Green Pulse

The Asian Development Bank is trying to bring green power to the people while curbing climate risks. It’s a huge challenge.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

Asia is the economic engine of the world. This powerhouse region is growing quickly and so are its energy demands. 

Millions of people still do not have access to electricity or clean cooking stoves. And its growing economies need affordable and reliable energy to power the region’s burgeoning industries.

But Asia is also the world’s top source of greenhouse gas emissions heating up the planet. And these emissions, mainly from burning fossil fuels, are driving more severe flooding, droughts, fires and higher seas that are taking a huge toll on the region. 

So how to bring power to the people without cooking the region and the planet?

In this episode, ST's climate editor David Fogarty speaks with Dr Priyantha Wijayatunga, chief of the energy sector group at the Asian Development Bank, who is leading the ADB’s efforts to fund the region’s multi-trillion dollar energy transition. 

Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

1:22 What is the climate and energy challenge in Asia?

5:59 Is it possible to meet the region’s energy needs while reducing the climate risks?

13:25 Are you the man in the hot seat driving the region’s green transition for the bank?

14:47 For SE Asia, what’s the current trend for green energy investment?

16:31 What is the ADB’s US$100 billion climate fund and how is it working?

Produced by: David Fogarty ([email protected]), Ernest Luis & Hadyu Rahim

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

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Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

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Steps are being taken to reverse decades of damage to oceans. But is it too little too late?

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

We’re celebrating the 100th episode of our Green Pulse Podcast series. And what better way to mark it than taking a deep dive into the oceans -- the planet's most important and greatest expanse of life. 

Without the oceans, humanity wouldn't exist. But like the rest of the planet, the oceans are in trouble. They’re suffering from pollution, overfishing and the impacts of climate change, from rising ocean temperatures to acidification.

Yet, lots of things can, and are, being done to reverse the damage. Nearly 200 nations recently agreed to conserve and protect 30 per cent of the world's oceans by 2030. And nations also recently agreed on a treaty to protect biodiversity on the high seas.

So has the tide turned for the world's oceans? ST's climate editor David Fogarty speaks with Dr Francesco Ricciardi, a senior environment specialist with the Asian Development Bank who is an expert in ocean biodiversity.

Highlights (click/tap above):

2:00 Why are oceans critical to life on the planet?

4:08 Risks from the damage humanity is doing to the oceans?

8:40 Best solutions to help the oceans recover

16:35 Explaining the Asian Development Bank’s US$5 billion Healthy Oceans Implementation plan

18:24 The oceans are getting warmer and an El Nino event is predicted this year. Are we expecting more marine heatwaves and damage to coral reefs?

Produced by: David Fogarty ([email protected]), Ernest Luis & Hadyu Rahim

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

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Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

---

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Find out how our guest speaker is making climate change and sustainability more relatable. 

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

Climate change is a growing problem for humanity. Almost every day, we hear that we need to cut emissions, live greener lifestyles. It can all seem a bit daunting. 

For instance, major reports from the United Nations' climate science panel spell out clearly the growing risks of climate change, the impacts and how to cut emissions. But it's a challenge for ordinary people to really make sense of it all, let alone take steps along the green path. 

That's where the science communicators come in. They can cut through the jargon and spell out why action on climate change and sustainability matters -- and how it can improve livelihoods, too. 

In this episode, ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Ms Qiyun Woo, a Singaporean illustrator, environmentalist and sustainability consultant. She is also the creator of The Weird and Wild Instagram site.    

Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

1:15 Can you explain more about your Instagram site and popular cartoons?

6:59 What’s the trick in getting the messaging around climate science and sustainability just right?

9:50 What about the risks from greenwashing?

15:03 As a sustainability consultant, you help clients on their green journey. What does this work involve?

18:02 What feedback do you receive from your followers, how does it help you?

Produced by: David Fogarty ([email protected]), Ernest Luis & Teo Tong Kai

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

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Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

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Keeping the world honest on greenhouse gas emissions is vital in fighting climate change. 

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

Every year, humanity releases more than 50 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases into the air – mainly from burning and extracting fossil fuels and chopping down forests. Nature can’t absorb all this extra, so the gases accumulate in the air, heating up the planet and driving more extreme weather and rising sea levels. It’s like adding more fuel to a fire. 

While many nations have agreed on targets to cut emissions and reach net zero emissions around the middle of this century, it’s becoming increasingly critical to accurately measure where all these emissions are coming from and if governments and corporations are really taking the steps they say they will. 

Getting a true picture of global greenhouse gas emissions is vital and that means accurate and transparent data for all to see. It’s about ensuring a level playing field and no backsliding. But not all nations or companies have the ability or desire to accurately measure and report their emissions. That is changing with better analytical methods and new technologies, such as satellites that can directly measure greenhouse gas emissions from power plants or coal mines – meaning there’s no more hiding. 

