Standing high on the vertiginous edge of the future and looking down into a volcanic seething of approaching doom, it is a totally understandable desire to want to close your eyes, walk away and turn on the sports channel. If you have one. Put the air-con on too. Last year was the hottest on human […]

The curtains fell on the 16th Conference of the Parties of UN Biodiversity (COP16) on Sunday without any formal closing. In a voice message, David Ainsworth, the Communications Director of the UNCBD, confirmed that the COP was suspended due to a lack of quorum in the plenary and would be resumed sometime later. However, before […]

This year’s World Tsunami Awareness Day presents a moment of reflection 20 years on from the catastrophic Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004. The tsunami resulted in 225,000 fatalities across 14 countries and emphasized the urgent need for effective tsunami preparedness, especially in the face of growing climate change challenges. Rising sea levels, increased ocean temperatures, […]

On December 12, 2022, a group of Azerbaijani environmentalists blocked the only road connecting Armenia with the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave. The news went largely unnoticed by mainstream media, perhaps because it was difficult to understand. How could a group of so-called environmental activists block the free movement of people and basic supplies? And where, exactly, is […]

Imagine living with water up to your knees for half of the year, where homes are flooded, and people constantly fear that the sea might one day engulf the town and everyone in it. This is the reality for the sinking islands in the Philippines—a cluster of four island barangays in Tubigon located in the […]

Cities are in a unique position, simultaneously the biggest emitters of greenhouse gasses and the most affected areas of the greenhouse effect. As a new UN report shows that rapid urbanization and industrialization have adverse effects on the environment, causing a rise in sea levels, prolonged rainfalls and flooding, and an increase in overall temperature. […]

The Paris Agreement on climate change is a decade old this month. While there has been progress – with new net zero pledges and new technological solutions, we are still grappling with the reality that global temperatures continue to soar. 2023 was the hottest year ever on record. This alarming trend poses grave consequences for […]

  Climate change continues to pose an existential threat to humanity. Recent science estimates that we may have less than six years left to change course. This intensifying climate emergency is being seen everywhere in heatwaves, droughts, floods, fires, and hurricanes. April of this year was the world’s hottest month on record – the 11th […]

“Farming is in my blood, and I can’t imagine doing anything else,” said Mahim Mazumder, a farmer from Assam. “Even though the past three to five years have seen drastic changes—with temperatures rising so much that even sitting under a tree no longer offers relief—I will keep farming, even if it only yields a small […]

Scientists warn of vastly higher impacts on billions of people’s livelihood and cost to the global economy by the accelerating losses in the world’s snow and ice regions, aka the cryosphere. Over 50 leading cryosphere scientists released an annual report on the status of the world’s ice stores on Tuesday (November 12) at the UN […]

When the first woman in space, Valentina Tereshkova, orbited the Earth in 1963, there were only three active Earth observation satellites. Today, the number is 114 times greater. With more and better satellites, the impacts of advances in the space sector are particularly evident in agriculture, where space data improves insights into the individual components […]

The nation which more than any other caused the climate crisis will leave it to the rest of the world to sort out the mess. That is a takeaway from the US election last week. The numbers are clear: US emissions up to today are 8 times the Chinese, 25 times the Indian and the […]

The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties on climate change has officially kicked off in Baku, Azerbaijan, with the promise of striking yet another historic global climate deal and finance adaptation, gender responsive action and financing, and forgotten issues such as food waste are top on the agenda as every action is as […]

Lolita Abril urged the CHR to conduct an independent investigation into the killing of her husband Ronel Abril and another coconut farmer Roger Clores last September 26. The two were allegedly killed by elements of the 2nd Infantry Battalion (2nd IB) in an “armed encounter.”

“We were not hiding anything,” Cumpio said during the hearing. “We would have allowed them in because we have nothing illegal to hide,” she said, referring to the Feb. 7, 2020 raids.

Days before Kristine (international name: Trami) developed into a severe tropical storm, the Philippine Sea was warmer than usual. Under the warming climate, the typhoon-prone Bicol Region is more vulnerable with decimated forests. Both Camarines Sur and Albay saw a net loss of tree cover from 2000 to 2020, according to Global Forest Watch.

He is one of the most famous composers of our time. His compositions are heard in the greatest music halls in the world and now, the chamber music studio The Symphonians, is bringing Ludovico Einaudi’s music to life in Limassol. A special concert is planned for November 20 as Pattichio Theatre welcomes an ensemble to […]

The town planning department on Tuesday signed a contract for the demolition of two apartment buildings in the government housing settlement of Platy in Aglandja, Nicosia, as part of the government’s Ktizo plan, which aims atimproving living conditions in refugee estates. According to a statement released by the interior ministry, the agreed cost for the […]

A bill discussed at the House labour committee on Tuesday would change pensions given to widowers and see them brought in line with those given to widows. It was submitted by independent socialist MP Kostis Efstathiou. Akel MP and committee chair Andreas Kafkalias said the current division between widowers who receive a pension and those […]

The energy regulator said on Tuesday it will review data purporting to show how the Electricity Authority of Cyprus (EAC) could “trim the fat” and cut costs by up to 15 per cent, translating into lower utility bills for consumers. The EAC’s “fat” has become a buzzword after Michalis Persianis, head of the Fiscal Council, […]

