Earth Matters

The Just Energy Transition Partnership, or JETP, was designed to help countries move away from coal, towards clean energy. But with the United States recently pulling out of its financial commitments, many are wondering if the model can still work. Grant Hauber, an expert in energy finance, who has been closely following developments, argues that the JETP can still succeed without U.S. involvement. Grant, who is the Strategic Energy Finance Adviser for Asia, at the Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis (IEEFA), joins us to break down what happened, why this matters for all of us, and what’s next for the JETP.

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When a major development project is announced—whether it’s a highway, a dam, or a large-scale plantation—one of the most critical steps in the process is the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). But how does the EIA process work, and how much influence does public feedback really have? In a three-part series, environmental journalism portal Macaranga spoke to stakeholders to explore all this and more, and we speak to environmental journalist Law Yao Hua who wrote the articles, EIA consultant and auditor Khairulina Mohd Kamaruddin, and Hawa Wahid, the President of Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (KUASA), to break down the complexities of EIAs, why public participation matters, and how we can make the process more transparent and effective.

Image Credit: Macaranga

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For generations, farmers in Malaysia have saved and shared seeds, preserving biodiversity, culture, and food security. But a new proposed law could change that, shifting control of seeds—and ultimately food production—into the hands of corporations. What does this mean for the future of farming in Malaysia? How will it impact smallholder farmers, indigenous communities, and even consumers? We discuss this and more with Gabriel Hii, the co-chair of the Sarawak CSO-SDG Alliance, and Anjelen Daransun, the coordinator of the Socio-Economic Programme at PACOS Trust, and a fourth generation seed guardian from Sabah.

Image credit: Shutterstock

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The Mah Meri’s bunga moyang, or ancestral spirit flowers, are more than just beautiful weavings - they carry deep spiritual meaning and reflect a way of life in harmony with nature. Adat & Alam: The Mah Meri Ancestral Spirit Flowers, a new book by Gerimis Art Project, compiled with guidance by the Tompoq Topoh collective, documents this sacred craft through photographs, illustrations, and essays. We speak with Gerimis Art’s co-founder Wendi Sia, to discover more about the collaboration between Gerimis and the Mah Meri community, and also to explore the significance of these weavings and learn how this book preserves not just a craft, but an entire way of seeing and respecting the natural world.

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Gibbons are among the most endangered primates in the world, yet their trafficking rarely makes headlines. As smuggling operations grow bolder, urgent action is needed to protect these intelligent, social creatures. But enforcement failures, lack of transparency, and weak rehabilitation efforts threaten their survival. So, what can be done? We’re joined by Mariani ‘Bam’ Ramli (President & Founder of the Gibbon Conservation Society) and Dr. Susan M Cheyne (Vice-Chair for the IUCN Primate Specialist Group Section on Small Apes, Co-Director of Borneo Nature Foundation International, and an advisor to Gibbon Conservation Society) to discuss the crisis - and what we can do to fight back. 

Image Credit: Gibbon Conservation Society

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For February's wrap-up of top environmental news, Wong Siew Lyn, co-founder of environmental journalism portal Macaranga, joins us to first discuss the impacts of the recent flooding on conservation projects in Kinabatangan in Sabah, then to explain the government's plans to punish litterbugs, and finally how Malaysia chairing ASEAN might impact the environment and sustainability efforts across the region. 

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For years, Indigenous communities in Sarawak have fought to protect their ancestral lands from unsustainable logging, challenging industry practices and certification schemes that failed to recognise their rights. Their persistence has led to a victory that saw contested logging concessions lose their certification, marking a turning point in the push for stronger protections. We speak with Celine Lim, Managing Director of Save Rivers, to find out more how the Stop The Chop campaign played a huge part in this, and what this latest update means for community-led conservation. We also discuss the flaws in Malaysia’s timber certification system, and what’s next in the fight for Indigenous land rights.

Image Credit: The Borneo Project

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Perdana Botanical Garden is more than just a scenic escape in the heart of Kuala Lumpur—it’s also a gateway to understanding Malaysia’s rich biodiversity. Thanks to the newly established Forest Learning Centre, visitors now have the opportunity to explore nature through guided walks designed to make forest learning fun and accessible. From pollinators to wetlands and even nighttime adventures, we find out more about these thematic walks from guide Siti Syuhada Sapno, who is also the Programme Coordinator at the Forest Learning Centre. We discuss why urban biodiversity matters, and how reconnecting with nature benefits both people, and the planet.

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What’s the state of Malaysia’s coral reefs, and what can we do to protect them? These vibrant ecosystems are essential for marine life and coastal communities, but they face growing threats and pressure from human activity and climate change. Julian Hyde, the CEO of Reef Check Malaysia, walks us through the key findings of the Status of Coral Reefs in Malaysia 2024 report, focusing on the urgent need for sustainable management, and how protecting coral reefs is essential for Malaysia’s economy and future.

Image Credit: Reef Check Malaysia

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In Sabah, rescuing and rehabilitating sun bears is only half the battle. The real challenge lies in preparing them for life in the wild, while addressing the root causes of their declining population: illegal trade and loss of habitat. All of this is covered in Macaranga's latest article, Helping Sabah’s Sun Bears Return to the Wild, which also discusses how many released bears struggle to survive back in the wild, and why conservationists are stressing that keeping sun bears in their natural habitats and stopping hunting, is more effective than rehabilitation. We speak to Vincent Tan, the journalist who wrote the piece, Dr. Wong Siew Te, a Wildlife Biologist, Tropical Forest Ecologist, and the CEO and Founder of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BCBCC), and Elizabeth John, the Communications Manager from TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, to learn more about the future of these vulnerable bears.

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