“This groundbreaking initiative is the first of its kind, anywhere in the world, to provide guidance on advancing and protecting children’s rights to a healthy environment,” said Cynthia Veliko, the UN Human Rights South-East Asia Regional Representative in Bangkok. “Ensuring these fundamental rights is not just a commitment to a healthier future for the world’s children, but to a more sustainable future for our planet and future generations. We hope the Principles and Policy Guidance will be used as a basis for an expanded ASEAN commitment to children’s rights to a healthy environment in the region,” Veliko said.
Category: Region
Selected environmental stories from media outlets in the Mekong region and beyond.
Vietnam needs urgent international help to fight wildlife crime and reduce its impact on Africa
ietnam has been implicated in the trafficking of the parts and products of at least 18,000 elephants, 111,000 pangolins and as many as 976 rhinos. These alarming figures represent only a fraction of the actual levels of wildlife trafficking involving Vietnam because much of it takes place undetected.
Measuring well-being in Thai society
As a part of the Good Society Summit 2021, held virtually from Nov 19-21, the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI) proposed there should be a well-being index developed by the people for the people.
Champassak to forge ahead with Mekong management project
The US$65.6 million project is expected to take five years to complete and include landslide protection measures, river embankments, 6.8 kilometers of drainage channels, a 13.5-km road and a 10.6-hectare public park.
Vietnam cuts back on LNG, coal-fired power projects after net zero pledge
Vietnam is looking to reduce the share of fossil fuels, including natural gas and coal, in its future energy mix, while renewables will rise in line with its recent net zero pledge and as securing global funding for fossil fuel projects becomes harder.
Help us build better, PM says at China bridge launch
Prime Minister Hun Sen urged the Group of Seven (G7) nations – US, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan – to provide increased development assistance to Cambodia instead of criticising the country for its close relationship with China.
Thailand’s PTT makes Its electric vehicle play
PTT is a multi-billion-dollar behemoth entirely structured around the exploration, processing, and trading of fossil fuels. So why is it leaning hard into the EV sector?
A renewable energy company in Thailand has electric vehicle dreams
Thailand wants to have 1 million electric vehicles on its roads by 2025 and is hoping that it will grow to 15 million a decade later.
Energy Absolute diversified into the commercial EV business in 2019. The biodiesel producer and renewable energy provider’s plan is to install 1,000 charging stations nationwide in the next few years.
ASEAN invites minister from Myanmar’s shadow civilian govt to climate conference
The move is a significant sign that the 10-member grouping is starting to officially engage with the National Unity Government (NUG), which was formed as the country’s rightful government by elected lawmakers from Myanmar’s ousted National League for Democracy and its ethnic allies after February’s military coup.
Vietnam needs US$10 billion for urban wastewater treatment
While in Ho Chi Minh City, Deputy Director of HCMC Urban Drainage Company Ly Tho Dac said that the Plan 1547 and the Plan 752 on urban drainage were no longer appropriate, because of the increased rainfall and high tides which are often higher than predicted.