Understanding water, climate and nature in Asia
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Climate disasters

Opinion: The hidden waters of the Himalayas are key to mitigating disasters

If we are to avoid a repeat of the recent Joshimath disaster, a deeper understanding of rivers, aquifers and permafrost in the Himalayas is needed

Latest news

Kathmandu Valley in smog Opinion
air quality

Opinion: A united South Asia can beat air pollution

Article
forests

Post-flood demand for firewood piles pressure on Pakistan’s forests

Pianporn (Pai) Deetes at a panel table Article
civil society

Interview: ‘Thai people need to have a say in Mekong hydropower’

A man sits on a bench suspended in a metal cage used to traverse a river, a village and mountains in the background Opinion
rivers

Opinion: India raises the heat on the Indus Waters Treaty

Two new pipelines being laid in late December 2022. The pipelines will connect an oil and gas field in Arunachal Pradesh to a central gas gathering station in Assam, passing through nearly 20 kilometres of protected forest. Article
Deforestation

New pipelines will fragment Assam’s protected forests, say environmentalists

group of women laying bricks Opinion
floods

Opinion: After the deluge, how to build a green recovery in Pakistan

Illustration show people trying to escape from floodwater in a small boat, Dhaka Bangladesh Article
urbanisation

Stability eludes climate refugees in Bangladesh’s sinking cities

Two wild Asian Water Buffalo in Assam, northeastern India Article
conservation

Nepal fails in ambitious attempt to revive wild water buffalo population

Irrigation by Deep tube well is being done on transplanted rice seedlings field in Jamalpur District, Bangladesh, Article
Agriculture

‘Water lords’ extort drought-stricken farmers in Bangladesh

Deforested hill side on the Indian side of the India-Burma border in Nagaland. Opinion
forests

Opinion: India’s climate plan cannot work without protecting and enhancing forests

Forest fires and flash floods in the Himalayas Explainer
Climate disasters

Explained: How forest fires worsen flash floods in the Himalayas

Two blackbuck antelopes, native to India, standing a field of yellowish grass in the early morning light Article
biodiversity

How will India achieve the new global goals for nature?

All articles

Top stories

  1. Explained: How forest fires worsen flash floods in the Himalayas
  2. Opinion: India raises the heat on the Indus Waters Treaty
  3. ‘Water lords’ extort drought-stricken farmers in Bangladesh
  4. New pipelines will fragment Assam’s protected forests, say environmentalists
  5. Opinion: India’s climate plan cannot work without protecting and enhancing forests
  6. Upstream dams are drowning Cambodia’s protected flooded forest
<p>Dead trees in the Mekong River in October 2022. This was previously a living section of the Stung Treng flooded forest, a protected area recognised as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance. (Image: <a href="https://andyballmedia.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Andy Ball</a> / The Third Pole)</p>
Photo story

Upstream dams are drowning Cambodia’s protected flooded forest

High water levels during the dry season at the Stung Treng Ramsar site have been catastrophic for its unique ecosystem and residents

Highlights

Barapukuria Coal Mine Photo Story
coal

Bangladesh’s lone coal mine blights once-fertile land

An investigation into Bangladesh’s first and only coal mine in Barapukuria, which local people say has swallowed their land and polluted their rivers
a farmer inspects his damaged cotton field, during the monsoon season in Pakistan Article
Agriculture

Farmers who lost crops in Pakistan floods struggle without compensation

Months after Pakistan’s agricultural sector suffered flood damage totalling billions of dollars, thousands of farmers are struggling in the absence of compensation schemes
Melting ice at the Purog Kangri glacier in Tibet Article
hydropower

Shrinking glaciers threaten Chinese and Indian energy transitions

The worsening condition of the Parlung No. 4 glacier is causing concern over water supply, flood risk and the viability of hydropower, a key part of both countries’ plans to become carbon neutral
villagers walk towards the Mahan forest during a protest against a coal mining project in Madhya Pradesh Article
environmental law

Analysis: Legislation eroding forests rights could compromise India’s carbon sinks

The Forest Conservation Rules 2022 effectively remove the power of village councils to make decisions about forests in India – a change that campaigners warn could ultimately threaten the country’s climate-mitigation pledges
Video

Fragmented landscapes and fearful children: Human-wildlife conflict in Kashmir

As attacks from wild animals continue to impact rural communities in Kashmir, officials and conservationists search for ways to address habitat destruction, the root of the problem

Editorial Series

Energy crisis in Asia Energy crisis in Asia 12 Articles
View of wind turbines against a blue sky in Jhimpir, Pakistan Article
Belt and Road

Analysis: China’s shifting energy investments in Pakistan, from coal to renewables

A worker carries a cylinder of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) at a gas distribution centre in Peshawar, Pakistan Opinion
climate action

Opinion: Pakistan needs immediate steps to improve energy efficiency

Windfarm with large wind turbines for power generation in India Article
Energy transition

Analysis: Where is India spending more, fossil fuels or renewables?

More from this series
Explore our award-winning features on the music of the Brahmaputra, winners at the 2022 Covering Climate Now Journalism Awards Read the stories

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Our Projects

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  • The Third Pole

    The Third Pole is a multilingual platform dedicated to promoting information and discussion about the Himalayan watershed and the rivers that originate there.

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  • China Dialogue

    China Dialogue is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting a common understanding of China’s environmental challenges.

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  • Diálogo Chino

    Diálogo Chino is the only independent journalism platform dedicated to better understanding the China-Latin America relationship and its sustainable development challenges

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  • China Dialogue Ocean

    China Dialogue Ocean is a bilingual platform dedicated to illuminating, analysing and helping to resolve our ocean crisis.

    Latest news

The Third Pole is a multilingual platform dedicated to promoting information and discussion about the Himalayan watershed and the rivers that originate there.

Latest news

China Dialogue is an independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting a common understanding of China’s environmental challenges.

Latest news

Diálogo Chino is the only independent journalism platform dedicated to better understanding the China-Latin America relationship and its sustainable development challenges

Latest news

China Dialogue Ocean is a bilingual platform dedicated to illuminating, analysing and helping to resolve our ocean crisis.

Latest news