Himal Mag, Kuenselonline
A tale of the two Himalayan kingdoms: Whither go the 100,000-plus refugees, who've been languishing in UNHCR-run camps in eastern Nepal for over a decade? more» ... more»
Kuenselonline
"So far we have only been talking about conserving and protecting the biodiversity," said the outgoing Agricultural Minister (of Bhutan), Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji. "Now we are talking about bio-prospecting it." more»
Nepalnews
Deportation of Tibetan refugees not only cost Nepal a favorable US garment bill, but also nearly cost it a tourism boycott. Welcome to a brave new world of political correctness. more» ... more» ... more» ... more»
Kuenselonline, Nepalnews
What people go through to hunt for Yarchagumpa, aka the Himalayan viagra, in Dolpa? It's the heyday of a Himalayan 'gold rush' in Nepal. more» ... Learn how this very Himalayan gold rush is being managed in Bhutan? more» ... more»
Kuenselonline
Rinpoche teams up with Hollywood professionals to make Travellers and Magicians: a beautifully layered Bhutanese film about existential quest. more» ... more»
ICIMOD
Eric Valli made a world-famous documentary on the honey hunters of Nepal. Now there's a book out on Himalayan Cliff Bee Apis laboriosa and the Honey Hunters of Kaski. more»
documentaryfilms.net
Genghis Blues: A West African blues singer immerses himself in the throat-singing culture of Tuva, an isolated region near Mongolia, in this heartwarming West meets East flick. more»
the-south-asian.com
'The Kalasha of Pakistan: Problems of Minority Development and Environmental Management.' By Peter Parks. more»
uk.news.yahoo.com
Pakistan to evacuate "high risk" areas in quake zone
Pakistani
authorities are preparing to evacuate thousands of survivors of last year's
earthquake amid risks their mountain villages may be washed away by the coming rains, officials said on Tuesday.
more»
Nepalnews
Deportation of Tibetan refugees not only costs Nepal a favorable US garment bill, but also nearly cost it a tourism boycott. Welcome to a brave new world of political correctness. more? ... more? ... more? ... more?
Kantipur
Deportation of Tibetan refugees not only cost Nepal a favorable US garment bill, but also nearly cost it a tourism boycott. Welcome to a brave new world of political correctness. more» ... more» ... more» ... more»
The Mountain Institute
The Mountain
Institute: It is an international non-profit organization dedicated to
conservation, community development, and cultural preservation in the Andes,
Appalachian, Himalayan, and other mountain ranges of the world.
more»
FAO of UN [www.foa.org]
Forestry leaders
tackle deforestation
India hosts 21st Session of Asia-Pacific
Forestry Commission
more»
International Herald Tribune [http://www.iht.com]
In Japan, a rural village on extinction's edge
This mountain village
on the West Coast, withered to eight aging residents, concluded recently that it
could no longer go on.
more»
Mountain Forum [http://www.mtnforum.org]
Mountain Forum Bulletin
Mountain Forum calls for contributions for
the upcoming issue of the Mountain Forum Bulletin.
more»
Indonesia villagers defy volcano
Some villagers are defying the
dangers posed by the Indonesian volcano Mount Merapi, saying they must try to
tend their livestock and crops.
more»
THAI SOLDIERS SEARCH MUD FOR FLOOD VICTIMS
Soldiers slogged through deep mud in northern Thailand on Thursday as
they searched for bodies after flash floods killed more than 100 people.
more»
It's perfectly (eco)logical
Godavari's unique appropriate technology
theme park trains farmers from across the Himalaya.
more»
Threatened plant and animal species exceed 16,000:
more»
Tunza Magazine explores aspects of Deserts and Desertification in its World Environment Day special issue.
more»
Nepal's biogas initiative gets major funding boost
Rural communities in Nepal will gain access to clean energy supplies through a project that will receive funds for reducing Nepal's carbon dioxide emissions.
more»
www.unccd.int
UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification):
-June 17, World Day to combat Desertification.
The World Day to Combat Desertification is celebrated every year on 17 June all over the world in order to highlight the fact that desertification is of global concern and to strengthen the visibility and importance of the drylands issue on the international environmental agenda.
more»
www.scidev.net
Desertification is 'economic not environmental' issue:
Nations
affected by desertification must treat it as an agricultural and economic
problem, instead of sidelining it as an environmental issue.
more»
www.keralanext.com
Indonesia quake survivors ill due to poor sanitary conditions:
Many survivors of the earthquake in Indonesia's Yogyakarta and Central Java are suffering from various illnesses caused by poor sanitary conditions in their makeshift shelters.
more»
news.bbc.co.uk
Millions 'will flee degradation':
There will be as many as 50 million environmental refugees in the world in five years' time.
more»
www.nytimes.com
Tourism Suffers in Indonesian City Caught Between Quake and Volcano:
In the southern part of this city a short street once alive with guest houses, restaurants, travel agencies and souvenir shops now sits quiet, with barely a soul to be found, just weeks before the onset of the tourist season.
more»
www.bangladeshsun.com
Sino Environment Rides on China's Pollution Woes
China's Sino Environment Technology Group Ltd., which makes equipment to treat industrial waste, is riding on the country's ambitious programme to clean up its poisoned air and water.
more»
www.scidev.net
Development sector must engage on climate change
Saleemul Huq says the time is now ripe for the development community to engage with climate change.
more»
www.scidev.net
Project to assess sustainability of Asian rice farms
Scientists are developing a set of indicators to measure the sustainability of rice production in South East Asia.
more»
www.scidev.net
Poverty alleviation key to preserving biodiversity
Too often, efforts to conserve biodiversity pay insufficient attention to human needs. A leading economist is now proposing a strategy by which this might change.
more»
www.scidev.net
Biodiversity and development: are they compatible?
In the environmental community, opinions on the relationship between biodiversity conservation and poverty alleviation often differ
more»
www.shanghaidaily.com
China: 5 mountains nominated for world heritage
CHINA will be nominating five of its most well-known mountains as UNESCO's World Heritage sites.
more»
www.alertnet.org thru Vimal Khawas
Indian plan to dam northeast rivers stirs critics
more»
www.sciencedaily.com
Afghanistan To Protect Wildlife And Wild Lands
A joint effort by the government of Afghanistan and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has been launched to protect the region's unique wildlife and develop the country's first official system of protected areas.
more»
www.sciencedaily.com
NASA Satellite Positioning Software May Aid In Tsunami Warnings:
University scientists using Global Positioning System (GPS) software developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., have shown that GPS can determine, within minutes, whether an earthquake is big enough to generate an ocean-wide tsunami. This NASA-funded technology can be used to provide faster tsunami warnings.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Asia tsunami warning system ready
A tsunami warning system covering the Indian Ocean region is now "up and running", Unesco has said.
more»
www.zeenews.com through Vimal Khawas
Amarnath board to help maintain eco balance of Himalayas
more»
environment.about.com
Ozone: The Good and Bad of Ozone
From a human perspective, ozone is both helpful and harmful, both good and bad. In the upper atmosphere, ozone protects all life on Earth from damaging radiation. At ground level, ozone is toxic and corrosive, a threat to human health, plants and marine life. Learn more about the good and bad sides of ozone.
more»
earthtimes.org
'Silent' earthquakes could be a harbinger of a killer quake
Slow moving earthquakes, which could last for days together may be a reliable indicator of when a huge impact could be felt, according to a new study published in the July 6 issue of the journal Nature
more»
www.biodiversityhotspots.org
Biodiversity Hotspots
The most remarkable places on Earth are also among the most threatened, where biodiversity is under seige by the dual pressures of poverty and overdevelopment, and where many endangered species are at risk of extinction.
more»
www.releifweb.int
Pakistan: UNICEF announces $150 million earthquake recovery plan
UNICEF will construct 500 permanent schools and around 70 permanent rural health centres in areas devastated by Pakistan's October 2005 earthquake, as part of its 150 million dollar contribution to the recovery plan for affected
areas.
more»
www.releifweb.int
Stepping up communications for disaster mitigation and relief
The International Telecommunication Union and Thuraya Satellite Telecommunications Company have concluded an agreement to provide portable satellite terminals to assist countries in disaster mitigation and relief.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Historic India-China link opens
China and India have opened a historic trade route that had been closed for nearly half a century.
more»
http://southasia.oneworld.net
Glacier man Chewang Norphel brings water to Ladakh
Chewang Norphel has attempted to generate water and vegetation in barren Ladakh by simply creating artificial glaciers using stone embankments and a few hundred metres of iron pipe.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Typhoon Kaemi reaches SE China
Typhoon Kaemi has reached China's south-eastern coast, bringing with it heavy rain and high winds.
more»
www.nytimes.com
China's Nomads Trade Up for an Easier Ride on the Range
At altitudes
of 14,000 feet or higher, the mountainous grasslands in Qinghai Province, in
western China, have become motorcycle country.
more»
http://www.sciencedaily.com
Ice Sheets Drive Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide Levels, Inverting Previous Ice-age Theory
more»
www.sciencedaily.com
Loss Of Just One Species Makes Big Difference In Freshwater Ecosystem, Study Finds
Researchers at Dartmouth, Cornell University, and the University of Wyoming have learned that the removal of just one important species in a freshwater ecosystem can seriously disrupt how that environment functions. This finding contradicts earlier notions that other species can jump in and compensate for the loss.
more»
www.dailyindia.com
Asia-Pacific action plan on climate change by October
The Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP), a multilateral partnership, will come out with its action plan in October for investment initiatives in clean energy projects.
more»
environment.about.com
One Third of World's Population Lacks Fresh Water
One third of the world's population is running short of fresh water, and it's happening about 20 years sooner than previously predicted, according to an authoritative new report on world water supplies.
more»
environment.about.com
Fire and Ice: Melting Glaciers Trigger Earthquakes, Tsunamis and Volcanos
Geologists Say Global Warming Expected to Cause Many New Seismic Events.
more»
environment.about.com
Worst Drought in 50 Years Leaves China Thirsty
The worst drought to hit China in 50 years will continue to dry up crops and leave millions of people thirsty, despite a light rain that began to fall this week, according to Chinese meteorologists.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Global warming boost to glaciers
Global warming could be causing some glaciers to grow, a new study claims.
more»
www.enn.com
Study Says Methane a New Climate Threat
Global warming gases trapped in the soil are bubbling out of the thawing permafrost in amounts far higher than previously thought and may trigger what researchers warn is a climate time bomb.
more»
www.terradaily.com
Hot Dust And Moisture Collide To Fuel Asian Summer Rainy Season
Very small dust particles called aerosols blow in from desert regions and collect in the atmosphere over the plateau's slopes early in the region's monsoon season, helping trigger rainfall.
more»
www.releifweb.int
Nepal: Maternal and child mortality could increase in flood region
Maternal and child mortality could rise in flood-hit western Nepal if the health care of women and children is not prioritised, the United Nations Population Fund Agency (UNFPA) said on Wednesday.
more»
www.enn.com
Acid Rain Affects Large Swathes of China
Acid rain caused by sulphur dioxide spewed from factories and power plants affected a third of China's vast land mass last year, posing a threat to food safety, Xinhua news agency said citing a parliamentary report.
more»
www.releifweb.int
$1 million needed for shelter in Tajikistan earthquake
The United Nations agencies, Tajik Red Crescent Society, and other humanitarian partners working in Tajikistan appealed for $1 million to cover the remaining urgent needs of the population affected by two earthquakes, which struck the southern district of Qumsangir on 29 July 2006.
more»
www.releifweb.int
Crop monitoring for food security: Russia and Central Asian countries, Agro-meteorological overview for summer crops
The present Bulletin is dedicated to the analysis of the agro-meteorological situation in Russia and Central Asian countries during the period from the beginning of May to the end of August 2006, and to the assessment of summer crop status at the end of this period.
more»
www.prweb.com
Pew Center Reports Spotlight Role of Farms, Forests in Reducing Global Warming
Two new reports from The Pew Center on Global Climate Change find that farms and forestlands can play a role in reducing threat of global warming.
more»
www.camp.kg
From the Pamirs to the Tien-Shan : NEWSLETTER
This is the first issue of the joint newsletter of partnership network initiated during Central Asian Mountain Partnership (CAMP)'s activity.
more»
http://news.independent.co.uk
Mass tourism and climate change could lead to destruction of world's wonders
The Future of World Travel report found that by 2020 the natural features of some of the wonders of the world will be damaged by global warming, while other resorts will become seriously overcrowded.
more»
www.nepalnews.com
Regional meeting in Kathmandu to develop roadmap on poverty eradication, MDGs
Stating that none of the countries of South Asia is on track to meet all targets of Millennium Development Goals by 2015, the UN organizations along with ADB are organizing a regional meeting in Kathmandu to develop roadmap on eradication of extreme poverty and attainment of other MDGs.
more»
www.earthtimes.org
WHO gives a global wake-up call to control air pollution
In the light of statistics that says air pollution alone is responsible for more than two million deaths in the world, World Health Organization, for the first time, has decided to go strict with permissible limits of pollutants, the world over.
more»
environment.about.com
What is Wind Power?
