[gtranslate]
Climate change: A future of heat waves/A better way forward/Sustainability: Organic approach to sustainable well-being/Bangkok plans 130 new parks/B2C sustainability travel fair/Energy: The future of solar capacity in Southeast Asia/SolarEdge Introduces New Products/Plastics: Hotels recycling their plastic waste/Electric vehicles: GAC Aion upbeat/Thailand’s premium EV sales plunge/How Much Lower Can EV Prices Go?/Wildlife: US Embassy Launches ‘Virtual Jungle’/
Prepare for a future of heat waves
People across Asia have eagerly awaited the end of heat-wave season, which now appears to be drawing to a close. In my home country, the Philippines, the first typhoon of the year arrived in late May, lowering temperatures that had climbed to nearly 50° Celsius (122° Fahrenheit).
Over the previous few months, the record-breaking heat led to school closures, a spike in emergency room visits, reduced productivity, and a return to remote work. Continued …
Climate fight needs a better way forward
Starting in the 1990s, climate change has become a fixation for politicians and elites in rich countries. It emerged as the world had just seen the end of the Cold War. In the capitals of Europe, in particular, it felt like most of the planet’s big problems were fixed, so climate change was the final frontier.
(Editor: What the writer fails to realize is that the “climate crisis” is not the West’s latest pet peeve. Dealing with it, and immediately, is necessary, not optional.)
These proponents of climate action advocated with relish the goal of ending reliance on the very fossil fuels that had powered two centuries of astonishing growth. Sure, this would cost hundreds of trillions of dollars, but there would always be more growth. What a naïve, narrow-minded worldview. Geopolitics and economics mean a rapid global transition from fossil fuels is impossible. Continued …
Organic approach to sustainable well-being
Although progress has been made in production and policy measures, organic agriculture is still considered to be at an early stage of development in Thailand when it comes to major actors such as private companies, government projects, grower cooperatives, grassroots support groups and non-government organizations.
Plearnprai Organic Social Enterprise Co. is a social enterprise established by a team of doctors that develops healthy products from sustainable agricultural practices. Continued …
Bangkok plans 130 new parks, doubles tree goal by 2026
Bangkok is taking a bold step toward sustainability under the leadership of Gov. Chadchart Sittipunt. Moving past the Green Bangkok 2030 initiative, the governor has set his sights on an ambitious environmental agenda.
Chadchart’s vision includes creating a 15-minute city with accessible green spaces. The plan involves adding 130 parks and doubling the tree-planting goal to two million by 2026, following the success of planting one million trees in two years. Continued …
Thailand to host its first B2C sustainability travel fair
Thailand’s Tourism Authority (TAT) will join forces with local media entity and event organizer Cloud and Ground – publisher of Read The Cloud online magazine and host of the Thailand Coffee Fest – to hold the Amazing Green Fest, the country’s first B2C sustainable travel fair.
To be held at Siam Paragon from Aug. 15 to 18, the event targets Thai locals and long-term foreign residents and will be a sustainable domestic tourism showcase. Continued …
Mapping the future of solar capacity in Southeast Asia
Sunny Sou east Asia has made significant strides in solar energy, with solar farm capacity exceeding 20GW across Asean countries. Despite this rapid growth and ambitious renewable goals, nations in the region face diverse challenges.
These range from supply chain disruptions and political dynamics to issues like anti-dumping tariffs and internal instability. Dialogue Earth explores the successes and obstacles faced by Southeast Asian nations in their journey toward sustainable energy solutions. Continued …
SolarEdge Introduces New Products Amid Thailand’s PV Boom
Thailand’s photovoltaic (PV) market is experiencing significant advancement, propelled by several key factors, including the push for electrification, the rise of electric vehicles, ongoing decarbonization efforts, and increasing electricity prices.
This evolving landscape is driving a shift from standalone PV systems to more sophisticated integrated PV storage solutions, which address the challenge of solar energy intermittency and enable more efficient energy management. Continued …
Koh Samui, Phi Phi hotels recycling their plastic waste
S Hotels and Resorts PCL (SHR), the international hospitality company under Singha Estate, is celebrating the global Plastic-Free July movement by introducing innovative holiday experiences focused on sustainability and nature. As environmentally responsible tourism gains momentum, SHR is committed to reducing plastic waste and promoting sustainable practices.
In Thailand, SHR’s initiatives include the Upcycling Project at Santiburi Koh Samui, where old curtains and cushion cases are repurposed into complimentary bags for guests. This not only reduces waste but also encourages guests to avoid using plastic bags, providing them with unique, eco-friendly alternatives during their stay. Continued …
GAC Aion upbeat on EV market prospects
GAC Aion New Energy Automobile, an electric vehicle manufacturer under Guangzhou Automobile Corp. (GAC), expects to gain benefits from the continual growth of Thailand’s EV market, following the recent opening of a 2.3-billion-baht EV assembly plant in Rayong.
The company plans to produce up to 70,000 EVs a year over the long term for domestic sales and export, said Ma Haiyang, general manager of GAC Aion Southeast Asia. Continued …
Thailand’s premium EV sales plunge 35%
Thailand has experienced a significant decline in the sales of premium electric vehicles (EVs), dropping 35% year-on-year in the first half of the year. Despite this downturn, BMW remains optimistic about its EV sales, banking on the appeal of its newly launched models in the Mini family in Bangkok.
Sales of premium EVs fell to 3,844 units between January and June, according to Krisda Utamote, former president of the Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) and BMW Group Thailand’s director for corporate communications. Continued …
How Much Lower Can EV Prices Go?
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers have dominated Thailand’s auto market, angering customers with repeated price cuts, and threatening Japanese automakers, while the Thai government aims to establish itself as a premier EV hub.
Chinese companies are increasingly expanding their presence in emerging markets, particularly in Southeast Asia, where there is a growing demand for electric vehicles (EVs). Chinese EVs hold a competitive advantage in terms of pricing, which makes them more appealing compared to their pricier Western and Asian counterparts. Continued …
US Embassy Launches ‘Virtual Jungle’ AR Campaign for Thai Wildlife Conservation
The U.S. Embassy launched “Virtual Jungle Thailand” on Thursday at FabCafe in the Thailand Creative & Design Center (TCDC).
This innovative digital campaign aims to promote wildlife conservation and raise awareness about threats facing endangered species in Thailand using extended reality (XR) and augmented reality (AR) technology. The initiative combines digital and physical engagement to showcase the collaborative efforts of the United States and Thailand in wildlife preservation. Continued ….