The Climate Friendly Households Programme, launched in November 2020, is a joint initiative by the two agencies to encourage households to be more efficient in energy and water consumption. The earlier tranche of S$300 in Climate Vouchers was given out on Apr 15 last year. In response to CNA’s query,Continue Reading
Global digital infrastructure firm Equinix has issued S$500 million ($376 million) in green bonds in its inaugural offering in the Singaporean market. Equinix’s debut issuance marks the first US corporate to access the Singapore dollar market in over five years.
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A UN official has urged Thailand’s government, private sector, and areas to work together to ensure the village’s long-term prosperity.
The Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific at the United Nations Development Programme ( UNDP ), Kanni Wignaraja, stated in a press conference that these diverse social networks must work together to ensure inclusivity.
She also offered her thoughts on Thailand’s efforts to reach the Sustainable Development Goals ( SDGs ), noting that the country still faces challenges in achieving specific objectives, such as those relating to biodiversity and the well-being of particular populations.
Next month, Ms. Wignaraja traveled to Thailand to take part in the Asia-Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development 2025, which took place between February 25 and February 28 at the UN Conference Center in Bangkok.
She also had the opportunity to meet with a number of officials, business leaders, and members of local neighborhoods.
She emphasized how women and girls are disproportionately affected by environmental decay and waste, and that Thailand, like many other places in the Asia-Pacific area, faces challenges in the SDGs relating to climate action, nature protection, and gender equality.
Women and girls are frequently the hardest strike when you combine the problems of climate change and natural disasters with the effects of environmental degradation, waste management troubles, and waste, she said.
” These problems affect women and girls throughout their entire life, and they manifest in issues like training, job, and equal give.”
She emphasized that all industries may contribute to a coordinated effort to promote equitable growth, particularly when it comes to addressing the negative effects on women and girls.
Ms. Wignaraja even urged Thailand to make use of its rich diversity by adopting policies like sustainability-linked financing to ensure investments prioritize the planet and people, such as those who work in social protection or those who are among the elderly, women, and girls.
When working with the leasing plan, it is crucial to consider the sustainability link financing. But you list the organic assets, and you specify where the ecology indicators are and how much it would cost to borrow them. Therefore, whether you are borrowing as a single family, as a micro-enterprise, or as a larger number at the federal level, she said.
She emphasized the value of working with the government and the private business to bring about long-term change. She urged particularly large corporations to taking responsibility for their impact on the environment and work to restore Thailand’s normal resources.
According to Ms. Wignaraja, “large companies have a huge responsibility not to damage the planet and its natural resources, nor to regenerate and enhance Thailand’s natural assets.” She even urged micro- and bankers to get involved in these combined ventures.
She said that government policies should be focused on people’s needs and incomes. This strategy ensures equal and sustainable growth.
Ms. Wignaraja traveled to Phetchaburi during her time there, where she witnessed the filing of a declaration of intent to promote bioeconomy expenditures that benefit both people and the planet.
With collaborations between the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning ( ONEp ), Krungthai Bank, and UNDP’s Biodiversity Finance Initiative, Phetchaburi has become a model for public-private investments in biodiversity. The state also has a World Heritage site called Kaeng Krachan National Park and is a Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy.
She cited Phetchaburi as an illustration of how regional governments, businesses, and governments worked together to promote environmental protection while promoting economic growth. The state’s hospitality and shellfish farming initiatives have resulted in diverse growth at the neighborhood level.
Thailand is a fantastic example of how connecting the dots between sectors you promote success while ensuring sustainability, according to Ms. Wignaraja, noting that each state’s special perspective offers an option for development and improvement.
Through the Thailand Policy Lab, Thailand has developed novel ways to involve people in the policy process. The test, which was developed by the National Economic and Social Development Council in cooperation with the UNDP, aims to promote participation in addressing the country’s difficult challenges, particularly as Thailand transitions into an upper-middle-income state.
