament adopts first-ever climate law
9 Jul 2025
Promising a wide range of provisions and increased vigilance against climate change, the new law is to provide action plans on a national and local scale, while bolstering Türkiye’s 2053 climate goals and protecting the country from environmental disasters.
Asia warming at twice the global average: WMO Report
8 Jul 2025
The State of the Climate in Asia 2024 report shows the continent is heating up at twice the global average rate, leading to devastating impacts for ecosystems, societies and economies across the region.
Pakistan slams climate ‘injustice’ as deadly floods hit country again
1 Jul 2025
Pakistan’s climate minister says country facing ‘crisis of injustice’ as more deadly flooding and extreme weather events hit the country.
Asia warming nearly twice as fast as the global average: WMO
25 Jun 2025
Asia is currently warming nearly twice as fast as the global average with the 1991-2024 trend almost double that of the 1961-1990, fuelling more extreme weather an wreaking a heavy toll on the region's economies and ecosystems.
Carbon capture projects promise a climate fix – and a fossil fuel lifeline
11 Jun 2025
Governments across Southeast Asia are looking at carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) as a way to meet climate targets.
India calls for more climate contributions ahead of key meeting
5 Jun 2025
India has put forth its expectations on the ideal “Baku To Belem Roadmap to 1.3T” ahead of the Bonn Climate Meeting which begins on June 16, stating that without sufficient climate finance, even proposed nationally determined contributions will not materialise, leave alone any ambitious future NDCs.
India, a major user of coal power, is making large gains in clean energy adoption
4 Jun 2025
One of the most carbon-polluting countries, India is also making huge efforts to harness the power of the sun, wind and other clean energy sources.
Indonesia backtracks on coal phase-out in new 2034 power supply plan
29 May 2025
Indonesia plans to add 69.5 gigawatts (GW) of power capacity by the end of 2034, much of it from renewable sources, but it still expects to add new coal-fired power plants.
India's monsoon rains arrive eight days early, earliest in 16 years
29 May 2025
Monsoon rains hit the coast of India's southernmost state of Kerala on Saturday, eight days earlier than usual, marking the earliest arrival in 16 years and providing the promise of a bumper harvest and relief from a gruelling heatwave.
India’s steel expansion threatens climate goals and global efforts to clean up industry: report
21 May 2025
India’s plans to double steel production by the end of the decade could jeopardise its national climate goals and a key global target to reduce planet-heating gas emissions from the steel industry.
Coal India to set up $3 billion worth clean energy projects to boost renewable heft
14 May 2025
The world’s largest government-owned coal producer will set up clean energy projects of around 4.5 gigawatts at a cost of 250 billion rupees (about $3 billion), it said on Thursday, as it aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions from its operations.
More funding, talent development schemes to boost Singapore’s carbon services sector
13 May 2025
Despite the economic uncertainties caused by US tariffs and other geopolitical developments, Singapore’s burgeoning carbon services sector is pushing ahead for growth by capturing more funds and building talent.
Asia’s fossil-free future demands real transformation – not a false transition
7 May 2025
COMMENT: As it meets this week, the Asian Development Bank should stop supporting fossil gas as a “bridge” fuel and back renewable energy.
Japan's greenhouse gas emissions fall to a record low in fiscal 2023
28 Apr 2025
Japan's greenhouse gas emissions in fiscal 2023 declined 4.0% to a record low of 1.071 billion tons in carbon dioxide equivalent, the Environment Ministry said.
Philippines braces for extreme heat as index nears ‘danger’ level of 50C
23 Apr 2025
Nation weather agency warns heat-related illnesses more likely with prolonged exposure or outdoor activity.
Extended heatwave in India, Pakistan to test survivability limits, with temperatures reaching Death Valley levels
17 Apr 2025
For hundreds of millions of people living in India and Pakistan the early arrival of summer heatwaves has become a terrifying reality that’s testing survivability limits and putting enormous strain on energy supplies, vital crops and livelihoods.
It's only early April and north India is bracing for extreme heat
10 Apr 2025
India's weather department has warned of high temperatures in parts of northern India, including capital Delhi, for this week.
Climate crisis made ‘bonkers’ central Asia heatwave up to 10C hotter
9 Apr 2025
Springtime heat in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan likely to become more common as planet warms, accelerating glacier loss and threatening water supplies.
World’s largest deforestation project fells forests for bioethanol fuel, sugar and rice in Indonesia
8 Apr 2025
Indonesia plans to clear forests about the size of Belgium to produce sugarcane-derived bioethanol, rice and other food crops, potentially displacing Indigenous groups who rely on the land to survive.
