Eco-business Podcast

How can Asia Pacific secure water for future generations? The Eco-Business Podcast talks to the Vice President, Global Lifecycle Services, Emerging Markets, of water technology company Xylem, on why climate change will exacerbate existing water scarcity and quality issues in the region

Heat, storms, floods, fires – Asia is highly vulnerable to climate risk, but massively underinsured against it. This trend is putting the wallets and livelihoods of billions in jeopardy. Data by global insurer Munich Re last month showed that the region was once again poorly indemnified in 2023, with only 14 per cent of US$50 billion of damages recovered. Joining the Eco-Business Podcast to examine the factors holding Asia back on climate insurance are Dr Jack Xia, chief actuary of Singapore-based insurer Igloo, which offers an automated “Weather Index insurance” for farmers in Vietnam, and Dr Christopher Au, head of risk advisory and insurance firm WTW’s Asia Pacific Climate Risk Centre. Tune in as we discuss: - The reasons Southeast Asia is underinsured against growing extreme weather risks - How insurers can strike a balance between keeping premiums affordable and ensuring business continuity - The risk of uninsurable climate risks in the region - The role of government and blended finance models - What

Can sustainable real estate address the climate-induced problems plaguing the Philippine capital of Manila? The Eco-Business Podcast talks to the chief sustainability officer of Arthaland Oliver Chan about the growing sustainable real estate market in the Philippines and how the company strikes a careful balance between sustainability and affordability

A strong oil and gas presence is expected at the COP28 climate summit this month, after host United Arab Emirates said everyone needs to be at the table to find better solutions to stop global warming. But many remain sceptical of whether the industry can be earnest contributors to the climate agenda. Fossil fuels are the primary cause of global warming, and some of the biggest energy majors have in recent years walked back their sustainability ambitions. Blockbuster Big Oil earnings last year amid high fuel prices have led to profiteering accusations, while environmentalists suspect that fossil fuel lobbyists blocked more ambitious targets at last year’s COP27 in Egypt. Joining the Eco-Business podcast to discuss the role that fossil fuel firms will play at COP28 is Charlotte Wolff-Bye, the chief sustainability officer of Petronas. Petronas is Malaysia’s state-owned energy company, and one of the country’s biggest financial contributors. It has operations around the world, and its daily production avera

Transboundary haze pollution is back with a vengeance in Southeast Asia. The Eco-Business Podcast talks to RSPO CEO Joseph D'Cruz about what the palm oil oil sector can do to put out the peatland fires that have burned annually for four decades.

In celebration of Indigenous People month in the Philippines, the former United Nations special rapporteur tells the Eco-Business Podcast about her lifelong work to empower communities in Asia’s most dangerous place for environmental defenders.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas assistant governor talks to the Eco-Business Podcast about the regulator’s maiden sustainability report that she says focuses not only on meeting international standards for green finance but features an empirical study of climate impacts on banks and the nation’s first taxonomy.

Joining the Eco-Business Podcast to talk about climate adaptation is Professor Winston Chow, who was recently appointed co-chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's working group on impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Tune in as we talk about: What does climate adaptation really mean? The road ahead for climate-vulnerable countries How well prepared is the Global South for cascading risks? Climate adaptation success stories How can we get better at telling the climate story? What businesses ask scientists about climate adaptation Dealing with climate deniers Will the world achieve net-zero 2050?

Plant-based milks have grown in popularity in recent years, driven by a combination of health, environmental and practical concerns. Nutritionists on the Eco-Business podcast, produced in association with taste and nutrition firm Kerry, weigh the pros and cons of non-dairy milk for consumers.

Joining the Eco-Business Podcast is Kim Schumacher, associate professor at the University of Kyushu, who coined the term "competence greenwashing". Tune in as we talk about: Asia is starting to crack down on greenwashing Tackling greenwashing will start in finance Intentional or unintentional greenwashing? Is there a cultural element to calling out greenwashing? Asia's most glaring greenwashing firms Competence greenwashing in Asia AI, Big Data and the future of greenwash

There is a growing awareness that the benefits and burden of the energy transition must be equally shared between men and women. In Southeast Asia, with its long-held traditional gender roles and energy inequality, the process is easier said than done. Big energy developments are on the horizon in the region. Renewables and biofuels are starting to proliferate, while coal is increasingly being shown the exit. Many of these developments will help cut carbon emissions, but a growing body of research suggests that there is no guarantee the benefits and risks can be shared equitably without proper planning. Such rifts could be especially salient along gender lines. Few women work in the energy sector, while their livelihoods are at risk of being upended by big energy projects. The loss of coal sector jobs, held mostly by men, could have profound consequences on gender dynamics in families and societies too. Eco-Business discusses these issues with Amira Bilqis, an energy modelling and policy planning associate

Joining the Eco-Business podcast to discuss the issue of competency greenwashing are Darian McBain, the former chief sustainability officer at the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Thai Union, and Paddy Balfour, the executive director, Asia, of Acre, a specialist sustainability recruitment firm.  Tune in as we talk about: Why competency greenwash is a problem Which industries are fudging ESG skills? Sustainability centres of "excellence" The rise of generalists Real value or buzzword bluster? The future of ESG talent in Asia

The stories of Malaysia’s indigenous tribes are now being captured through the fresh lenses of young female filmmakers. In this bilingual podcast recorded in English and Bahasa Melayu, they tell Eco-Business why they've picked up the camera.

