Our Focus Areas

May 21, 2018

This Clean Energy Champion Is Out To Break Vietnam’s Coal Habit

The esteemed Goldman Environmental Prize for grassroots advocacy was awarded to the first Vietnamese recipient, 42-year-old clean energy champion Nguy Thi Khanh, who hopes to end Vietnam’s reliance on coal and persuade the country to take a greener approach. By Asia Business Council Adjunct Fellow Jill Baker.

April 23, 2018

Scourge Of The Seas: How China Is Tackling The Ocean’s Plastic Problem

As Earth Day rolls around again, whether we have seen Blue Planet II, or photos of whales and other sea life that have starved on a diet of ingested plastics, we are increasingly aware that ocean plastics are a menacing — and worsening — problem. By Asia Business Council Adjunct Fellow Jill Baker.

April 6, 2018

Tariffs On Chinese Solar Products Hurt the U.S. Rather Than Help It — Here’s Why

President Trump recently imposed tariff increases on Chinese solar cells and modules, important components in solar energy generation. But in fact, the move may end up hurting the U.S. more than it does China, as it puts solar jobs at risk. By Asia Business Council Adjunct Fellow Jill Baker.

March 28, 2018

Asian Companies Are Working To Protect Against Climate Change, But Will It Be Enough?

Asia’s success over the last quarter-century in export-oriented manufacturing has powered extraordinary growth and made Asia a key player in the world economy. Yet Asian companies and their extended supply chains are particularly susceptible to climate risk and resource constraints, notably from water. By Asia Business Council Adjunct Fellow Jill Baker.

August 17, 2017

For South Asia, Rising Temperatures In India And Pakistan Could Bear Deadly Consequences

Last year was the hottest ever recorded, according to NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). This is dangerous news for the entire world, but especially for South Asia, where rising temperatures are a matter of life or death. By Asia Business Council Adjunct Fellow Jill Baker.

June 28, 2017

Mark Clifford: The Greening of Asia

Asia Business Council Executive Director Mark Clifford talked about the economic rise of Asia, why economic growth has been such a disaster for the environment, his book The Greening of Asia: The Business Case for Solving Asia’s Environmental Emergency, and whether China is ready to fill the global leadership role in fighting climate change.

June 5, 2017

Why India Thinks A Trillion-Dollar Price Tag Is Worth Staying In The Paris Climate Accord

After President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Accord last week, many are looking to China to champion the deal in its place. But there is another country just as committed to leading the charge on climate change: India. By Asia Business Council Adjunct Fellow Jill Baker.

March 1, 2017

Vietnam’s Economy Is On Fire, And Fueled By Coal: How It Can Create A Greener Future

More creative policies are needed if Vietnam is to break the link between economic growth and electricity use. By Asia Business Council Adjunct Fellow Jill Baker.

February 26, 2017

Decarbonization: Opportunities in ASEAN

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) continues its rapid pace of urbanization and industrialization, making it a bright spot in the global economy. ASEAN’s growth relies on increasing amounts of electricity, and coal is an easy choice because it is cheap, abundant, and reliable. Unlike renewables, coal doesn’t need the sun to shine, the

November 14, 2016

Climate Expert Says China Committed To Battling Climate Change — Even If The U.S. Drops Out Of Paris Accord

With Donald J. Trump the President-elect of the United States, the momentous Joint Agreement on Climate Change, signed by U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping, which was heralded as a rare moment of policy coordination, may soon be relegated to the dustbin of history. By Asia Business Council Adjunct Fellow Jill Baker.