In Asia, nonprofits are leading the way in developing green tech solutions to address water scarcity and pollution in the region. With support from Google.org and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), AVPN’s APAC Sustainability Solutions Lab (SSL) is helping organisations across Asia-Pacific refine their communication strategy, secure funding, and drive visibility as they work towards fulfilling their missions. Here are some examples on how they support these nonprofits beyond funding.
Data for Clearer Skies: AIT’s AI Cross-Border Haze Monitoring System
The Lower Mekong Sub-region is home to more than 245 million people. For decades, communities have been plagued by forest fires that produce transboundary haze, typically occurring between February and April and peaking in March during the driest period of the year.
Exacerbated by large-scale agricultural burning, the haze releases greenhouse gases and short-lived climate pollutants such as black carbon and methane, which pose serious health risks. Yet governments and organisations lack consistent data and standardised methods to track emissions across borders, making effective regional collaboration difficult.
The Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) in Thailand is tackling haze reduction with an AI-driven monitoring system that uses satellite data to detect fires, track air pollution, and calculate emissions across the region. This includes a standardised method and a centralised emission inventory database that processes consistent and validated data. This helps policymakers to formulate evidence-based policies and fosters cross-institutional collaboration among government leaders.
To improve the accuracy of satellite-based wildfire detection, SSL invited field experts to provide technical guidance to strengthen AIT’s data validation methods. SSL also organised a workshop to enhance AIT’s competencies in data sharing and incident response protocols and guide them how to use AI responsibly.
Through SSL, AIT received tailored assessments outlining practical steps to drive visibility and expand its audience beyond academia and government. The institute learned how to translate complex data into compelling narratives and communicate its initiatives better to a wider audience. This also helped them collaborate with communities and NGOs to co-design solutions and make their research more relevant to users on the ground.
Accelerating Water Innovation in Asia Pacific
Startups are stepping up to tackle Asia’s water problems, but many face challenges such as regulatory hurdles and limited funding to scale beyond the pilot phase.
Singapore-based accelerator Imagine H2O Asia is addressing these challenges through three approaches. Pilot funding finances innovative projects in the region. Market access provides networking and collaboration opportunities for startups. Startup development offers highly specialized mentorship through a highly selective accelerator programme.
SSL’s support not only enabled Imagine H2O Asia to improve its innovation model but also equipped utilities and governments with real-time water quality monitoring capabilities to benefit communities. SSF’s funding empowered them to be more agile to shifting market needs and be more responsive to regulatory changes in real time.
Ocean Cleanup at Scale: Azure Alliance’s “Marine Vacuum”
Marine plastic pollution has reached crisis levels, with an estimated 75 to 199 million tonnes contaminating the world’s oceans. On Taiwan’s west coast, seafloor debris averages 102 kilograms per square kilometre—higher than rates in Japan, South Korea, and China.
To address this challenge, Taiwanese non-profit Azure Alliance developed an unmanned autonomous vehicle (UAV) called the “Azure Fighter.” This fully electric, intelligent boat can efficiently remove marine debris from inshore and inland waters. Its small size allows deployment in ports, piers, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. The Azure Fighter can reduce carbon emissions by 1,452 kilograms per day compared to traditional crewed vessels.
Azure Alliance combines cleanup with data collection and analysis, turning debris patterns into insights that inform policy decisions, advocacy, and educational materials.
To help scale impact, SSL trained Azure Alliance’s team on building their first website, tracking social media engagement, and refining its branding to engage communities and partners more effectively. Practical advice on advertising helped raise its profile and attract new support, resulting in one signed memorandum of understanding and future marine cleanup collaboration with three companies.
With continued support from Google.org and ADB, SSL is helping nonprofits scale their technology to address Asia’s most pressing environmental challenges. By providing the necessary infrastructure, SSL is powering innovative environmental solutions that can bring meaningful change across the region. Learn more about SSL here.
