Indonesia
The Bornean Orangutan Population Has Fallen by Nearly 150,000 in Just 16 Years
At the end of September, four rescued orangutans returned to their home in the rainforest after undergoing lengthy rehabilitation at International Animal Rescue’s (IAR) conservation center in West Borneo, where I work as a chief executive. Amy, Kepo, Ongky and…
New Renewables Cheaper Than Old Coal in Southeast Asia
A new analysis from independent financial think tank Carbon Tracker has concluded that it would be cheaper to build new solar PV and onshore wind capacity in Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines by the end of the next decade rather…
Indonesia Hops Aboard Plastic Cleanup with Bus Bottle Scheme
Surabaya’s recycling incentive scheme allows trash to be traded for tickets. The Indonesian city of Surabaya is now offering free bus rides in exchange for handing in used plastic bottles and cup. The country’s second-largest city has launched the recycling incentive scheme,…
Norway Becomes World’s First Country to Ban Deforestation
Norway has become the first country to ban deforestation. The Norwegian Parliament pledged May 26 that the government’s public procurement policy will be deforestation-free. Any product that contributes to deforestation will not be used in the Scandinavian country. The pledge…
Asia’s Growing Appetite for Meat Is Causing Problems for the Environment
Asia’s growing appetite for meat and seafood over the next three decades will cause huge increases in greenhouse gas emissions and antibiotics used in foods, researchers said on Tuesday. Rising population, incomes and urbanisation will drive a 78 percent increase…
Indonesia Mobilizes 20,000 Citizens to Clean Up Plastic Pollution
Indonesia wastes upward of 10 billion plastic bags every year, making it the second highest polluter of plastic in the entire world. To address the growing plastic pollution problem, thousands of volunteers gathered around the country last month and participated…
Indonesia’s Deforestation Dropped 60 Percent in 2017
In the midst of the second-worst year for tropical tree cover loss in 2017, Indonesia saw an encouraging sign: a 60 percent drop in tree cover loss in primary forests compared with 2016. That’s the difference in carbon dioxide emissions…