https://www.scmp.com/rss/323923/feed en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Henderson Land Development secured the first biodiversity loan in Hong Kong, receiving around HK$100 million (US$12.8 million) from HSBC and Hang Seng Bank for green initiatives at Central Yards, the company’s flagship mixed-use development on the New Central Harbourfront. This loan would provide a “scalable blueprint” for companies to achieve their sustainability goals and enhance Hong Kong’s position as a leading international sustainable finance centre, according to the two banks. The... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3353428/hong-kongs-first-biodiversity-loan-goes-henderson-land-central-yards-green-spaces?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3353428/hong-kongs-first-biodiversity-loan-goes-henderson-land-central-yards-green-spaces?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 May 2026 09:30:05 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Across much of India, an energy crunch caused by the Iran war has prompted long queues for cooking gas cylinders. That is not a problem for Gauri Devi. On a stove with blue flames, she flips a chapatti flatbread, burning biogas produced from cow dung – an alternative fuel helping ease pressure on supplies. “It cooks everything,” the 25-year-old said in her courtyard kitchen in Nekpur, a village in Uttar Pradesh, about 90km (55 miles) from New Delhi. “If the pressure goes down, we let it rest for... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3352585/how-cow-dung-beating-indias-cooking-gas-crunch?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3352585/how-cow-dung-beating-indias-cooking-gas-crunch?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 07:13:48 +0000 Mohamad Zreik Mohamad Zreik For decades, the Strait of Hormuz has been a narrow passage with a big footprint. Whenever it comes under tension, the world is reminded that energy security is less a policy construct than an everyday reality for Asia’s economies, factories and prices. For China, Japan, South Korea, India and Southeast Asia, it has always been more than just a Middle Eastern problem. It is an Asian economic issue. This is why we should not interpret the latest Gulf tensions solely in terms of naval forces,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3352077/how-china-gulf-ties-can-turn-energy-vulnerability-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/china-opinion/article/3352077/how-china-gulf-ties-can-turn-energy-vulnerability-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 May 2026 21:30:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong’s natural beauty, one of its greatest assets, is also ecologically vulnerable. Reminders of that abounded during the mainland’s Labour Day “golden week” holiday. At Sharp Island, where thousands flocked to the city’s Unesco global geopark, the authorities issued about 300 verbal warnings. At Ham Tin Wan in Sai Kung East Country Park, the sheer number of visitors camping, some using hotpots, underscored the problem. On Saturday evening, an estimated 500 tents at the campsite included... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352372/hong-kong-needs-better-protect-its-natural-assets-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3352372/hong-kong-needs-better-protect-its-natural-assets-tourists?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 22:45:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Italian luxury brand Ferragamo says it can map the country of origin for much of the leather used to make its footwear and handbags, a first step in traceability according to experts. The announcement comes during a wave of European Union sustainability rules that are increasing pressure on fashion brands to account for materials in their supply chains. The fashion house has been issuing sustainability reports for more than a decade, but the 2025 report, released on March 31, is the first... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3352131/ferragamo-traces-80-leather-amid-eu-sustainability-push-fashion-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3352131/ferragamo-traces-80-leather-amid-eu-sustainability-push-fashion-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Kyodo Kyodo Select FamilyMart convenience stores in Japan have installed boxes to collect used clothing and household goods for reuse, joining similar initiatives taken by retailers, as a step to reduce waste and attract more customers. In a trial launched jointly with Bookoff Group Holdings, which buys and sells used goods, boxes were installed in around 30 FamilyMart stores in residential areas of Tokyo. Bookoff plans to sell some of the collected items overseas, including to Malaysia. FamilyMart said... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3352314/japans-familymart-gives-old-clothes-new-lease-life-reduce-textile-waste?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/3352314/japans-familymart-gives-old-clothes-new-lease-life-reduce-textile-waste?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 May 2026 04:05:28 +0000 Kitty Tam,Charlie Yip Kitty Tam,Charlie Yip For decades, Hong Kong’s tourism success rested on a clear formula: shopping, dining and urban experiences. That model is losing momentum. Overnight visitor spending has fallen from around HK$193 billion (US$24.6 billion) in 2015 to HK$128 billion last year. Shopping has declined sharply as spending shifts to sightseeing and experiences. Travellers are no longer coming only to consume – they seek a connection to nature, culture and place. This transition presents a clear opportunity. Hong Kong’s... