Nyheder – Asia

Better protection for coral reef: The French pacific island of New Caledonia is to establish a protected area for 28,000 kilometres of its most pristine coral reefs.

No more bags in New Zealand: New Zealand is to become country number 15 to ban single-use plastic bags. The ban is expected to decrease the annual number of bags by 750 million from 2019.

Vietnam close to toilets for all: Back in 2000, more than 17 percent of Vietnamese had to defecate outside. Today, less than four percent still resort to open defecation.

Cooperation to take out the trash: Indonesia and Denmark have begun to cooperate to help Indonesia improve waste handling, recycling, and responsible incineration.

More forest in Pakistan: Pakistan’s new president has vowed to continue the nation’s reforestation project. The ambition is to plan ten billion more trees.

Nepal on the rise: Last year, Nepal’s economy grew by 7.5%. The growth is due to construction efforts after the 2015 earthquake, a good monsoon, and trade with India.

Better education in Asia: In East Asia and the Middle East, many people now get a higher education than their parents. This fights poverty, reduces inequality, and even boosts growth.

Better nutrition in East Asia: In East Asia and the Pacific, the number of children under the age of 5 suffering from malnutrition has decreased from 75 million to 20 million since 1990.

South India bans disposable plastic: The South Indian state Tamil Nadu bans a range of disposable plastic from next year. The area is very affected by plastic clogging up drains.

Longer lives in Bangladesh: Life expectancy in Bangladesh has increased by 15 years since 1990, and each woman only has half as many children, limiting overpopulation.

More rare dolphins: For the first time, numbers of the extremely endangered Irrawaddy dolphin in the Cambodian Mekong river have increased - from 80 to 92 in two years.

New ’tiger economy’ pounces: Over the past ten years, Bangladesh has created economic growth. Many have left extreme poverty, despite poor conditions in the country’s garment industry.

All kids in school in Bhutan: Back in 2000, only around half of children in Bhutan completed primary school. Today, it’s nearly all children - 99 percent.

Solar alternative to nuclear power: Vietnam is building five new solar power plants. On a sunny day, they will produce as much energy as a small nuclear power station.

Solar alternative to nuclear power: Vietnam is building five new solar power plants. On a sunny day, they will produce as much energy as a small nuclear power station.

Thailand protects ’The Beach’: Maya Bay, the beautiful location of the movie The Beach, will now be shut for four months each year, to protect the place against the many tourists.

Cleaner air gives longer lives: The Chinese are now expected to live 2.4 years longer on average, thanks to four years of fighting air pollution.

Birth certificate by app: After an app-project, 95% of infants in a region of Pakistan got a birth certificate in 2015, compared to only 5% the year before. Registration gives rights.

Soldiers fight for the forest: China has ordered 60,000 soldiers to pick up shovels and start planting trees around Beijing. The ambition is to plant an area the size of Sri Lanka.

Hong Kong bans ivory trade: Lawmakers in Hong Kong have voted to phase out the country’s large ivory trade before 2021. The hope is that fewer elephants will be killed by poachers.