Wind Power Generates Clean, Renewable Energy
more»
www.eldis.org
Agricultural R&D in the developing world: too little, too late?
Are developing countries are at risk of becoming technological orphans?
Research to boost crop productivity has almost always been a good investment-
this report warns that developing countries need to stop relying on
technological 'spillovers' from wealthy countries and instead focus attention on
strengthening domestic R&D (research and development) systems.
more»
www.eldis.org
Environment and society cannot be treated as separate entities
The relationships between poverty and the environment are highly contested. This paper highlights some of the key thinking on poverty-environment relationships, and introduces a framework focusing on the importance of environmental vulnerability in explaining poverty dynamics
more»
http://www.womenofthemountains.org
"Women of the Mountains" An Int'l Conference - Participants from Mountainous Nations
The first Women of the Mountains conference will be held March 07-10, 2007 on the campus of Utah Valley State College in Orem, Utah.
more»
www.sciencedaily.com
New Cost-benefit Model Will Aid Efforts To Conserve Wilderness
A new conservation model that measures the value of ecosystem services benefiting humans -- ranging from flood control to crop pollination -- can foster more win-win solutions between wilderness advocates and landowners, according to University of British Columbia researcher Kai Chan.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Poachers target rare Nepal rhino
Conservation officials in Nepal have vowed to step up anti-poaching measures after a spate of killings this week of an endangered rhinoceros species.
more»
www.earthtimes.org
Typhoon Cimaron batters the Philippines
Northern Philippines was battered by powerful typhoon Cimaron Monday, killing at least 10 people and devastating the coastal areas before turning towards central Vietnam.
more»
http://news.yahoo.com
Typhoon Durian kills 109 in Philippines
MANILA, Philippines - Typhoon Durian tore through the eastern Philippines on Thursday with winds of up to 139 mph, killing at least 109 people and cutting off power to thousands of homes.
more»
http://www.guardian.co.uk
In Nepal, farmers take first hits from climate change
Nepal's farmers are among those worst hit by global warming so far, facing more frequent catastrophic flooding as a result of climate change, The Guardian reports. Now the country, which itself emits very small amounts of greenhouse gases, must adapt to this growing challenge, experts say.
more»
http://www.enn.com
Northern Hemisphere Warming Twice as Fast as South
The northern hemisphere has been warming twice as fast as the southern hemisphere in recent years, according to the U.N's weather agency.
more»
http://news.yahoo.com
WWF: 52 new species discovered on Borneo
According to WWF International, Scientists have discovered at least 52 new species of animals and plants on the southeast Asian island of Borneo since 2005, including a catfish with protruding teeth and suction cups on its belly to help it stick to rocks.
more»
http://www.sciencedaily.com
2006 Is Sixth Warmest Year On Record, Estimates Show
The global mean surface temperature in 2006 is currently estimated to be + 0.42°C above the 1961-1990 annual average (14°C/57.2°F), according to the records maintained by Members of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).
more»
http://www.sciencedaily.com
Researchers Study Role Of Natural Organic Matter In Environment
The decomposition of plant, animal and microbial material in soil and water produces a variety of complex organic molecules, collectively called natural organic matter. These compounds play many important roles in the environment.
more»
http://www.enn.com
Indian, Chinese Team to Map Glacier Melt
A joint Indian-Chinese team plans to chart remote Himalayan glaciers that scientists fear are rapidly melting because of global warming, threatening the great rivers that give life to one of South Asia's most fertile regions.
more»
www.worldwatch.org
China Releases First National Report on Climate Change
The report
predicts that the average temperature in China will rise 1.3 to 2.1 degrees
Celsius by 2020 and 2.3 to 3.3 degrees Celsius by 2050. Meanwhile, the country's annual average rainfall is projected to increase 2-3 percent by 2020 and 5-7 percent by 2050.
more»
http://www.enn.com
Turtle Thought Extinct Found in Thailand
Thai villagers have caught a river terrapin turtle that was thought to be extinct in the country, according to a leading conservation group.
more»
http://www.enn.com
Mountaintop Meteorology Mixes High, Low-Tech Tools
Jim Salge pulls on two coats and trudges out into the 70 mph wind, scanning the skies and slowly swinging a pair of thermometers.
more»
www.worldwatch.org
State of the World 2007: Notable Trends
Worldwatch Institute provides some notable trends in - An Urbanizing World, Providing Clean Water and Sanitation, Farming the Cities, Greening Urban Transportation, Energizing Cities, Reducing Natural Disaster Risk in Cities, Charting a New Course for Urban Public Health, Strengthening Local Economies, Fighting Poverty and Environmental Injustice in Cities. more»
http://earthtrends.wri.org
Drought in Indonesia Could Intensify with Global Warming
The
scientists' findings reveal that drought frequency and duration in Indonesia can
be expected to increase with global warming.
more»
2006 Top News on the Environment in Asia
Featuring top news reports from eighteen countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
more»
www.un.org
UN steps up campaign to plant billion trees in 2007 to mitigate climate change
In an effort to help mitigate global warming, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has made a new appeal to the international community to plant a billion trees around the world this year as part of a project to save the planet.
more»
www.un.org
Nepal: rapidly deteriorating environment could curtail growth, warns
UN-backed report
The report cited a multitude of economic and human
pressures - such as growing urbanization, population growth, unrestricted and
poorly planned land development and insufficient coordination among Government agencies - as some of the main causes behind the area's environmental decline.
more»
www.un.org
UN environment agency announces 10 global finalists for development awards
Entrepreneurs promoting a range of businesses - from community-based tourism in Brazil to Vietnamese bringing medicinal plants to the international market - are among 10 finalists announced by the head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) for a key sustainable development award.
more»
http://earthtrends.wri.org
UNEP Pledges One Billion New Trees for 2007
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has recently pledged to plant one billion trees during 2007 with the cooperation of communities, business and industry, civil society organizations, and governments.
more»
www.iges.or.jp
2006 Top News on the Environment in Asia
Featuring top news reports from eighteen countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
more»
www.iges.or.jp
2006 Top News on the Environment in Asia
Featuring top news reports from eighteen countries in the Asia-Pacific region.
more»
www.terradaily.com
Europe And Asia Must Up Response To Natural Disasters
Asia continues to bear the brunt of the world's natural disasters and the region's economic boom has not yet led to effective response systems, a report said. Meanwhile, Europe's record on response and prevention is "dismal" given its high level of development, the annual report on natural disasters by the Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) at the University of Louvain in Belgium.
more»
http://earthtrends.wri.org
New Glacier Data Show Continued Melting Worldwide
New 2004 and 2005 data recently published by the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) show that mountain glaciers around the world are continuing to melt as the global temperature rises. Mountain ranges on almost every continent have been affected, including the Sierras in North America, the Andes in South America, the Alps in Europe and the Himalayas in Asia. The average rate of ice loss since 2000 is over half a meter per year, which is three times the annual rate of the 1980s. Scientists will continue to monitor these glacial trends as a leading indicator of global warming.
more»
http://story.bangladeshsun.com
Climate change to roast Sydney, say scientists
Sydney residents will have to cut water use by half if Australia's largest city is to survive the effects of climate change brought on by global warming.
more»
http://www.thestandard.com.hk
Indonesia calls for the rich to pay poorer countries to keep forests
Indonesia wants rich countries to pay developing nations to preserve their forests, which are vital to help remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
more»
http://www.adb.org
Asian Urbanization Global Priority, ADB Vice President Tells Manila Conference
The conference, partnered by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), will identify the priorities to be tackled in the face of the massive demographic and social changes taking place on Asia's urban landscape.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
No peace dividend for Nepal's wildlife
Nepal contains some of the most famous national parks and conservation areas in the world - but their animals are now in peril.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Orangutans 'face greater threat'
According to a UN report, illegal logging is destroying forests in South-East Asia quicker than had been feared, with dire implications for orangutans.
more»
http://www.un.org/
UN agencies boost ties to fight poverty, protect environment in Africa and Asia
The two main UN agencies focusing on the environment and poverty have committed themselves to working closer than ever in helping developing countries integrate sound environmental policies into their economic strategies.
more»
http://news.nationalgeographic.com
Thousands of New Species Found in Philippines
An international wildlife expedition has unearthed a treasure trove of new species from around the Philippines' Panglao island.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
First Kathmandu snow for 60 years
Snow has fallen in Nepal's capital, Kathmandu, for the first time in more than 60 years.
more»
www.planetark.com
Warming to Spread Disease, Hunger in South Asia - WHO
Millions more South Asians will suffer from diseases like malaria and cholera, or go hungry due to global warming, but governments are not fully aware of the dangers, according to the World Health Organisation.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Global leaders reach climate deal
A meeting in Washington of global political leaders has reached a new agreement on tackling climate change.
more»
www.ens-newswire.com
Water Investments Flowing for Asia's Urban Poor
The Asian Development
Bank has decided to continue its partnership with UN-HABITAT to increase
investments in safe drinking water and sanitation facilities for some of Asia's
poorest urban areas.
more»
www.ipsnews.net
JAPAN: Leading Biodiversity Conservation
A call by the United Nations to restore and protect biodiversity in the world through a global convention is seen as being of particular importance to Japan, a leading importer of natural resources.
more»
http://news.independent.co.uk
Mystery of the Himalayas solved
The world's highest mountains shot up by 2km when a massive slab of rock anchoring them fell away
more»
www.ens-newswire.com
Global Standard Set for Wild Medicinal Plant Harvesting
A new standard to promote sustainable management and trade of wild medicinal and aromatic plants has been launched. The standard is needed to ensure plants used in medicine and cosmetics are not over-exploited.
more»
www.earthtimes.org
South Asia asked to prepare for global warming
A former chief economist at the World Bank has warned South Asian countries that even a moderate rise in temperatures could cause serious changes in environment.
