WHO declares China malaria-free after 70 years of efforts
China has become the 40th country to be declared malaria-free. It has not had an indigenous case for four years.
East Asia
South Korea’s three major insurers say will stop underwriting new coal power
The confirmation follows pressure from a network of civic groups named Korea Beyond Coal, which has advocated for a complete coal phase-out in Korea by 2030.
South Korea to plant 3 billion trees to help reach carbon neutrality by 2050
The South Korean Forest Service is planning to make a massive contribution to World Economic Forum’s global initiative the Tree Trillion campaign that aims to plant one trillion trees by 2030.
Hyundai commits $7.4 billion to build electric cars
On May 13, the company announced it plans “to invest $7.4 billion in the U.S. by 2025 to produce future EVs, enhance production facilities, and further its investments in smart mobility solutions.”
Honda aims for 100% EV sales by 2040, zero road fatalities by 2050
Honda’s new commitment to electrification was announced by CEO Toshihiro Mibe on Friday, and forms part of the company’s wider goal of achieving carbon neutrality across its entire operation by 2050.
Japanese doctors perform world’s first living donor lung transplant
Dr. Hiroshi Date—who led the operation—said in a statement that the success of this transplant from living donors can provide optimism among others suffering severe lung damage caused by COVID-19.
Tokyo to build massive green neighborhood
Apart from boasting 24,000 square meters of green space, the entire neighborhood will use 100% renewable energy and seek WELL and LEED certification.
South Korea unveils $43 billion plan for world’s largest offshore wind farm
The 48.5 trillion won ($42.8 billion) wind farm, to be built over the next decade off the southwest coast of the country, would generate up to 8.2 gigawatts of power.
Japanese court rules same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional
The court ruled that sexual orientation, like race, is not a matter of individual preference and therefore denying same-sex couples the same benefits as straight couples is unconstitutional.
“Carbon-absorbing” vertical forest skyscraper nears completion in Taipei
Located in the financial district of Taiwan’s capital, the award-winning vertical forest building was created by the architects as an “anti-global warming and carbon-absorbing ecosystem” and will feature approximately 23,000 trees, shrubs and plants along the ground floor, balconies and terraces.