By Mehmet Enes Beşer In the face of mounting global pressure towards a binding plastic pollution treaty, ASEAN finds itself at a weak juncture—a testament to its economic ambitions as much as its environmental vulnerabilities. The region, having long been a strategic hub in global production and supply chain maneuvering, now increasingly sees itself becoming perceived as a pressure point ...
By Memet Enes Beşer Malaysia’s lush rainforests, previously considered a cradle of biodiversity and a key carbon sink in the fight against climate change, now increasingly face danger—not from the typical logging or infrastructure projects, but from the insidious and legally sanctioned growth of timber plantations. Promised as eco-friendly and profit-making, the plantations are rapidly turning out to be an ...
By Mehmet Enes Beşer China and ASEAN have stood as a steadying force in a turbulent world where power is more fragmented, and rivalry grows. Despite regional tensions, mistrust, and the recent surge in militarization, a relationship between them has held firm, underpinned by no-nonsense economics, regular institutional engagement, and cooperation that purports to share benefit equitably across all sides. ...
By Mehmet Enes Beşer Mongolia’s extensive mineral resources have turned it into a rapidly emerging mining center, with very high promises of rapid economic development and growth. But overlying this veneer of prosperity is a richly embroidered brocade of environmental degradation, social dislocation, and economic problems that need to be thoroughly examined. Environmental Degradation: The Ecological Price Mongolia’s recent mining ...
Swedish ecoactivist Greta Thunberg remains a hot topic in world media. After her infamous “How dare you”speech, she organized an environmental tour and is now meeting with various Hollywood stars. Just recently, she met with Leonardo DiCaprio, who described her as leader for our times. She also cycled with Arnold Schwarzenegger, who called her a hero, and was invited on ...