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3351840/its-not-ecotourism-if-it-risks-damaging-hong-kongs-natural-assets?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3351840/its-not-ecotourism-if-it-risks-damaging-hong-kongs-natural-assets?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 01:30:08 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press Perched on the bow of his long-tail fishing boat, 75-year-old Sukjai Yana untangled a handful of small fish from his net, disappointed by his catch and fretting over whether he can sell them. Some days Sukjai earns nothing: demand for fish is falling due to worries over contamination of the Mekong River and its tributaries by toxic run-off from rare earth mines upstream that is threatening millions who rely on those waters for farms and fisheries. Chiang Saen, a fishing hub in northern Thailand,... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351881/southeast-asias-mekong-river-being-poisoned-rare-earth-mining?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3351881/southeast-asias-mekong-river-being-poisoned-rare-earth-mining?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 11:22:04 +0000 SCMP Reporter SCMP Reporter Monday night saw the unveiling of the 100 Top Tables Guide 2026, published by the South China Morning Post (SCMP). Now in its 14th year, the publication is an annual independent guide to the best fine dining restaurants and bars in Hong Kong, Macau and the wider Greater Bay Area (GBA), as judged by the SCMP’s dedicated food writers. The new edition features 100 Hong Kong restaurants, 25 distinguished Macau establishments, 10 outstanding restaurants from the GBA, and 25 of the most noteworthy... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3351822/best-restaurants-and-bars-hong-kong-macau-and-gba-revealed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3351822/best-restaurants-and-bars-hong-kong-macau-and-gba-revealed?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 07:58:06 +0000 Bloomberg Bloomberg US clean energy installations are forecast to hit another record this year – and account for the vast majority of new power additions – despite facing policy opposition from the Trump administration, according to a trade industry report. The nation’s power sector is expected to add about 60 gigawatts of solar, battery storage and wind capacity in 2026, the American Clean Power (ACP) Association said in its annual market assessment published on Tuesday. That is up 20 per cent from over 50... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351745/us-green-power-growth-hit-another-record-2026-despite-trump-says-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3351745/us-green-power-growth-hit-another-record-2026-despite-trump-says-report?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 12:59:08 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong authorities should turn a new HK$30 billion (US$3.8 billion) municipal waste incinerator in Tuen Mun into a tourist attraction and an education hub for eco-protection, lawmakers have said. Their remarks on Tuesday followed the government’s application to the Legislative Council for HK$29.2 billion to build the planned Integrated Waste Management Facilities Phase 2, or I·PARK2, with costs about 20 per cent lower than the earlier HK$35.7 billion estimate. Samuel Chui Ho-kwong, director... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3351646/ashes-assets-calls-turn-hk30-billion-waste-facility-tourism-education-hub?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3351646/ashes-assets-calls-turn-hk30-billion-waste-facility-tourism-education-hub?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 28 Apr 2026 04:31:15 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes With awards spanning 10 categories, 100 Top Tables celebrates the exceptional restaurants, bars and individuals that make Hong Kong and Macau’s F&B scenes truly world-class. Here are this year’s outstanding winners. Best Chef Vicky Cheng Some might ignore his talents, but for us, there is no more accomplished local chef than Vicky Cheng. The fact that the Michelin Guide continues to overlook Wing is either negligent or worse. Most chefs struggle to keep even one fine dining restaurant at the... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3351513/100-top-tables-2026-celebrating-hong-kongs-best-restaurants-bars-and-fb-talents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3351513/100-top-tables-2026-celebrating-hong-kongs-best-restaurants-bars-and-fb-talents?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 23:00:10 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Laura Jacobs thought she would never wear animal fur, having witnessed years of protests over its use in clothing – until suddenly she started spotting it all over New York. Jacobs fished out the long mink her grandmother left her years ago and took it to a Manhattan furrier to give it a second act. Fur “was stigmatised for so long”, Jacobs says, posing before a full-length mirror and assessing a potential crop. But the return of real fur “fits with everything that’s going on with recycling and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3351512/fur-back-fashion-vintage-trend-drives-coat-sales-it-misguided?