Eco-business Podcast

With alternatives such as sustainable aviation fuel still too expensive and low in demand for the aviation industry to consider, carbon offsets could be a way to reduce emissions – if used right. EcoSecurities and the International Air Transport Association tell the Eco-Business podcast how airlines can ensure compliance when new regulations become mandatory

Can a desert city be liveable? Eyes are on whether the Dubai's plan to build the world’s “greenest highway” will take off. Envisioned as a 64-kilometre corridor that people can easily walk and bike on, the development aims to challenge conventional urban planning norms in the Middle East and shift the residents of the metropolis away from their old habits, including heavy car use. Design plans for the urban initiative, unveiled in July this year by developer URB, have attracted media attention, although some are sceptical if it will inspire similar projects adopting sustainable practices, in a city more known for opulent luxury real estate and towering skyscrapers. The Eco-Business Podcast speaks to Marwa Nahlawi from Diamond Developers, the real estate developer behind Dubai’s “Sustainable City” brand, which adopts a similar green spine concept. Tune in as we discuss: - The challenges and opportunities of sustainable infrastructure planning in the region’s harsh climates - How the ‘green spine’ c

Joining the Eco-Business to discuss how the sport can reach the net zero finishing line in just six years is Mercedes F1’s head of sustainability, Alice Ashpitel. Tune in as we discuss: Why an earth sciences graduate chose to work in F1 What has been driving down Mercedes F1’s emissions? How sustainable is sustainable aviation fuel? Is sustainability accepted in F1 culture? Which solutions are missing to decarbonise F1? The elephant in the room: logistics and travel Fossil fuels sponsorship and reputational risk Is F1’s net zero by 2030 goal realistic? Will Formula E make Formula 1 obsolete?

Goumbook launched a regional oceans network that brought discussions on the blue economy to the forefront at the last COP summit. Founder Tatiana Abella tells the Eco-Business Podcast why healthy oceans are important for the Middle East.

Environmental disclosure non-profit CDP was founded on this premise: “You can’t manage what you can’t measure.” 23 years on, this theory that increased environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosures would lead investors and other stakeholders to reward companies with strong sustainability performance, and punish those who lagged, has gained widespread market acceptance. However, evidence to support this dominant theory of change has been mixed, with global emissions continuing to climb alongside corporate disclosure rates over the last two decades. But why hasn't more corporate disclosures led to emissions reductions? Tune in to the Eco-Business Podcast with environmental disclosure non-profit's CEO Sherry Madera as we discuss: - Why rising disclosures has not led to more ambitious climate action - How to bring up the rate of credible transition plan disclosures - Criticism of the new CDP questionnaire - CDP's "much stronger strategy" for Asia post-restructuring - Will we see further consolidati

Voluntary carbon markets have been in existence for over three decades, and the industry could well be set for future growth despite a recent bump in the road. But its potential to combat climate change may never be fully realised without a rethink of some key mechanisms, industry veteran David Antonioli believes. The founding chief executive of Verra, the world’s largest carbon credit certifier, sees at least two key areas where change is needed. First, the market should adopt an “end game” for emissions-saving initiatives to become economically viable without carbon financing. Someone will need to define the “positive tipping point” at which this happens in each sector – be it sustainable agriculture, reforestation, or clean energy – rally participants towards the goal, and then disallow the sale of carbon credits thereafter. Second, Antonioli thinks that project approval rules should be simplified to help initiatives get going faster. This means approvals should be based on simple lists of eligible acti

Eco-anxiety is a healthy psychological response, says 24-year-old activist Clover Hogan. The founder of nonprofit Force of Nature tells the Eco-Business Podcast how to respond to anxiety in a world that is “numb” to the climate crisis. Tune in as we discuss: The birth of a climate activist Does the future look like a techno utopia or a dying planet? Real versus “shiny” climate solutions How to communicate climate chaos to children Is climate anxiety hurting fertility? The media and climate storytelling How does Big Oil internalise climate anxiety?

Which sectors are hottest for climate tech startups in Southeast Asia, and what are the challenges faced by entrepreneurs who want to tackle climate change and also make money? Tune in to the Eco-Business Podcast with Steve Melhuish as we discuss: Why PropertyGuru’s co-founder pivoted to climate tech Why bet on climate tech in Southeast Asia? What are the hottest trends in climate tech? How to tell which climate solutions actually work? Common pitfalls in climate tech Southeast Asia’s debt finance gap The “never-ending challenge” of time-management for entrepreneurs

LGBTQ people have long had to chart their own paths in the face of discrimination on bread and butter issues, like housing and employment. Pink Dot campaigners Clement Tan and Rachel Yeo tell the Eco-Business Podcast their hopes amid a political leadership refresh. Tune in as we discuss: - Measuring the success of Pink Dot's past campaigns - Has the Pink Dot movement been too homogenous in the past? - What changes are expected with Pink Dot's leadership leadership refresh? - Why has Pink Dot chosen not to focus on legalising same-sex marriage post-repeal? - How Pink Dot sponsor numbers have changed over the years and tackling corporate "pink-washing" - Key asks for Singapore's new generation of leaders on LGBTQ issues

In this podcast, Eco-Business' Middle East correspondent Rachel Kelly interviews ADX's chief strategy and transformation officer Matthias Büchler to talk about sustainability as one of ADX's key growth pillars, and how COP28 helped shape the ESG investment narrative in the region.

The new head of Japan and Southeast Asia for ClientEarth tells the Eco-Business Podcast how the law can be used to hold polluters to account in the world's biggest emitting region. She also says it's time the legal profession faced scrutiny for greenwashing. Tune in as we discuss: Why be a environmental lawyer? Tan's "Lightbulb" moment How climate law varies in Asia The rise of climate litigation in the Global South The legal perils of transition-washing The big leap from voluntary to mandatory sustainability reporting Scrutiny of greenwashing in the legal profession Protesting against climate inaction in illiberal countries How to use the law across borders

Steve Willis and Genevieve Hilton, the authors of "climate optimism" novel Fairhaven, tell the Eco-Business Podcast: Why did you write this book? Why do we need an optimistic take on climate change? Does individual action matter? Refreezing the Arctic – far fetched idea? Criticism of fossil fuels executives writing a novel about climate solutions Book chapters as pitches to industry

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?