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May 04, 2024
 

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Michael Taylor
For Michael Taylor's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
Japan Times
WORLD
Oct 14, 2021
'A drop in the bucket': Lukewarm response for China biodiversity fund launch
While some have praised the country's $232 million pledge, others feel a country of China's size could be doing much more.
Japan Times
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Oct 8, 2021
Not just coal: End to deforestation sought at COP26 climate summit
Green groups say the importance of carbon-storing forests in curbing global warming is being overlooked by many nations — especially in their climate funding.
Japan Times
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Sep 17, 2021
Far more finance needed for nature-rich nations to make global deal fly
Improving conservation and management of natural areas, such as parks, oceans, forests and wildernesses, is seen as crucial to safeguarding the ecosystems on which humans depend.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Aug 11, 2021
To hit climate goals, Indonesia urged to permanently ban new palm oil plantations
Home to the world's third-largest tropical forests and also its biggest palm-oil producer, Indonesia introduced a three-year freeze on plantation permits that expires in September.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Aug 11, 2021
Bleak future feared for Asia's vulnerable poor after landmark climate report
Home to about 60% of the world's population, the region has borne the brunt of climate disasters.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Jul 13, 2021
Giant leap for nature? All eyes on China to land new global pact.
Securing an ambitious new global pact to protect nature at a U.N. summit later this year will require stronger political leadership from host nation China, officials and observers warn.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jun 29, 2021
ASEAN missing from G7-backed push to protect 30% of nature by 2030
Pledges will fall short of their goal unless biodiversity-rich Southeast Asian nations get behind the ambitious proposal, environmentalists have warned.
Japan Times
WORLD
Jun 16, 2021
G7 offers hope for new nature pact but pandemic threatens deadline
Agreement on the text of a new global treaty to safeguard plants, animals and ecosystems may not be reached without in-person talks, officials and observers have said.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
May 3, 2021
Stung by 2015 fires, Indonesia's shift to forest protection reaps rewards
A bold policy reset amid the crisis has helped the country achieve four straight years of declines in deforestation.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Apr 15, 2021
Japan urged to outlaw LGBTQ discrimination before Olympics
More than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling on the government to pass an equality law ahead of the games.
Japan Times
WORLD
Apr 1, 2021
Global rainforest loss 'relentless,' but Southeast Asia offers hope
The loss in 2020 of 4.2 million hectares of primary forest — intact areas of old-growth trees — equaled the size of the Netherlands.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Mar 26, 2021
'Willful ignorance': Flood-hit Australia urged to rethink climate inaction
Currently battling its worst floods in more than half a century, the country has failed to adapt fast enough to growing threats while climate change has become 'a partisan political issue.'
Japan Times
WORLD / ANALYSIS
Feb 26, 2021
Pandemic likely made 2020 'another devastating year' for world's forests
The spread of the virus weakened environmental regulations, cut funding for protection work and forced city migrants back to rural areas.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC / ANALYSIS
Jan 21, 2021
Australia feels global and national heat for lack of 2050 zero-emissions goal
Australia is seen as a regional laggard on climate by some green groups, who cite pledges for zero emissions by midcentury made by China, Japan and South Korea.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Jan 19, 2021
As floods hit Borneo, Indonesia urged to boost climate action under Paris accord
The archipelago is already suffering the impacts of rising global temperatures, with its cities and coastal areas hit by regular flooding and rising sea levels.
Japan Times
JAPAN / Society
Nov 4, 2019
'Little Miss Sumo' wrestles with sexism in Japan's ancient sport
A young wrestler dubbed "Little Miss Sumo" is fighting sexism in the ancient Japanese sport, hoping to inspire other women to step into the ring and elevate sumo to Olympic status.
Japan Times
WORLD / FOCUS
Nov 26, 2018
Buy green palm oil or forests will suffer, industry warns
New rules to stop deforestation caused by palm oil production can only succeed if brands and consumers buy larger amounts of oil certified as green and ethical, industry officials and environmental activists said.
Japan Times
CULTURE / Books
Nov 15, 2018
Manga artist draws on history for tales of politically powerful women
A feminist manga-style artist says she plans to use characters based on an Egyptian pharaoh and a Chinese empress to bring more female empowerment to the male-dominated world of comic books.
Japan Times
ASIA PACIFIC
Sep 21, 2018
As typhoons get stronger, Asia must build better, experts say
Population growth, rapid urbanization and unfettered development of coastal areas in the Asia-Pacific region are increasing the risk of heavy damage from powerful typhoons, experts said.
Biden calls ally Japan ‘xenophobic’ along with rivals China and Russia
U.S. President Joe Biden speaks in Syracuse, New York, on April 25.
Yen swings stir talk that Japan is in the FX market once again
An electronic screen in Tokyo displays the yen exchange rate against the U.S. dollar and the graph showing its recent swings, on Thursday.
Harajuku strives to reclaim its former glory — and surpass it
Laforet Harajuku, which celebrated its 45th anniversary last year, has been a witness to the district's evolution over the years.
Weak yen fattens tourist wallets in Japan
People visit the Ameya Yokocho market in Tokyo's Ueno district during the Golden Week holiday on Tuesday.
Japan's May 1 intervention may have cost ¥3.66 trillion, BOJ data suggests
An electronic screen displays a graph showing Japanese yen exchange rates surging against the dollar amid signs of intervention by authorities, in Tokyo on Thursday.
Kishida sets sights on energy and climate in South America trip
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will use a policy speech in Sao Paulo to set out his vision for ties between Japan and South America, almost 10 years after former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe advocated for stronger ties between the two in the same city.
Yellow sand allergy: A health issue made worse by climate change
A screenshot of the Meteorological Agency's satellite image of clouds and yellow sand (in pink) on Sunday.
Climate change, chalky grains and the risks for Japan’s rice farmers
A farmer plants seedlings in Satsumasendai, Kagoshima Prefecture. Japan’s self sufficiency rate for rice is nearly 100%, compared with 38% for food overall, on a calorie basis.
Japan wants you to spend more with ‘luxury tourism’
Performers play a traditional drum unique to Wajima, Ishikawa Prefecture, in the prefectural capital of Kanazawa on March 16 to mark the extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Prefecture.
Theaster Gates’ ambitious ‘Afro-Mingei’ brings Black Chicago to Tokyo
Theaster Gates' “A Heavenly Chord” lines up church pews before seven speakers and a Hammond B3 organ, a type of electric organ prevalent in Black American churches.

Podcast

From easily navigable train stations to the helpfulness of its municipal staff, Tokyo has earned high praise for its commitment to accessibility for disabled travelers.
[Rebroadcast] Japan is doing better on accessibility than you may think

Longform

Rows of irises resemble a rice field at the Peter Walker-designed Toyota Municipal Museum of Art.
The 'outsiders' creating some of Japan's greenest spaces
By Stephen Mansfield

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