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3351512/fur-back-fashion-vintage-trend-drives-coat-sales-it-misguided?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:15:07 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A citywide study should be launched to examine how global warming is affecting plants in Hong Kong and the knock-on effect on the rest of the ecosystem, botanists have urged after witnessing clear changes in leaf-shedding and flowering patterns. Some species, such as the red kapok tree, commonly known as the cotton tree, and the flame tree, which should shed all leaves during winter, had shown signs of incomplete leaf drop by spring or early flowering in recent years, the experts said, stressing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3351437/some-hong-kong-trees-are-behaving-strangely-and-botanists-want-know-why?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3351437/some-hong-kong-trees-are-behaving-strangely-and-botanists-want-know-why?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 26 Apr 2026 01:00:25 +0000 Andrew Sheng Andrew Sheng The old world order is being destroyed before our eyes. With volatility players making billions from US President Donald Trump’s on-again, off-again announcements on the war in Iran, it is becoming increasingly clear that geopolitical rivalry is all about who controls energy, water, food and technology. Geography and ego determine destiny. With China and Russia standing by to see how much damage their rivals can inflict on themselves, Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3351167/asias-future-depends-looking-beyond-west-and-its-institutions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3351167/asias-future-depends-looking-beyond-west-and-its-institutions?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 24 Apr 2026 12:30:08 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji The Iran war has done in two months what years of climate policy could not: make green hydrogen look economically viable. Soaring oil and gas prices since February’s outbreak of hostilities have narrowed the cost gap between the zero-emission fuel and its fossil rivals, paving the way for wider uptake across Asia. The eight-week US-Israeli war on Iran, Tehran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Iranian strikes on Qatar’s Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas (LNG) complex have sent Asian fuel... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351139/iran-war-makes-green-hydrogen-viable-asia-fossil-fuel-prices-soar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3351139/iran-war-makes-green-hydrogen-viable-asia-fossil-fuel-prices-soar?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 23 Apr 2026 08:33:00 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Amid heightening global anxieties over energy security fuelled by the escalating conflict in the Middle East, China’s top energy regulator has pledged to accelerate the development of its hydrogen industry, hailing the fuel as a “strategic lever” to fortify national energy resilience. The National Energy Administration (NEA) called for “bold innovation” in the sector during a recent meeting reviewing the progress of hydrogen pilots and outlining future tasks, according to an official readout... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350313/china-fast-tracks-hydrogen-strategy-scale-phase-high-stakes-energy-transition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3350313/china-fast-tracks-hydrogen-strategy-scale-phase-high-stakes-energy-transition?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:00:21 +0000 Hei Kiu Au Hei Kiu Au The meaning of “farm-to-table” has changed in Hong Kong in recent years. The practice used to be more common in down-to-earth places, but has come to be associated with overpriced produce and Michelin-star restaurants. However, a weekend gathering at Blue Girl Organic Farm in Tai Tong, in Hong Kong’s New Territories, showed that the true concept of farm-to-table is still alive and well. The farm, which has been run by Flora Wong Wah-fong for the past 13 years, hosted more than 30 guests for an... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350153/authentic-farm-table-experience-hong-kong-reconnects-diners-nature?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3350153/authentic-farm-table-experience-hong-kong-reconnects-diners-nature?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 04:45:07 +0000 Biman Mukherji Biman Mukherji A breakthrough in India’s nuclear power research has been hailed as a defining moment for the country’s energy programme and a step towards self-reliance. Earlier this month, Indian scientists revealed they had achieved criticality, a state of self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction, at the Kalpakkam prototype fast breeder reactor (PFBR) in Tamil Nadu state. The programme promises to harness India’s abundant thorium reserves, which constitute around 25 per cent of global deposits, advancing its... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350138/indias-nuclear-breakthrough-lights-path-energy-independence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3350138/indias-nuclear-breakthrough-lights-path-energy-independence?