more»
www.planetark.com
Greenhouse Gases Hit New High, may be Asia Growth
Greenhouse gases widely blamed for causing global warming have jumped to record highs in the atmosphere, apparently stoked by rising emissions from Asian industry, according to a researcher.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Chimpanzees 'hunt using spears'
Chimpanzees in Senegal have been observed making and using wooden spears to hunt other primates, according to a study in the journal Current Biology.
more»
www.planetark.com
Drought-Ridden Indian Bird Park Loses Its Birds
For years, tourists have come to India's Keoladeo Ghana National Park to gaze at shimmering, bird-flocked wetlands stretching to the horizon.
more»
www.un.org
New UN estimates predict 2.5 billion increase in world population by 2050
The world's population is on track to surpass 9 billion persons by 2050,
according to the newly released 2006 Revision of the official United Nations
population estimates and projections, which also predict that the number of
elderly persons will hit 1 billion.
more»
www.un.org
UN-backed environmental initiative announces 25 finalists for biodiversity prize
United Nations-backed Equator Initiative has announced the 25 finalists for a prize for exceptional local achievements towards the alleviation of poverty in the equatorial region through conservation and use of biodiversity.
more»
www.adb.org
ADB and Singapore Working Together to Address Asia's Urban Crisis
ADB has signed a memorandum of understanding with Singapore to establish the Asia Training and Research Initiative for Urban Management (ATRIUM) to share knowledge on good practices, as well as success and failures in urban planning in the region.
more»
http://in.today.reuters.com
Bangladesh needs $8 bln to improve environment - World Bank
According to a World Bank report, Bangladesh needs to spend $8 billion on the environment in the next 20 years, particularly in the capital, to sustain economic growth and help reduce poverty.
more»
www.earthtimes.org
Avalanches threaten snow-bound Himachal valley
Unseasonal heavy snowfall, hail and rain have disrupted life at many places in the mid and higher hills of Himachal Pradesh.
more»
www.un.org
UN nuclear watchdog agency helps Bangladesh protect prized goats
Research supported by the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and
UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is now helping Bangladesh plan and
protect the goats' future.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Brief halt for Indonesia mud flow
A massive mud flow that has displaced some 15,000 people in Indonesia's Java island halted briefly for the first time in 10 months, officials say.
more»
www.panda.org
Going nowhere fast: Top rivers face mounting threats
According to a new WWF report, rivers on every continent are drying out, threatening severe water shortages.
more»
http://earthhopenetwork.net
Climate Change Will Increase Extinction Risk, Study Finds
Unique climates and the species that inhabit them may disappear from the Earth entirely due to global warming, computer models suggest.
more»
www.guardian.co.uk
Global warming study warns of vanishing climates
- Scientists warn of disaster in biodiversity hotspots
- Species 'must evolve or migrate' to survive
more»
www.reliefweb.int
Nepal: Villagers suffer lack of doctors and medicines
Out of 500 Nepalese doctors joining the workforce annually, less than one third choose to work in villages.
more»
www.yomiuri.co.jp
132 million in Asia 'face starvation' / Warming may cut harvests by 30% in 2050s
Grain harvests in the Asian region will drop by as much as 30 percent, leading to skyrocketing food prices and the starvation of 132 million people in Asia in the 2050s, if fossil fuels continue to be consumed at the current rate, according to a report of the Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
more»
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp
132 million in Asia 'face starvation'
Grain harvests in the Asian region will drop by as much as 30 percent, leading to skyrocketing food prices and the starvation of 132 million people in Asia in the 2050s, if fossil fuels continue to be consumed at the current rate, according to a report of the Working Group II of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
more»
http://news.independent.co.uk
Retreating Himalayan icefields threatening drought in Bangladesh
Bangladesh is the front line of global warming, with rivers drying up, and increasingly common freak weather conditions that include out-of-season tornadoes and tides that have stopped changing.
more»
www.ens-newswire.com
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Danger of Global Warming
The melting of glaciers around the world is affecting the appearance of sites inscribed for their outstanding beauty and destroying the habitat of rare wildlife species such as the snow leopard and the red panda in Nepal's Sagarmatha National Park.
more»
http://news.scotsman.com
Axeing the pine forests 'would slow global warming'
CUTTING down pine forests in snowy regions could theoretically help to reduce global warming, a study has shown.
more»
www.un.org
Nepalese children need more protection after years of suffering, say UN
officials
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the UN's human
rights chief in Nepal recently issued a joint appeal for the introduction of
protective measures for the Himalayan country's children, saying they suffered
widespread violence, indoctrination, manipulation and abuse during the 11-year
civil war that ended last year.
more»
Restore vegetation to slow soil erosion, say scientists
Revegetation
programmes can slow the rapid erosion rates occurring in tropical mountain areas
to near-natural levels, say researchers.
more»
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Warming a threat to natural wonders: WWF
Sunderbans, the world's
largest mangrove forest, and Himalayan glaciers are eleven of the world's
greatest natural wonders that face destruction if the climate continues to warm
at the current rate.
more»
www.bbc.co
Afghan flood toll increases to 88
The UN estimates over
20,000 people across the country have been affected.
more»
www.earthtimes.org
Bhutan leads the battle for environment
Bhutan is set to
become the first nation in the world where the citizens will have a
constitutional obligation to preserve the environment
more»
www.planetark.com
Bangladesh Urges South Asia to Act on Environment
Low-lying
Bangladesh, with more than 140 million people, is one of the world's most
densely populated nations.
more»
www.planetark.com
Warming to Bring Drought, Floods and Hunger to Asia
Food
shortages, water scarcity, heatwaves, floods and migration of millions of people
will occur across Asia as a result of climate change
more»
www.hindu.com
Climate change will devastate India
In South Asia, millions
of people will find their lands and homes inundated, according to a draft report
of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
more»
peacejournalism.com
Sagarmatha National Park at risk: UNESCO
A report published
by UNESCO has warned that Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal as one of the 26
examples of forests and UNESO world heritage sites around the world that would
be destroyed by the climate change.
more»
kuenselonline.com
Using bamboo instead of wood
Bamboo can yield 20 times
more timber than trees an acre and it can be harvested after every seven years
whereas trees take about 30 to 60 years
more»
www.hindu.com
Coping with climate change
According to WWF, the
Himalayas -- which contribute to the water supply of millions of people, feeding
seven of Asia's great rivers -- are threatened due to melting glaciers that are
receding at an average of 10 to 15 metres per year while the Sunderbans, on the
other hand, face threats from the increase in sea levels.
more»
www.dnaindia.com
Climate change will cause mass conflicts in future, warns
UN
Global warming should be seen as a security issue as shortage of
water and fertile land may lead to conflicts in the next 10 to 20 years.
more»
www,irinnews.com
Disaster management system needs urgent improvement
Weeks
after floods and avalanches caused extensive destruction across a third of
Afghanistan, the Afghan government, United Nations agencies and NGOs agree that
better relief coordination systems need to be in place for future natural
disasters.
more»
www.irinnews.org
NEPAL: NGOs call on government to prioritise food security
The Nepalese government must do more to address hunger in the country, an
international fact-finding mission of experts on the human right to food has
concluded, describing hunger and food insecurity across the country as
'pervasive'.
more»
www.gorkhapatra.org.np
Climate Change: Asia Is More Vulnerable
ASIAN countries are
headed to face critical water and food shortages unless concrete measures are
taken to control the rise in greenhouse gases, warns an internal body of experts
on climate change.
more»
www.eurasianet.org
Central Asia faces grim environmental future - UN REPORT
Natural disasters could well become more severe and more frequent in Central
Asia over the coming decades, according to a new United Nations report on
climate change.
more»
www.fao.org
THE FUTURE OF FORESTS IN ASIA AND THE PACIFIC: OUTLOOK FOR 2020
Are you concerned about the future of forests in the Asia-Pacific
region? Might you have an idea of how to limit the future threats to sustainable
forest use, or of how to maximize opportunities that future circumstances might
provide? Do you recognize the interdependent relationship between forests and
people? If you answer yes to these questions, then don't miss this conference!!
more»
www.un.org
Afghanistan: UN official urges investment in women's health to stem
maternal deaths
Afghanistan, which has one of the highest maternal
mortality rates in the world, must intensify efforts to improve the health of
women and children as part of overall efforts to boost conditions in the
war-ravaged country.
more»
www.panda.org
WWF Climate Witness: Norbu Sherpa, Nepal
The majestic
Himalaya Mountains and glaciers that have stood for thousands of years are now
melting away, forming glacier lakes. The expansions of these lakes greatly
increase the risk of more glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) events occurring in
our region.
more»
www.dailytimes.com.pk
Tajikistan seeks $1.3 billion for hydroelectric plant
Tajik
government is confirmed to seek $1.3 billion in foreign investment to complete
hydroelectric plants which are taken as key to the impoverished mountainous
Central Asian state's aim to become a significant electricity exporter.
more»
southasia.oneworld.net
Civil society and Millennium Development Goals
The South
Asian region with a population of 1.35 billion out of the total world population
of 5.68 billion has the highest incidence of poverty not only in terms of
absolute numbers but also as a percentage of the population, compared to any
other regional group of countries in the world.
more»
peacejournalism.com
Mountaineering In Nepal
With eight of the highest peaks in
the world, Nepal has been the focus of some of the most outstanding achievements
in the world of mountaineering. For many decades the dauntless icy peaks have
posed as challenge to those who dare.
more»
www.earthtimes.org
Millions impoverished as Eastern Europe and Central Asia
prosper
According to the latest UN statistics, millions of citizens
across Eastern Europe and Central Asia were surviving on less than 2 US dollars
a day despite healthy economic growth in the region.
more»
www.un.org
UN agency launches free e-course on causes and characteristics of
malnutrition
The causes and nature of malnutrition are the focus of a free e-learning course launched by the United Nations Food and Agriculture
Organization (FAO) with the aim of improving the collection, analysis and
dissemination of food security information.
more»
www.gorkhapatra.org.np
Nepal critically vulnerable to natural disasters
In five
years until 2005, natural disasters destroyed 38,835 houses, killed 1585 people,
affected 16,504 families and damaged property worth US$ 36.2 million in Nepal.
more»
news.bbc.co.uk
UN warns on impacts of biofuels
A UN report warns that a
hasty switch to biofuels could have major impacts on livelihoods and the
environment. Biofuels are more effective when used for heat and power rather
than in transport.
more»
www.shanghaidaily.com
Asia's poor suffer most from roaring economic growth, environment
decline
AN important challenge facing the Asia and Pacific region
is maintaining the high economic growth levels needed for poverty reduction
while establishing new patterns of environmental management.
more»
www.yorkdispatch.com
Booming Asia, at crossroads of poverty and prosperity, spurs debate over
development
Asia's poverty rate has plummeted from about 50 percent
to less than 19 percent in the past four decades and average income has grown
nearly sixfold, but nearly 2 billion people still live on less than $2 a day.
more»
www.realcities.com
Warming triggers `alarming' retreat of Himalayan glaciers
The glaciers of the Himalayas store more ice than anywhere on Earth
except for the polar regions and Alaska, and the steady flow of water from their
melting icepacks fills seven of the mightiest rivers of Asia.
more»
http://news.independent.co.uk
Deforestation: The hidden cause of global warming
In the
next 24 hours, deforestation will release as much CO2 into the atmosphere as 8
million people flying from London to New York. Stopping the loggers is the
fastest and cheapest solution to climate change. So why are global leaders
turning a blind eye to this crisis?
more»
www.bbj.hu
Climate change to force mass migration of 1 bln people
A
billion people - one in seven people on Earth today - could be forced to leave
their homes over the next 50 years as the effects of climate change worsen an
already serious migration crisis, a new report from Christian Aid predicts.
more»
http://www.worldwatch.org
Cleaning Up Mount Everest
The daily trash, food waste,
and human excrement from thousands of temporary residents present at the
base camp of Mount Everest for the delivery of the 2008 Olympic flame to the
world's highest peak is a growing environmental problem.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Mountaineers' fear of global warming
Climbers and
officials in Nepal are worried that global warming is making the glacial
environment unsafe for humans in the Himalayas.
more»
www.ipsnews.net
Climate Change Skews Tribal Farming
Soligas in India were
originally semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers who have lived in total harmony with
the wildlife and dry deciduous forests for millennia, subsisting on minor forest
produce and shifting cultivation. But ban in collection of NTFP, coupled with
the delaying rains, has given rise to distress conditions amongst the tribals.
more»
http://www.tribuneindia.com
A river gasps for life
The Ganga is 'dying', and fast. If
the WWF report 'World's top 10 rivers at risk' is any indication, continuous
water withdrawal, pollution and climate change have together created a situation
of very high risk for the famous river.
more»
http://english.ohmynews.com
Scientists Warn of Himalaya Warming
The retreating of the
glaciers of the Himalayas, the roof of the world, has been increasing at a high
rate because of warming due to climate change.
more»
http://www.zeenews.com
Chernobyl lurking in Himalaya`s main rivers?
