Asia

USAID’s Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Program Launches Grants in Sri Lanka to Support National Government’s Circular Economy Initiatives

In celebration of Earth Day 2021, USAID’s flagship program to address ocean plastic pollution, Clean Cities, Blue Ocean (CCBO), formally launched its local program in Sri Lanka and announced the award of its first in-country grants to support the nation’s journey to plastic pollution-free cities and seas.  CCBO awarded an… Read More

USAID Municipal Waste Recycling Program Zero Waste Roundtable

The Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), a USAID grantee and leader in the approach, defines “zero waste” as “significantly reducing — and eventually completely eliminating—the amount of resources that we send to disposal.” Mike Alino with GAIA says zero waste is a goal, “something we should aspire to.” This… Read More

Three Lessons from USAID’s Ocean Plastics Pollution Work in Indonesia

Indonesia is on the forefront of the global ocean plastic pollution challenge. The country produces 6.8 million tons of plastic waste annually, largely driven by rising demand for single-use plastics such as straws, bottles, sachets, and food containers that meet the needs of a rapidly urbanizing population. To date, only… Read More

CCBO 3R/SWM and Marine Debris Strategy Alignment Assessment – Indonesia

To inform CCBO’s approach, the program has produced this 3R/SWM and Marine Debris Reduction Strategy for Indonesia to highlight the ways in which CCBO can support existing marine debris strategies and to provide recommendations for increased impact. Read More

Identifying Childhood Lead Poisoning in the Philippines

Larah Ibañez was preparing a report on childhood lead poisoning for the government of the Philippines earlier this year when she discovered that the country’s Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS), conducted every three years, included the collection of blood samples.  “I knew immediately that we had to seize this tremendous… Read More

USAID Clean Air Catalyst: Gender Analysis of Air Pollution and Vehicle Transport, India

The purpose of the gender analysis is to inform USAID’s recently launched global air pollution program— Clean Air Catalyst (CAC) in India. The CAC is a five-year long program being implemented by the World Resources Institute, the Environmental Defense Fund, and a consortium of partners seeking to understand local pollution sources and identify sustainable solutions. Read More

Meet Carmela: A young environmental activist in the Philippines takes on ocean plastic pollution

Cross-posted from USAID Medium blog Asthe sun rises over Cauayan, a city in the Philippines, 22-year-old Carmela Ellaga grabs her bag and slips out of the house. Walking along the serene coastline to her project site, she looks… Read More

United States Launches “Clean Cities, Blue Ocean Program” in Sri Lanka to Tackle Plastic Pollution

Cross-posted USAID Press Release issued April 23, 2021 U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka Alaina B. Teplitz announced the first grants awarded through the U.S. government’s… Read More

CCBO 3R/SWM and Marine Debris Strategy Alignment Assessment – Philippines

To inform CCBO’s approach and highlight the ways in which CCBO can support the Philippines’ existing marine debris strategies and to provide recommendations for increased impact, the program has produced this 3R/SWM and Marine Debris Reduction Strategy for the Philippines. Read More

CCBO 3R/SWM and Marine Debris Strategy Alignment Assessment – Sri Lanka

To inform CCBO’s approach in Sri Lanka, the program has produced this 3R/SWM and Marine Debris Reduction Strategy Alignment Assessment for Sri Lanka to highlight the ways in which CCBO can support existing marine debris strategies and to provide recommendations for increased impact. Read More