Asia Pacific‘s leading platform for sustainable development
15. Life on land
Forests cover 30 per cent of the Earth’s surface and in addition to providing food security and shelter, forests are key to combating climate change, protecting biodiversity and the homes of the indigenous population. Thirteen million hectares of forests are being lost every year while the persistent degradation of drylands has led to the desertification of 3.6 billion hectares.
Deforestation and desertification – caused by human activities and climate change – pose major challenges to sustainable development and have affected the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in the fight against poverty. Efforts are being made to manage forests and combat desertification.
Read our stories to learn more about SDG Goal 15: Life on land
To adopt SDG 15 Life on land, in support of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, please contact us at partners@eco-business.com
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Growing water stress is creating financial and supply chain risks for businesses, with many companies still lacking systems to assess and manage their exposure.
Policy & Finance
USAID cuts carry environmental costs, new report finds
The consultancy firm One Earth Partners has published an analysis of the environmental consequences of USAID’s closure.
A new study in Vietnam found coastal plastic pollution costs small-scale fishers thousands of dollars a year in lost earning potential.
Offshore wind energy is on the rise. Many experts regard it as pivotal to building renewable energy grids around the globe, while also noting that it affects the marine environment.
Carbon & Climate
Record ocean heat persists for 100 days as El Niño intensifies
Opinion
Carbon & Climate
Breaking Southeast Asia’s fire and haze cycle through certification and coordinated action
EB Studio
Stronger standards and fire prevention can help, but lasting progress requires action across industries, governments and communities.
Carbon & Climate
Can adaptation accelerate climate action?
After a summer of apocalyptic headlines, a new survey finds that people across the political spectrum are deeply concerned about preparing for the effects of global warming. The adaptation imperative may end up being the kind of crisis that forces us to stop neglecting the green agenda and act at the necessary scale.
Carbon & Climate
Regional haze casts a pall on Asean’s influence
The return of smoke haze underscores a sobering reality: while Asean has policies designed to combat it, the problem continues to occur.
Carbon & Climate
Who is responsible for Nepal’s tragedy?
The devastating floods in Nepal demonstrate what happens when reckless development puts climate-vulnerable communities in harm’s way. They also highlight a climate-finance system that is unable to provide the funds countries need in the immediate aftermath of such disasters.
Carbon & Climate
Marine protection must serve China’s communities too
Food & Agriculture
Southeast Asia holds the key to nature-positive palm oil
Carbon & Climate
Rethinking flood protection through a ‘no-regret’ lens
Videos
Carbon & Climate
More forest protection and financing needed in 13th Malaysia Plan, say environmental groups
NGOs urged the government to improve forest data transparency by making maps of protected areas publicly available, and to channel funds to frontline communities living near forests.
The Green Mortician is the city-state's first water cremation service, which has a small carbon footprint compared to traditional funeral options.
Carbon & Climate
Lending forests a voice with primatologist Andie Ang
Amid competing concerns such as urban development and tackling climate change, keeping biodiversity conservation in people's minds can be a challenge. Eco-Business asks primatologist Andie Ang how that can be tackled.
Carbon & Climate
Climate spiral: what 141 years of global warming looks like
As planetary temperatures reach an all-time high, a climate scientist has designed a new way to show how global temperatures have changed every month since the start of the industrial revolution and 2021.
Podcasts
Carbon & Climate
‘Comedy can say the elephant in the room’: Why climate action needs a sense of humour
Climate comedian Stuart Goldsmith tells the EB Podcast why jokes might be the most powerful tools for solving sustainability problems.
Food & Agriculture
‘I want others to own sustainability too – but letting go is hard’: Golden Agri CSO Anita Neville
Unless sustainability heads allow other functions to lead ESG, it will never be fully integrated into a business, the CSO of the world's second-largest palm oil company tells the EB Podcast. But in doing so, how confident can they be that the business will stay on the right path?
The head of waste management non-profit Ocean Recovery Alliance tells the EB Podcast that recycled content mandates will drive the circular economy better than caps on virgin plastic production. Brands should be pressured more than petrochemical producers to phase out unnecessary plastics, he says.
A new report predicts Hong Kong could lose one quarter of its wildlife to new developments. WWF Hong Kong conservation head Dr Bosco Chan and Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden's Dr Stephan Gale tell the EB Podcast that developers must build in ways that protect nature and bolster climate resilience.
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