If concerted
efforts are not made to recover two missing radiation detectors in the Himalayan
ranges, another Chernobyl could erupt, poisoning two of Asia's biggest rivers.
more»
http://www.un.org
UN forum hears calls for health investments in Asia-Pacific region
Ministers from across the Asia-Pacific region, where relative
wealth has not translated into health investments, heard calls at a United
Nations meeting in Kazakhstan for more government spending on medical care in
order to combat poverty.
more»
http://www.un.org
UN agency urges measures to prevent forest fires
A United
Nations agency urged countries to invest more in fire preparedness and
prevention.
more»
http://www.yubanet.com
Climate Change Affecting Tibetans' Traditional Way of Life in Mount
Everest Region
The retreating glacial flow in the Mt Everest Region
in is affecting the Tibetans' traditional way of life and could threaten the
water supply for millions of people in Asia.
more»
http://www.greaterkashmir.com
Chohar Nag: an asset neglected
Chohar Nag can prove a
blessing for some drought prone areas of South Kashmir if properly utilized.
more»
http://www.centralchronicle.com
Climate change India's grave concern
India is faced with
grave concern following melting glaciers, change in rainfall pattern, falling
food production, rising sea level and other climate changes due to global
warming.
more»
http://www.hindustantimes.com
Ice melting a threat to hydro plants: ISRO
The glaciers in
the Himalayan landscape are not only melting at a faster rate because of climate
change, they also pose a threat to the hydro power plants in the region.
more»
http://www.int.iol.co.za
Climate change to wreak havoc in Asia
Asia is expected to
face a serious shortage of fresh water due to climate change, with more than one
billion people forecast to be hit by the crisis.
more»
http://cooltech.iafrica.com
Himalaya glaciers gone in 50 years
Himalayan glaciers are
retreating fast and could disappear within the next 50 years, experts warned
looking at the regional effects of global warming.
more»
http://mathaba.net
Experts: melting glaciers could harm millions in Asia
The
rapidly shrinking glaciers on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in southwest China,
dubbed the "roof of the world", might cause floods, drought as well as famine
affecting millions in Asia unless measures are taken to curb global warming.
more»
http://www.alertnet.org
TAJIKISTAN: Climate change threatens livelihoods of mountain
villagers
Global climate change is threatening mountain communities
in Tajikistan. Local residents living over 2,000 metres above sea level say
their crops are failing, soil degradation is on the rise and landslides threaten
their lives.
more»
http://www.un.org
45 sites nominated this year for inclusion on UNESCO World Heritage
List
The nominated sites this year include 11 natural sites , 32
cultural sites and two mixed sites, according to a press release issued by
UNESCO.
more»
http://www.zeenews.com
Asia will face many challenges from climate change
Asia,
the most populous continent, will face many challenges as a result of climate
change in the long term which spell disaster
more»
http://www.dnaindia.com
Climate change will result in security threat
South Asia,
and within it the region of Ganga, is among the regions facing greatest security
risk resulting from climate change.
more»
http://www.greenpeace.org
Himalayas' dying glaciers
Glaciers in the Himalayas provide
the water source for one-sixth of humanity. Now that water source is threatened
by climate change.
more»
http://www.chamonet.com
Fresh warnings over global warming
Fresh warnings have been
issued about climate change and its effect on the world's glaciers and the polar
ice cap. Glaciers from The Alps to The Himalayas are in retreat and snowfalls
are becoming unreliable in many regions.
more»
http://uk.news.yahoo.com
FACTBOX-What's so bad about deforestation?
According to the
United Nations, worldwide about 13 million hectares or 32 million acres of
forest -- an area the size of Greece or Nicaragua -- is cleared every year.
more»
http://www.un.org
UN-backed programme assists the poor in mountainous areas
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has
launched a new programme to bolster development efforts in mountain communities,
in which almost one-third - or 245 million people - of the world's hungry live.
more»
http://www.ibnlive.com
Tibetan glaciers can't take the heat
Predictions indicate
that if needed attention is not paid, Tibet's glaciers could disappear within
next 80 years.
more»
http://www.irinnews.org
NEPAL: Densely-populated Kathmandu facing increased earthquake
risk
Despite being located in one of the world's most seismically
active zones, Kathmandu's earthquake preparedness is low and the lives of tens
of thousands of residents are at risk.
more»
http://www.reuters.com
Bangladesh faces "unusual" monsoon, fears flooding
Flood-prone Bangladesh is bracing for an unusual and unpredictable monsoon
this year.
more»
http://www.sciencedaily.com
Public Health In Developing Countries To Suffer Most From Climate
Change
Due to the rapid economic development and urbanization of
poorer countries, the developing-country cities are both vulnerable to health
hazards from climate change and, simultaneously, an increasing contributor to
the problem.
more»
http://www.peopleandplanet.net
Rising waters in the Sunderbans create climatic refugees
There is much speculation about the future effects of sea level rise on
coastal communities as a result of climate change. But in West Bengal, climate
refugees are already fleeing from the catastrophic rise in sea levels in the
Indian Sundarbans.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Lake disappears suddenly in Chile
Scientists in Chile are
investigating the sudden disappearance of a glacial lake in the south of the
country.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Flood devastation in South Asia
People in southern India
and Pakistan are struggling to cope with the effects of days of heavy rain that
have left several hundred people dead.
more»
http://earthhopenetwork.net
Desert Dust Cuts Mountain Snow, May Spur Warming
According
to researchers, desert dust blown onto Rocky Mountain peaks has cut the duration
of snow-cover by a month or more, and the same thing is probably happening in
the Alps and Himalayas.
more»
http://www.dailyindia.com
Shivalik Hills, a home to pre-historic fossils
Not many may
know that wild animals like giraffe and hippopotamus, whose present natural
habitat is Africa, were natives of Shivalik Hills long ago. Pre-historic
fossils, recently discovered, establish this.
more»
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk
Colliding continents, the rise of the Himalayas, and the birth of the
monsoons
Tens of millions of years ago, a geological process
produced world's most dramatic and extensive mountain ranges and also the Asian
monsoons-which today pace and undergird the health and welfare of billions of
people in South and East Asia.
more»
http://www.un.org
Asia sees drop in poverty but rising inequality-UN report
Rapid economic growth has spurred progress in the eradication of
extreme poverty and hunger in Asia but inequality is also growing in parts of
the region.
more»
http://www.nepalnews.com
AFGHANISTAN: Over six million face food insecurity
Three
out of 10 Afghans suffer from chronic food insecurity, which badly affects the
health and well-being of the estimated 27-million nation.
more»
http://www.voanews.com
Leading Scientist Says Climate Change Increases Poverty and
Hunger
The effects of climate change will be mainly felt in the
areas of health and agriculture and it is the poor who would suffer most from
the change.
more»
http://www.reuters.com
WHO urges Asia to prepare for climate change crises
According to the World Health Organization, Asian nations must prepare to
tackle disasters unleashed by global warming with the same urgency they now
focus on fighting disease epidemics.
more»
http://www.pittsburghlive.com
Kilimanjaro's snow: What's really happening?
Kilimanjaro is
a poster child for those who believe man-made global warming is causing Mother
Nature's meltdown.
more»
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn
Expert urges preservation of Qinghai Lake
Experts points
out if Qinghai Lake continues to shrink at the current speed, its current
average depth of 18 meters will disappear within two centuries.
more»
http://in.today.reuters.com
Tianshan glaciers shrinking fast - China scientist
Glaciers
in the Tianshan mountains of Xinjiang, near China's western border, are
shrinking at "alarming speeds".
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
'New thinking' needed on climate
According to UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-moon, the international climate debate needs to embrace a "new
way of thinking" to tackle the problem.
more»
http://www.kuenselonline.com
Climate change: a local perspective
As more and more
scientists try to pin down global warming to climate change, farmers in Bhutan
have their own indigenous explanation.
more»
http://www.earthtimes.org
Global warming responsible for shrinking water volume in Chinese
rivers
Global warming is directly responsible for a reduction in the
volume of water contained in the country's two longest rivers, the Yangtze and
the Yellow River.
more»
http://www.un.org
Asian-Pacific countries discuss responses to climate change at UN-backed
meeting
In the United Nations-backed meeting on how Asian-Pacific
countries can mitigate the impacts of climate change, participants called for
action to foster sustainable growth.
more»
http://earthhopenetwork.net
Ice Sheets Tell a Scary New Story
There was a thunderously
important comment that went largely unnoticed in the reports published last
spring by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
more»
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk
UN unveils $38m flash appeal for flood-hit people
The
United Nations announced $ 38 million Flash Appeal in Geneva for the help of
scores of families hit by heavy flooding in Balochistan and Sindh.
more»
http://www.kuenselonline.com
20 acres of tseri land converted into cultivable land
More
than 350 farmers in Zhemgang changed the land use system of about six acres of
tseri (shifting cultivation) to chuzhing (wetland), kamzhing and orchard land.
more»
http://news.scotsman.com
India's 'water savings' melt away in Himalayas
The
thousands of glaciers are undergoing apparent retreat which threatens to bear
heavily on everything from the region's drinking water supply to agricultural
production to disease and floods.
more»
http://environment.newscientist.com
Melting glaciers will dominate sea-level rise
Ice melt from small glaciers and ice caps will be the dominant cause of sea-level rise this
century.
more»Â»
http://www.savetibet.org/
Changing climate on Tibetan plateau
Climate change is also
having a huge impact in China, and nowhere more so than on the Tibetan
plateau.
more»
http://en.epochtimes.com
Chipping Away At Our Forests
Native forests around the
world should be locked up if the international community is serious about
addressing global warming.
more»
http://www.un.org
Asian nations confer on impact of population ageing at UN-backed
forum
A United Nations-backed meeting was attended by participants
from over a dozen countries in the Asia-Pacific region on the social, health and
economic consequences of population ageing kicked off.
more»
http://www.planetark.com/
Earthquakes in Russia's Far East Kill Two
A series of three earthquakes
killed two people on Russia's Pacific island of Sakhalin on Thursday, the Russian Emergencies
Ministry said.
more»
http://www.ens-newswire.com
Asian Brown Clouds Intensify Global Warming
Brown clouds of
pollution over South Asia have multiplied solar heating of the lower atmosphere
by 50 percent, finds new research by scientists at Scripps Institution of
Oceanography at the University of California-San Diego.
more»
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/
New animal, plant species found in Palawan
Scientists announced Thursday the discovery of a mountain shrew previously unknown to science and at least three new species of plants.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Climate change worries for bird
A rare mountain bird is to be radio tracked following concerns that its numbers are declining because of climate change.
more»
http://www.planetark.com
Flooded China Warns of Heat, Drought - And Snow?