Earlier this month, Indonesia started its detailed planning into closing more coal plants and scaling up renewable energy capacity, with the launch of the secretariat for its Just Energy Transition Partnership, or JET-P, the landmark tie-up with wealthy countries and large private investors. The stakes are high. If done well, the US$20 billion of loans and grants pledged to the country could help it shave 20 per cent off peak power industry emissions in 2030, and get the coal-reliant sector to net-zero by 2050. But at the same time, Indonesia is one of the world’s largest miners, exporters and users of coal. The fossil fuel is pollutive, but also cheap. It has been key to helping millions of people escape poverty over the past few decades – a wrong move could mean energy insecurity, unaffordable bills and job losses. So how can Indonesia continue to grow and help its people secure better livelihoods while meeting its green targets? What should be included in its JET-P implementation plan, which is due in h

Solar geo-engineering, the process of spraying aerosols in the sky to block the sun’s light and heat, may seem far-flung, but some scientists believe we could need the technology sooner than expected. And sooner than we are prepared for it. Recently, non-profits The Degrees Initiative and The World Academy of Sciences awarded US$900,000 in grants to 15 research projects in developing countries that look into how artificial sun-dimming would affect their communities. Studies include modelling the sea level in Benin, water deficit risks in Cameroon, and hydroclimatic extremes in Malaysia. The idea is that the Global South, where climate risks strike the hardest, must know what the risky technology means for them, and be able to make informed decisions on its use. In this podcast, Eco-Business speaks to Prof Athar Hussain, head of the Centre for Climate Research and Development at COMSATS University in Islamabad, Pakistan. He is leading a study on how solar geoengineering would affect the spread of malaria in

This podcast, produced in association with Kerry Group, explores the latest trends in alternative protein innovation and the drivers of the R&D effort amid slowing sales and a lacklustre economy. The guests are: - Mindy Leveille, senior global marketing manager at Kerry - Jennifer Morton, corporate engagement specialist at Good Food Institute APAC Tune in as we discuss: - Key trends of research and development in the alternative protein industry - Consumer expectations and how firms are responding to them - Challenges and opportunities for the sector

In this podcast, Eco-Business explores what it takes to get people to shift to sustainable diets. The guests are: - Daniel Campion, sustainable nutrition lead for Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa at Kerry Group - Dr Brent Loken, global food lead scientist at WWF The podcast was hosted by Eco-Business correspondent Liang Lei, and produced in association with Kerry Group. Tune in as we discuss: - The progress towards a planet-based diet - Are food businesses taste-takers or taste-setters? - How to persuade consumers to choose good food - The effects of conflict and Covid-19

"Earth For All" is an update to the landmark 1972 book that warned of our unsustainable growth. Jørgen Randers, author who worked on both titles, tells Eco-Business what is at stake if we don't fix our broken economic system. The podcast was hosted by Eco-Business correspondent Liang Lei. Tune in as we discuss: - Why social inequality is so dangerous in the age of climate change - Challenges of large-scale redistributive efforts - What has changed between 1972 and 2022 - The role of technology - How to stay optimistic

Joining the Eco-Business Podcast to explore the sustainability of the alternative protein market are Didier Chanove, alternative proteins business director for Asia, Middle East & Africa for nutrition firm Kerry and Chris Coggin, investor outreach analyst for the FAIRR Initiative, an investor network that assesses the ESG risk of intensive animal protein production. Tune in as we discuss: What does the fall in share price of big alternative protein brands tell us about the state of the market? The ESG risk for alternative protein What is driving alternative protein market growth? Vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian or meat-eater? Where will plant-based fit in the future of diets?

Joining the Eco-Business podcast are Veemal Gungadin, founder and CEO of events technology company Globalsign.In, which is behind the digital events platform GEVME, and Teymoor Nabili, chief executive and publisher at Tech for Impact, a sustainability innovation publication. Tune in as we discuss: How did Covid affect the sustainability of events? How did Covid change sustainability event content? Are sustainability events tamed by digital tools? What's the secret to being a good moderator? What makes a great sustainability event?