Eco-business Podcast

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?

Dexter Huerto Jr, sales development manager, Asia Pacific, for engineering firm Danfoss, tell the Eco-Business Podcast how food supply chains have been affected by a pandemic and conflict, and how they can be fixed. Tune in as we talk about: The three ‘C’s — Covid, crisis and climate Have we learned anything from the 2008 food crisis? How is climate change affecting food supply chains? Solutions to the food crisis How well prepared is Asia for future food shocks?

GoTo, Indonesia’s largest internet company, has set what is arguably Southeast Asia’s most ambitious sustainability target — to be a zero-emissions firm by 2030. Tune in as we talk about: Setting sustainability targets in a pandemic, during a merger Are Goto’s targets ambitious — or unrealistic? Growth versus sustainability Regulating zero-emission targets Collaborating to decarbonise

Eco-Business asks two hospitality executives about balancing post-Covid recovery and the need for speed in going green. The guests are: Kwee Wei-Lin, president of the Singapore Hotel Association and head of hotels at Pontiac Land Group Andrew Dixon, director of Nikoi and Cempedak private islands The podcast was hosted by Eco-Business correspondent Liang Lei. Tune in as we discuss: The pace of sustainability initiatives post-Covid-19 Balancing luxury, good service and guest expectations with sustainability The best ways to reach net-zero emissions How to better support employees and local communities in the post-pandemic tourism boom

In this podcast, Eco-Business speaks to two energy experts on plans for clean energy imports into Southeast Asia from its neighbouring countries. The guests are: Beni Suryadi, manager of the Power, Fossil Fuel, Alternative Energy and Storage department at the ASEAN Centre for Energy Elrika Hamdi, energy finance analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis The podcast was hosted by Eco-Business correspondent Liang Lei. Tune in as we discuss: The current prospects for clean energy imports into Southeast Asia Whether Southeast Asia need clean energy imports from other countries The challenges in clean energy imports into the region The key ingredients for successfully leveraging opportunities Expected trajectory for clean energy import projects in the next few decades

Joining the Eco-Business Podcast to talk about what can be done about greenwashing are: *James Lorenz, executive director of Action Speaks Louder, a non-profit that holds firms to account for their climate promises, *Janissa Ng, senior account director of public relations firm Spurwing, and the former head of PR and content at conservation group WWF-Singapore. Ng is chair of a new taskforce to address greenwashing in the PR industry in Asia. Tune in as we talk about: Why greenwashing is dangerous Have we reached "peak greenwash?" Greenwash in Asia Who are the worst greenwashers? Are consumers wising up? Should PR firms work for big polluters? How can PR firms avoid greenwashing? What's the most effective way to stop greenwash? Is there future public health warnings on fossil fuels ads?

Joining the Eco-Business Podcast to talk about the benefits and challenges of retrofitting old buildings is Vinod Jethani, Asia Pacific business development manager, commercial buildings, for engineering company Danfoss.  Tune in as we talk about: Why retrofits matter to the climate fight Are retrofits always less carbon-intensive than building new Low-hanging retrofit fruit What ROI do we see from retrofits? The challenges of retrofits Which companies and industries are leading the way?

The Eco-Business Podcast talks to client scientist Professor Ben Horton about how close the world is to reach crucial climate tipping points, and what can be done to stop runaway climate change.

In this new podcast series 'Climate Tech in Asia', we speak to Gogoro chairman and CEO Horace Luke on the company's recent listing on the Nasdaq and its quest to electrify Asia's ubiquitous two-wheelers and make battery swapping mainstream.