China, where more than 700 people have been killed in floods so far this summer, has now warned of the dangers of heatstroke and drought.
more»
http://us.oneworld.net/
South Asia Floods - Story of a Disaster Told and Retold
About 35 million people are living through the "worst flood in living memory" as the UN has described the unprecedented disaster in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan.
more»
http://www.forbes.com/
Storms in Asia Blamed for 55 Deaths
Tropical Storm Pabuk churned across the Philippines Wednesday, triggering deadly landslides before it moved into southern Taiwan.
more»
http://www.earthtimes.org/
Rockefeller Foundation Announces $70 Million Commitment to Climate Change Resilience
Rockefeller Foundation president Judith Rodin announced today a $70 million commitment to a new five- year Initiative on Climate Change Resilience.
more»
http://www.climateark.org/
Met Office says world is warming up faster than at any time in 100 years
The world is warming up faster than at any time in the past 100 years, according to a global climate forecast that reveals Britain will be 0.3C hotter by 2014.
more»
http://www.voanews.com/
Tribal People in India Want to Protect Indigenous Way of Life
Tribal villagers from the eastern state of Orissa in India claim the planned expansion of a mine and mineral refinery in their region threatens their way of life.
more»
http://www.dispatch.co.za
Peru quake toll over 500
At least 300 people were said to
have died in Pisco alone as Wednesday's quake brought a church down on hundreds
of mourners at a packed funeral service and destroyed scores of other buildings
in the port city.
more»
http://www.deccanherald.com
Flood-hit South Asia in for food shortage: UN
The South Asian nations have suffered heavy loss of animals and recently planted crops have been damaged.
more»
http://www.iht.com
APEC unlikely to accept binding gas targets in climate change fight: Australian minister
APEC member nations will not accept greenhouse gas emission targets to fight global climate change.
more»
http://southasia.oneworld.net
Water crisis may threaten the social stability
Tibaijuka said the explosive growth of urban centres over the last 30 years, which continues unabated in most of the developing world, is rapidly depleting once plentiful water resources.
more»
http://www.planetark.com/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/43765/story.htm
UN Relief Official Says 83 Dead in North Korea Floods
Floods in North Korea have killed 83 people, left more than 300,000 homeless, destroyed 58,000 houses and drenched more than 90,000 hectares (222,400 acres) of farmland.
more»
www.adb.org
Kyrgyz Republic, Development Partners Cooperating to Ensure Sustainable Growth
ADB has set aside between $117 million and $128 million for implementation of the four-year strategy.
more»
afp.google.com
China offers surprise hope in climate change fight
China's environment is undoubtedly under unprecedented pressure as its 1.3 billion people rush to live modern, Western lifestyles
more»
www.adb.org
Millennium Development Goals Regional Progress Report to Be Launched at Poverty Forum in Manila
The annual update on the progress of Millennium Development Goals in the Asia and Pacific region will be unveiled on 8 October.
more»
www.ens-newswire.com
Small Island, High Mountain States Plead for Climate Action
Too little is being done to ward off the dangers of climate change, leaders of small island and mountainous countries told the United Nations General Assembly...
more»
economictimes.indiatimes.com
India creates network of wildlife sanctuaries
India has set up a network of 606 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks for efficient management of wildlife
more»
http://newsblaze.com/
South Asia Faces Food Crisis Despite India's High Productivity
In Asia, those most affected by the current global food crisis are the poor,
particularly in developing countries and a large number of people
more»
http://uk.reuters.com/
Bangladesh wants SAARC fund for climate change
Bangladesh has proposed the creation a fund to fight climate change in densely populated South Asia, which experts say is vulnerable to rising seas,
melting glaciers and greater extremes of droughts and floods.
more»
http://newsblaze.com/
South Asia Faces Food Crisis Despite India's High Productivity
In Asia, those most affected by the current global food crisis are the poor,
particularly in developing countries and a large number of people
more»
http://esciencenews.com/
Tigers disappear from Himalayan refuge
World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is alarmed by the dramatic decline of at least 30 percent in the
Bengal tiger population of Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in Nepal.
more»
http://ap.google.com/
China plans Mount Everest cleanup in 2009
In the year 2009, China has planned to clean Mount Everest,
the so called world's highest garbage dump.
more»
http://www.gokunming.com
Free plastic bags banned across China
As of June 1, all supermarkets, department stores
and grocery stores in China are prohibited from providing shoppers
with free plastic bags for their purchases.
more»
http://afp.google.com
Tens of thousands uprooted by floods in northeast India
Flash floods triggered by heavy
monsoon rains have washed away thousands of homes and displaced more than 50,000 people in India's northeastern
state of Assam.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Indian silk 'hit by China quake'
Indian silk producers say their industry has been badly hit by a shortage of raw silk from China following
the May earthquake.
more»
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
Climate Change deal agreed by G8-Nations
The world's eight richest nations have achieved a landmark deal
on climate change, promising to cut carbon emissions by "at least 50 per cent" by 2050.
more»
http://in.reuters.com
South-Southeast Asia agrees to create food bank
South and Southeast Asian countries agreed on Wednesday to create a food bank
to combat shortages following natural disasters.
more»
www.nzherald.co.nz
Asia Pacific ripe for 'Megadisaster'
The Asia Pacific region must prepare for at least one - and possibly
more - megadisasters over the next 90 years.
more»
http://english.vietnamnet.vn
Preserving endemic animals in mountainous areas
Over the past years, Vietnamese scientists together
with scientists from the US and other countries have undertaken surveys, discovered and built plans to preserve the
endemic animals in the mountain provinces.
more»
http://www.sciam.com/
Future of Popular Chinese Herbal Medicine up in the Air
Soaring demands, populations dwindle, lack of conservation and awareness about the Chinese
Herbal Medicinal plants have led its future towards uncertainty.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Climate builds bridges across Asia
Climate Change binds the South Asian Countries together because
these countries are the victims, not the culprits.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Climate builds bridges across Asia
Climate Change binds the South Asian Countries together because
these countries are the victims, not the culprits.
more»
http://www.commodityonline.
Food Crisis should prod Asia to focus on agriculture: World Bank
A World Bank report said that the
present crisis should be taken as an opportunity to revive agriculture in Asian countries.
more»
www.chinadaily.com
China still on the way to going green
Although China is moving forward on the road to energy conservation,
it still has a long journey ahead to attain goal of reducing energy intensity by 20 percent.
more»
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com
Climate talks without India, China meaningless: US
The United States has said that there cannot be any meaningful talk on combating climate change without the participation of major emerging economies
like China, India, Australia, Japan, and South Korea.
more»
www.expressindia.com
India, Nepal join hands to curb tiger poaching
India and Nepal will join hands to stop tiger
poaching and promote breeding and exchange of tigers, rhinos and elephants.
more»
http://afp.google.com
Bangladesh to escape flooding this year: Experts
Bangladesh is likely to escape major flooding this year despite higher than average rainfall since the beginning of the current monsoon
season, weather experts said Monday.
more»
www.bloomberg.com
India's Rice, Corn Crops May Fall From Records on Lack of Rain
India's production of rice, corn, cotton and oilseeds may fall from records unless there's a change
within weeks in dry weather.
more»
www.greaterkashmir.com
Asia's largest fresh water lake has shrunk from 190 to 72 sq kms
Nestled between mesmerizing mountains, Wullar, Asia's largest freshwater lake, is on
the brink of extinction.
more»
www.nytimes.com
Flush with Cash, More Asian Tourists Flock to Japan
Once prohibitively expensive, Japan is suddenly drawing soaring numbers
of Asian tourists.
more»
www.edie.net
Conservationists call for Indian wetland protection
Conservationists are urging the Indian government to seek international protection for the country's wetlands
at a summit in Korea later this year.
more»
www.bloomberg.com
Southeast China Hit by Fung-Wong; 390,000 Evacuated
Chinese authorities evacuated more than 390,000 people in the southeast as Typhoon Fung-Wong struck Fujian province with winds
of 119 kilometers (74 miles) per hour.
more»
news.bbc.co.uk
UN warns on North Korea's Food Shortages
North Koreans are experiencing their worst food shortages since the famine of the late 1990s,
a UN agency says.
more»
news.bbc.co.uk
Bangladesh landmass 'is growing'
New research shows Bangladesh may not be as vulnerable to rising sea levels caused by climate change
as previously feared, scientists in Dhaka say.
more»
www.sciam.com
Can Coal and Clean Air Coexist in China?
The furious growth of China fueled by burning coal has drastically increased the air pollution, which in turn
has taken a toll on health and the environment.
more»
www.slmfa.gov.lk
Fifteenth SAARC Summit Declaration: Addresses Climate Change and Food Security
The Fifteenth SAARC Summit has passed a declaration in which various isssues like environment, climate change,
food security and others were addressed.
more»
www.thenews.com
South Asian women more vulnerable to gender discrimination
Women in South Asia are more vulnerable to discrimination, social injustice, gender equity
and equality as compared to those living in western countries.
more»
www.earthtimes.org
Clean Water & Disaster Recovery Top List of Asia's Greatest Needs for summer 2008
Based on research conducted by Give2Asia's network spanning the
Asia-Pacific region, the catalog is dominated by water and disaster recovery projects.
more»
www.sciencedaily.com
Saving Our Bees: Implications of Habitat Loss
Many of the world's plant species rely on bees to transfer their pollen to other plants.
