Earth

How environmental change is shaping Southeast Asia.

Earth • STORY OF THE DAY • Dec 21, 2020 • 4 min read

Natural resources Cambodia’s giant life-giving Tonle Sap lake in peril

By Suy Se/AFP • Dec 21, 2020
More than a million people live on or around Tonle Sap lake, the world's largest inland fishery, but as a result of climate change and dams upstream on the Mekong, water levels are falling and fish stocks are dwindling

Earth • STORY OF THE DAY • Dec 07, 2020 • 11 min read

Bioeconomy Burning dilemma: Sugarcane farmers struggle in Thailand’s green vision

By Wanpen Pajai • Dec 07, 2020
As Thailand pushes towards a bioeconomy green vision, it's making a concerted effort to reduce crop burning and improve air quality. But cut off from much of the profits generated from their crops, the kingdom's sugarcane farmers continue to burn just to survive

Earth • STORY OF THE DAY • Dec 04, 2020 • 4 min read

Pollution Trash tracking satellites help Indonesia tackle marine waste

By Lucie Godeau/AFP • Dec 04, 2020
Scientists are turning to satellite technology to trace Indonesia's mountain of waste and figure out how the world's second-biggest marine waste contributor – second only to China – can tackle the mess

Earth • STORY OF THE DAY • Dec 03, 2020 • 12 min read

Natural resources A Kingdom of sand

By Andrew Haffner • Dec 03, 2020
Much of Cambodia's rapid economic growth in recent decades can be attributed to one substance: sand. Homes are built with it, islands created and wetlands filled. But while it's being extracted en masse from the Kingdom's rivers, environmental considerations in the shadowy industry are hard to come by

Earth • Nov 30, 2020 • 2 min read
Conservation

Cambodia ready to welcome ‘world’s loneliest elephant’

Following years of public outcry and campaigning by American pop star Cher, the "world's loneliest elephant" is set to arrive at its new home in a Cambodian sanctuary on November 30, ending its mammoth journey from Pakistan
By Agence France-Presse • Nov 30, 2020

Earth • Nov 25, 2020 • 2 min read
Conservation

Pakistan’s lonely elephant Kaavan packs trunk for Cambodia

Pakistan's only Asian elephant Kavaan has had his farewell party at the Marghazar Zoo in Islamabad and is headed for a sanctuary in Cambodia following years of campaigning by animal rights activists
By Agence France-Presse • Nov 25, 2020

Earth • Nov 20, 2020 • 5 min read
Analysis

Fires and Covid-19: A disaster duo in Indonesia

Each year, Indonesians suffer through toxic haze during the country's annual fire season. This year, with the archipelago nation recording some of the highest cases of Covid-19 in the region, the added complication of the pandemic means the health of millions is at stake
By Rebekah Baynard-Smith • Nov 20, 2020

Earth • Nov 10, 2020 • 10 min read
City planning

As wetlands are filled, Phnom Penh ignores Bangkok’s flooding lessons

As Bangkok attempts, at high cost, to reverse much of the damage done to the flood-prone city by restoring a more porous landscape, next door in Phnom Penh, wetlands are filled and skyscrapers erected as the Cambodian capital runs the risk of being submerged
By Wanpen Pajai • Nov 10, 2020

Earth • Nov 06, 2020 • 12 min read
Deforestation

As the tides rise with Vietnam’s flooding, how did we get here?

It happens every year. It’s normal, to an extent, for the communities impacted. But this year’s record-breaking floods in Vietnam are different, with the devastating effects of decades of environmental mismanagement beginning to show
By Ashley Lampard • Nov 06, 2020

Earth • Nov 04, 2020 • 9 min read
Energy

Is Cambodia’s turn to coal power further risking its fragile economy?

Cambodia’s recent turn to coal-fired energy has raised eyebrows among investors, with global brands in particular reluctant to operate using dirty power. But for those in the renewables sector, there are still plenty of reasons for the Kingdom to look on the bright side
By Andrew Haffner • Nov 04, 2020

Earth • Oct 29, 2020 • 2 min read
Natural disasters

16 dead, dozens missing in Vietnam landslides after typhoon

At least sixteen people were killed, with dozens more missing, after Typhoon Molave knocked down trees, tore off roofs and brought heavy rain to Vietnam's central provinces on October 28
By Agence France-Presse • Oct 29, 2020

Earth • Oct 22, 2020 • 3 min read
Podcast

The Anakut podcast: The fate of the Mighty Mekong

Joining Meng and Andrew in their Phnom Penh studio this week are Ham Oudom and Pich Charadine, with chatter turning to one, very large, issue – the fate of the once-Mighty Mekong
By Andrew Haffner • Oct 22, 2020