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Curated and compiled by Purnima Joshi
Section: ENVIRONMENT
Investing in recycling and circular economy to fight climate change
Author : ROB KAPLAN, Founder & CEO Circulate Capital
While coping with the Covid-19 pandemic, we lost ground on critical issues such as plastic pollution and climate change. The waste management and recycling value chain in South and South-east Asia ground to a halt while the use of single-use and virgin plastics soared.
We need to harmonise the pandemic recovery response with strategies that attain systemic environmental resiliency.
Today, public opinion agrees about the dangers of climate change, but the link between plastic pollution and the climate crisis is not often made.
Read more:
THE BUSINESS TIMES; MAR 09, 2021
Sindh coastal belt vulnerable to climate change, warn experts
Author : Correspondent, The Herald Tribune
The coastal belt of Pakistan, particularly Sindh, is more vulnerable to climate change impacts, which lead to security issues and loss of livelihoods, mainly in fisheries and agriculture sectors, warned climate experts during a seminar on the engagement of youth to address coastal climate change vulnerability on Thursday 11 March. Held at the University of Karachi, speakers at the seminar organised by Oxfam International, a confederation of 20 NGOs, and World Wildlife Fund Pakistan, underscored that marginalised communities were at a greater risk of being affected by climate change.
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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE; MARCH 13, 2021
Section : EVENTS / MEETINGS
‘No time to waste’: A clarion call for action against climate change
Author : Correspondent, UNB News
To celebrate Bangladesh's 50th anniversary of independence, Bangladesh Youth Leadership Center inaugurated the virtual Global Youth Climate Summit, in partnership with the California-based Foundation for Climate Restoration, Resilient Markets, and the Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge on Thursday, 11 March. Over 600 delegates from 80 countries across 6 continents participated.
Climate change is already a problem in countries in Southeast Asia, and Bangladesh's biggest challenge in the next 50 years and the country's very survival depends on how the world achieves net zero emissions and brings GHGs to pre-industrial levels.
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UNB NEWS; MARCH 13, 2021
Section: FUNDING / FINANCE
Green Climate Fund whistleblowers urge US to take its money elsewhere
Author : Editor, Asia Pacific Reporter
The Green Climate Fund is a beacon of rich-poor cooperation on tackling the climate crisis, reports Climate Change News. A newly reengaged US is considering a multi-billion-dollar contribution. However, whistleblowers say a “toxic” workplace and lack of integrity at senior levels jeopardise the fund’s ability to meet its mandate. Without urgent reform, they say, the US should find other channels for climate finance.
The presidential climate envoy is seeking to rebuild bridges with the rest of the world after former President Donald Trump reneged on US climate commitments. Delivering a $2 billion outstanding pledge to the UN-backed climate fund, for distribution to projects in developing countries, is widely seen as a good place to start.
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ASIA PACIFIC REPORT ; MARCH 13, 2021
Section: CORPORATE LEADERSHIP
World climate change challenges : Leadership and policies big factors in addressing global warming
Author : Hakem Hassan, 11 March 2021
Corporate leadership and alignment of policies are key to addressing global climate issues. Corporations must be more sensitive to the risk of climate change vis-a-vis its impact on investment opportunities. At the same time, government policies have to strike a balance among economic, climate and energy priorities. Only when these challenges are met can the promises of the Paris Agreement be achieved, said Datin Seri Sunita Rajakumar, founder of Climate Governance Malaysia, the Malaysian country chapter at the CGI Global Summit 2021 (23-26 March) to be convened online, which brings together business leaders, regulators, experts, the academia and corporate governance experts to discuss and take steps towards reducing the risk of a climate emergency.
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THE SUN DAILY ; MARCH 11, 2021
Section: RESEARCH / FOOD & AGRICULTURE
How India's rice production can adapt to climate change challenges
(Original Material provided by : University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences)
Author : Merienne Stein
As the global population grows, the demand for food increases while arable land shrinks. A new study investigates how rice production in India can meet future needs by adapting to changing climate conditions and water availability. Traditionally, rice is grown in countries that have plenty of water. They have tropical weather with heavy rainfall they depend on for rice production. Overall, about 4,000 liters of water go into production and processing per kilogram of rice," he states. Climate change is likely to affect future water availability, and new management practices must be adopted to sustain production and increase yield.
Read more:
SCIENCE DAILY MARCH 11, 2021
First water, now energy as Singapore's key challenge for the next 50 years: Chan Chun Sing
Author : Matthew Mohan
Singapore has successfully addressed its water needs over the past 50 years, now meeting the country's energy needs sustainably will be the country's primary challenge for the next five decades, said Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing at the CNA's The Climate Conversations podcast. Mr Chan reiterated that Singapore needs to continue finding more efficient ways to reduce its demand for energy. He also spoke about jobs in the energy sector, especially green jobs and a green economy, carbon tax, and looking to embrace a common carbon pricing.
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CNA; 12 March 2021
The haze is likely to hit Southeast Asia early in 2021—is climate change to blame?
Author: Robin Hicks
Forest fires in Indonesia that produce dangerous air pollution have already been recorded on Sumatra and Borneo. Indonesia’s president Joko Widodo has warned of more severe fires this year. The haze season, an annual environmental calamity every year since the 1980s, will start earlier this year, because of the dry weather and linked to climate change. It leaves Indonesia’s forests and carbon-rich peatlands—vast tracts of which have been drained to plant palm oil and pulpwood—particularly vulnerable to fire.
Read more:
ECO BUSINESS; 10 March 2021
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THANK YOU
CGM's Asia-Pacific Climate Digest is compiled by communications consultant Purnima Joshi.
With over two decades of experience in corporate communications, Purnima combines her skills in creative and communication along with her passion for working for the community.
She has worked on a multitude of projects in waste management, circular economy, building active citizenship in the community, some of which have won awards.
These also include a project on building climate resilience for UNICEF as well as some award-winning projects. She has been associated with several NGOs in an advisory capacity for over 10 years.
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