COP26

What were the major developments and events that drove geopolitical trends in Asia in 2021?

China’s climate diplomacy expands far beyond the COP process at this point, but its larger framework is often overlooked abroad.

We need a much more ambitious global partnership on the phasing out of coal, one that thinks and acts beyond what is perceived as feasible today.

Domestic factors continue to hold back the implementation of the Chinese government's ambitious climate promises.

India’s aspirational climate action policies fit into a general pattern of incremental progress at the global level that lacks the collective sense of urgency required.

From deforestation to coal use, Indonesia was in the spotlight during the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow.

Australian leaders appear thankful that the global commitments at COP26 weren’t more ambitious.

Coal-based economies like Mongolia will need a rewiring of climate finance to make a transition to clean energy possible.

Militaries can be made greener or they can have more human control. They probably can’t be both.

The new prime minister told COP26 that Japan will lead the push for greener energy in Asia. However, like India and China, Japan is reluctant to consign coal to history.

Over the past two decades, Cambodia has lost 28 percent of its tree cover. Inaction will mean further losses. 

South Korea is among the world’s most carbon intense economies. What changes is Seoul willing to make?

South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in reaffirmed allies’ cooperation on the North Korea issue on the sidelines of the G-20 and U.N. climate summits.

Thailand didn’t make bold climate commitments or sign key agreements reached at the conference. So why was Prayut in Glasgow?

A discussion of China’s role at COP26, the significance of China’s blackouts induced by coal shortages, and future directions China’s climate policy might take.

The Indonesian environment minister’s real misstep was that she punctured the illusion of progress by saying the quiet part out loud.

Japan aims to lead Asia toward a carbon-free society but failed to commit to a turn away from fossil fuel projects. 

In Glasgow, China’s representatives argued rich states must fulfill promises to support poorer nations’ green capacity development, even while power shortages call China’s own promises into question.

Australia’s 2050 net zero pledge comes without specifics, relying on technology that hasn’t been invented yet and absent a 2030 emissions-reduction target.

Asian and Pacific countries’ climate ambitions will determine if the region – indeed the world – has any hope of keeping the temperature increase well below 2 degrees.

The lives and livelihoods of nearly 4 million people in India are directly or indirectly linked to coal.

“The climate crisis won't just go away if Beijing or Washington shut communication channels.”

The report outlines ASEAN’s plan to transition toward a resilient and net-zero emission world.

Pacific Islanders face unique challenges just in traveling to Glasgow amid the pandemic, limiting their voices at the climate conference.