She continued,” I can see Thailand’s renewed interest and strong commitment to advanceing the sustainable development agenda.” It’s crucial that policies put people’s needs at the center, taking into account intersectionality and changing experiences, even though the SDGs are being localized in Thailand. By doing this, we make sure that everyone involved in the development of a sustainable future, including local governments, local governments, and international partners.
From a minute departure from the Paris Agreement to an emphasis on oil and gas drilling through declaring an energy emergency, to decisions as relatively small as reintroducing plastic straws, the Trump administration has made an’ economic U-turn’ in the world’s largest economy. The results will ripple across the world, probably sending sustainable financing, second gaining momentum in 2018, up years.  ,
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Since reaching its peak in the 1970s, the number of fire in Japan has decreased.
But, there were about 1,300 in 2023, mainly during the spring and spring months when the weather starts to dry out and the winds start to blow up.
This hearth, as well as the new people in Los Angeles, according to Greg Mullins, a former fire and rescue director for the American state of New South Wales, were “highly unexpected” because they occurred during the drier spring months.
He claimed that the flames were caused by hot summers that increased greenery drying and evaporation, followed by significant rainfall deficits that caused landscape parachute.
The creator of the Emergency Leaders for Climate Action group, Mullins, said,” This is a popular by-product of climate change.”
Indonesian miner Bukit Makmur Mandiri Utama (BUMA), a subsidiary of Delta Dunia Group, is offering its first Sukuk, called Sukuk Ijarah I BUMA 2025.
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Mr. Teo emphasized that switching to clean energy is becoming more affordable, with the regular levelized cost of solar energy now 50 % lower than that of fossil energy worldwide.  ,
He said,” This explains why two-thirds of the global energy expenditure went to wash energy infrastructure and technology in 2024.”
One of Singapore’s four key” valves” is renewable energy, which is the country’s most affordable source of renewable energy by 2050. Natural gas, local electricity grids, and low-carbon choices are the other three.  ,
According to the Energy Market Authority, renewable energy may finally enable Singapore to meet about 10 % of its 2050 projected energy demand.  ,
Mr. Teo even touched on Singapore’s efforts to adopt nuclear power.  ,
In his speech in the Budget 2025, Lawrence Wong stated that the nation was considering the possible use of advanced nuclear power systems.  ,
Singapore’s plan to build a pool of about 100 nuclear power and safety experts was previously stated.
It currently has over 40 experts in this field, according to Mr. Teo. His top priority for the upcoming years will be to collaborate with its partners to assess the potential for the safe use of advanced nuclear power technology in Singapore.
According to Mr. Teo, it is necessary to adopt novel and creative solutions to help Singapore achieve its long-term climate targets.  ,
As it waits for these energy to be commercially viable at size, Mr. Teo noted that the nation has also started using renewables, such as sustainable aviation fuel, and is also developing skills to build hydrogen and acid, including through small, pilot-scale jobs.
He added that the S$ 5 billion addition to the Future Energy Fund, which was announced during this year’s resources talk, will support and invest crucial infrastructure assets.  ,
Singapore is also look for opportunities in the offshore wind industry as the need for low-carbon goods and services rises, according to Mr. Teo.  ,
By 2030, the world offshore wind market is projected to grow to US$ 126 billion annually.  ,
” Singapore businesses in the oil and gas sector are now having success in turning to provide crucial goods and services throughout the offshore wind worth ring,” according to the report.
According to Mr. Teo, Singapore also signed an Application Partnership on Carbon Credits with Bhutan in accordance with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.  ,
Singapore’s first deal with a carbon-neutral nation is this. Similar partnerships with Papua New Guinea and Ghana, as well as Memorandums of Understanding with more than 15 different nations, had formerly been signed.  ,
These “win-win” partnerships will encourage the creation of carbon prevention initiatives in these nations while supporting our efforts to meet our emissions goals, he said.  ,
Mr. Teo claimed that keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit even required additional nations to complete their part, despite Singapore’s numerous goals in place to help it reach its net-zero goal.  ,
The move is likely messy and uneven, and it won’t be simple. The reality is that the international community will make progress, but it may not all of us reach the 1.5 level goal, he warned.