Bee's daily flights aid in the reproduction of more than half of the world's flowering plants.
more»
news.bbc.co.uk
Poverty still grips millions in India
The most recent government figure is that about 26% of India's population are officially classed as poor - that is people getting less than
the minimum number of calories regarded as necessary for survival.
more»
www.moa.gov.bt
Second International Beekeeping Congress to be held in Bhutan
Bhutan will be hosting the second International Beekeeping Congress which is to
be held from August 19-21.
more»
http://in.reuters.com
Bangladesh gets loans for water, pollution projects
Bangladesh will receive a $149 million loan from the World Bank for a project to improve water supply and another loan for a project to
fight air pollution.
more»
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
India to be 4 degrees hotter in 40 years
The latest projections of the effect of Climate Change on India indicate that after 2050, temperatures would rise by 3-4 degrees over current
levels.
more»
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
India to be 4 degrees hotter in 40 years
The latest projections of the effect of Climate Change on India indicate that after 2050, temperatures would rise by 3-4 degrees over current
levels.
more»
www.gorkhapatra.org
Nepal earns fame in conserving protected areas
Various experts associated with the field of conservation of natural resources stressed that governance was a key factor for the effective
and equitable protected area management systems for the country like Nepal.
more»
www.chinadaily.com
China closes in on grain output goal
China is making great progress in reaching its goal of increasing its national grain output, aided by the accelerating development of agricultural technologies
and innovations, experts said.
more»
www.monstersandcritics.com
Thousands flee Koshi River floods in south-eastern Nepal
Thousands of people fled their homes in south-eastern Nepal after the Koshi River breached its banks and flooded two dozen
villages.
more»
news.xinhuanet.com
Myanmar steps up carrying out weather forecast program
Myanmar is organizing a quaternary committee involving international institutions to carry out program on releasing weather forecast news
and weather-related public education.
more»
economictimes.indiatimes.com
Asia's biggest solar thermal energy plant to be set up at Nagpur,India
Asia's biggest solar thermal energy plant of 10 MW capacity would be set up at Nagpur, where a special economic zone (SEZ)
was also being established.
more»
www.irinnews.org
AFGHANISTAN: Drought in north hits animal husbandry, threatens livelihoods
A severe drought affecting northern parts of Afghanistan has dried pasturelands, reduced water sources and caused the deaths of thousands
of animals, local people and officials said.
more»
http://in.reuters.com
Food riots as Indian floods destroy 250,000 homes
Food riots erupted on Wednesday in eastern India, where more than 2 million people have been forced from their homes and about 250,000 houses
destroyed in what officials say are the worst floods in 50 years.
more»
http://nationmultimedia.com
Billions of people suffer from acute water crisis
Billions of people in Asia are suffering from the acute water crisis caused by the adverse impact of
climate change.
more»
www.pinoypress.net
Six Steps towards Increased Energy Security in Asia Pacific
Concerns about energy security affect economic performance and political stability all over the world,
but nowhere are these issues more critical than in Asia and the Pacific - and oil is at the heart of the region's energy challenge.
more»
www.environmental-expert.com
UN warns of impact of climate change on South Asia
Climate change could have a particularly severe impact on South Asia, where a large proportion of the region's population depends on subsistence
agriculture for their livelihoods, a United Nations-sponsored conference heard today.
more»
www.business-standard.com
ADB defines Asian Poverty Line at $ 1.35 per day
Asian Development Bank (ADB) today released a new poverty line, called the Asian Poverty Line to measure the poverty in the Asia and Pacific region.
The poverty line is roughly $ 1.35 per day.
more»
www.hindu.com
Climate change will impact India more, says UNIDO
The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) said that climate change was likely to have a greater impact on India compared to other
countries similarly positioned.
more»
www.thenewstribune.com
Scientists track Asian pollution
From 500 miles up in space, satellites track brown clouds of dust, soot and other toxic pollutants from China and elsewhere in Asia as they stream across the Pacific.
more»
http://seekingalpha.com
Forget Oil, Water Is China's Biggest Shortage
In 2007 approximately 280, 000 Chinese children under the age of five died from preventable diseases caused by lack of clean drinking water. More than 300 million rural Chinese
citizens lack access to clean drinking water.
more»
www.hindustantimes.com
Nepal may declare emergency in flood-hit areas
Because of the huge damage caused by the floods, the Government of Nepal is likely to declare on Thursday a state of emergency
in the flood-devastated areas in the south of the country.
more»
http://www.luxurytravelmagazine.co.uk
Growth in tourist/visitor figures for Asia Pacific region
Visitor trends to the Asia Pacific region remained buoyant in the first half of 2008, according to latest figures released by
PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association).
more»
www.thaindian.com
Climate change behind dengue's re-emergence in Southeast Asia
Health ministers from Southeast Asian countries Thursday pledged to curb the spread of the mosquito-borne dengue disease, which they claimed was
re-emerging due to climate change in the region.
more»
www.livemint.com
Counting the poor: a poverty of statistics
China, which started at a higher poverty of 60% in 1990 compared with 51% for India in 1990, saw poverty decline to 16% in 2005
compared with 41.6% in 2005 for India.
more»
www.weeklyblitz.net
Conservation and wise use of wetlands in the Himalayan region
A 'Regional Technical Workshop on the Himalayan Wetlands Initiative' was recently held in Katmandu, Nepal, to discuss the importance of conserving
and facilitating sustainable use of the region's valuable wetlands.
more»
news.xinhuanet.com
8 million U.S.$ agreement inked to tackle food crisis in Afghanistan
The Afghan government and the World Bank on Thursday signed an agreement under which 8 million U.S. dollars grant will be provided as part
of the assisting programs to tackle food crisis in the war-torn country.
more»
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com
Need for disaster management
After this monsoons' heavy flooding in India, there has been a growing concern on implementing various disaster management programmes to minimize the impacts of repeated
natural calamities.
more»
www.kantipuronline.com
Deluge hits east Nepal tourism
Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said on Friday that the devastating flood caused by Saptakoshi River embankment breach has damaged the bio-diversity in the area and prominent
tourism destinations of eastern Nepal.
more»
www.newstrackindia.com
Flash floods continue to stall life in various parts of India
With no appreciable improvement in weather, flash floods caused due to incessant heavy rains continue to stall life in various
parts of India.
more»
www.pinoypress.net
High Oil Prices Are Here to Stay, Says ADB
Developing Asia will face a prolonged period of high and volatile oil prices, ADB says in a new major
report.
more»
www.alertnet.org
Billions of dollars needed to protect Asia's poor from disasters
World Vision a development agency, says that Governments must invest billions of dollars in preparing for disasters rather than spending aid
cash on responding to emergencies.
more»
http://pakobserver.net
World Bank Group extends $5.5b to overcome poverty in S Asia
The World Bank Group extended loans, credits, grants, equity investments, and guarantees totaling over US$5.5 billion to
South Asia in fiscal year 2008.
more»
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com
India aims at 60,000 MW more Hydropower by 2025
According to the Minister of State for Power Jairam Ramesh, Power-starved India is aiming to get 60,000 MW of additional electricity from
hydro projects by 2025, most of it through domestic resources.
more»
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net
China tainted milk crisis triggers global recalls
Chinese officials pulled candies thought to contain contaminated milk from store shelves Thursday, echoing the expanding recalls across Asia and Europe
of products ranging from yogurt to biscuits.
more»
http://asia.news.yahoo.com
US$19 million Dairy Plant to be set up in Sialkot,Pakistan
US$19 million is going to be invested to set up an international standard dairy plant near Sambrial-Daska in Sialkot
district of Pakistan.
more»
www.redorbit.com
Myanmar Takes Measures for Wildlife Conservation
Myanmar has taken measures for wildlife conservation by restricting the catching of elephant in the country's Bago Yoma mountain
range where most of the animals take sanctuary.
more»
http://www.irinnews.org
NEPAL: Livestock and livelihoods in jeopardy
Various NGOs have warned that thousands of livestock belonging to survivors of last month's devastating flood in eastern Nepal are at
risk.
more»
www.kuenselonline.com
MDGs-Bhutan's progress report is good but...
Bhutan has made significant and sustained progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) but there is an urgency to secure long term
sustainable financing arrangements and capacity building.
more»
www.gairrhydd.com
Pig conservation begins in Asia
The world's smallest and rarest pig is set to be protected under a new conservation project in a North-Eastern state of
India.
more»
www.abs-cbnnews.com
Oil prices extend rebound in Asia
Oil prices extended their gains in Asian trade Wednesday on hopes the US Congress will approve a revised 700-billion-dollar package to bail out the distressed
financial market, dealers said.
more»
www.abs-cbnnews.com
Oil prices extend rebound in Asia
Oil prices extended their gains in Asian trade Wednesday on hopes the US Congress will approve a revised 700-billion-dollar package to bail out the distressed
financial market, dealers said.
more»
in.reuters.com
Floods to delay wheat, rapeseed sowing in east India
Floods in India's eastern state of Bihar will delay sowing of wheat and rapeseed, but standing rice and corn crops have not suffered major damage
in other affected regions, a farm ministry official said on Wednesday.
more»
www.abs-cbnnews.com
Oil prices extend rebound in Asia
Oil prices extended their gains in Asian trade Wednesday on hopes the US Congress will approve a revised 700-billion-dollar package to bail out the distressed
financial market, dealers said.
more»
english.aljazeera.net
Beijing steps up car curbs
Authorities in Beijing have reinstated some of the traffic rules that were used during the Olympic Games to clean up the city's air pollution and ease the
Chinese capital's chronic road congestion.
more»
www.abs-cbnnews.com
Oil prices extend rebound in Asia
Oil prices extended their gains in Asian trade Wednesday on hopes the US Congress will approve a revised 700-billion-dollar package to bail out the distressed
financial market, dealers said.
more»
http://news.mongabay.com
Illegal wildlife trade devastating Asia's pangolins
Last week the IUCN changed the status of the Malayan and the Chinese pangolins from near-threatened to endangered. These notoriously
shy and scaly mammals have become the victim of a booming illegal wildlife trade in Southeast Asia.
more»
http://afp.google.com
Brisk trade in tiger parts in Myanmar,says WWF
Skins, claws and bones from at least 1,158 tigers and other protected big cats have been spotted in open markets in Myanmar during surveys
conducted over the last 18 years, according to a World Wildlife Fund (WWF) report.
more»
http://www.mynews.in
European Commission aid to Bihar, Nepal flood victims
The European Commission, which has already contributed Euro 2 million to provide relief to the victims of the Bihar and Nepal floods,
has now allocated an additional Euro 3.5 million for Bihar and Euro 1 million for Nepal.
more»
http://www.dawn.com
Food claims 50 percentage expenditure of average Pakistani
The average Pakistani spends about 50 per cent of his or her total expenditure on food.
more»
www.dawn.com
Food claims 50 percentage expenditure of average Pakistani
The average Pakistani spends about 50 per cent of his or her total expenditure on food.
more»
http://in.reuters.com
Pollution may hit Himalayan monsoon clouds
According to a study report by scientists in France and Italy, the higher levels of pollution in Asia may affect the formation of clouds high in the Himalayas, perhaps disrupting monsoons and speeding a thaw of glaciers.
more»
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
One-horned rhino demoted from IUCN list
A UN body for nature conservation has demoted the one-horned rhinoceros from its Red List of endangered species, officials said.
more»
http://www.sindhtoday.net
More attacks on Nepal's biggest hydro power project
The country's biggest hydropower project - developed by an international consortium including an Indian company - has come
under fresh attack despite repeated appeals for security by the company.
more»
http://www.irinnews.org
ASIA: Call for greater protection of migrant workers' rights
Southeast and East Asian governments should intensify efforts to protect the rights of migrant workers, who are
particularly vulnerable to abuse, the UN and partner agencies have urged.
more»
http://www.thestreet.com
Green Energy Investors Flock to China
In the midst of a worldwide financial crisis, China's growing demand for energy continues to be an attractive draw for
investors.
more»
www.koreatimes.co.kr
Tourism Conference Kicks Off Next Week
The Asia-Pacific Tourism Investment Conference and EXPO 2008 (APTIC) will kick off Wednesday for a three-day event at COEX,
southern Seoul.
more»
news.bbc.co.uk
Flash floods hit north-east India
Tens of thousands of people have been displaced after floods inundated more than 70 villages in the north-eastern Indian state of Assam.
more»
www.china.org
Conservation in Chang Tang of Tibet
The remote upland of the Chang Tang in the Tibet Autonomous Region harbors one of the most important and unique wildlife assemblages
in the world however there is an urgent need for their conservation.
more»
http://in.reuters.com
Nepal says off-season climbs rise after fee cut
The number of climbing expeditions to Himalayan mountains, including Mount Everest, has risen since Nepal reduced off
season climbing fees three months ago, officials said on Wednesday.
more»
www.chinadaily.com
Giant Hydropower Plant of China fully operational
The last generator of China's Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River went online yesterday, meaning that the world's largest hydropower plant has become fully operational.