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 08:00:09 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre As a long-time fan of 1 Hotels – the US-based, sustainability-minded brand – I have been very much looking forward to the opening of 1 Hotel Tokyo, the chain’s only property in Asia-Pacific. Operated by Starwood, 1 Hotels has very little presence beyond the US – 1 Hotel Mayfair in London, 1 Hotel Copenhagen and 1 Hotel Melbourne are its only outposts outside the country – but it has already built a loyal following among luxury lovers who like to travel responsibly and stylishly. Located in... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3349531/1-hotel-tokyo-offers-green-focused-retreat-japanese-capital-bamford-spa?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3349531/1-hotel-tokyo-offers-green-focused-retreat-japanese-capital-bamford-spa?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 10 Apr 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Grace Brewer Grace Brewer Feuille opened in Central in late 2023, as David Toutain’s first international outpost in Hong Kong, bringing his nature-led French philosophy to the city’s fine dining scene. Co-founded by Toutain in collaboration with executive chef Joris Rousseau, who grew up cooking on his family farm in France before honing his skills in Paris, Feuille works almost exclusively with local producers, treating vegetables with the same reverence as seafood or meat. Feuille’s kitchen likes to work “roots, stems... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3349466/dish-focus-beetroot-juniper-roses-feuille?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/100-top-tables/article/3349466/dish-focus-beetroot-juniper-roses-feuille?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 04:32:44 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse Flooding sparked by heavy rains killed at least five people in southern Russia on Monday, while thousands of others were evacuated from their homes, authorities said. Social media videos showed flooded villages and highways engulfed by water in Russia’s Dagestan republic in the Caucasus Mountains, with overturned cars lying on the roadside. A multi-storey residential building partly collapsed in the regional capital Makhachkala. “Water levels rose after heavy rain, leading to further flooding of... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3349173/floods-kill-3-russia-thousands-evacuated-after-dam-wall-breaks-dagestan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/russia-central-asia/article/3349173/floods-kill-3-russia-thousands-evacuated-after-dam-wall-breaks-dagestan?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 10:46:31 +0000 Mia Nurmamat Mia Nurmamat As global supply volatility intensifies, Premier Li Qiang has called for faster development of a “new-type power system” to accelerate the green transition and expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the sector. During a three-day visit to the southwestern province of Sichuan, Li stressed the need to expand green electricity supply and optimise the energy mix to bolster security and support economic growth. He urged market players to explore new grid architectures, improve system-wide... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348764/premier-li-qiang-pushes-ai-powered-next-gen-energy-system-amid-global-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3348764/premier-li-qiang-pushes-ai-powered-next-gen-energy-system-amid-global-shocks?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Apr 2026 06:10:42 +0000 Lee Hill-choi Lee Hill-choi Macau has long been a city of intersections – East and West, old and new, tradition and reinvention. As a Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy, it is now staking a claim to another kind of convergence: a place where world-class fine dining and genuine environmental responsibility are not in tension, but in lockstep. That ambition takes centre stage at this year’s International Cities of Gastronomy Fest, which for the first time extends beyond Fisherman’s Wharf into a new satellite venue in the... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3348524/macaus-culinary-festival-highlights-luxury-dining-alongside-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3348524/macaus-culinary-festival-highlights-luxury-dining-alongside-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 31 Mar 2026 10:00:30 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre Late last year, Chinese outerwear maker Bosideng announced that Kim Jones would join the brand to lead its new high-end line, named Areal. While many industry insiders assumed this was just a quick money move from the British designer, this partnership had been three years in the making, as Jones explained during an interview in Hong Kong to celebrate the unveiling of a pop-up store at the city’s K11 Musea mall. A long-time visitor of Asia, where he has many close friends, Jones is one of the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3348130/kim-jones-areal-his-new-line-chinese-outerwear-maker-bosideng-and-his-ties-asia?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3348130/kim-jones-areal-his-new-line-chinese-outerwear-maker-bosideng-and-his-ties-asia?