Singapore needs to prepare for rising sea levels as a low-lying island nation, he said, adding that$ 5 billion will be put aside to supplement the coastal and flood protection fund in the coming decades.  ,
We are weather nihilists, not zealots or climate scientists. What other nations will or won’t complete could we be certain of. However, by doing our part, we did secure Singapore’s coming by ensuring its potential.
Major investors and policymakers are accelerating the formalization and expansion of Asia’s influence investing industry. At the Tideline Compass Series section on February 18, business leaders discussed the state’s growth path, emerging challenges, and the steps needed to promote administrative implementation.
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SINGAPORE: Achieving net zero is not just an international obligation but also an unprecedented economic opportunity,  , Singapore’s Ambassador for Climate Action Ravi Menon said on Friday ( Feb 21 ).
It is also” a moral imperative” to prevent future years, he added.
Mr. Menon emphasized three factors that drive global climate actions: politicians, economics, and nature during his speech at the Temasek Ecosperity Conversations event, which was held in partnership with PwC Singapore.
He warned that “ultimately it is nature that may call the pictures” in the context of the political and economic factors at play.
” The timeline is no set by political cycles or value shapes, it is set by nature”, Mr Menon said.
” Whether we are a country or a company, the longer we delay action, the more disorderly the transition will become for us” . ,
Former head of the Monetary Authority of Singapore, Mr. Menon, described international political advancements on the environment front as “more negative than good.”
Recent political developments in the US” evidently posed challenges for weather motion”, he said, noting the land ‘s , departure from the Paris Agreement for a second time and President , Donald Trump’s claim to increase oil and gas production.
According to Mr. Menon, “political developments in the US are a distinct step backward for climate activity.”
According to Mr. Menon, political support for climate change has decreased in various nations, citing how environmental issues have taken a backseat in Europe as a result of voters ‘ worries about the war in Ukraine and concerns over rising living costs.
Because of the place taken by the US,” we don’t rule out some nations lowering their climate interests,” said Mr. Menon.
He pointed out that only 13 out of 195 governments had completed their 2035 climate commitments by the UN’s February 10 date. Singapore was one of the 13.
It’s still to be seen if those who haven’t pledged to act on climate change may back down, he said.
China and Russia have developed a more significant relationship that goes beyond their conventional military and economic ties as Moscow’s loneliness from the West grows and Beijing’s great power rivalry with Washington intensifies.
While both powers maintain that they are not formal allies, their proclamation of a” no limits” partnership with” no forbidden areas” has crystallized into what Western observers view as a de facto alliance, particularly in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The evolving China-Russia relationship encompasses wide-ranging collaboration that encompasses many cross-cutting areas. Climate change is cited as the defining issue of the 21st century among which both nations have pledged to address it up.
Russia adopted a National Security Strategy in 2021 that directly addresses climate change and incorporates the idea of natural protection. This commitment to climate change has been strengthened by following diplomatic announcements, with particular emphasis on plans to improve cooperation in renewables and weather action.
In a joint statement signed by China and Russia in 2024, it was committed to intensify bilateral investment in low-carbon areas, including solar power and carbon markets.
Some critics point out that meaningful collaboration is somewhat excluded from their bilateral agenda despite their linguistic commitments to weather collaborations. The 2024 China-Russia Joint Statement tellingly emphasizes “deepening” participation in conventional power areas, such as natural gas, petroleum, and oil refining, while simply suggesting the possibility of “developing” cooperation in emerging areas like carbon markets and solar power.
This gap is more evidenced in the 2024 book on diplomatic opportunities, published by the Russia-China Investment Collaboration Committee. While references to regular “power generation” appear sixteen times, specifically in the framework of natural gas projects, terms like “green” and “low carbon” collect only brief mention.
Beyond reasonable proposals for gas and acid development, the handbook’s power and miners section is generally devoted to fossil fuel projects. However, 2024 customs statistics shows that Russia has become China’s top crude oil and natural gas provider, with fossil fuel surpassing climate-related merchandise exports.