more»
http://pakobserver.net
Death toll mounts to over 300 in quake hit Ziarat valley, Pakistan
The death tolls of Wednesday's severe earthquake has crossed 300 and about 1000 are injured in the worst-affected quake district, Ziarat, 120 kilometers off from the provincial capital.
more»
www.adb.org
Japan, ADB to Promote Natural Catastrophe Risk Mechanisms for Asia and Pacific
Japan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have committed to promote programs that develop natural catastrophe risk insurance and reinsurance mechanisms in the Asia and Pacific region.
more»
http://travels.ndtv.com
Nepal records highest tourist arrivals
Nepal, regarded a Shangri-La for holiday makers with its Himalayan ranges, assortment of religious shrines and network of casinos, has recorded the highest tourist arrivals in eight years.
more»
http://www.topnews.in
SAARC Agriculture Ministers share views at meeting
The meeting of SAARC Agriculture Ministers, called on the directive of the 15th SAARC Summit and the Colombo statement on Food Security, concluded in New Delhi with a consensus to enhance cooperation in a wide range of areas.
more»
news.xinhuanet.com
Heavy rain lashes South China region, 1.17 million affected
More than 1.17 million people have been affected in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region by floods
triggered by continuous heavy rain that started on Saturday.
more»
www.hindu.com
Pheasant population declining in the Himalayas
Pheasants, the shy and charming birds known for their brilliant plumage and common in the western Himalayas, are on the decline, not only in the region but across the globe, a biologist from the Britain-based World Pheasants Association has said.
more»
www.alertnet.org
Afghanistan at the crossroads: Drought, food crisis drive Afghans out of villages
Severe drought and food shortages have caused thousands of people to leave their villages in Afghanistan's north
and west to find work and aid.
more»
www.tradingmarkets.com
United Nations: Beijing Conference Calls for Wave of Technological Transformation to Address Climate Change
According to participants attending the Beijing High-level Conference on Climate Change,
effective international cooperation will be required to achieve a wave of technological transformation needed to address climate change over the coming
decades.
more»
http://eng.24.kg
NATO to fund estimation of Kyrgyz hydropower plant destruction effects
NATO will grant funds to conduct estimation of Kyrgyz hydropower plant destruction's effects, the Russian broadcaster RIA
Novosti reported referring to the University of Portsmouth, England.
more»
www.iol.co.za
Atmospheric Brown Cloud (ABC) a huge threat to Asia
Enormous brown clouds of pollution hanging over Asia are killing hundreds of thousands of people, melting glaciers, changing weather patterns
and damaging crops, the United Nations said on Thursday.
more»
www.ens-newswire.com
Australian Alps Awarded National Heritage Status
The Australian Alps, encompassing Australia's highest mainland peaks and most spectacular mountain scenery, have been awarded the country's highest
heritage honor with their inclusion Friday in the National Heritage List.
more»
www.reuters.com
Climate Change Capital to spend $732 million in China
London-based alternative investment manager Climate Change Capital plans to invest 5 billion Yuan ($732 million) in environmental projects
in China including industrial waste management and clean technology over the next two to three years.
more»
www.stuff.co.nz
New Zealand 'clear leader' in green tourism
New Zealand has picked up a new international award, placing it at the forefront of the new age of responsible
tourism.
more»
news.xinhuanet.com
Experts urge creating biodiversity information network in Hindu Kush-Himalayan region
Experts have called in a workshop to create a mountain biodiversity information network in the Hindu
Kush-Himalayan region for mutual benefit and transboundary cooperation.
more»
www.ipsnews.net
DEVELOPMENT-VIETNAM: Rare Criticism of Dams Surface
While arguments against the development of hydropower dams on the Mekong River and its tributaries have from time to time emerged in Vietnam's
state-controlled press, rarely have government officials been as open with their criticism as they have in recent months.
more»
www.governmentnews.com.au
Australia can help provide for food security
A task force of prominent Australians appointed by the non-government organization, The Crawford Fund, has produced a new report that focuses on
global food security and provides a framework to guide Australian policy.
more»
www.reuters.com
Climate Change Capital to spend $732 million in China
London-based alternative investment manager Climate Change Capital plans to invest 5 billion Yuan ($732 million) in environmental projects
in China including industrial waste management and clean technology over the next two to three years.
more»
www.theaustralian.news.com.au
Australia cries foul over climate rules on developing countries
Canberra is pushing to change the rules for international climate change talks in Copenhagen
next year to prevent rich developed countries, such as Singapore and South Korea, being required to do less because the Kyoto Protocol classifies them as
developing.
more»
www.upi.com
China sowing forests in tree-starved areas
China's "Green Great Wall" forest project could become a model that could help mitigate environmental disasters, researchers
say.
more»
www.google.com
Winter of hunger looms in Afghanistan
This year a combination of drought and high food prices could leave a bigger shortage than emergency food aid can
cover.
more»
http://energybangla.com
USAID Supports Investment in Hydropower in Nepal
The USAID has launched the "Nepal Small Hydro Fund",to support the investment in the hydropower
sector.
more»
www.merinews.com
Floods in Tamilnadu
Heavy rains and floods created havoc in Tamilnadu on Wednesday,due to which at least 32 persons have died in and thousands more have
been evacuated to higher grounds.
more»
www.marketwatch.com
Climate Change Perturbs Asian Monsoon Pattern
Climate Risk Analysis Company and coworkers have detected a trend toward more intense East-West contrasts in the surface temperature
of the Indian Ocean region over Past 150 years. This can influence monsoon rainfall patterns in coming
decades.
more»
www.iht.com
One Japanese climber rescued alive from New Zealand Mountain
A Japanese climber was plucked alive by rescuers from New Zealand's highest peak shortly after dawn Friday, but his companion
was found dead, searchers said.
more»
asia.news.yahoo.com
Taiwan Government to Invest US$ 376 Million in Mountain Management Project
The government will invest NT$12.6 billion (US$376 million) in a project to prevent natural disasters
in the country's mountainous regions, the highest amount ever allocated for the goal, Taiwan's economic planning body said in a statement
Monday.
more»
www.google.com
Prepare for disasters despite downturn: UN
UN officials meeting in the Malaysian capital Tuesday warned Asian countries not to cut funding for disaster preparations, despite
the global economic downturn.
more»
http://telegraphnepal.com
Nepal invites China to invest in Hydro-Power sector
In a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, Nepalese PM urged China to invest in Nepal's Hydro-Power
Sector as well.
more»
news.bbc.co.uk
Australia sets new climate target
Australia has said it will start a carbon trading scheme by the middle of 2010, despite appeals from the business community for a delay.
more»
www.sustainablebusiness.com
Asian Development Bank Creates $200M CO2 Fund
The ADB-administered Future Carbon Fund aims to raise fund up to $200 million to help finance renewable
energy, energy efficiency and other greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation projects undertaken in its developing member
countries (DMCs).
more»
http://news.xinhuanet.com
China, Japan, S Korea to promote cooperation on disaster management
In a trilateral meeting, China, Japan and South Korea have agreed to enhance
cooperation on disaster management.
more»
www.fao.org
Food security in mountains
With the theme "Food Security in Mountains", the International Mountain Day 2008 was celebrated on 11th
of November.
more»
www.voanews.com
Soil Erosion Threatens Chinese 'Breadbasket'
A recently announced result of a three-year study says almost forty percent of China is losing soil
because of wind and water erosion.
more»
www.irinnews.org
Bangladesh: Battling the effects of climate change
Bangladesh urgently needs support in developing a climate-resilient agriculture if its people are to survive and prosper in the long term, according to some experts.
more»
www.indopia.in
ADB sanctions Rs 4,000- crore loan for four major hydro electricity projects in India.
The Himachal Pradesh government today said that the Asian Development Bank has sanctioned Rs 4,000 of loan for four major hydro electricity projects, totaling 808 MW, in the state.
more»
www.financialmirror.com
Cyprus to receive help from EU Solidarity Fund for drought
The Cypriot authorities will be receiving 7.6 million Euros from the EU Solidarity Fund, towards covering damage caused by the drought in Cyprus.
more»
http://uk.reuters.com
Greens protest over Australian carbon targets
Environmentalists staged protests in Australia's major cities on Tuesday to demand tougher greenhouse emissions targets after Prime Minister Kevin Rudd promised to curb emissions by 5-15 percent by 2020.
more»
http://balita.ph
Migratory birds start to flock in Cordillera mountain ranges of the Philippines
Thousands of grayish-white and brightly-colored migratory birds from temperate countries near the North Pole have started to flock at their usual sanctuaries within the Cordillera mountain ranges in Luzon, according to the Department of
Agriculture (DA).
more»
www.demotix.com
Climate change affecting Everest glaciers
Climatic change continues to hasten the melt of many Himalayan glaciers, including those in the Mount Everest region of
Nepal.
more»
www.smh.com.au
Disasters warning for Asia-Pacific
Scientific research has shown that Australia's neighbours in the Asia-Pacific region face an era of "mega-disasters" affecting hundreds of thousands of people as urbanization, climate change and food shortages amplify the impact of natural catastrophes such as earthquakes and cyclones in the coming years.
more»
http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com
Haphazard rubber planting threatens food security in hills of Vietnam
The haphazard planting of rubber trees on agriculture land in the northern mountainous provinces is threatening food security, warns an official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
more»
http://uk.reuters.com
China starts running 3rd Largest Hydropower Station
China on Friday began fully operating the first phase of Longtan, its third largest hydropower station, Xinhua reported,a development would consolidate its effort to ship energy from landlocked west China to energy-hungry coastal
regions.
more»
www.eurasianet.org
Kyrgyzstan: water shortage ratchets up social tension
As if electricity blackouts weren't bad enough, now the residents in rural Kyrgyzstan are having difficulties accessing water.
more»
http://news.xinhuanet.com
Strong quake displaces thousands, damages hundreds buildings in Papua, Indonesia
A powerful quakes in Papua in easternmost of Indonesia on Sunday have led over 14,000 people taking shelters in tents, destroyed hundreds of buildings, killed one person and injured dozens others,local disaster management agency said on
Monday.
more»
www.3news.co.nz
Scientists gather in Wellington for conference on climate change
World authorities on the history of climate change are converging on Wellington for a conference on climate change.
more»
www.kuwaittimes.net
Himalayan villagers on global warming frontline
On top of unpredictable weather, dangers are increasing in Nepal's mountains because of climate
change.
more»
www.antara.co.id
Pakistan government to build a new Hydropower Plant
The Pakistan government has decided to construct the Chiniot Dam Project on Chenab river, between Chiniot and Chenab Nagar, to stock up and provide river water for irrigation and power generation.
more»
http://english.vovnews.vn
Sixty three teams to conquer Ba Ra Mountain's peak of Vietnam
The fifth national mountaineering championship to conquer the peak of Ba Ra Mountain will be held in Phuoc Long District of Binh Phuoc province on January 6.The event has drawn the participation of 500 mountaineers from 63 teams, including 3 teams from Cambodia and Laos.
more»
www.google.com
Two Australians killed by falling glacier ice in New Zealand
Two Australian brothers were killed when around 100 tons of ice fell on them at the base of Fox Glacier in New Zealand's South Island, police said Friday.
more»
www.thaindian.com
Mount Everest tipped to be one of New Seven Wonders of Nature
The highest mountain on Earth will compete with 260 contenders short-listed from 222 countries including other famous mountain peaks,lakes and attractions to be one of the "New Seven Wonders of
Nature".
more»
www.thaindian.com
Mount Everest tipped to be one of New Seven Wonders of Nature
The highest mountain on Earth will compete with 260 contenders short-listed from 222 countries including other famous mountain peaks,lakes and attractions to be one of the "New Seven Wonders of
Nature".
more»
www.smartbrief.com
Australia: Asia-Pacific will face major disasters in coming years
In an analysis of potential earthquakes, floods, tsunamis and volcanoes in the Asia-Pacific region, Geosciences Australia predicts the region is heading for a period of large-scale natural disasters that could kill as many as 1 million people at a time.
more»
www.biomassmagazine.com
Report: China's renewable energy sector expected to grow
According to a new report published by Ireland-based Research and Markets and titled "China: Clean and Renewable Energy Report to 2010," China's clean and renewable energy sector is poised for massive growth.
more»
www.bikeradar.com
Mountain biking to save Cambodia's wildlife
The off-road mountain biking in Cambodia runs through the remote Cardamom Mountains and aims to provide poor local loggers and poachers with an alternative, sustainable livelihood thereby helping to preserve wildlife and combat
poverty.
more»
www.dailytimes.com.pk
Pakistan on brink of "water disaster"
Pakistan is on the brink of 'water disaster' as a new study has predicted accelerated melting of glaciers and depletion of massive waters in the Indus Basin Rivers.
more»
http://csr-asia.com
The Meltdown of the Himalayan Glaciers
Data from glaciers around the world indicates that the average rate of melting and thinning more than doubled from 2004-2005 to 2005-2006. At the earth's so-called "third pole" in the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau the situation is particularly critical.
more»
http://ecoworld.com
Hydropower in Kyrgyzstan
Although it is claimed to have the largest hydropower potential in the region, the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan) is facing the challenge of an energy quagmire.
more»
http://thestar.com.