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 02:00:47 +0000 Xiaofei Xu Xiaofei Xu Britain’s decision to block a £1.5 billion (US$2 billion) plan by Chinese clean energy giant Mingyang to build the UK’s largest wind turbine factory in Scotland highlights the mounting challenges of doing business with China in an era of deepening global mistrust, analysts said. The move was likely the result of direct pressure from Washington, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday. The US-Israeli war in Iran and the subsequent energy crisis had raised hopes for the project to be... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348039/uk-blocks-china-wind-turbine-project-national-security-amid-tense-business-climate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3348039/uk-blocks-china-wind-turbine-project-national-security-amid-tense-business-climate?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:30:04 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), the government’s investment arm, has teamed up with venture capital firm Gobi Partners and the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to launch a fund on Tuesday to invest in technology start-ups spun off from the university’s research breakthroughs, according to an HKIC statement. Gobi-HKU Fund I made two investments at its launch: Manifold Tech, which develops spatial intelligence for robotics, and AilsynBio, which focuses on artificial intelligence-driven drug... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347689/hkic-gobi-partners-and-hku-team-fund-backing-university-research-start-ups?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347689/hkic-gobi-partners-and-hku-team-fund-backing-university-research-start-ups?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:21:49 +0000 Wilson Lau Wilson Lau Macau’s culinary identity is a deliciously unruly map of the world: a centuries-old laboratory of creative fusion where spices, techniques and stories collide. Long before “fusion cuisine” became a trend, Macanese cooking was already inventing itself at the crossroads of oceans – an everyday experiment in adaptation, improvisation and joyful hybridity. What began as practical substitutions and ingenuity has evolved into a living tradition that prizes sustainability, originality and a renewed... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3347312/macau-gastronomy-fest-unites-39-unesco-cities-chengdu-lucknow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3347312/macau-gastronomy-fest-unites-39-unesco-cities-chengdu-lucknow?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:00:36 +0000 Grace Brewer Grace Brewer At the World Food Forum (WFF), a United Nations-backed platform where gastronomy bridges cultures and drives agrifood systems transformation, Flora Igoe leads the Youth Culture Programme. Based in Rome at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), she guides young chefs in safeguarding intangible food heritage – family recipes, ancient farming practices and time-honoured techniques – while connecting their work to the UN Sustainable Development Goals. “Food often creates connections between... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3347293/uns-world-food-forum-building-new-generation-changemakers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3347293/uns-world-food-forum-building-new-generation-changemakers?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:00:20 +0000 Douglas Parkes Douglas Parkes In an increasingly globalised world, culture is the common thread that binds communities together. For over two decades, the Unesco Creative Cities Network (UCCN) has worked to weave loose local threads into a cohesive global fabric, bringing together urban centres from all over the world. Its goal is to champion creativity in a way that helps make that sometimes ambiguous force a concrete driver of sustainable development, placing it at the heart of urban policy and international... https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3347274/how-unescos-creative-cities-network-redefining-urban-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/lifestyle/100-top-tables/topics/100-top-tables-cities-gastronomy/article/3347274/how-unescos-creative-cities-network-redefining-urban-development?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:00:15 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s finance chief has pledged to support the regional and global transition to a green economy by leveraging the city’s role as an international financial centre and a developing innovation and technology hub. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po delivered the remarks at the China Development Forum in Beijing on Sunday, the fifth day of his six-day trip to the capital. He also met Chinese Finance Minister Lan Foan, exchanging views on the national and global economic outlook and fiscal... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347481/hong-kong-vows-boost-green-finance-and-innovation-role-sustainable-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3347481/hong-kong-vows-boost-green-finance-and-innovation-role-sustainable-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 10:58:10 +0000 Xianji Wen Xianji Wen For decades, parts of Hong Kong’s border like the Frontier Closed Area have been shrouded in mystery, their natural landscapes preserved as much by policy as by their remote geography. Recent plans to relax restrictions – including discussions around the Mai Po closed area – and the establishment of the Robin’s Nest Country Park signal a new era of accessibility. Having co-managed the Mai Po nature reserve for decades, the World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong (WWF) views this shift with both... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346778/hong-kongs-border-tourism-push-must-not-put-mai-po-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346778/hong-kongs-border-tourism-push-must-not-put-mai-po-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 01:30:10 +0000 Emily Hung,Theodora Yu Emily Hung,Theodora Yu After decades at the front lines campaigning for environmental protection, The Green Earth founder Edwin Lau Che-feng is slowing down to focus on his health and hobbies. The 68-year-old has been one of the most vocal environmentalists championing a waste-charging scheme for more than two decades. Lau still remembers May 27, 2024, when the government abruptly paused the waste-charging bill, as if it were yesterday. The suspension was the biggest blow in his 36-year career. “It feels impossible.... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347420/veteran-activist-warns-shrinking-space-green-advocacy-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347420/veteran-activist-warns-shrinking-space-green-advocacy-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2026 09:00:20 +0000 Cat Nelson Cat Nelson In the early 1980s, coral carpeted the seabed under the Tolo Harbour in northeastern Hong Kong. Coverage reached as high as 70 to 80 per cent in some areas, comparable to what scientists now see in the city’s marine parks. Within a few years, almost all of it was gone. “Not a lot of people actually know about this,” says Dr Apple Chui Pui-yi, assistant professor in the School of Life Sciences at Chinese University. As nearby towns such as Sha Tin and Tai Po developed, pollution and sewage... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3346172/hong-kong-scientist-trying-revive-citys-coral-reefs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3346172/hong-kong-scientist-trying-revive-citys-coral-reefs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Mar 2026 07:15:08 +0000 Kitty Tam,Calvin Au Kitty Tam,Calvin Au When people picture Hong Kong, they often imagine a relentless concrete jungle – a vertical city where glass and steel dominate the skyline. Yet a quiet revolution is beginning to reshape how our city develops. Last week, the Civil Engineering and Development Department and Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department jointly launched the Hong Kong Nature-based Solutions Design Guidelines. This landmark document signals a shift in how we think about infrastructure and urban planning. It... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346141/stay-competitive-hong-kong-must-embrace-nature-based-solutions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3346141/stay-competitive-hong-kong-must-embrace-nature-based-solutions?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 01:30:07 +0000 David Dodwell David Dodwell Spare a thought for the iceberg A23a which, after an extraordinary 40-year life voyaging around the southern Atlantic Ocean, is this month expected to die unnoticed close to the island of South Georgia, a mess of “brash ice, small icebergs and bergy bits”. A23a was one of the largest “megabergs” to be spawned in our lifetimes. When it broke away from the Filchner Ice Shelf into the Weddell Sea in Western Antarctica in 1986, it covered an area of around 4,000 sq km – about the size of Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3346371/how-icebergs-final-dance-tells-story-about-our-past-and-future?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/world-opinion/article/3346371/how-icebergs-final-dance-tells-story-about-our-past-and-future?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 08:30:07 +0000 Gloria Tso Gloria Tso Significantly underrated compared with its Southeast Asian neighbours Vietnam and Thailand, Cambodia is a culture vulture’s paradise. Though the ancient temples of Angkor Wat in Siem Reap still attract millions of visitors every year, the city surroundings – as well as the country’s capital, Phnom Penh – are considerably less overrun with tourists than nearby megacities like Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City. Here are some destinations worth checking out on your next visit to Cambodia, if you choose... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3346288/beyond-angkor-wats-allure-discovering-cambodias-hidden-gems-siem-reap-and-phnom-penh?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3346288/beyond-angkor-wats-allure-discovering-cambodias-hidden-gems-siem-reap-and-phnom-penh?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:00:14 +0000 Resty Woro Yuniar Resty Woro Yuniar Indonesia’s appointment of two Chinese companies to run waste-to-energy (WtE) projects in two cities – part of President Prabowo Subianto’s push to reduce mounting rubbish in landfills while generating power – has sparked a debate over costs, efficiency and whether the initiative will deliver on its waste-reduction goals. Danantara, the Indonesian state wealth fund, on Friday announced that it had chosen Wangneng Environment as the operator of a WtE plant in the city of Bekasi, while Zhejiang... https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3346252/why-indonesias-waste-energy-goal-may-not-be-quick-fix-landfill-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/health-environment/article/3346252/why-indonesias-waste-energy-goal-may-not-be-quick-fix-landfill-crisis?