• China pays high environmental and social price for reliance on coal (Guardian) - The True Cost of Coal, a new report published by Greenpeace, the World Wildlife Fund and The Energy Foundation, says that the social and environmental impacts of using coal cost China an additional 1.7 trillion yuan.
• New deal to rescue Borneo orangutans in Malaysia (Yahoo) - The Malaysian-based LEAP Conservancy group is planning to buy 222 acres of tropical jungle land on Borneo island from palm oil operators, and turn it into a forest sanctuary to protect Borneo’s orangutans, pygmy elephants and other endangered wildlife.
• Thailand commissions nuclear power plant study (Today) - The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand is conducting a feasibility study for Thailand’s first nuclear power plant.
• Marina Barrage: First city reservoir opens (Straits Times via Wildsingapore) - Singapore opens its new Marina Barrage to create the 15th reservoir, and to increase water supply and control flooding.
• Singapore could draw more green energy projects (Business Times via Wildsingapore) - Singapore is looking to attract more mega investments to develop new alternative energy ideas and technologies.

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• Japan launches voluntary CO2 market (Reuters) - Japan recently launched a voluntary carbon market based on companies setting voluntary emission cuts.
• Hong Kong night light pollution under the spotlight (Reuters) - Environmentalists are critical of the unnecessary and wasteful practice of keeping neon signs and buildings brightly lit all night.
• New book on how Singapore achieved environmental and water sustainability (Straits Times via Wildsingapore) - A new book, Clean, Green And Blue, published by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies gives a detailed look at how Singapore achieved environmental and water sustainability in 40 years.
• China report warns of greenhouse gas leap (Reuters) - Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences and other state institutes have concluded that China’s greenhouse gas emission could double or more in two decades.
• Recycling food waste into biogas in Singapore (Business Times via Wildsingapore) - IUT Global Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based company that operates a bio-methanisation plant to convert food waste into biogas and compost.
• Beijing offers cash to curb capital’s pollution (Reuters) - The Beijing government will give companies who stop highly polluting production up to 2.3 million yuan, to stimulate the replacement of high-pollution industries and clear the capital’s poor air.

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• Pollution may hit Himalayan monsoon clouds (Reuters) - A new report by scientists in France and Italy found that higher levels of pollution in Asia may affect cloud formation in the Himalayas, disrupting monsoons and thawing glaciers.
• From water-scarce island to hydrohub (Business Times via Wildsingapore) - Singapore has evolved from a water-scarce nation into a global hydrohub of solutions and technologies for the water industry.
• China plans string of dams in south Tibet (The Guardian) - China is planning to build new dams in southern Tibet to boost its electricity supply, although previous proposals are controversial because of their impact on the environment, local people and communities.
• Singapore’s BCA Green Mark debuts in Malaysia, set to go beyond (Business Times via Wildsingapore) - Some green building developers from countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and China are adopting the Green Mark scheme developed by the Building and Construction Authority.
• China’s poor Anhui gears up for nuclear plant (Reuters) - China’s poor eastern Anhui province is hoping to build a 4 GW nuclear plant to supply 30 billion kwh of power annually to the southern part of Anhui, Shanghai and the Yangtze River Delta.

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• China residents mobilize against chemical project (Reuters) - Residents of Taizhou are mobilizing to protest against a proposed paraxylene plant, for fear of threats to their health and the environment.
• India’s humble rickshaw goes solar (ENN) - The Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research has developed a solar-powered cycle-rickshaw to reduce India’s traffic woes, air pollution and fossil fuel dependence.
• Indonesian officials unveil a deal to protect forests (International Herald Tribune) - All 10 provincial governors of Sumatra agreed to a forest conservation plan to prevent the cutting down or burning of trees.
• China also suffers from indoor air pollution (Los Angeles Times) - A new study by Harvard’s School of Public Health warns that 83 million Chinese will die of lung cancer and respiratory ailments over the next 25 years unless cigarette smoking and indoor fuel-burning are reduced.
• Weak flood defences ‘risking lives’ (BBC News) - Recent floods in Nepal, India and Bangladesh showed that flood defences may not withstand climate change-induced floods.

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• China biggest carbon polluter, world levels at record: scientists (Yahoo! News UK) - A recent report by the Global Carbon Project confirms that China has overtaken the United States to become the biggest producer of carbon dioxide and that India is heading for third place. The report also showed that the present concentration of carbon dioxide at 383 ppm is the highest over the last 650,000 years, and developing countries now account for 53% of total carbon emissions.
• Vietnam: Heeding Climate Change Warnings (ENN) - A report by World Vision warned that Vietnam may become one of the nations worst hit by climate change, with sea level rise affecting 5% of the land area, 11% of the population and 7% of agriculture.
• Japan To Subsidize Solar Panels For Your House (TreeHugger) - Japan is introducing a subsidy of about 200,000 yen to households that buy a solar power system, which is about 10% of the cost of a standard solar power system. Japan has set a target of increasing solar power generation by 10 times from current levels by 2020 and 40 times by 2030.

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• Malaysia looking at nuclear energy use: minister (Yahoo! News) - Malaysia is considering to construct its first 1,000 MW nuclear power plant to meet its long-term energy needs.
• China overtakes UK on renewables (ENN) - China has taken over the UK and joins Spain, the US, Germany and India as the top five most attractive countries for investment in renewable energy, according to the quarterly Ernst & Young Country Attractiveness Indices.
• Sending waste to China saves carbon emissions (Guardian) - A report from the Waste Resources Action Programme shows that it makes environmental sense and achieves more carbon savings to send paper and plastic waste to China for recycling instead of landfilling in the UK.
• “Toxic” Indian festivals poison waterways (Reuters) - Paints, dyes and plaster of Paris from thousands of Hindu gods immersed in rivers and lakes across India are causing water pollution.

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• Beijing enjoys best air in decade (Reuters) - Chinese officials are committed to long term measures to ensure good air quality after the Olympic Games.
• Japan to label goods’ carbon footprints: official (Yahoo! News) - Selected consumer goods in Japan to carry carbon footprint label next year.
• S Korea goes green (Today Online) - South Korean President unveils “Low Carbon, Green Growth” vision to drive the economy forward.
• Indonesia to push renewable energy: president (Yahoo! News) - Indonesian President announces plans to save energy and tap on renewable energy.
• Exports Account for One-Third of China’s Emissions (Worldwatch Institute) - A new study reveals that exports are responsible for one-third of China’s greenhouse gas emissions, powered mainly by coal.
• Greenpeace launches ‘Philippine Energy Revolution’ report (Greenpeace) - Greenpeace launches a new report, Energy [R]evolution: A Sustainable Philippine Energy Outlook, which describes a comprehensive energy strategy for the Philippines and how renewable energy can supply 57% of the Philippines’ energy needs by 2030.

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