Ecology in The Making (1816-present) Exhibition: Encounter valuable records from Hong Kong’s natural history Lung Fu Shan Environmental Education Centre was jointly established by the Environmental Protection Department and The University of Hong Kong (HKU), the only one of its kind between government and tertiary institutes. Through promoting nature conservation, the centre seeks to encourage […]
Seizing the urban opportunity: Invest in low-carbon cities to protect climate and boost jobs
The Coalition for Urban Transitions released a new report Seizing the Urban Opportunity on 17 March 2021. The report focuses on emerging economies as they face particularly complex challenges that have been exacerbated by the pandemic. The six key countries — China, India, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico and South Africa — produce about a third of […]
Switching coal plants to biomass cofiring is no magic bullet
Over the past year, Indonesia’s energy policy teams have devoted new resources to a plan focused on efforts to extend the life of PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara’s (PLN’s) coal-fired power fleet by switching to biomass cofiring. The plan focuses on leveraging PLN’s existing 18 gigawatts (GW) of coal-fired power plant capacity. The planners are betting […]
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World Water Day 2021
22 March 2021 — The World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the global water crisis. A core focus of the observance is to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030. It is a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater […]
2021 Pritzker Architecture Prize
16 March 2021 — Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal, of France, have been selected as the 2021 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureates. “Good architecture is open—open to life, open to enhance the freedom of anyone, where anyone can do what they need to do.” Anne Lacaton, 2021 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal, […]
Nature left alone offers more than if we exploit it
Save nature, save money: A commercial case. Scientists have once again made the commercial case for conserving wilderness. They have demonstrated that in its pristine state—mangrove swamps, wetlands, savannahs, forests, etc.—nature left alone is of more value to humankind than as exploited real estate. “People go on getting richer, and the planet pays a mounting price. “ The […]
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Cantilever House
The Cantilever House takes into account the harsh North Indian climate by employing a series of mechanisms. They minimise resource consumption and reduce the building’s environmental impact while enhancing the residents’ thermal comfort. ORIENTATION & SHADING The house records minimal heat gain throughout the day by placing the living areas in the north and the […]
Fewer desks, more coffee: Possible changes in offices after COVID-19
Employees returning to the office might find fewer desks and more room to chat over coffee, as companies offer more space for interaction. Lockdowns that have taken hold since March last year have forced millions of people to work from home — a shift that has been embraced by many companies as a possible long-term […]
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Renewables should be focus of Vietnam’s Draft PDP8, not coal and gas
After a decade filled with disappointments from the fossil fuel industry, Vietnamese planners successfully tested the dynamism of renewable energy in Vietnam’s fast-growing market, as they began work on the country’s power development plan for 2021–2030 (PDP8). Read the Vietnamese translated report here. Many conventional coal and gas-power projects failed to progress during the development […]
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Climate change has not stopped for COVID-19
Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere are at record levels and continue to increase. Emissions are heading in the direction of pre-pandemic levels following a temporary decline caused by the lockdown and economic slowdown. The world is set to see its warmest five years on record. United in Science 2020 The world is set to […]
Davos Agenda 2021: Greta Thunberg’s message to world leaders
Greta Thunberg calls for urgent action to address the climate and ecological crisis. The proposals being discussed and presented at the moment are “very far from being enough”. Below is an excerpt of her speech. Photo courtesy of World Economic Forum My name is Greta Thunberg and I’m not here to make deals. You see, […]
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Davos Agenda: BiodiverCities by 2030
The need to transform the relationship between cities and nature has become ever more urgent. Over half of the world’s population lives in cities, with an estimated 1.5 million additional people per week expected to migrate to cities until 2030. While cities make up to 80% of global GDP, they are also responsible for 75% of carbon dioxide emissions and are […]