Manta ray populations are surging in Indonesia’s Raja Ampat archipelago
A new study from the University of Auckland shows that reef manta ray populations in the region have seen up to 10.7% compound annual increase from 2009-2019.
Southeast Asia
Singapore eradicates rubella
Over the past decade, rubella cases have decreased dramatically in the Western Pacific Region, as millions of babies and young children have been reached with vaccines.
TerraCycle Global Foundation has cleared 581 tons of waste from Thai waterways in last two years
The Foundation partners with local community and government organizations to stop waste from reaching the ocean, where it degrades and becomes harder to capture and recycle.
Indonesia seals $20 billion deal with G7 to speed up clean energy transition
Under the partnership, Indonesia will aim to cap its emissions from the power sector by 2030, faster than the initial target of 2037, and to generate 34% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.
Indonesia adds sustainability to its timber legality system
In the past, the system was designed only to ensure that all timbers produced in Indonesia were from legal sources, not from illegal deforestation.
Norway to pay Indonesia $56 million for drop in deforestation and emissions
In the deal, the Nordic country will pay Indonesia, home to the world’s third-largest tropical forests, to keep its forests standing, thereby reducing its emissions.
Indonesia to put 2 million electric motorbikes on road by 2025
Indonesia is hoping to reduce its carbon footprint by 29% by 2030. One way they plan to do so is to help put two million electric motorcycles on the road by 2025 through a new subsidy program.
Indonesian program pays fishers to collect plastic trash at sea
Each of the 1,721 participating fishers will receive the equivalent of $10 a week for collecting up to 9 lbs of plastic waste from the sea daily.
Malaysia revokes oil palm concession near UNESCO-listed Bornean park
The 10,900-acre concession was revoked had been the subject of protests and a lawsuit by Penan, Berawan and Tering Indigenous communities who said it threatened their livelihoods.
Local officials remove permit for controversial Philippine gold mine
Local activists have hailed the revocation of the permit as a victory in a decades-long campaign against the mine.