Environment and natural resources
Pollution and waste
JICA to aid impact studies
The Ministry of the Environment signed an agreement yesterday afternoon with the Japan International Cooperation Agency in an effort to improve the Ministry of the Environment’s capacity to curb pollution and review environmental impact assessments for development projects. “[JICA] will deploy advisers and discuss with officers ...
Hanoi’s iconic lakes need urgent clean-up help
One sunny morning in October 2016, Hanoi residents living around the city’s West Lake woke up to a foul and irritating smell. “We could not bear the overwhelming smell,” Ms Huong, a local resident said, wearing a mask while inside her home. “But we have nowhere ...
3-meter thick waste layer could destroy Tuy Phong seabed
If state management agencies approve a plan to sink 1.5 million cubic meters of waste sludge into waters, the waste will destroy the entire biological and physical circle of a vast sea area. The Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment on February 21 evaluated a ...
Hanoi vows to eliminate 2.5 million old, polluting motorbikes
The Hanoi authorities are trying to recall 2.5 million old motorbikes which discharge harmful substances to the environment. However, observers don’t think the solution is feasible. Hanoi has 6 million motorbikes and nearly 1 million cars of different kinds. These include 2.5 million motorbikes in use ...
Plastic-free zone campaign at Mt Zwe Ka Bin
The first plastic-free zone campaign will be held at Mount Zwe Ka Bin from March 11 to 14. The campaign, which will be held simultaneously with the Tabaung festival in Kayin State, will involve about 350 volunteers from various organisations, including the Hpa-an Students Union, ...
Fight against garbage in the ocean starts at individual level: Greenpeace
Solutions to the massive garbage “islands” floating off Thailand start at the individual level, but government policy and regulation is also needed, officials and environmentalists have said. Earlier this month, pictures of large amounts of garbage floating in the sea spread on social networks and sparked ...
How ‘evolving’ technology creates e-waste
Let me ask you a question. Are you periodically forced to buy a new laptop because the technology – hardware or software – in your current laptop is no longer supported even though it’s fully functional? The Microsoft Windows operating system is estimated to power about ...
Fish kill in Huayxai attributed to hazardous chemicals
Lao authorities confirmed that fish found floating dead in the Nam Ngao river in Huayxai district, Bokeo province died as a result of poisonous chemicals contaminating the river. Officials confirmed the findings after samples of the dead fish were brought for analysis last week. The ...
Breweries shut down for flouting guidelines
Two breweries in the Mandalay industrial zone were temporarily shut down after they were found to have exceeded the specified wastewater disposal rate, said U Thant Zin Tun, assistant director of the Mandalay regional environmental conservation department. There are four breweries in the industrial zone, ...
Laos still faces chemical management issues
Laos is currently facing a variety of chemical management issues due to a shortage of a full set of regulations, adequate knowledge, the proper equipment and a satisfactory budget. At the 11th Regional Chemicals Management Forum held on February 21 in Vientiane, Deputy Director General of ...