David Fogarty

Singapore

Climate Change Editor at The Straits Times

Climate Change Editor @Straits_Times. Ex-@Reuters. #ClimateChange = story of our age. Let's overcome the risks and seize the opportunities. Views are mine.

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Articles

18 football fields of tropical forest lost every minute in 2024 largely due to fires: Study

2 weeks ago | straitstimes.com | David Fogarty

SINGAPORE – Fires triggered unprecedented global forest loss in 2024, driven by a dangerous cocktail of drought linked to climate change, extreme heat and agricultural expansion in the tropics, a study released on May 21 showed. Global tree cover loss reached 30 million ha in 2024, up 5 per cent from 2023.
Mitsubishi joins Singapore firms in climate plan to close Philippine coal plant early

1 month ago | straitstimes.com | David Fogarty

SINGAPORE - Japanese conglomerate Mitsubishi Corporation on May 7 joined Singapore’s Keppel and investment platform GenZero in a climate initiative that aims to retire a Philippine coal plant early using funds from a new type of carbon credit backed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The initiative, if successful, could be a model used to shut down dozens of other coal plants early around the globe, especially in Asia which is heavily reliant on the polluting fuel.
WEF-GenZero aviation initiative aims to boost green fuel uptake in Asia

1 month ago | straitstimes.com | David Fogarty

SINGAPORE - The World Economic Forum (WEF) and Singapore’s GenZero launched an initiative on May 5 aimed at boosting regional demand for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and to bolster the aviation sector’s climate credentials. A key mission of the Green Fuel Forward initiative is to scale up production of SAF, which the industry regards as a vital tool to cut the sector’s growing greenhouse gas emissions.
Trump’s deep sea minerals order a grave risk for the ocean

1 month ago | straitstimes.com | David Fogarty

The executive order opens up a new front in Mr Donald Trump’s America First policy that has upended global trade, diplomacy and foreign aid. PHOTO: ASHLEY GILBERTSON/NYTIMESUS President Donald Trump has been called many things. But a pirate? For now, that might be a stretch. But like all pirates, he has his eyes on a potentially rich prize – in this case, vast stores of critical minerals in the deep ocean that he says are vital for the US economy.
Global bleaching event affects over 80 pct of reefs: ICRI

1 month ago | straitstimes.com | David Fogarty

SINGAPORE – The world’s coral reefs – vital to fisheries and tourism – are facing the most prolonged and widespread bleaching event in recorded history, with over 80 per cent affected by marine heatwaves, a global reef preservation initiative said on April 23. In April 2024, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration of the United States (NOAA) and International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) declared the world’s fourth global coral bleaching event – the second in a decade.
Is it time to focus more on climate adaptation?

1 month ago | straitstimes.com | David Fogarty |Audrey Tan

Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Given the geopolitical headwinds on climate action, should countries start focusing on climate adaptation? There are two key prongs of climate action – mitigation, or efforts to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, and adaptation, or taking steps to prepare for climate impacts.
$400m forestry fund to focus on S-E Asia as climate, conservation focus grows

2 months ago | straitstimes.com | David Fogarty

SINGAPORE - Japanese paper and packaging giant Oji Holdings and New Forests, a global investment manager focused on nature-based assets, announced on March 26 a US$300 million (S$401 million) fund to buy forestry estates, with the majority of the investment set to be in South-east Asia.
China’s great green march across the globe

2 months ago | straitstimes.com | David Fogarty |Tan Dawn Wei |Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja |Li Shuo

BEIJING/SINGAPORE/JAKARTA – On the outskirts of the Indonesian city of Semarang in Central Java, a new factory is cranking out solar cells and assembling solar panels with the help of robots, while autonomous carts whizz around ferrying parts and components. The Trina Mas Agra Indonesia solar panel plant, operational since October 2024, is a US$100 million joint venture between China’s Trina Solar, Indonesian conglomerate Sinar Mas and Indonesian state utility PLN.
Can Asean step up on climate action?

2 months ago | straitstimes.com | David Fogarty |Audrey Tan

Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Fast-growing South-east Asia is highly vulnerable to climate change. As the climate risks grow, the region needs to lift its game to ramp up green energy investment and adopt stronger climate targets. This year is a key test of the region’s climate resolve.
Can international agreements still help environmental goals?

Mar 4, 2025 | straitstimes.com | David Fogarty |Audrey Tan

Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. President Donald Trump has pulled the US out of the Paris Agreement for the second time, prompting other countries to ponder about their involvement in the multilateral climate treaty. At the same time, other environmental agreements are running into speed bumps.