The slow progress in China and Russia’s bilateral climate cooperation is alarming. As the world’s largest and fourth largest carbon emitters, both nations have pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060.
However, they continue to invest in infrastructure that uses fossil fuels, which could undermine global confidence. It detracts economic resources from incentives for renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure, and it prevents the transition to net zero from other developed nations.
Other significant emitters are required to uphold their commitments, as evidenced by the US’ stunning withdrawal from multilateral climate agreements under the second Trump administration. China and Russia have a chance to take a bigger part in shaping the global climate transition in this leadership vacuum.
Both nations must, however, turn diplomatic rhetoric into concrete action, set forth precise deadlines for climate projects, and reduce their extensive fossil fuel collaboration in order to gain credibility as leaders of the world.
Several sectors offer promising pathways for meaningful climate cooperation between the two nations, including hydrogen development, carbon market integration, and critical minerals partnerships.
In a wide range of applications, from transportation fuel sources and energy storage medium to feedstock in industrial processes like steelmaking, hydrogen has enormous potential as a clean alternative to fossil fuels.
In contrast to fossil fuels, hydrogen does not release carbon dioxide when burned. However, its climate benefits are reliant on low-emission production techniques. Hydrogen produced with water electrolysis using renewable power can be completely emission-free, but its exorbitant costs remain a significant hurdle for large-scale commercialization.
Blue hydrogen refers to hydrogen that has been produced from natural gas and has carbon capture and storage facilities. Although blue hydrogen is currently receiving criticism, it has been viewed as a less expensive, more acceptable compromise before the costs of green hydrogen start tolerable.
Enhancing joint investment in the hydrogen industry aligns with China’s and Russia’s strategic advantages. Russia is well-suited for producing and transporting blue hydrogen due to its abundant natural gas reserves and extensive pipeline infrastructure.
Gazprom’s current pipelines already have up to 20 % hydrogen in them, with upgraded infrastructure capable of up to 70 %. This potential is essential to Russia’s ambitious strategy of capturing 20 % of the global hydrogen market by 2035. Europe is undoubtedly a major source of Russian hydrogen, but European sanctions against Russian exports following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have made this adversity unlikely.
Along with its position as the world’s top producer of renewable energy, China adds its technological expertise in hydrogen production and storage to these assets. The two nations should make joint R&, D and investment in CCS technologies in their national hydrogen industry strategies in order to increase the benefits of blue hydrogen’s emission reduction.
Beyond the contentious blue hydrogen, the partnership could use China’s renewable capacity to produce green hydrogen for transportation via Russia’s extensive pipeline network, potentially lowering production costs significantly.
Hydrogen is notoriously challenging to transport and store. Russia needs to develop its energy infrastructure along their shared border to attract China’s hydrogen exports. New dedicated pipelines for hydrogen and ammonia would be necessary in addition to the already existing natural gas pipelines.
The expansive, underdeveloped regions along the Sino-Russian border offer ideal testing grounds for innovative hydrogen infrastructure. These areas could host integrated hydrogen hubs combining production, storage, and diverse end-use applications, establishing replicable models for hydrogen ecosystem development.
The partnership might have the power to influence global standards beyond just physical infrastructure. Joint research into pipeline materials that are best suited for hydrogen transport and advanced liquefaction techniques could establish new standards for safety and effectiveness.
Such technical cooperation would advance both nations ‘ positions in the developing global hydrogen market while accelerating the development of technology.
Another area with strong potential for collaboration is the carbon market. Sinopec and SIBUR’s involvement in China’s Carbon Trading Market is a recent illustration of potential collaboration. Sinopec, the largest integrated petrochemicals company in Russia, is a shareholder of Sinopec, which also has the second-largest carbon emissions reduction projects in the nation.
SIBUR will become the first Russian company to issue carbon units in an international system since the creation of Russia’s carbon trading system as a result of the project’s registration with the Global Carbon Council system. Five climate projects have been added to the Russian carbon emissions registry system thanks to SIBUR.
On top of that, these projects are anticipated to reduce total CO2 emissions by 7.5 million tons over the course of ten years. As long as appropriate validation systems and high standards are established, SIBUR’s relationship to Sinopec opens up opportunities for entry into the Chinese carbon trading market.
