Global Witness warns that mining for green energy is fuelling conflict and human rights abuses in Asia and elsewhere, urging tougher standards and protections.

The initiative is philanthropy-led and will extend beyond traditional Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to cover conservation of more existing ocean ecosystems. Less than 3 per cent of the region's national waters are under formal protection but a deadline to meet a global conservation target looms.

Ahead of COP29, a study by International Institute for Environment and Development shows that Asia's least developed countries have debt growing at a faster rate than climate support.

Coal-fired power plants are driving a health crisis in Southeast Asia, where fine particle pollution causes millions of premature deaths annually.