Asia Pacific

The shift also aligns with Vietnam’s broader ambition to expand high-quality, low-emission rice production.

ASEAN foreign ministers are expected to discuss the transboundary haze at an upcoming meeting. The episode highlights longstanding regional tensions over the annual haze, which has strained diplomatic relations in previous severe seasons such as 2015.

Thailand is joining other Asian nations in prioritising cleaner urban mobility even when it means rethinking an iconic symbol of the city.

Land degradation and desertification pose a critical threat to ecosystems that sustain millions of rural communities and underpin economic growth.

For Asia’s rice bowl, the coming months will be critical. Farmers, traders, and policymakers must prepare for a potentially volatile period that could test food security across the region.

UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific Kanni Wignaraja emphasized that standard economic management measures will not suffice in this landscape.

As governments and international agencies absorb the latest IOM findings, rights advocates are pressing for immediate action.

With the region still recovering from previous shocks, the latest ADB analysis serves as a timely reminder of the region’s exposure to distant geopolitical events.