Red alert as floods worsen in Sarawak, Malaysia
Southern Sarawak is bracing for one of its worst floods in history as rising water level forced some 3,800 people to leave their homes on Sunday.
more»
http://dailymailnews.com
Climate change to have devastating effects, poorest to be worst hit
Weather patterns in the future will be characterized by intensity and extremes and the effects will be felt in a wide range of sectors from agriculture and water resource management to health and infrastructure, experts observed Wednesday in Pakistan, at regional conference on climate change.
more»
www.china.org
Asia's largest natural ski park opens at Mt. Changbai in China
The largest ski park in Asia with natural snow opened on Monday on the west slope of Mount Changbai, in northeast China. An international snow culture and tourism festival, which will run for six months, also kicked
off.
more»
http://green.ndtv.com
Climate change could hit India's food security
For the moment, India's food insecurity may not be growing, at least, not as much as some of the countries around the world. But, climate change and concomitant water woes portend grave pressure on agriculture and food prices.
more»
http://finchannel.com
China's Push to Improve Disaster Management Gets ADB Support
In the wake of the devastating Sichuan earthquake, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide a $650,000 grant to the People's Republic of China (PRC) to help improve its disaster risk management system.
more»
http://mdn.mainichi.jp
Mount Fuji nomination as World Heritage site put off until 2012
Plans to submit Mount Fuji to the World Heritage list in 2011 are likely to be postponed for more than a year, Yamanashi prefectural officials said.
more»
www.newstrackindia.com
Eleven mountaineers killed in Turkey
Eleven people were killed Sunday in an avalanche which trapped a group of mountaineers in northeast Turkey, the NTV television station reported.
more»
www.google.com
Climate change threatens Lebanon's legendary Cedars
Lebanon's majestic cedar trees have withstood the test of time for centuries but climate change is threatening the country's most treasured symbol.
more»
news.xinhuanet.com
Melting glaciers on China's Qinghai-Tibet plateau water source "worrisome"
Chinese scientists have said that the glaciers serving as water sources on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau are melting at a "worrisome speed," having receded 196 square km over the past nearly 40 years.
more»
http://english.vovnews.vn
Pilgrims flock to Holy Mountain (Yen Tu) of Vietnam for festival
Despite cold weather, thousands of pilgrims and tourists have flocked to Yen Tu Mountain on the first day of the Yen Tu festival, which began on January 4 or the 10th day of the Lunar New Year.
more»
www.hindu.com
Project: Grey Ghost launched to save the Snow Leopards of India
The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) of India announced the launching of Project Snow Leopard, an initiative for strengthening wildlife conservation in the Himalayan high altitude regions in general and for the `grey ghost' in particular.
more»
www.dailynews.lk
SHDA,Sri Lanka to invest Rs. 20b on hydro power projects
The Small Hydropower Development Association of Sri Lanka will invest twenty billion rupees to construct Hydro projects which are expected to be completed in four years.
more»
www.seedmagazine.com
Nepal: Wireless in the Mountains
A home Wi-Fi kit and a solar-powered relay station transform healthcare and education for a remote village in western
Nepal.
more»
http://indiatoday.digitaltoday.in
Climate change leads to early flowering in the Himalayas
Climate change seems to have begun affecting flowering patterns in the Garhwal Himalayas
in India.
more»
http://english.people.com.cn
Forest fire in the Mountainous area of East China's Fujian Province under control
A fire in east China's Fujian Province was under control Friday
morning after burning for 22 hours and devastating a swathe of mountain forests bordering farmhouses, local authorities
said.
more»
www.odt.co.nz
Mountain biking: Downhill and cross-country events at Coronet,New Zealand
Bodies will be on the line for the large national and inter-national field competing in this weekend's New Zealand Mountain Bike Cup at Coronet Peak.
more»
http://sify.com
Thirty Seven injured in Indonesia earthquake
At least 37 people were injured and many buildings damaged when an earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter
scale struck early on Thursday off the northern tip of Indonesia's Sulawesi Island, an official said.
more»
www.taipeitimes.com
Photographs reveal demise of glaciers in the Himalayas
In an exhibition in Bonn, Germany, during the latest round of UN talks on reaching a global deal to tackle global warming, the pictures reveal the dramatic reductions in glacial ice in the Himalayas.
more»
www.upi.com
Second New Zealand climber dies
Aoraki-Mount Cook, the tallest peak in New Zealand, claimed its second life in a week when an Australian climber fell about 1,600 feet, authorities said.
more»
www.earthportal.org
Himalayan region has big problems, few mechanisms to solve them
Leading social and environmental scientists yesterday called for scientific collaboration throughout
the Himalayan mountain region to study the impacts of melting
glaciers.
more»
www.iht.com
Moderate earthquake shakes Turkey
Turkey's seismology center says a moderate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.0 has shaken a province in western Turkey.
more»
www.livemint.com
Demand for advance premium halts large hydropower projects in India
India's efforts to build large hydropower plants have run into trouble with some states insisting on a premium in advance for the projects and the Union government unwilling to yield to the demand.
more»
www.seedmagazine.com/
<STRONG>Nepal: Wireless in the Mountains<BR></STRONG>A home Wi-Fi kit and a solar-powered relay station transform healthcare and education for a remote village in western
Nepal.<BR><A href="http://www.seedmagazine.com/news/2009/02/nepal_wireless_in_the_mountain.php" target=_blank>more»</A>
http://uanews.org
Creating a Geological Map of World's Largest Mountain Range
The Tibetan Plateau long had scientists perplexed and, for that reason and others, the Central Asian
landmass and the High Himalayas are the center of a research project led by a team of University of Arizona
researchers.
more»
http://businessmirror.com
Asean forest experts to tackle climate change in Subic meet
A conference on social forestry and its role in climate change mitigation and adaptation in Southeast Asia is being held in Subic, Zambales, where the experts will discuss the role of social forestry in climate change mitigation and adaptation.
more»
news.ninemsn.com
Mountaineer dies after Nepal climb
Mick Parker, 36, died last Thursday after returning to Kathmandu from the 8,462 metre Himalayan peak of Makalu, the Herald Sun newspaper reports.
more»
www.katu.com
Coming soon to an ocean near you -- El Nino?
climate forecasters are starting to see signs that El Nino conditions are developing in the Pacific Ocean, which is a warming of ocean temperatures in the tropical region of the Pacific, a typical 3-5 year cycle.
more»
www.prleap.com
What Next for Mount Everest? Climate Change, Tourism Threaten the Himalaya
After the record breaking nineteenth summit of Mount Everest, expert climber Apa Sherpa confirmed that climate change has had a measurable impact on the mountain.
more»
www.americanchronicle.com
Falling Mountain Paradigms of Nepal
Deformation process in the Nepalese mountains is perceptible due to breaking of mountains; landslides have been a very normal occurrence here during the rainy season.
more»
www.google.com
Asia set to become biggest climate change driver
Asia's share of global greenhouse gas emissions could rise to more than 40 percent by 2030, making it the world's main driver of climate change, experts warned.
more»
www.naturalnews.com
Global Food Production Plummets in 2009
Global food production is expected to plummet between 20 and 40 percent in 2009, due to widespread drought and other stresses on agricultural production.
more»
www.adb.org
ADB Aims to Double Clean Energy Investments in Asia to $2 Billion a Year
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is to substantially increase its clean energy investments to $2 billion a year from a previous target of $1 billion, in a bid to accelerate low carbon growth and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region.
more»
newsinfo.inquirer.net
RP one of unsafest places on Earth
Based on a new Mortality Risk Index (MRI) released by the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR), the Philippines is one of the unsafest places on earth because of its exposure to natural hazards.
more»
www.google.com
Tibet drought worst in 30 years
A drought in Tibet has intensified into the region's worst in three decades, leaving thousands of hectares parched and killing more than 13,000 head of cattle.
more»
www.asianews.it
FAO: hunger will hit a billion people, 642 million in the Asia-Pacific region
The UN Food and Agriculture Organization forecasts that in 2009, for the first time in history, a sixth of the global population will suffer from hunger.
more»
http://news.bbc.co.uk
Himalayan glacier studies commence
After a long gap, scientists in Nepal have embarked on the first field studies of Himalayan glacial lakes, some of which are feared to be swelling dangerously due to global warming.
more»
www.hydroworld.com
World Bank unit to fund Sri Lanka renewable including hydro
World Bank is providing a US$15 million risk-sharing facility and project structuring expertise to help evaluate and finance renewable energy projects in Sri Lanka including small hydropower.
more»
www.reuters.com
EU to help China bury carbon in climate fight
Europe has started moves to help China develop technology to trap and bury carbon dioxide (CO2) underground in the fight against global warming.
more»
http://foodbizdaily.com
World Bank approves US$ 197 million credit to India for agricultural development
The World Bank has approved a USD 197 million credit to India to increase the agricultural productivity of degraded lands in northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
more»
www.earthtimes.org
Habitat destruction endangering wildlife
Research has found that habitat destruction and to a lesser extent over-hunting is putting life on earth under a serious threat, according to a new report issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
more»
foodbizdaily.com
World Bank approves US$ 197 million credit to India for agricultural development
The World Bank has approved a USD 197 million credit to India to increase the agricultural productivity of degraded lands in northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
more»
www.indopia.in/
Sikkim's largest glacier melting
Alarmed over reported shrinkage of the 26 km Zemu glacier in the eastern Himalayas, which is the main source of water for Teesta River, due to global warming.
more»
news.xinhuanet.com
UNESCO's world heritage list grows
United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has added 13 new sites to its ever expanding World Heritage list including too Sacred Mountain in Kyrgyzstan.
more»
www.lankabusinessonline.com
World Bank launches ecological cities programme
The World Bank has launched a programme to help cities in developing countries achieve economic growth and high quality living standards without damaging the environment.
more»