ARTICLES

23 Jun 2026

Why Vietnam Needs Both Concrete and Nature to Fight Floods

Bao Tan-Hoang Nguyen

How can Vietnam design a successful system to combat flooding?

Motorbikes and cars pass through a city intersection in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (Photo by MICHAEL NGUYEN / NURPHOTO / NURPHOTO VIA AFP)

5 Jun 2026

Southeast Asia’s High-Income Aspirants Should Focus on Quality of Growth

Vinod Thomas

The vast minority of middle-income countries graduate to high-income status. Past strategies that prioritised physical capital must give way to a quality of growth approach premised on investment in human and natural capital.

Economic Development Energy Environment Southeast Asia

Can Tho’s waste-to-energy plant treats 400 tonnes of waste daily. The plant produces enough green electricity to power 16,000 households and employs local residents. (Photo from Asian Development Bank / Facebook)

6 Apr 2026

Turning Waste Into Wealth: Chinese Firms Are Expanding Into Southeast Asia

Yichen Wang

Chinese waste-to-energy companies are expanding into Southeast Asia, where the need for such services has grown.

China-Southeast Asia relations Energy Environment

13 Jan 2026

Decarbonising Food Systems: Opportunities for a Concerned ASEAN

Paul Teng

Food system decarbonisation is one of the main pathways chosen by ASEAN Member States to meet their obligations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement. Concurrent with this is the transformation of food systems from high-emission, carbon energy-intensive systems to low-carbon emission systems with improved resilience, farmer livelihoods and environmental health.

Environment Food Security Sustainable Development

2 Dec 2025

The Human and Environmental Costs of Critical Mineral Mining

Prapimphan Chiengkul

With critical minerals mining activity expected to expand in Southeast Asia, ASEAN countries must collectively tackle the resulting transboundary pollution and impose stricter socio-environmental regulation of the sector.

Environment Mining Pollution

12 Sep 2025

How Green Industrial Policies are Advancing in the Asia-Pacific

Marco Kamiya

The Asia-Pacific is at the forefront of green industrial policies and must accelerate the transition through multilateral efforts to serve as a model for a greener future.

Asia Pacific Climate Change Economic Development Environment

1 Aug 2025

Rooted in Community: Bridging Gaps in Mangrove and Peatland Conservation

Gauri Sasitharan

Gauri Sasitharan argues that, in the absence of strong legal protections for mangrove and peatland conservation in ASEAN, grassroots communities are emerging as the region’s most important stewards of these ecosystems.

ASEAN ASEANFocus Environment Sustainable Development

20 May 2025

An Intelligent Trade-Off: AI as a Double-Edged Sword in Southeast Asia’s Climate Battle

Indira Zahra Aridati

Indira Zahra Aridati argues that although AI offers positive benefits for Southeast Asia’s climate battle, the region should not look at its usage through rose-tinted glasses. Without careful consideration, such systems may inadvertently undermine and be counterintuitive to the very climate goals that they aim to achieve.

Artificial Intelligence ASEAN ASEANFocus Digitalisation Environment

28 Feb 2025

Envisioning a Low-Carbon Future: Sarawak’s Journey Towards Sustainable Development

Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Openg

Mindful of the pressing challenge of climate change, Sarawak is leveraging its resource richness and cultural diversity to foster a low-carbon, climate-resilient, and inclusive future.

Climate Change Environment Sarawak Sustainable Development

19 Feb 2025

‘Airpocalypse’ Now: Vietnam at Crossroads of Progress and Pollution

Nguyen Khac Giang

Vietnam’s capital, Hanoi, is ranked as one of the world’s most polluted cities in 2025. This dubious honour highlights the country’s need to balance rapid economic development with preserving the environment.

Environment Pollution