Asia-Pacific Future Ready Friday News Round Up
Back after a bit of leave, it's been a busy few weeks across the region. Please comment, share and let me know about anything else you find.
Covering the Asia-Pacific region, please take a few minutes to catch up on the news from around the region...
#Climate
▶ A new report: Why MP's in the UK are reluctant to lead by example with low-carbon behaviour Low-carbon behavior change is crucial for meeting climate targets but is politically contentious, as leaders fear alienating voters and confronting political norms. MPs believe leading by example is important but problematic for low-carbon actions, often modeling sustainable behaviors quietly to avoid negative reactions and maintain credibility.
▶ 'Climate action pays': call to rev up clean investment (yahoo.com) Jobs and the retirement savings of workers are at risk if Australia goes too slow on responding to climate change, top investors warn.
▶ ACC expects climate change to impact future injury claims | interest.co.nz New Zealand's ACC warns climate change could drive more injury claims as extreme weather risks rise, reveals $7.23 billion deficit for 2024.
▶ Real Zero at Fortescue - CleanTechnica Fortescue Mining has been in the news a lot recently. Just a few weeks ago, at a United Nations roundtable, Fortescue Executive Chairman Dr Andrew Forrest AO unveiled a plan to move mining operations from “net zero” to “real zero.”
▶ Ocean eddy currents funnel extreme heat and cold to the life-filled depths - CSIRO As the oceans heat up, heatwaves linked to eddy currents are getting more intense – and so are cold snaps. These pose threats to the vast amount of life in the twilight zone, home to the world’s most abundant vertebrate and the largest migration on the planet.
▶ Tackling nature-loss could bring major economic boost for NZ | WWF-New Zealand Actions such as creating more Marine Protected Areas to help protect and restore marine ecosystems, restoring degraded wetlands, or repurposing land to support native forest growth could all bring a net benefit to Aotearoa New Zealand’s economy of an estimated NZD $272 billion from 2025-2080.
#Society
▶ Farms to fame: How China’s rural influencers are redefining country life (theconversation.com) In the quiet backwaters of Yunnan, Dong Meihua – though her followers know her by the public alias Dianxi Xiaoge – has done something remarkable: She’s taken the pastoral simplicity of rural China and made it irresistible to millions.
▶ Disasters Trigger More Displacements than Conflicts, Says New ADB-IDMC Report | Asian Development Bank Global disasters accounted for more displacements in 2023 than conflict and violence, and governments and multilateral development banks must invest more to prevent and manage these crises, according to a new report jointly authored by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC).
▶ Build-to-rent is the latest craze in Australian property investment. But has it solved housing crises overseas? BTR has fast become the latest trend in Australian property, with advocates saying it can help solve the housing crisis by boosting supply while improving the rental experience.
▶ Social investment is back – and so are the risks of using data to target disadvantage (theconversation.com) With the recent establishment of a new Social Investment Agency – described as a “driving project” for the government by Finance Minister Nicola Willis – it seems New Zealand has come full circle on this approach to social welfare.
▶ KiwiRail offers voluntary redundancy to all staff | RNZ News In an email to all staff KiwiRail chief people and communications officer Andrew Norton said the move was designed to "reshape the business, lower our costs and create a solid footing for future growth".
▶ Victorian students will get ‘anti-Tate’ lessons – but much more is needed to tackle gendered violence in schools (theconversation.com) The Victorian government has announced new teaching resources to tackle the influence of “manosphere” figures, such as Andrew Tate, in the state’s schools.
#Technology
▶ For Deaf people, train travel can be a gamble. But an AI-powered Auslan avatar can help (theconversation.com)
For Deaf people, train travel can be a gamble. On an average day, nothing goes wrong: they catch their train to their destination and carry on with their business. But when something out of the ordinary happens, the situation can quickly get scary, because most updates are only delivered by audio announcements.
▶ First electric truck to do lap around Australia completes journey after heatwaves and headwinds (thedriven.io) Jon Edwards and his Hyundai Mighty 7.3 tonne electric truck arrived back in Perth late last Wednesday to complete the first lap of Australia in an electric truck. Jon and his wonderful support team were welcomed at the Midland premises of CD Dodd, scrap metal recyclers and a major sponsor of the trip.
▶ Australia opens new round of AI consultation (istart.co.nz) The Australian government has kicked off consultation on whether Australia’s ‘technology neutral’ consumer laws are fit for purpose in the age of artificial intelligence and whether AI specific frameworks such as an ‘AI Act’ might be required.
▶ Arctic Wolf report reveals IT security gaps in A/NZ region (securitybrief.co.nz) Arctic Wolf has published its 2024 Human Risk Behaviour Report, revealing concerning security practices among IT leaders in Australia and New Zealand.
▶ Technology helps Xinjiang grow roses, cotton, on once-barren land - Chinadaily.com.cn In the northern foothills of the Tianshan Mountains in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, fleets of drones have become essential tools used in planting cotton. At the Moguhu agricultural demonstration base, drones regularly soar to nearly 100 meters above the fields monitoring crop growth through remote sensing.
▶ Basis: The most successful Kiwi startup you’ve never heard of - NZ Herald A money man and a power man joined forces to create Basis - which raised $38 million to fund a new type of switchboard for homes that could shave up to $1000 per year from electricity bills. It won’t launch until the new year, but they’ve already sold 5300 units.
#Resources
▶ Can biodiversity credits unlock billions for nature? For supporters, biodiversity credits could unlock billions in much-needed funding for nature, but critics fear a repeat of scandals that have dogged other financial approaches to protecting the environment.
▶ WMO report highlights growing shortfalls and stress in global water resources The year 2023 marked the driest year for global rivers in over three decades, according to a new report coordinated by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which signaled critical changes in water availability in an era of growing demand.
▶ In Asia, alternative proteins are the new clean energy (nature.com) As climate and food-security pressures intensify, the world’s most populous continent sees clear opportunities to reimagine meat — just as it did for affordable solar panels.
▶ Campaigners slam ‘unconscionable’ last-minute permit for commercial fishing in Hauraki Gulf sanctuary | The Post Commercial fishing will be allowed in new ‘highly protected’ areas of New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf marine park after a last minute U-turn by ministers. Campaigners are horrified that ring-net fishing for mullet, parore, trevally and kahawai will now be permitted around the waters of Kawau Island.
▶ What does Nature Positive mean for business and government? | Biodiversity Council Australia A new report by the Biodiversity Council sets out the key things that businesses, local, state and federal governments need to know about nature positive and how they can help drive positive changes for a more sustainable future.
▶ Public wants fast rivers clean-up but farmers call for handbrake | RNZ News Taranaki Regional Council (TRC) community meetings in August and September found most people want cleaner waterways as soon as possible - but the farmer lobby wants a slowdown, worried they will shoulder too high a cost. Iwi and hapū reinforced their consistent call for the highest freshwater standards at hui across the region, calling for awa healthy enough for people to collect kai.
Have a great and safe weekend.