Cheap renewable energy is killing India’s coal-based power plants
Renewable energy prices in India are crashing, leaving coal-based power plants in the country financially unviable in their wake.
South Asia
Nepal eliminates trachoma as a public health problem
The country becomes the first in WHO’s South-East Asia Region to defeat the world’s leading infectious cause of blindness.
Pakistan passes historic transgender rights bill
The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act allows people to choose their gender and to have that identity recognized on official documents, including national IDs, passports and driver’s licenses.
Marvia Malik becomes Pakistan’s first transgender news anchor
Malik says she had to work hard to break taboos and finally be accepted by a society that discriminates against transgender people.
Indian Government launches the world’s first floating solar power program
The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), which is administered by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy of India (MNRE) has invited expressions of interest to build 10,000 MW of floating solar PV over the next three years.
67 Indian NGOs pledge to achieve sustainable development goals by 2029
A two-day workshop concluded with a declaration by the 67 NGOs from the 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh to take up Agenda 2030 of the Poorest of the Poor in a committed manner.
Record 66 million trees planted in 12 hours in India
Under the Paris Agreement, India has pledged to increase its forests by 95 million hectares by 2030, costing around $6.2 billion.
Pakistan to add 556.5 MW of solar by end of 2018
Around 956.8 megawatts (MW) of solar capacity is now under development at 28 locations across Pakistan, with 556.5 MW set for completion by the end of 2018.
Pakistan issues its first passport recognizing a transgender designation
Instead of having “male” or “female” listed on their official documents, Pakistani transgender men and women can have a “X” under the sex category.
World’s biggest coal company closes 37 mines as solar prices plummet
Coal India, the world’s biggest coal mining company and producer of 82 percent of the country’s coal, announced the closure of 37 mines that are financially “unviable.”