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 04:00:09 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse EU chief Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday said Europe’s turn away from nuclear power had been a “strategic mistake”, as soaring oil prices rekindled concerns about the bloc’s energy vulnerability. Speaking in Paris at a nuclear summit, which aims to boost the use of civilian nuclear energy, the European Commission president endorsed a return to atomic energy, saying the European Union would back investments in “innovative nuclear technologies”. “It was a strategic mistake for Europe to turn its... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3346139/eu-eyes-nuclear-energy-again-oil-prices-soar?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3346139/eu-eyes-nuclear-energy-again-oil-prices-soar?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:10:06 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang Against the backdrop of oil prices surging past US$100 per barrel for the first time since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022, China has its sights set on strengthening energy security by stabilising domestic crude production and strategic backups – exemplified by coal-to-oil and gas projects – for the next few years. The nation pledges to maintain annual crude production at 200 million tonnes, ensure a steady rise in natural gas output, and bolster technical readiness for coal-derived... https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3345995/china-vows-stabilise-oil-and-gas-output-new-5-year-plan-global-risks-mount?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/global-economy/article/3345995/china-vows-stabilise-oil-and-gas-output-new-5-year-plan-global-risks-mount?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:30:07 +0000 Associated Press Associated Press A massive avalanche of garbage at Indonesia’s largest landfill site killed at least five people and left several others missing after heavy overnight rain triggered a rubbish dump collapse, officials said Monday. More than 300 search-and-rescue personnel, using heavy machinery and sniffer dogs, were deployed to the sprawling dump site late on Sunday at the Bantargebang Integrated Waste Treatment Facility in Bekasi, a city just outside the capital of Jakarta. Rescuers worked cautiously amid... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3345979/5-die-indonesia-rubbish-mound-collapses-largest-landfill-several-missing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/3345979/5-die-indonesia-rubbish-mound-collapses-largest-landfill-several-missing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 09:23:25 +0000 SCMP Style Reporter SCMP Style Reporter New versions of cars can sometimes be a little underwhelming – a slightly modified silhouette here, a few tweaks to the trim there. And then there’s the new BMW iX3, which doesn’t so much relaunch the vehicle as completely rewrite its design language, dramatically upgrading everything from aesthetics to electronics to sustainability. The car – the BMW iX3 50 xDrive – is the newest battery electric version of the company’s X3 compact luxury crossover SUV. But where the model it updates, the G08,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3345495/style-edit-bmw-ix3-rewrites-ev-rule-book-range-and-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3345495/style-edit-bmw-ix3-rewrites-ev-rule-book-range-and-sustainability?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 02:00:10 +0000 Vincenzo La Torre Vincenzo La Torre With brands such as Sacai, Valentino, Giambattista Valli and Coperni skipping Paris Fashion Week – Sacai is taking a break, Valentino showing in Rome, while the other two are not showing amid rumours of financial difficulties – the schedule is a bit thinner this season. But there is still a lot to see, and not just runway shows. The LVMH Prize – one of the most prestigious fashion awards, which also comes with significant financial support – held a presentation and cocktail event to introduce... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3345660/paris-fashion-week-2026-chloes-artisanal-beauty-and-rick-owens-apocalyptic-allure?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/fashion/fashion-news/article/3345660/paris-fashion-week-2026-chloes-artisanal-beauty-and-rick-owens-apocalyptic-allure?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Mar 2026 03:47:16 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial In 2022, the world’s largest electric cruise ship embarked on its maiden voyage in Yichang, Hubei province. The Yangtze River Three Gorges 1, which can carry up to 1,300 passengers, runs on battery power and can reportedly save 530 tonnes of fuel and 1,660 tonnes of harmful emissions per year. The vessel displayed the commercial and technical feasibility of electric ships. China is the world’s largest shipbuilder and the pre-eminent manufacturer of electric vehicles and advanced batteries. Now,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345393/china-steps-its-clean-energy-push-electric-ships?