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Environment in Asia

  • Climate change sparks tension in India’s tea gardens

    INDIA, 2015/05/07 Usha Ghatowar smiles wryly when asked about the pay she earns picking leaves at a colonial-era tea garden in Assam. “Do you think Rs.3,000 are enough when your monthly expenses can be double that?” she mumbles, as she puts on her “jaapi” hat of woven bamboo and palm leaves and takes a sip of tea from a steel mug. As the women workers around Ghatowar nod in agreement the heavens open — it has started raining heavily in recent days after three largely dry months.

  • Chinese government is mulling the expansion of the current new-energy vehicle subsidies to 2020

    CHINA, 2015/05/01 According to new draft regulation published yesterday, the Chinese government is mulling the expansion of the current new-energy vehicle subsidies to 2020, up from the current expiration date set for the end of next year. The measures designed to support the new energy vehicles, China’s generic term for “green” autos that span from plug-in hybrids to battery and fuel cell electrics, are the new policy effort from the central authorities as the country battles the growing threat of pollution and snarling traffic. The subsidies, though designed to be gradually toned down during the period from 2016 to 2020, according to the draft rules seen on the Ministry of Finance’s website, may represent a great investment to companies that produce such models, such as BYD Co., China’s major producer of electric cars.

  • China ready to lower new energy vehicle support

    CHINA, 2015/04/30 The government of the world’s major auto market announced it would move to lower the subsidies of new-energy vehicles in the country, even as deliveries have not met the official estimate. The Chinese will curb the subsidies additional than before announced on new-energy vehicles, the country’s term for vehicles inclunding plug-in hybrids, battery and fuel cell electrics. According to a recent statement posted on the finance ministry’s website, the officials will curb the incentives on new-energy models by 40 % for the 2019 to 2020 period from the level mulled for 2016. The new figure is two times larger than the ministry envisioned back in December 2014.

  • China to Make More Efforts On Elephant Conservation

    CHINA, 2015/03/28 A Chinese official has said that China will make additional efforts on the fields of management, law enforcement, education and capacity building to help African nations battle elephant poaching. Meng Xianlin, executive director-general of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Import and Export Management Office of China, made the remarks Monday next the African Elephant Summit in Kasane, Northern Botswana. China has as well strengthened law enforcement, Meng said next the conference, adding that in 2014, China worked together with 28 nations and international organizations where a lot of illegal wildlife trades were seized and involved criminals were captured.

  • Beijing is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Week 2014

    CHINA, 2014/11/11 China has made a gargantuan effort to clear Beijing’s smoggy air for an significant regional summit this week, closing hundreds of factories and forcing cars off the road, but its efforts have only been partially successful. On Monday afternoon, the U.S. Embassy air quality monitor reported a reading of 157, a measurement classified as “unhealthy”. Red-faced, the Chinese government has come up with an innovative solution – block the data from being displayed on local smart phone apps and Web sites. "Upon instructions from the authorities, for this month's air quality data, please refer to the figure by Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau,” a notice in red on the Web site www.beijingair.com said. “We wish the APEC summit a great success."

  • Turkmenistan stops using ODS

    TURKMENISTAN, 2014/09/19 The major ozone-depleting substances (ODS) were withdrawn from the use in Turkmenistan as a result of active nature conservation measures, Turkmen Nature Protection Ministry reported. The ODS include freons, which are widely used in refrigerating equipment, all kinds of chemicals, solvents and reagents for fighting fires. "Turkmenistan is working to preserve its own incomparable nature, for the rational use of natural resources, regeneration of water, land and biological resources, reduction of air pollution, fighting desertification, expanding the tree-planting areas, and the environmental advocacy," the ministry said.

  • Hydropower project killing river tourism in Nepal

    NEPAL, 2014/03/11 The one-time thriving rafting business on the Marshyangdi River has greatly suffered next the construction of mid-Marshyangdi Hydropower project, local tourism entrepreneurs lamented. With the river water used for generating hydro power, hotels on the riverside, which depended on tourists enthusiastic about canoeing and rafting on the turbulent, fast-flowing waters of the river, have suffered a lot. Most of them have downed their shutters as the river presently tamed for generating hydropower has ceased to lure tourists for rafting and other water related recreational activities.

  • Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan

    SINGAPORE, 2013/12/15 Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has said the government needs to send a clear and unequivocal signal to irresponsible companies whose actions damage the environment and cause transboundary effects. Singapore experienced its worst haze in June, with PSI levels reaching a record high of 401. The haze was caused by forest fires in Indonesia. Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore is currently considering drafting legislation to enhance penalties for irresponsible companies.

  • The Department of Environment and Natural Resources

    PHILIPPINES, 2013/12/15 The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 7 will provide mangrove seedlings and saplings to local government units in Central Visayas to protect coasts from storm surges, a government press release said. DENR 7 regional executive director Isabelo Montejo said LGUs that want to help plant mangroves should coordinate with their Community Environment and Natural Resources Office for seedlings and saplings. He added the DENR will help identify suitable planting sites for mangroves.

  • Carbon markets planned in China,

    CHINA, 2013/12/15 China’s southern province of Guangdong won’t allow companies to trade emission permits they receive free of charge from the government unless they participate in auctions starting next week, an official said. The 242 participating companies won’t be able to buy or sell permits accounting for 97 % of their emission quotas until they purchase the balance at auctions, said the official with the Guangzhou-based China Emissions Exchange. He asked not to be named because he isn’t authorized to speak to the media.
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