Journalists from across Asia received awards on Thursday for their environmental reporting on issues from China's 'cancer villages' to India's climate refugees.

The Singapore Environment Council's second Asian Environmental Journalism Awards were given out at a ceremony at the InterContinental Hotel. They included five categories: top environment story, environment journalist of the year, green blogger of the year, environment photograph of the year, and excellence in reporting by a media organisation.

Singapore merit winners included photojournalist Douglas Ho from Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao for his photo of construction workers during the haze in June; sustainable-business website Eco-Business.com; environment blogger and consultant Eugene Tay; and journalist Neo Chai Chin from Today.

Beijing-based South China Morning Post reporter Li Jing won the CDL Environmental Journalist of the Year award for her body of work on 'cancer villages' ravaged by industrial pollution in Shandong, migratory wild birds on dinner plates in southern China, and an interview with China's first Environment Minister, Qu Geping. Ms Li, 31, said the award meant more recognition for environment journalism in China. "There are new environmental problems emerging and the old measures can't even catch up," she said. "They're going to be very difficult for China to deal with."