Climate Watch

In a time of global uncertainty, it can feel harder than ever to unite communities around urgent issues like climate change. For scholars Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim of Yale University, the answers may lie in the past. Drawing on spiritual and ethical traditions from across cultures, they believe that humanity's relationship with nature must be guided by values as much as science. From the thoughts of Confucius to Indigenous ecological wisdom, they explore how religious worldviews can inspire more compassionate and sustainable action today. This is the second episode of Climate Watch’s collaboration with Beyond Climate Dialogue at Peking University.

Part 1: https://radio.cgtn.com/podcast/news/5/Looking-back-to-move-forward-what-ancient-wisdom-can-teach-us-about-climate-action-Part-1/2715521

In a time of global uncertainty, it can feel harder than ever to unite communities around urgent issues like climate change. For scholars Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim of Yale University, the answers may lie in the past. Drawing on spiritual and ethical traditions from across cultures, they believe that humanity's relationship with nature must be guided by values as much as science. From the thoughts of Confucius to Indigenous ecological wisdom, they explore how religious worldviews can inspire more compassionate and sustainable action today. This is the second episode of Climate Watch’s collaboration with Beyond Climate Dialogue at Peking University.

More on their project: https://www.journeyoftheuniverse.org/

This Earth Day, we take a hard look at an unexpected force shaping the future of clean technology: tariffs. As countries race to build green industries like EVs and batteries, trade tensions are starting to influence who gets ahead. In this episode of Climate Watch, Fei Fei speaks with Kyle Chan, a postdoctoral researcher at Princeton University and author of the newsletter High Capacity. We unpack how industrial policy, geopolitics, and tariffs are colliding with climate goals. From global supply chains to political headwinds, we explore whether we’re still on track—or if protectionism is putting the planet’s future at risk.

If you have questions about climate change or suggestions for future episodes, feel free to reach out at [email protected]. You can also find me on Substack by the newsletter Rivers and Mountains.

In this episode of Climate Watch, Fei Fei explores how U.S. tariffs are shaping the clean energy transition in Asia. We speak with Putra Adhiguna, Managing Director of the Energy Shift Institute in Jakarta, to understand how countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia are being affected by shifting U.S. trade policies on clean energy. From trade routes to solar supply chains, this episode looks at how energy transition goals remain a priority—even in the face of economic headwinds. Also, Putra brings his insights on Indonesia’s transitioning away from coal.

If you have questions about climate change or suggestions for future episodes, feel free to reach out at [email protected]. You can also find me on Substack by the newsletter Rivers and Mountains.

Forests are taking center stage in China’s climate and development strategy. The country aims to meet its climate goals while also improving rural livelihoods by leveraging its abundant forest resources. But forests aren’t just about trees as we typically imagine—bamboo is also part of the picture. With a national three-year plan to boost the bamboo industry wrapping up this year, could this fast-growing plant become a viable alternative to plastic? Fei Fei speaks with Jayaraman Durai from the International Bamboo and Rattan Organization (INBAR) to explore how bamboo fits into China’s green ambitions.

If you have questions about climate change or suggestions for future episodes, feel free to reach out at [email protected]. You can also find me on Substack by the newsletter Rivers and Mountains.

According to the United Nations, about a third of the global population still relies on polluting fuels for cooking, posing serious health risks. A recent study, “Energy–Poverty–Inequality SDGs: A Large-Scale Household Analysis and Forecasting in China,” reveals that access to clean cooking fuels not only improves health but is also linked to rising incomes and reduced inequality. The transition to cleaner fuels isn’t just about cutting emissions—it’s also about economic empowerment. To explore this connection, we spoke with Zhang Lin, Associate Professor at the School of Energy and Environment at City University of Hong Kong and one of the study’s authors. In this episode, we examine the hidden environmental impact of cooking stoves and how our everyday choices in the kitchen shape both the planet and our future.

2025 is the International Year of Glacier Preservation, and this week marks both World Day for Glaciers (March 21) and World Water Day (March 22)—a crucial moment to spotlight these vulnerable giants. What can we do to slow down the loss? And what does the future hold for the Third Pole? Climate Watch spoke with Ding Minghu with the Chinese Academy of Meteorological Sciences. With 20 years of experiences studying glaciers on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and beyond, he shares insights on glacier melting, rising disaster risks, and how these changes impact ecosystems, water resources, and even global weather patterns.

China is developing a nationwide carbon footprint management system—but how will it work, and will it lead to real emissions reductions? In this episode, we break down what a carbon footprint actually means, how it's calculated, and whether companies are truly cutting emissions or just using sustainability as a marketing tool, with Professor Xu Ming from Tsinghua University. He's a leading expert in environmental systems engineering. Together, we explore China's approach to tracking carbon footprints. Can this system help businesses and consumers make greener choices?

March 8 marks International Women’s Day, and in this special edition of Climate Watch, we spotlight female leadership in climate action and the fresh perspectives women bring to climate solutions. We sit down with two remarkable Chinese women to explore their journeys in climate action, self-discovery, and beyond. This episode also marks the launch of our collaboration with Professor Wang Binbin of Peking University and her initiative, Beyond Climate Dialogue, amplifying new voices in climate narratives. Joining us is entrepreneur Yao Songqiao, who challenges us to rethink humanity’s place on this planet. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on gender, climate, and leadership.

We dive into China’s plans for zero-carbon industrial parks. With the Two Sessions approaching, lawmakers are expected to focus on key policy priorities, including green development. Last year, the Central Economic Work Conference outlined the construction of these parks as a major goal. We speak with Song Yuyan, Director General of the Secretariat of Green Partnership of Industrial Parks China, and Han Wei from Energy Foundation, who share their expertise on the challenges and opportunities of making zero-carbon industrial parks a reality for China’s future.

Previous episode on the Central Economic Work Conference: What’s China’s plan for a greener 2025?

https://radio.cgtn.com/podcast/news/5/Whats-Chinas-plan-for-a-greener-2025/2714203