In 2019, the illegal wildlife trade reached staggering levels. Pangolin scales and ivory were being trafficked in massive quantities from Africa to Asia, exposing a network of crime syndicates operating at an industrial scale. The sheer volume of these shipments marked a disturbing milestone, one that revealed the global reach …
In 2019, the illegal wildlife trade reached staggering levels. Pangolin scales and ivory were being trafficked in massive quantities from Africa to Asia, exposing a network of crime syndicates operating at an industrial scale. The sheer volume of these shipments marked a disturbing milestone, one that revealed the global reach …
This report sheds light on one of the fastest-growing economic regions in the world - ASEAN. ASEAN is expected to become the world’s fourth-largest economy and the third most populous by 20230. Countries within ASEAN are in themselves diverse, with economic, political, and cultural nuances. Over the next years, the …
United Nations Environment today announced a shortlist of regional finalists for the Young Champions of the Earth prize. The global competition aims to identify, support and celebrate outstanding individuals aged between 18 and 30 with big ideas to protect or restore the environment. From more than 900 applicants, the top …
Singapore has seized nearly 26 tonnes of pangolin scales - the most ever recorded - in two separate operations over the past week, increasing calls for improved protection for the endangered species. The scales, linked to four types of pangolin in Africa, would have together come from 38,000 pangolins. The …
Authorities in Singapore say they’ve seized yet another illegal shipment of pangolin scales, this time adding another 12.7 tons to last week’s interdiction of 12.9 tons of scales – or about 21,000 endangered pangolin. The latest seizure came after inspection of a 40-foot container that was en route to Vietnam …
Plastic producers and users including Shell, ExxonMobil, LyondellBasell, Chevron and P&G; are investing US$1.5 billion over the next five years to fight plastic waste, with a focus on Southeast Asia. The alliance claims this is the most comprehensive effort yet to end plastic waste. A coalition of the world’s biggest …
Revolv, a new container rental service, is launching in Singapore and could help cut single-use plastic from food and drink takeaways, the fastest growing source of plastic waste in the convenience-minded city-state. A new service is launching in Singapore that enables consumers to rent rather than buy containers for food …
This book aims to give policy makers an overview of the evolution of science, technology and innovation (STI) policies in a selected number of East Asian countries. China, Japan, Republic of Korea and Singapore have transformed their economies and societies in recent decades. From STI policies that enabled catch-up growth, …
The minimum legal age for smoking in the Republic will be raised to 19 years old from Jan 1. Issuing a reminder a few days before the new rule kicks in, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Friday that the ruling is part of a planned move to progressively …
Insufficient regulation and fossil fuel subsidies are holding back Southeast Asia’s transition to a low carbon economy, according to a new report released by Eco-Business. Government, business and civil society leaders across the region said the absence of tougher regulations around environmental standards was the biggest obstacle to their country …
SMOKING is a scourge. It is the leading preventable cause of cancer and kills over 7m people annually, mostly in low- and middle-income countries. In America, where it is linked to one death in five, it is estimated to cost more than $300bn a year in medical bills and lost …
The 2015 smoke haze episode was one of the most severe and prolonged transboundary air pollution events ever seen in Southeast Asia (SEA), affecting the air quality of several countries within the region including Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. The 24 h mean outdoor PM2.5 (particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter …
A new scorecard rating companies headquartered in Singapore and Malaysia on their palm oil sustainability commitments has found that the majority do not disclose any information on their sourcing practices. The WWF Palm Oil Buyers’ Scorecard surveyed 47 companies, all household brands in Malaysia and Singapore, asking how far along …
Buildings that are built and renovated with the environment and resource-efficiency in mind are not only greener and cheaper to operate, maintain and demolish, but they’re healthier places for people to live and work in. This was the key finding from a study by Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority (BCA) …
In 1868 the world’s first traffic light was installed outside the Houses of Parliament. The gaslit signal controlled the flow of London carriages—at least for a few weeks. For, soon enough, the gas ignited. The resulting explosion knocked the helmet off a policeman’s head, and left him badly burned. Efforts …
Seven smugglers involved in the illegal ivory trade from Uganda to Singapore have been arrested following an 18-month investigation by African and Asian law enforcement officials, a counter-trafficking organization said. The operation netted a top Kenyan customs officer and shipping agents who facilitated the covert ivory pipeline, highlighting progress in …
The traffic congestion and its high socioeconomic cost, brought by China’s fast urbanization, has forced the demand for congestion mitigation and emission reduction in the transport sector onto the government’s agenda. Several Chinese cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou are considering to mitigate these growing air pollution and traffic …
The volume of discarded electronics in East and South-East Asia jumped almost two-thirds between 2010 and 2015, and e-waste generation is growing fast in both total volume and per capita measures, new UNU research shows. Driven by rising incomes and high demand for new gadgets and appliances, the average increase …
Southeast Asia faces a major challenge: meeting its growing energy needs while limiting its greenhouse gas emissions. The upcoming SETA 2017 expo will convene global technology innovators and policymakers to scale up clean energy solutions. The ink has long dried on the world’s first deal to combat climate change, an …
Vegetation and peatland fires cause poor air quality and thousands of premature deaths across densely populated regions in Equatorial Asia. Strong El-Niño and positive Indian Ocean Dipole conditions are associated with an increase in the frequency and intensity of wildfires in Indonesia and Borneo, enhancing population exposure to hazardous concentrations …
