Showcasing the Future of Agriculture & Food Technology in South Korea Published: 31 August 2023 Article With the popularity of Korean Wave all over the world, K-Agrifoodtech is also leaping forward on the world stage. The Korean author shared about his recent visit to the AFRO 2023 in Seoul. By Jimmy Sohn
Wag the Dog: The Hydrogen Scheme of South Korea Published: 8 May 2023 Article As long as hydrogen production relies heavily on fossil fuels, the policy will distract South Korea from its 2050 carbon neutrality strategy and end up emitting enormous additional greenhouse gases. To keep the net-zero pledge on track, South Korea should adopt a renewable-energy based hydrogen scheme by drastically cutting down its reliance on fossil fuels. By Dongjae Oh
Japanese Food-tech Start-ups Create "More than Food" Published: 3 May 2023 Article As the world faces the dire consequences of climate change, it is essential to reconsider our food choices and the methods used to produce them. The emergence of alternative foods, such as plant-based meat and lab-grown meat, present a futuristic and ethical solution for ensuring a sustainable future for generations to come. But how can we adapt our food culture to reflect this significant shift? Japan, the birthplace of the word oishii (good taste), offers inspiration on how to deliciously and sustainably redesign our culinary traditions. By Akihico Mori
Organic Sikkim: a brand secured, now for the farms to prosper Published: 27 April 2023 Article It is now seven years since Sikkim became the first fully organic state of India. The initial years were euphoric, buoyed by lavish state support for the Organic mission. The recent years have, however, been more sobering. While the Organic Sikkim brand sustains, this major makeover has not delivered on its promise. But it still has potential. By Pema Wangchuk Dorjee
A charged debate: Taiwan’s nuclear energy conundrum Published: 14 April 2023 Commentary In less than five decades, nuclear power in Taiwan went from a much lauded energy source to a nuisance. After the Fukushima incident in 2011, growing concerns about safety led to a shifting of attitudes towards nuclear power. The current Taiwanese administration continues to pursue its policy to phase out nuclear power by 2025 but meets growing challenges. This article explores the history of Taiwan's nuclear power program, the factors that led to its decline, and the security challenges of phasing out nuclear power. By Kwangyin Liu
South Korea's 'unstable' nuclear energy policy: From Lee through Moon to Yoon Governments Published: 14 April 2023 Commentary South Korea’s nuclear energy policies have undergone significant changes over recent years, showing an “unstable” character depending on respective governments in power. This article explains the political factors behind these policy changes and the arguments made for and against nuclear energy in Korea; it also explores the competitive relationship between nuclear energy and renewable energy. While nuclear energy is unlikely to be phased out any time soon, the challenge for South Korea remains to create a distributed energy systems that increases local self-sufficiency in electricity supply and introduces distributed renewable energy-friendly markets. By Soo Jin Kim
A Call for Energy Justice in Southeast Asia Published: 23 March 2023 Article Southeast Asia’s energy transition needs not only to be accelerated in terms of technology deployments but also to be processed and accomplished justly. Doing so requires hinging the region’s energy transition plans and activities to the distributive, recognition, procedural, and restorative tenets of justice. By Laurence L. Delina
Call for Applications: From Growth to Well Being Think Fund Published: 16 March 2023 Call for Applications We are accepting applications for the From Growth to Well Being Think Fund until July 31st, 2023.
Don't Just Dismiss The Voluntary Carbon Market Because Of Its Imperfections Published: 26 January 2023 Commentary The market for carbon offsets is growing exponentially but remains filled with dodgy projects that do little for the environment. Sceptics say it’s time to do away with the voluntary carbon markets altogether and take real action through carbon taxes and emissions caps. But by focusing on the imperfections of carbon offsets, they are dismissing a viable approach to climate action that should be used alongside a broader transition towards lower carbon emissions. Read more to find out why carbon credits shouldn’t be dismissed just yet and how technology is improving the integrity of the carbon market. By Shihan Fang
Robots, Drones and Sensors: Biodiversity boom or bust? Published: 20 January 2023 Commentary Policy makers tend to push for “precision” digital technologies, in particular robots, drones and sensors, to address the challenges in biodiversity, the environment and even climate change. The dangerous drawback is, by minimizing human judgment, traditional knowledge and lived experiences, these technology systems tend to undermine people’s ability to nurture ecosystems. By ETC Group