Conservation

Cai Guo-Qiang and the fireworks that disturbed China’s dragon vein

Celebrated Chinese artist Cai Guo-Qiang sought to ignite a “rising dragon” across Tibet’s sky. Instead, the flames exposed a clash between modern art and the ancient spirit of the land. Academic Zhang Tiankan looks at the relationship between art, nature and myths.

Zhang Tiankan

28 Oct 2025

Americans will pay for Trump’s pullback on climate

Trump’s return brings renewed “America First” policies, including withdrawing from the Paris Agreement. While China adopts a “wait-and-see” approach, the cost of climate inaction will likely fall on the American people facing escalating extreme weather events. Academic Erik Baark offers his analysis.

Erik Baark

05 Feb 2025

[Video] Taiwanese nature writer Liu Ka-shiang: Singapore, an unexpected birdwatching haven

Lianhe Zaobao journalist Kenny Chan takes a walk with renowned Taiwanese nature writer Liu Ka-shiang, traversing from Singapore’s busy concrete jungle through lush green nature and finally to the heart of the city’s street culture. What does Liu think about Singapore’s efforts at wildlife and nature conservation?

Kenny Chan

08 Nov 2024

China’s Ailao Mountains: Preserving nature in the age of oversharing

With the Ailao Mountains experiencing a surge in visitors driven by social media, Chinese academic Zhang Tiankan argues that preserving the range’s mystery and pristine condition is more beneficial for humanity.

Zhang Tiankan

28 Oct 2024

[Big read] From Nam Tin to Yue Hwa: An heirloom from our forebears

Yue Hwa Chinese Products Building is an iconic landmark in Singapore’s Chinatown. In fact, Yue Hwa, a well-established Hong Kong retail group, celebrated its 65th anniversary last month. But this historic building did not begin life as a department store. How did it end up housing a Hong Kong brand? ThinkChina’s Grace Chong tells the story.

Grace Chong

15 Jul 2024

Crested ibis diplomacy: How a nearly extinct bird brought China and Japan together

This year marks 20 years since the native-born Japanese crested ibis was declared extinct in Japan. Commentator Chen Hongbin looks at a dance item inspired by the crested ibis and examines a chapter of diplomacy between China and Japan, and how it brought them together in a common effort to preserve the rare bird.

Chen Hongbin

31 Oct 2023

China's struggle to meet 'dual carbon' targets and stand proud at COP28 climate summit

With just about six months to go to the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai, how is China stepping up its transition to a low-carbon economy and is it on track to achieve a peak in carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060?

Erik Baark

08 May 2023

Can Mekong stingrays tell the Chinese dam story well?

China is crafting "wonderful stories" about its upstream dams in the Mekong. But the overall thrust of the narrative glosses over the more controversial aspects of dam building. The cure to the dying Mekong must begin with clinical analysis and honest exchange among riparian states. ISEAS researcher Hoang Thi Ha says China's unilaterally imposed narratives are part of the problem, not the remedy.

Hoang Thi Ha

06 Oct 2022

Sichuan power crunch sparks calls for rethink of coal in China's energy mix

Extreme weather and declining water levels at hydropower reservoirs in Sichuan are sparking worries of a power crunch across China. This has forced electricity cuts to businesses and households in the province of 84 million people, along with loud calls for a rethink of coal in the nation's energy mix, putting a spanner in the works of its goal to reach peak carbon emissions by 2030.

Caixin Global

26 Aug 2022

China's plan to break foreign iron ore dependence - mine more at home

China's "Foundation Plan" for iron ore has gained much official support, and is aimed at reducing reliance on foreign sources of iron, including Africa and Australia. The only way to do this effectively is for China to ramp up mining of its own iron resources. However, these resources are scattered and difficult to access, and of lower grade. This means China has its work cut out if it is to succeed.

Caixin Global

05 Aug 2022

A happy birthday to China's national emissions trading scheme

Erik Baark points out some of the peculiarities of China's emissions trading system (ETS) with Chinese characteristics on its one-year anniversary. Going forward, will the Chinese ETS gradually morph into an ETS in the likes of the EU ETS as it works towards meeting its dual carbon ambitions?

Erik Baark

02 Aug 2022

Building dams in Sarawak: Can China and Malaysia ensure sustainable hydropower development?

ISEAS academic Tham Siew Yean notes that it is a win-win situation for Sarawak and China to co-develop dams and produce hydropower for domestic use and export. However, more can be done to safeguard environmental sustainability standards, especially if China means to change its image as a sustainability laggard.

Tham Siew Yean

09 May 2022