Features
Climate Tops Voters’ Priorities As Asia Pacific Braces for 2025 Elections
The elections that are about to take place all over APAC in the upcoming months provide candidates with an opportunity to acknowledge ambitious climate and emissions reduction action not only to appease climate voters but also to guarantee economic growth, energy security and better handling of the cost-of-living crisis.
The Global Plastics Treaty and Its Importance to End Plastic Pollution
While a few petrostates blocked the progress on the Global Plastics Treaty in 2024, countries will have another chance to advance the initiative in August 2025. Failure to overcome the fossil fuel lobby’s interests for a second time would be devastating for global efforts to tackle one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.
Japan’s Seventh Strategic Energy Plan Is Both Unambitious and a Fantasy
Japan's seventh Strategic Energy Plan, finalised on Feb. 18, 2025, targets 40-50% renewable energy and 20% nuclear power by 2040 but faces criticism for being overly optimistic. Experts warn that without major policy reforms, Japan may continue relying on fossil fuels, highlighting the need for greater transparency and diverse input in energy planning.
IPCC’s 62nd Session in China Fails to Agree on Deadline For Next Climate Reports, Scientists Concerned
Despite the prolonged discussions, delegates couldn’t agree on the timeline for the AR7 reports’ delivery for the third time in a row. The efforts of a group of countries to slow progress at the IPCC-62 down succeeded, creating uncertainty whether the reports would be produced in time to inform the second Global Stocktake.
China GDP Breakdown: Clean Technology Sectors Driving Economic Growth
China’s GDP growth is increasingly driven by the clean energy sector, reflecting the country’s shift...
Captive Coal Threatens Indonesia’s Peak Emissions by 2030
Ember's latest research reveals that Indonesia’s captive coal expansion plans risk distancing the country from its ambitious decarbonisation goals. The analysts warn they could also lead to increased electricity costs and adverse health impacts.
MDBs’ Love for Fossil Fuel Leaves Asian Nations Floundering
Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) face criticism for financing fossil fuel projects that undermine climate goals. In Bangladesh, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) invested $600 million in energy without supporting renewables, enabling coal and gas expansions that displaced communities. Similarly, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) focused on fossil fuels, worsening energy poverty despite claims of improving electricity access. This profit-driven approach exacerbates environmental degradation and social inequality in vulnerable nations.
Is LNG Bad for the Environment? Panel Experts Say Yes
Portfolio players are building a wave of new LNG carriers at a record pace to keep up with LNG production. Many of these carriers are being built with unregulated capital and have no or weak environmental regulations. This will create more greenhouse gas emissions and lock in more fossil fuel usage for decades.
Japan To Buy ‘Record Amounts’ of LNG From US After Trump and Ishiba Meet
In times of heightened geopolitical risk and ever-dropping renewable energy costs, Japan's promise is likely to have significant consequences for its economy and energy security. However, the biggest impact might be felt by Southeast Asian countries – a prime target for Japanese stakeholders looking to resell excessive LNG.
Japan’s Updated NDC Plans Fall Short of Expectations
Japan’s delay in updating its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) raises concerns about its climate ambitions. The proposed targets — 60% emissions reduction by 2035 and 73% by 2040 — fall short of the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal. Japan's policy-making structural issues, including industry influence over energy policy and the primacy of energy policy over climate targets, hinder progress. Reforming Japan’s policy-making framework is essential.
Natural Gas Price Forecast 2025: Asia To Drive Global Demand
In 2025, natural gas markets will continue facing uncertainty, with market analysts warning of continuously increasing prices hitting import-reliant Asian economies. This necessitates accelerating renewables deployment to ensure more affordable, secure and clean energy for their growing economies.
Trump Quits the Paris Agreement: The Consequences
Experts say that while Trump's decision will significantly impact global climate action, it won't derail it since the clean energy transition is already underway. The economic reasoning behind it is too strong to ignore. However, other nations must unite and increase their efforts to protect the most vulnerable.
Japan’s Offshore Wind Potential
Japan needs to boost offshore wind power generation to meet decarbonisation goals, as current targets of 10 GW by 2030 and 45 GW by 2040 are deemed insufficient. With significant offshore wind potential, experts call for more ambitious goals and better policies to enhance investment and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
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