Metro Manila, like many cities in Southeast Asia, is badly affected by poor air quality. Legislation has failed to combat the problem due to inadequate regulatory enforcement and industry's cavalier attitude towards pollution. However a recent economic study has found that a solution to this...

Take a boat along Bangkok's famous Chao Phraya River and it doesn't take an expert to realize that it is seriously polluted with sewage and practically biologically dead. As part of a general drive to do something about this problem, a recent study has found that the residents are willing to pay...

The study looked at how agrochemicals affect both the profitability and the health of rice farmers in the Mekong Delta. Its main conclusion was that misuse of pesticide is harming farmers' well being and saddling them with health costs of over 90,000 VND each per rice crop. It also shows that a...

Like many developing countries, Vietnam promotes the use of agro-chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides) to boost agricultural production. As many countries have found, however, farmers often misuse these chemicals, applying them excessively or in ineffective ways. The results are...

One of the most pressing environmental problems facing Asia's cities is a lack of effective wastewater treatment. In particular, urban areas in China, which have experienced very rapid industrialization, are facing a pollution crisis as water-borne wastes pour relatively unchecked into rivers...

An overhaul of China's complicated electricity pricing system and the introduction of 'polluter-pays' levies for generators could help to resolve the environmental and health problems caused by the country's power stations. The study looked at the Mawan Electricity Plant in Shenzhen, Guangdong...

Water pollution is one of China's most pressing environmental issues, but a recent economic study in Yunnan province has found that in certain cases market forces can be harnessed to effectively drive river clean-up. The study looked at the feasibility of allowing industries along the...

Pollution is recognized as one of the biggest environmental challenges facing China as the country pushes to modernize and develop its economy. Many major waterways are in unhealthy condition and air pollution now affects almost all of the country's main cities. Some of this impacts on the rest...

In many countries, environmental management is hampered by lack of resources and expertise. This study has field-tested an analytical tool that offers a relatively simple and cost-effective way forward. The study looked at two coastal areas in Thailand. It investigated whether the value...

In Thailand, more than 80 forest reserves have been declared national parks - about 13% of the country's land area. Besides serving a vital conservation role, these parks provide valuable recreational and educational opportunities for Thais and foreign tourists. Unfortunately, many Thai parks...