MANILA, Philippines - Manila-based Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised $1.25 billion from a dual tranche sale of five-year and 10-year green bonds, proceeds of which will be used to fund climate change projects across the Asia Pacific region.

Read more: ADB raises $1.25 B for climate plan

MANILA, Philippines - President Trump’s decision to withdraw the USA from the landmark Paris climate accord must not become a distraction from urgent global efforts to combat climate change. Countries in Asia were among the most committed supporters of the Paris goals. Now is not the time to break stride, but to reinforce the resolve.

Read more: Shaping Asia’s energy future with natural gas

MANILA, Philippines - This is not a book,” says Tony Oposa, author of Shooting Stars and Dancing Fish. “It is an invitation to take a walk to the world we want.”

An internationally recognized environmental lawyer and activist, Oposa prefers to call himself “a guide and storyteller.”

Read more: It’s not climate change, it’s a climate crisis

Myanmar’s renewed interest in coal carries broader risks for the administration. But although a more forward-thinking approach towards greener energy is desirable, renewables come with their own problems.

Local and national opposition to a proposed coal plant in Kayin state, eastern Myanmar, has exposed Myanmar’s energy security dilemma. Activists argue the project will have a range of negative impacts, encouraging land grabbing; polluting air and water supplies; ruining local livelihoods; and exacerbating already poor public health across the region.

Approximately one-third of Myanmar’s citizens have electricity access – among the lowest rates in Asia. Low energy security has particularly hampered economic growth and the livelihoods of citizens in rural areas, where electricity is most scarce. Nevertheless, focusing on coal power creates unnecessary risks and ignores viable renewable alternatives for rural communities.

The government’s plans

Under its National Electrification Project (NEP), the government plans to connect 100% of homes to the national grid by 2030. This ambitious 15-year project involves expanding the grid to a further 40,000 villages, drawing on investments of US$5.8bn. A central aspect of these plans is to increase coal’s total contribution to the grid from 3% to 30%. This represents a huge success for coal lobbyists, and reflects the industry’s revival across South and Southeast Asia.

Major financial institutions have thrown their weight behind Myanmar, including the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The World Bank has pledged US$1bn and provided a further US$400m in loans to expand the current grid, with the remainder coming from a variety of initiatives and foreign-funded projects.

For the government, coal provides an efficient and cheap power source and will contribute greatly to Myanmar’s energy security. Data shows the Kayin plant alone will increase Myanmar’s total electricity production by 25%. Myanmar’s grid is currently over-reliant on hydropower, causing the country to suffer from regular blackouts during the dry season. Opposition to hydropower has also grown due to the controversy surrounding the Chinese-backed Myitsone Dam, causing delays to most of Myanmar’s other planned hydropower projects.

NLD spokesperson Win Htein noted the potential value of coal in locations where hydropower no longer seems viable. The government plans to proceed with the Kayin state plant, one of eleven plants commissioned under the NEP. It will be run by the Thailand-based Toyo-Thai Corporation Public Company Limited (TTCL).

Read more: Coal Uprisings Expose Myanmar’s Energy Dilemma

Out-of-control wildfires like the ones that brought destruction to southern Europe, North America and parts of South Africa in recent weeks will likely become more frequent as global temperatures soar under climate change, experts say.

Read more: Experts: Climate change will feed wildfires

CAYENNE -  Two satellites including one dedicated to monitoring the effects of climate change on vegetation were successfully launched into orbit late Tuesday, launch company Arianespace said.

Read more: Satellite launched to monitor climate change and vegetation

In 2006, Iskandar Malaysia was launched with the purpose of democratising development by creating new growth corridors outside the highly-developed Klang Valley.

Read more: A sustainable Johor for all

KUALA LUMPUR - A week after establishing a physical presence in Malaysia, global environmental group Greenpeace reiterated its belief in Malaysia as a key player in the fight against climate change.“Malaysia is a battleground we can’t afford to lose,” said Greenpeace Southeast Asia executive director Nadarev Sano.Sano said now – 46 years after its inception – was the perfect time for Greenpeace to set foot in Malaysia, adding that the country had always been a strong advocate of green energy in the fight against climate change.“Malaysia has been a strong advocate since the 70s and a signatory to several international environmental treaties.“One of the reasons is because Malaysia houses more than 20 local environmental organisations,” Sano told FMT.

Read more: Greenpeace: Malaysia is a battleground we can’t afford to lose

There's a fat chance you’ve been complaining about how hot it is outside. If you have, it isn’t because you are extra sensitive to the heat. Last year, Nasa climate scientist Gavin Schmidt warned that the scorching sizzle of the earth has reached an all-time high. The last time the planet was any hotter than this was 125,000 years ago.

Read more: Keep our green lungs going

PETALING JAYA - As the threat of severe flooding continues to rise in Southeast Asia, Malaysia’s business sustainability practitioners are the most concerned about the country’s resources to guard against extreme weather events and floods, compared to their regional counterparts.

Read more: Malaysia not fully ready to tackle climate change: Study