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The waste sector contributes approximately 20% of global human-caused methane emissions, yet adoption of proven technologies like anaerobic digestion and landfill gas to energy remains slow in emerging economies due to a lack of bankable projects. RMI identifies São Paulo and Bangkok as prime opportunity hubs for near-term private investment. Scaling this finance requires de-risking through investment-ready project pipelines, concessional capital, grant funding, and strengthened carbon markets to improve returns.

The Wood Solution Thailand Program's engagement phase (March–June 2026) seeks to transition Thailand's building sector from concrete to sustainable timber to reduce emissions and support rural development. The initiative, a partnership between the Stockholm Environment Institute, the Eco-Innovation Foundation, and the Thailand and Nordic countries Innovation Unit, focuses on five workstreams: conducting a value chain feasibility study, supporting pioneer pilot initiatives, creating a support platform for international experts, hosting a vision event in Bangkok, and developing funding partnerships. The program intends to link cities to local forests, utilizing plantations, agroforestry, and managed secondary forests to create permanent carbon sinks and improve rural livelihoods.

The document examines how urban mobility networks in Tallinn and Bangkok create unequal experiences of freedom and constraint. In Tallinn, car-oriented planning and the uneven distribution of shared e-mobility create barriers for non-drivers and the digitally excluded. In Bangkok, inadequate infrastructure, high traffic fatalities, and poor first- and last-mile connectivity maintain the dominance of cars despite the presence of street vendors and motorcycle taxis.

The 12th Meeting of the San Giorgio Group (SGG12) focused on moving climate finance from ideas to large-scale delivery, emphasizing system coherence and country-level impact. The group highlighted that annual climate finance now exceeds USD 2 trillion, driven by renewable energy and transport electrification. Key priorities include reforming Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), scaling guarantees and catalytic equity, and addressing the high cost of capital in developing countries. The agenda also calls for 'radical localism' to center people in the climate narrative and suggests leveraging artificial intelligence and underutilized public financing institutions, such as export credit agencies, to accelerate the energy transition.

The document advocates for a transformative approach to climate adaptation that moves beyond infrastructure to include 'communication justice'. It highlights the role of constructive journalism in combating 'climate fatigue' and the potential of AI to improve disaster prediction and information dissemination. The author criticises global agendas, such as those for COP30, for overlooking the role of independent journalism and public engagement. The statement calls for coordinated collaboration between governments, the private sector, and local communities to close digital divides and ensure that the voices of the most vulnerable are integrated into national development plans.

The report identifies a critical gap in food loss and waste (FLW) research in Southeast Asia, noting an over-reliance on technocratic efficiency and a lack of focus on power structures and gender equity. Through case studies in Bali (coffee), regional small-scale fisheries, and Bangkok (urban agriculture), the authors find that socio-institutional innovations—such as social forestry and collective action—are generally more effective than standalone technologies like biogas digesters or solar dryers, which often suffer from poor maintenance and limited local uptake. The report argues that FLW is deeply linked to gender and social inclusion (GESI) gaps, as women often dominate critical loss points in the value chain but lack the resources and decision-making power to implement improvements. It recommends a rights-based, participatory approach aligned with agroecology and the City-Region Food Systems (CRFS) framework to achieve a just food systems transformation.

The report examines food loss and waste (FLW) in Southeast Asia, arguing that current technocratic approaches to efficiency often ignore embedded power structures and gender inequalities. Through case studies on coffee in Bali, small-scale fisheries in the region, and urban agriculture in Bangkok, it finds that socio-institutional innovations—such as social forestry and rural-urban linkages—are generally more effective than standalone technologies like biogas digesters or solar dryers. The authors recommend a rights-based, participatory approach to FLW reduction that integrates agroecology and gender-transformative frameworks to ensure a just food systems transition.

Bangkok faces extreme light pollution, with inner areas reaching level 9 on the Bortle Scale, which disrupts human circadian rhythms and nocturnal wildlife behaviors. Despite the Thailand Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act (1992) recognizing light as a pollutant, there are no specific provisions to regulate excessive artificial lighting. The author advocates for smart lighting solutions, public awareness, and the adoption of light curfews similar to those in Paris and Hong Kong to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect public health.

The document explores the intersection of life-course transitions, provisioning systems, and sustainable consumption. It suggests that pivotal life events—such as parenthood or retirement—can serve as 'windows of opportunity' for behavioral change, though their impact is often mediated by the accessibility and cost of physical and social provisioning systems. Using a case study of older adults in Bangkok, the brief highlights that factors like urban planning and financial constraints often outweigh environmental concerns in determining transport choices. It calls for targeted policies that address systemic 'lock-in' and prioritize long-term sustainability across all life stages.

The document advocates for a life-course approach to sustainable consumption and production (SCP) policies, emphasizing that life transitions—such as marriage, parenthood, and retirement—create "windows of opportunity" for behavioral change. Using a case study of older adults in Bangkok, the authors demonstrate that transportation choices are driven more by the accessibility and cost of "provisioning systems" (infrastructure and social support) than by environmental concerns. The brief concludes that effective SCP policies must be cross-sectoral and address the systemic "lock-in" of damaging practices while targeting specific life-stage transitions to achieve absolute reductions in consumption.