Construction company Aktor (formerly Intrakat) is now seeking over €35 million in damages through the courts after the public works department terminated the contract with regarding the Paphos-Polis road project, according to its CEO Alexandros Exarchou, who spoke at an online press conference. “We are compelled to pursue our legal rights in Cyprus and, if […]

What they are, why we should care and what we can do about the problems they cause The term invasive alien species (IAS) is used to describe organisms that are introduced accidentally or deliberately into a natural environment where they are not normally found, and which have severe negative consequences for their new environment. Alien […]

By Danielle Broadway Actor and director John Krasinski was named People magazine’s “sexiest man alive” for 2024 on Wednesday, taking over the mantle from “Grey’s Anatomy” actor Patrick Dempsey. “Just immediate blackout, actually. Zero thoughts,” Krasinski told People in reaction to the news. The actor is perhaps best known for his sardonic nice guy role […]

The Asian Development Bank has launched a new country partnership strategy (CPS) to support the Philippines’ transformation in the next 6 years. It is designed to ensure sustainable, inclusive and resilient growth in the face of climate challenges.

Opening remarks by Roberta Casali, ADB Vice-President for Finance and Risk Management, at the 2024 Asian Regional Forum on Investment Management of Foreign Exchange Reserves, 25 September 2024, Japan

Understanding the roots and complexities of fragility helps ADB meet the challenges facing many countries in Asia and the Pacific.

Remarks by Masatsugu Asakawa, President, Asian Development Bank, at the 21st Annual Meeting of the Independent Accountability Mechanisms of Multilateral Banks and International Financial Institutions, 1 October 2024, ADB headquarters, Manila, Philippines

A sovereign exposure exchange is a cost-effective risk management tool used by multilateral development banks (MDBs) to reduce sovereign portfolio concentration risks. It provides capital relief for MDBs by exchanging loan guarantees on credit exposure from borrowing countries where an MDB is highly concentrated for exposure to countries where the MBD’s exposure is lower or nonexistent.

The Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific, or IF-CAP, is a multi-donor financing partnership facility with the goal of scaling-up finance for accelerated action against climate change in Asia and the Pacific.

This video introduces a new publication presenting five case studies of projects in the People's Republic of China that illustrate how effective solutions to environmental and social problems have been applied in different contexts.

Mongolia's nomadic herders, reliant on fragile ecosystems, are facing increasing challenges from climate change. The Asian Development Bank is empowering these communities with small grants and targeted initiatives to build climate resilience.

Bamboo value chain can be developed and scaled up to support climate action, create green jobs, resilient businesses, and financial health, especially for the region's rural communities.

Remarks by Masatsugu Asakawa, President, Asian Development Bank, at the Innovative Finance Facility for Climate in Asia and the Pacific Kick-Off Event, 12 November 2024

The Federal Reserve’s monetary policy has become increasingly data-dependent, with inflation and employment figures driving the nascent easing cycle. What does this mean for Asia’s financial markets?

ADB has a vacancy for the position of Experts Pool: Senior Disaster and Climate Risk Financing Specialist in the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department. The deadline for submitting applications is on 11 January 2022.

ADB has a vacancy for the position of Senior Compliance Review Officer in the Office of the Compliance Review Panel. The deadline for submitting applications is on 21-NOV-2024.

ADB has a vacancy for the position of Principal Integrity Specialist in the Office of Anticorruption and Integrity. The deadline for submitting applications is on 19-NOV-2024.

ADB has a vacancy for the position of Senior/Principal Planning and Policy Specialist in the Strategy, Policy and Partnerships Department. The deadline for submitting applications is on 22-NOV-2024.

ADB has a vacancy for the position of Senior Investment Specialist in the Private Sector Operations Department. The deadline for submitting applications is on 25-NOV-2024.

ADB has a vacancy for the position of Transport Specialist in the Sectors Group. The deadline for submitting applications is on 21-NOV-2024.

ADB has a vacancy for the position of Associate Climate Change Officer in the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department. The deadline for submitting applications is on 23-NOV-2024.

Public financial management systems in Asia and the Pacific face significant challenges, with many indicators falling short of international standards. Fixing these issues requires a strategic, transparent, and carefully timed approach to reform.

Public financial management systems in Asia and the Pacific face significant challenges, with many indicators falling short of international standards. Fixing these issues requires a strategic, transparent, and carefully timed approach to reform.

In Maldives, youth disengagement and gang violence have emerged as a significant issue, driven by socio-economic factors and limited opportunities for employment and vocational education.

Climate change financing is a key part of green finance, essential for driving investment towards climate action and achieving the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) carbon peaking and neutrality goals.

Climate change poses an increasing threat to people and their livelihoods. Record heat waves, catastrophic floods, prolonged droughts, and other extreme weather events in Asia and the Pacific are becoming more frequent.

Building intellectual capacity and fostering learning partnerships enhance long-term capabilities in organizations and communities. Localized solutions rooted in indigenous knowledge and governance reforms empower societies to achieve resilient, sustainable development.

Overcoming poor market depth and liquidity is crucial for Asia's capital markets to grow and remain attractive to investors. A coordinated approach addressing regulatory frameworks, market infrastructure, and risk management is essential for building resilient, diverse, and efficient markets.

Inclusive sports can empower women with disabilities, and foster accessibility, social integration, and gender equality in the Pacific. Recent Paralympic milestones and policy examples illustrate the ongoing need for supportive infrastructures and greater representation to create equitable opportunities in sports.