Indonesia confirms $20 billion climate deal despite US exit
27 Mar 2025
The Indonesian government confirmed a $20 billion commitment from rich nations to help it shut polluting coal plants and transition to cleaner energy sources remains in place, despite the US exit from the agreement.
India records severe heat weeks ahead of schedule
24 Mar 2025
Severe heatwave conditions have begun sweeping across eastern and western India unusually early in the season, with temperatures exceeding 40°C in several regions.
Why action on extreme heat in Indian cities is falling short
21 Mar 2025
Local governments face the difficult task of preparing communities and infrastructure for a warmer world - all while urbanisation accelerates and extreme weather becomes more frequent and intense.
Indonesia hands over confiscated palm oil plantations to state firm
14 Mar 2025
Indonesian prosecutors on Monday handed over more than 221,000 hectares (546,000 acres) of illegal palm oil plantations seized as part of an on-going corruption probe to a new state-owned company that will manage them.
Singapore tender signals high demand for Article 6-aligned carbon credits
12 Mar 2025
Singapore's request for proposal, or RFP, to procure high-quality, Article 6-aligned, nature-based carbon credits, received offers from 17 suppliers with prices in the $19-$41/mtCO2e range, according to multiple market participants.
Japan releases inaugural sustainability reporting standards
12 Mar 2025
The Sustainability Standards Board of Japan (SSBJ) announced the release of its finalized sustainability disclosure standards, based on the standards developed by the IFRS Foundation's International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB), and anticipated to form the basis of mandatory reporting for listed Japanese companies of sustainability and climate-related information.
Coral reefs in Vietnam face collapse. Can conservation efforts turn the tide?
7 Mar 2025
The gentle waves off the coast of central Vietnam's Nha Trang obscure an open secret: The life-giving coral reefs below are dying. The waters are eerily devoid of fish. The bounty of the ocean is coming to an end.
Avalanche in India triggered by 600% surge in rain linked to climate change
6 Mar 2025
An avalanche which killed eight in India on Friday was set in motion weeks earlier by a dry winter, and triggered by a sudden 600% spike in precipitation within 24 hours, a disaster expert says.
Australia, China discuss regional energy security, Albanese says
Thu 9 Apr 2026
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he discussed regional energy security with his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang by phone on Tuesday, as China's fuel export ban exacerbates energy disruptions linked to the Iran war.
US EPA head gives keynote address at climate sceptic conference
Fri 10 Apr 2026
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin gave the keynote speech Wednesday at a conference hosted by a climate denial group.
China's Xi urges faster development of new energy system as Middle East war continues
Wed 8 Apr 2026
Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for accelerated planning and construction of a new energy system to safeguard the country's energy security, weeks into the Iran war that has triggered global energy shocks.
France's emissions cuts slow again in 2025, throwing climate targets off track
Fri 10 Apr 2026
While France's overall emissions are still in decline, the rate of their decline had slowed for the second year in a row, throwing the country off course to meet its 2030 climate goals.
Britain hits renewable power record in 2025, but fossil fuel use also up
Wed 8 Apr 2026
Renewable power such as wind and solar provided a record 52.5% of Britain’s electricity generation in 2025, government data showed on Thursday, but fossil fuel use also rose.
Mark Carney just picked his lane on climate change
17 Feb 2026
COMMENT: Mark Carney's time as prime minister has been defined in part by his decision to roll back Trudeau-era climate policies.
Vanuatu Indigenous leaders raise concerns over plans to build resort for cruise tourists
1 Apr 2026
Indigenous community leaders in Vanuatu have raised concerns over plans by the cruise operator Royal Caribbean to build a private beach club on the island of Lelepa, arguing environmental impact assessments by the company are “incomplete” and “misleading”.
China's huge push to reduce air pollution had an unexpected consequence in the Arctic
2 Apr 2026
China's cuts to aerosol emissions reduced sea ice loss, but it may have revealed a bigger story about climate change.
Rationing power and diluting petrol – how African countries are coping with effects of Iran war
30 Mar 2026
Countries across Africa have taken measures such as diluting petrol and restricting electricity consumption to cope with the fuel crisis triggered by the US and Israel's war in Iran.
Beef production drives 40% of agriculture-linked forest destruction, Brazil leads
26 Mar 2026
Beef production is the leading driver of agriculture-linked deforestation, accounting for 40% of all forest clearing done to open space for food production, according to details of a study released on Tuesday.
Iran war should trigger faster exit from fossil fuel dependence, UN climate chief says
18 Mar 2026
The disruption to energy markets caused by the Iran war is a lesson on the risks of relying on fossil fuels which should drive governments to wean their economies off oil and gas faster, the U.N. climate secretary told Reuters on Monday.
