Environment

ADB to double annual climate financing to USD6 billion for Asia-Pacific by 2020

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao today announced that ADB will double its annual climate financing to $6 billion by 2020, up from the current $3 billion. ADB’s spending on tackling climate change will rise to around 30%

Seven captive bears rescued in Quang Ninh

Seven moon bears were rescued from two bear farms in the north-eastern Quang Ninh Province by Animals Asia and the provincial Forest Management Department.

Vietnam to end use of bear bile

Animals Asia Foundation and the Vietnam Oriental Traditional Medicine Association have signed an agreement to end the use of bear bile in oriental medicine in Vietnam by 2020.

Vietnam prepares for UN climate change talks in Paris

Vietnam is quickly finishing the Intended National Determined Contributions to participate in the 21st Conference of Parties (COP) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, set to be held in Paris this December.

Carbon pricing schemes double since 2012 in climate fight: World Bank

The number of carbon pricing schemes worldwide has almost doubled since 2012 but most taxes or markets have prices too low to prevent damaging global warming, the World Bank said.

Air pollution could soon cause more than 6 million premature deaths per year

By the year 2050, more than 6 million people will die prematurely due to prolonged exposure to air pollution each yea, according to a recent study.

Only 20 Indochinese left in Vietnam

It is estimated that about 20 Indochinese tigers and nearly 100 Asian elephants are left in the wild in Vietnam, heard a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City.

HCM City to build irrigation lakes to cope with flooding

At least 103 irrigation lakes covering a total area of 875 hectares will be dug in and around HCM City to cope with flooding.

Vietnam to appeal for global effort to cut greenhouse gas emissions

All countries around the world should join hands in reducing greenhouse gas emissions since climate change consequences are fiercer, an expert said at a policy discussion held by the French Development Agency in Hanoi.

HCM City moves polluting factories

HCM City authorities are speeding up the relocation of polluting factories from the downtown area and stepping up efforts to protect canals – many of which have been cleaned — to improve the living environment.

Hanoi traffic spouts pollution

Seventy per cent of air pollution in Ha Noi is created by the endless streams of traffic, the Centre for Environmental Monitoring has reported.

Deputy PM: priority capital for disaster mitigation projects

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai requested capital to disaster mitigation projects be prioritised while chairing a teleconference in Hanoi on September 14.

Central province plans sea conservation project

The central province plans to create a 7,900ha sea reserve off the coast of Ly Son island and Binh Chau commune before awarding it Global Geopark status.

International workshop looks to curb coastal erosion

Climate change and a reduction in sediment supply and river discharge along the Thu Bon River are the primary causes of coastal erosion in the central region, particularly Cua Dai Beach in Hoi An, speakers said at an international

Thousands of hectares of forest destroyed in Central Highlands

PM Nguyen Tan Dung has asked agencies to curb deforestation which has wiped out 9,000 hectares of forest in the Central Highland province of Dak Nong.

Da Nang seeks to reduce greenhouse emissions with UK-supported tool

The Da Nang government and the UK embassy held a workshop on September 9 to launch a project aimed at reducing greenhouse emissions using a tool called Calculator 2050.

Environment experts discuss dam dangers

Thirty-five experts from environmental organisations in Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam gathered yesterday to discuss water management and the effects of hydropower dams.