The document analyzes the implementation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, focusing on the distinctions between the bilateral/multilateral trades of Article 6.2 and the UN-overseen global market of Article 6.4. It highlights critical loopholes, including the risk of double counting in aviation offsetting (CORSIA), the lack of oversight for Article 6.2 trades, and the potential for 'junk' credits from the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) to transition into the new system. The author argues for stricter authorization processes, mandatory transparency, and a 'firewall' between carbon markets and the new climate finance package being negotiated at COP29.

The document synthesises INC member inputs regarding the protection of human health within the framework of a proposed global plastics treaty. It highlights a broad consensus that the treaty's objectives should encompass both environmental and human health protections, noting that plastic pollution causes wide-ranging health issues, including neurotoxic and endocrine-disrupting impacts. The briefing details the work of two expert groups: Expert Group 1, focusing on financial mechanisms and means of implementation to mitigate health costs, and Expert Group 2, focusing on science-based criteria for identifying chemicals of concern, problematic products, and safe product design. Key priorities identified include the prevention of 'regrettable substitution' of chemicals, the necessity of material transparency, and the importance of protecting vulnerable populations, such as waste workers and indigenous peoples.

The document outlines a 24-month readiness and preparatory support programme for Iran, implemented by the FAO. It aims to address barriers to climate finance by establishing a National Climate Change Knowledge Hub, updating Technology Need Assessments, and supporting the accreditation of national Direct Access Entities. The project focuses on creating a bankable project pipeline, improving inter-agency coordination through the National Climate Change Working Group, and developing a National Climate Change Mitigation Plan, with a specific emphasis on the energy sector and gender-responsive climate action.

The document outlines key drivers of change in Asia and the Pacific, focusing on the dual nature of artificial intelligence, the risk of losing traditional ecological knowledge, and the influence of power relations on environmental outcomes. It proposes a transition away from consumerist economic models toward systems prioritizing planetary health, alongside the need for robust governance and the protection of the rights of nature and marginalized groups.

The document outlines discussions from a foresight workshop involving 42 academics and practitioners from 15 countries in Asia and the Pacific. It identifies key drivers of change—specifically artificial intelligence, cultural values, and economic power relations—and their potential impacts on the environment and society. The briefing recommends transforming economic systems away from GDP-centric models, enhancing governance through AI ethics and transboundary cooperation, and centering rights and justice to protect marginalized groups and the environment.

The document is a formal disclosure form detailing the environmental and social safeguards for the 'Thai Rice: Strengthening Climate-Smart Rice Farming' project in Thailand. It confirms the project's classification as Category B and lists the availability of key safeguard documents, including the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), Ethnic Groups Plan (EGP), Gender Assessment (GA), and Gender Action Plan (GAP). These documents were disclosed on September 22, 2023, in both English and Thai, and are available as hard copies at specific rice seed centers and offices in Chiang Mai, Ubon Ratchathani, Suphan Buri, and Bangkok.

The project launch meeting, held on June 26, 2023, in Bangkok, aimed to align stakeholders on the project's scope and work plan for implementing climate-smart water technologies in the Lancang-Mekong Region. Key discussions centered on the practical application of technologies for farmers, the identification of drought-prone areas such as northeastern Thailand, and the challenges of implementing Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) in rainfed regions. The meeting also addressed the organization of regional meetings and the selection of demonstration sites in China, Thailand, and Lao PDR, emphasizing the need for gender-inclusive data and the involvement of youth and farmers' organizations.

The document examines how air-pollution exposure in Bangkok is disproportionately higher for certain groups based on their occupation, income, and housing. It finds that informal workers are more prone to pollution-related health symptoms and that public awareness of air quality is generally low, relying more on district-level beliefs than government data. The brief proposes six policy measures, including improved communication, expanded healthcare access, provision of masks, labour safety training, stricter vehicle emission inspections, and enhanced pollution monitoring capacity.

The document examines unequal exposure to PM2.5 in Bangkok, finding that informal workers and low-income individuals experience higher rates of health symptoms. It highlights a gap between government air-quality data and public perception, particularly in peri-urban districts. The authors recommend six policy measures, including improved public communication, expanded healthcare access, and stricter vehicle emission inspections.

The document examines occupational air pollution in southeast Asia, highlighting that 87% of the workforce is in the informal sector, where workers face higher exposure and fewer protections. Case studies from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Viet Nam, and Thailand reveal that gender, age, and class create differentiated risks, with men often facing higher direct exposure in some roles while women face confining indoor pollution in others. The report finds a widespread lack of awareness regarding health impacts and a critical gap in government accountability due to fragmented agency collaboration. It recommends updating labour laws to include informal workers, improving occupational safety awareness, and establishing a single responsible agency for national air pollution monitoring and control.