The potential for further collaboration in carbon markets is still largely untapped despite these initial efforts to promote cross-border carbon trading. China and Russia could develop novel methodologies for carbon valuation that better reflect their national idiosyncrasies rather than simply linking existing systems.
For instance, they could jointly develop new methodologies for valuing natural carbon sequestration, such as Russia’s vast Siberian forest. It is a significant carbon sink hub, and the Russian government is expressing its growing support for monetization through carbon offset. The two countries could also develop novel financial instruments that combine clean technology transfer and carbon credits, making them more appealing investment vehicles for foreign investors.
A second untapped opportunity is the creation of joint carbon accounting standards specifically for international industrial projects. This might include establishing specialized carbon credit categories for emissions reductions achieved through Sino-Russian technological collaboration, particularly in difficult-abating industries like steel and cement production.
These standards could later serve as a model for other developing nations trying to strike a balance between industrial growth and emissions reduction.
China is rapidly ascending as a global hub for clean technology R&, D and manufacturing, particularly in the “new big three” sectors: solar, electric vehicles ( EVs ), and batteries. These important minerals are strategically important because Russia has these key points of China’s clean energy initiative.
Russia is one of the largest copper and nickel reserves in the world, ranking among the top ten for both metals globally. These resources are fundamental to the clean energy transition, especially in transportation.
Copper serves multiple functions in EVs, from battery components and motor windings to charging infrastructure, while nickel is essential for high-energy-density batteries and corrosion-resistant components in wind turbines and solar cells.
As an example of Russia-China collaboration in critical minerals, Nornickel, Russia’s leading metals and mining company, produces 15 % of the world’s best high-grade nickel and is also a global leader in copper production.
The company is pivoting toward the Chinese market to reduce the sanction’s impacts. The company made plans to significantly increase the supply of metals to China and establish joint ventures in copper refinery and battery materials processing in 2024.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the US and UK introduced a ban on imports of Russian aluminum, copper, and nickel. Russian metals can no longer be exchanged on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and London Metals Exchange.
Russian minerals are increasingly important to China’s supply chains, which is partly fueled by growing pressure from the West. Cooperation with Russian producers allows Beijing to diversify its supply chain while allowing Moscow to gain capital and technical expertise for production expansion as the United States pressures allies like Indonesia to impose restrictions on mineral exports to China.
The Shanghai Futures Exchange could become famous as a result of this partnership, which could reshape global metals markets: Western exchanges are currently closed to Russian metals, and it will gain more visibility for setting international benchmarks and encouraging yuan-denominated trading.
Copper and nickel are prominent in current bilateral agreements, but the deepening global climate transition implies that demand for these metals will increase exponentially. Both nations have the potential to quickly increase their mining and refining capacities, potentially outpacing the industry’s traditionally slow-moving one.
The partnership could extend to other strategic minerals, notably palladium, where Russia dominates global production. It is used to connect chips to circuit boards using metal connections. Russia is the world’s largest palladium producer. Through just two projects, Russia controls 40 % of world palladium output, a metal crucial for semiconductor manufacturing.
Climate cooperation remains underdeveloped in the ever-growing China-Russia partnership. Some areas, including hydrogen development, carbon market integration, and critical mineral collaboration, offer transformative potential.
The success of their climate collaboration will depend on a number of crucial elements. First, both nations must implement their diplomatic agreements through actionable plans, established procedures, and measurable outcomes.
Second, their cooperation in important minerals and hydrogen infrastructure must go beyond bilateral benefits to contribute to global climate change. Third, their efforts to integrate the carbon market must shift from sporadic initiatives to coordinated efforts that can inspire other developing nations.
Strong Sino-Russian leadership in climate policy could significantly affect the trajectory of global emissions reduction efforts, but only if both countries place long-term climate gains preceding short-term fossil fuel interests.
Chris Zou works for the World Resources Institute ( wri ) as a climate policy researcher. org ) based in Washington DC.