South Korea’s Green New Deal has failed to create green jobs Published: 21 December 2020 Commentary The creation of “green jobs” has been a key focus of South Korea’s current Green New Deal policy. However, the government has made little progress in accomplishing its stated goals and ambitions, including offering decent compensation to young workers and career seekers. This article explores why this is the case. By LEE Taedong
Energy transition in East Asia fails to meet carbon neutral pledges Published: 21 December 2020 Commentary Both Japan and South Korea have announced that they would become carbon neutral by 2050. However, neither country has a clear roadmap or specific policies to attain this target. And, in fact, both governments are pursuing policies that are inconsistent with their pledges. By ASUKA Jusen
Digital Life under Covid-19 and beyond: a video on innovators in TravelTech Published: 15 December 2020 Video Series This article takes a closer look at some examples of TravelTech startups in Asia-Pacific and North America that have accelerated their business or had a market launch or even expansion because of Covid-19. By Kristina Ernst
How Can the Women, Peace and Security Agenda Be More Relevant in Northeast Asia? Published: 10 December 2020 Commentary 2020 marks the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the landmark United Nations Security Council resolution on Women, Peace and Security. What still needs to evolve in countries in Northeast Asia to realise the resolution’s goals? By Kozue Akibayashi
Digital Life under Covid-19 and beyond: A Video on Asian Innovators in HealthTech Published: 2 December 2020 Video Series We take a closer look at some examples of HealthTech companies and startups in the Asia Pacific region who have addressed the Covid-19 pandemic with their solutions. By Kristina Ernst
On the Anti-Austerity Green New Deal Published: 30 November 2020 E-paper In response to the climate crisis and the growing inequality and poverty due to neoliberalism, a series of anti-austerity Green New Deal (GND) proposals have been presented in Europe and the United States since 2018. pdf
The Nuclear Crisis Is Ongoing, Yet It’s Not Hopeless Published: 19 November 2020 Story In former evacuation zones of the Fukushima nuclear disaster, although the government of Japan pronounced it safe to resume normal life, some returnees found such a life elusive. To make life possible on their once-abandoned land, they decided to tackle radiation in their own ways. By Tam Man-kei
What Makes a City Smart and Green in South Korea? Published: 7 October 2020 Analysis How is the city you live in changing? And what does the city of your dreams look like? Recently, cities are undergoing drastic changes on two axes: smart cities and green cities. The new city of Songdo in South Korea offers insights into what is truly needed in the transformation of an Asian city. By Noh Jae-in , Michael Manning and Jill L. Tao
In the Philippines, distance learning reveals the digital divide Published: 6 October 2020 Feature Forced to follow a “no vaccine, no classes” policy, the Philippines has implemented distance-learning programs that exacerbate existing inequalities. By Ana P. Santos
The Fukushima Disaster and the Tokyo Olympics Published: 25 September 2020 Commentary Nine years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, fundamental issues remain unresolved. Many domestic critics saw the Olympics as a ploy to distract from the nuclear disaster. The larger question remains: Should a country with an ongoing nuclear disaster be hosting these games? By Koide Hiroaki