--- title: 4 September 2024 weekly newsletter --- Rethinking climate summits | Plastics treaty | Taxing emissions | View/share online → 4 September 2024 | | --- | | | | --- | | | | --- | | | | --- | | | | --- | | Editor’s Note South Korea's climate plan needs more concrete targets, judges have ruled. Image: Joint Plaintiffs Group. Liang Lei Regional correspondent Dear EB reader, Governments should pay attention to the latest landmark ruling this week in South Korea, which found its elected officials guilty of setting weak climate targets. The country's constitutional court has instructed policymakers to set firmer emissions reductions targets between 2031 and 2049. The lack of quantitative goals in that period cannot guarantee a carbon-neutral 2050, it said.  This is the first time a court in Asia has ruled over the adequacy of a government’s climate action plan, years after Dutch judges told its leaders to slash greenhouse gases faster. Eyes are now on Taiwan, where a similar case is pending review by its judiciary. Such cases beg a fundamental question: who should be the arbiter of a country's climate ambitions – the (elected) government of the day, bearing the mandate of the people; or the courts, as enforcers of what a nation believes is right or wrong? This inquiry will only take on greater urgency, as more citizens take to the courts to question their government's commitment to confront the climate emergency. Another offshoot of this debate: legal experts are now asking if progress at global climate talks has stalled, because those with the most clout are not at the negotiating table. Big business and investors must be involved, not just nation states dominating the conversation, suggested a senior judge. Speaking of global treaties, the clock is ticking towards the final round of negotiations for a treaty to end plastic pollution in Busan in November. We speak to the chair helming the talks, Luis Vayas Valdivieso, on how he plans to work out a treaty on time and on target. | | --- | | Top stories this week | | --- | | South Korean court is Asia's first to rule that government climate action is insufficient The recently convened National Assembly now has to modify an existing law to firm up emissions reductions targets from 2031 to 2049. Read now → | | --- | | The real deal-breakers are not at the negotiating table: Judge proposes overhaul of climate summits Nation-states are overrepresented in international climate talks, which can achieve more by involving businesses and non-state actors, legal scholars say. Read now → | | --- | | Chair of global plastics treaty talks seeks to hasten consensus following 'difficult' working draft There are over 3,700 areas in the latest draft that diplomats still disagree on, after almost three years of work and with three months to go until deadline. Read now → | | --- | | Carbon pricing and ending fossil fuel subsidies will benefit Malaysia's economy, says OECD The intergovernmental bloc called the country an "outlier" from its peers for not taxing emissions. Read now → | | --- | | Is nuclear needed to decarbonise Indonesia? Experts fear a zero-sum game between pursuing atomic energy and tapping the country's vast renewables potential. Read now → | | --- | | Carbon tax 'less costly', more effective than emissions trading for the Philippines: WWF exec The country is leaning towards the latter, which could come with more complexity and overheads, participants at Eco-Business's Unlocking capital for sustainability event heard. Read now → | | --- | | Malaysian activists question Petronas sponsorship of UK postgraduate sustainability programme Rimbawatch says the deal erodes the Chevening scholarship's credibility. UK officials say the tie-up is in line with net-zero ambitions and helps nurture local talent. Read now → | | --- | | Middle East workers prioritise pay when making career decisions; company's green practices least important: survey Enhancing sustainability practices nonetheless improves staff retention, consultancy PwC says. Read now → | | --- | | Study questions IPCC figures for underground carbon storage potential New analysis puts the upper limit of caching greenhouse gases in deep rocks by 2050 at just over half of what United Nations scientists had presented. Read now → | | --- | | Opinion | | --- | | Why the conversation about eco-anxiety needs some heat The Indonesian government is lagging on addressing the growing stresses extreme weather brings. Read now → | | --- | | Dry hard: the challenge of storing Mekong rain Water treatment and quality are also often overlooked in the rush to ensure availability and access. Read now → | | --- | | The overshoot myth: you can’t keep burning fossil fuels and expect scientists of the future to get us back to 1.5°C Exceeding the temperature limit will inflame death and suffering even while the world attempts to pull back to safe levels. Read now → | | --- | | Rethinking emissions targets in developing countries Recent research suggests wealthy nations should go beyond net-zero to shoulder their fair share of responsibility. Read now → | | --- | | | | --- | | People | | --- | | Former Asean Centre for Energy chief leads new APAC decarbonisation platform Dr Nuki Agya Utama will head up the Asia Zero Emission Centre, formed last month. Read now → | | --- | | Press Releases | | --- | | Half the world’s countries have degraded freshwater systems, UN finds | | --- | | A regional agreement aims to save a tropical paradise in trouble | | --- | | Ensuring everyone counts: working together to include stateless and displaced persons in civil registration systems | | --- | | Tuu launches Eco Stay Awards to recognise Asia’s most sustainable hotels | | --- | | Featured Event Unlocking capital for sustainability 2024 Join us at our annual sustainable finance forum as we convene policymakers, business leaders and civil society to explore innovative ways to accelerate progress in meeting the region's ambitious SDG targets. View the event details → | | --- | | Events | | --- | | 10–11 September 2024 • Singapore Asia Shipping Decarbonisation Summit 2024 | | --- | | 11 September 2024 • Singapore Advancing sustainable finance for nature in Asia | | --- | | 18 September–20 August 2024 • Thailand SEA of Solutions 2024 \| Hybrid | | --- | | 28 October 2024 • Singapore Cities: Possibilities 2024 – A CapitaLand Sustainability Edition | | --- | | Jobs | | --- | | Malaysia • Eco-Business HR and operations manager, Malaysia | | --- | | Singapore • Eco-Business Head of innovation and partnerships | | --- | | Singapore • Eco-Business Energy and climate correspondent | | --- | | Indonesia • Eco-Business Country manager, Indonesia | | --- | | Stay updated Eco-Business 1 Rochester Park Singapore Singapore 139212 | | --- | | Want to change how you receive these emails? You can manage your subscriptions or unsubscribe from all emails | | --- |