Eco-Business

While the worst days are over, the hidden economic impact of Covid-19 still poses a threat to countries across Asia-Pacific, where a fresh but mild wave of Covid-19 cases is picking up.

With bird flu spreading globally, some argue fur farming should be abolished to impede transmission to humans.

Single-use plastic packaging is anticipated to grow by 6.1 per cent globally this year, driven by the e-commerce, healthcare and food and beverages sectors in key high-growth Asian markets such as India, China and Indonesia.

Covid-19 has not gone away but the public health emergency could end in 2023, say health leaders. However, China remains a cause for concern.

By Jiang Yifan, Aron White

By Zofeen Ebrahim, Farahnaz Zahidi

Thomson Reuters Foundation

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Indonesia's laws aren't effectively cracking down on rampant animal trafficking

As long as the law does not recognise it as transnational organised crime, the illegal trade of wildlife will continue to flourish in Indonesia. By Anugerah Rizki Akbari

China and the United States cooperated for many years on health issues and it is in the world's best interests they continue. By Deborah Seligsohn

The "shadow pandemic" of sexual and gender-based violence during the Covid-19 crisis shows that it will be up to women themselves to topple the structural hurdles that have left them vulnerable. Fortunately, the past two years have shown that this is possible, with many examples revealing how all of society benefits. By Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Lilian Best

There are lessons to be learned from a crisis that has caused the death of over six million people and produced the deepest recession since World War II, writes former prime minister of Belgium, Yves Leterme. One is to support responsible journalism and work with NGOs to debunk disinformation. By Yves Leterme

By Linfa Wang

By Vandana Sharma and Isabela Salgado

Policy & Finance

Help India now

By Junaid Nabi

By Ann Mettler and Cyril Garcia

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The origin of Covid-19 is believed to be a market selling live wild animals. Eco-Business asked Anbarasi Boopal of Singapore-based animal welfare charity Acres about the link between the exploitation of animals and pandemics, and what can be done to curb the illegal wildlife trade.

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The climate talks in Glasgow could have a major trickle-down effect on Asia's business community. What should the region's businesses expect from COP26? The Eco-Business Podcast asked energy and sustainability expert Malavika Bambawale.

2020 was a bad year plastic recycling and ocean pollution. Eco-Business asked Circulate Capital CEO Rob Kaplan how the circular economy can be rebuilt in Asia this year.

Exclusive The world's largest asset manager says it has put sustainability at the core of its investment approach. Eco-Business speaks to Shinbo Won, BlackRock's investment stewardship director in Singapore about what this means for investors, and how companies are responding to increased ESG pressure.

Has Covid-19 really improved air quality? Eco-Business spoke to air pollution epidemiologist Dr Vivian Pun about the real air quality story behind the pandemic, and what the virus is telling us about tackling the world's most underrated environmental issue.

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