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3345393/china-steps-its-clean-energy-push-electric-ships?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Agence France-Presse Agence France-Presse The warming El Nino weather phenomenon could form later this year, potentially pushing global temperatures to record heights. There is a 50-60 per cent chance of El Nino developing during the July-September period and beyond, according to the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The World Meteorological Organization will issue an update on El Nino on Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know about El Nino and its cooler sister, La Nina. Why the name? El Nino and La Nina are two... https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3345180/el-nino-may-return-2026-making-planet-even-hotter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/3345180/el-nino-may-return-2026-making-planet-even-hotter?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 14:43:31 +0000 Quentin Parker Quentin Parker Hong Kong sees itself as a modern, well-governed, global city that moves with the times. On finance, education, legal services and logistics, that self-image holds. But when considering the green transition, particularly transport electrification, the gap between rhetoric and reality is increasingly hard to ignore. Nowhere is this more evident than in electrifying the taxi fleet, where the quarter-century timeline floated bears little resemblance to what is standard practice in neighbouring... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344649/high-price-hong-kongs-slow-switch-electric-buses-and-taxis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344649/high-price-hong-kongs-slow-switch-electric-buses-and-taxis?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Excitement about an influx of tourists during the recent Chinese New Year “golden week” was tarnished by the sight of some rural Hong Kong beaches being turned into congested tent cities. It is good that the authorities are considering fees and other solutions to counter holiday rushes. The problem was obvious on beaches in Sai Kung, where more than 900 tents were pitched along Ham Tin Wan. At nearby Sai Wan, nearly half of the campers had illegally pitched shelters outside designated... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344859/hong-kong-wants-ecotourism-not-overtourism?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3344859/hong-kong-wants-ecotourism-not-overtourism?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Feb 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Reuters Reuters Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push to accelerate the roll-out of rooftop solar power is falling short of targets despite heavy subsidies due to loan delays and limited support from state utilities, vendors and analysts say. The shortfalls represent the latest challenge to India’s efforts to nearly double clean energy capacity to 500 gigawatts by 2030, and come as the government plans to suspend clean energy tendering targets amid a mounting backlog of awarded projects yet to be... https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3343665/indias-solar-power-push-misses-targets-red-tape-loan-refusals-hamper-transition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3343665/indias-solar-power-push-misses-targets-red-tape-loan-refusals-hamper-transition?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Feb 2026 01:48:09 +0000 Carol Yang Carol Yang China has achieved a breakthrough in its decarbonisation efforts by successfully repurposing a long-haul oil pipeline to transport carbon dioxide, in a trial run that offers a potentially scalable solution to accelerate the nation’s ambitious climate goals. The 27km (16.8-mile) route delivered carbon dioxide to an oilfield in central China’s Henan province earlier this month, according to China Oil and Gas Pipeline Network Corporation, also known as PipeChina. In an online statement, the... https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343072/china-turns-old-oil-pipeline-new-carbon-highway-green-cost-cutting-gambit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3343072/china-turns-old-oil-pipeline-new-carbon-highway-green-cost-cutting-gambit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Feb 2026 02:00:11 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu I have never been a yoga, meditation or sound-bowl-therapy type of person, but suddenly here I was in Bali, a popular Indonesian island that I did not know much about other than its glorious beaches and an over-saturation of foreign-owned “matcha Pilates” studios. I arrived at Desa Potato Head in the Seminyak area with eager curiosity to check out the five-star beach club and resort to which I had been invited. Designed to be a sustainable, creative village open to all, the resort has been... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3342345/amazing-detox-balis-5-star-desa-potato-head-resort-both-wellness-and-bali-belly?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/travel-leisure/article/3342345/amazing-detox-balis-5-star-desa-potato-head-resort-both-wellness-and-bali-belly?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 04:15:11 +0000