To discuss this is Dr Pep Canadell, executive director of the Global Carbon Project, a scientific group that analyses global greenhouse gas emissions trends. He explains what the group does and how accuracy is improving, especially ahead of a major United Nations’ global climate assessment that is being released at the end of this year. 

Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

1:09 What is the Global Carbon Project and why is its work important?

3:49 Where does a lot of data on greenhouse gas emissions come from and can we trust it?

6:58 Are there still significant data gaps and how do you deal with this?

11:40 Measuring greenhouse gases might seem a bit nerdy. Explain why tracking emissions is vital for monitoring global action on tackling climate change.

14:56 How has new technology improved data accuracy and transparency? For instance, new generations of satellites. 

Produced by: David Fogarty ([email protected]), Ernest Luis & Teo Tong Kai

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

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Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

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Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

---

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Find out why nations need to invest more in resilience to cope with what’s to come.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

Critical in the climate crisis fight is helping politicians and the public better understand the causes of climate change and solutions, and not allowing vested interests, such as the fossil fuel industry, to muddy the picture and delay action. 

To discuss this is Dr Vinod Thomas, a visiting professor at the National University of Singapore, who was a former World Bank vice-president. His recently published book is a guide to how best to respond to the climate change threat and how to become better prepared for the worsening impacts to come.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:28 Dr Thomas on his just-published book Risk and Resilience In The Era Of Climate Change

4:59 Risks from climate change and from inaction

9:43 Main reasons for humanity’s slow response

13:07 Good news: There are existing and emerging solutions

16:19 There’s a real need to help the public and policymakers ‘join the dots’, to understand the causes and impacts of climate change

Produced by: David Fogarty ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Teo Tong Kai

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

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#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

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Special edition series:

True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

---

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Find out the qualities of a good chief sustainability officer.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

Climate change and the growing biodiversity crisis are having far reaching impacts on businesses. Governments are adopting tougher regulations, too, and businesses also have to be much more transparent about their environmental footprints and how they plan to improve.

For instance, the Singapore Exchange has mandated climate risk disclosures for listed companies from this year and companies are increasingly rated on their sustainability policies and practices. 

Pressure is also coming from investors and consumers who are demanding businesses go green and clean up their supply chains. 

That’s where chief sustainability officers, or CSOs, come in. They can help firms navigate this changing world and help save corporate reputations –  and many companies are finding that going green is good for business.

To find out more about the rise of the CSO, ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Ms Cherine Fok. A partner at KPMG Singapore’s environmental, social and governance team, she works closely with firms making the transition.

Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

3:20 CSOs are change-makers – their key role is to bring the organisation together to drive change

5:04 Qualities of an effective CSO

7:57 Where should a CSO sit within a company?

8:45 Why the CSO role and studying sustainability is crucial for youth and the next generation of business leaders

Produced by: David Fogarty ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim, Eden Soh & Teo Tong Kai

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

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Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

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ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

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Special edition series:

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

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Why a new UN treaty gives hope to the world’s ailing oceans and is important to South-east Asia.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

Did you know oceans provide about half the oxygen we breathe and soak up about 90 per cent of the excess heat generated by global warming? They also soak up about a third of the carbon dioxide emissions from mankind’s activities.

While this is slowing the pace of climate change, the oceans are becoming warmer and more acidic. And that’s threatening coral reefs and key food chains. 

Yet, there’s good news. Earlier this month, more than 190 nations agreed to the text of a new United Nations treaty to conserve and sustainably use the high seas. It’s the first treaty to focus on better protection for an area covering more than 60 per cent of the world’s oceans – the vast expanse outside national boundaries. 

The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty (BBNJ) is nearly two decades in the making. It builds on another recent UN biodiversity agreement sealed in December 2022 at the UN’s COP15 biodiversity conference in Montreal. Nearly 200 nations agreed at COP15 to conserve and protect 30 percent of the world’s land, coastal and marine areas by 2030. This treaty will be key to meeting the 30 per cent target. 

To find out more about the BBNJ treaty, we speak to Dr Edward Game, lead scientist & director of conservation, Asia Pacific, for The Nature Conservancy. 

Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

1:24 What is the new treaty and how will it reduce the risks facing oceans?

5:50 Oceans hold the greatest amount of biodiversity on the planet

9:19 Why is the treaty so important to South-east Asia?

10:39 How can the treaty tackle fishing, pollution and other threats?

14:00 Seabed mining could pose major risks to the deep ocean

Produced by: David Fogarty ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Fa'izah Sani

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

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Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

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Special edition series:

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

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Indonesia's Rimba Raya project developers explain how rigorous the verification and auditing process is.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

Forests soak up large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and halting deforestation and replanting forests make sense as a strategy to fight climate change – and save nature, too. Investors who do this, want to earn a return for their efforts by selling tradeable “offsets” representing a tonne of CO2 removed, or avoided from being emitted, such as protecting a forest under threat from clearing. 

But a recent investigation by The Guardian concluded that rainforest carbon offsets issued by Verra, the world's main certification body for offsets, were mostly worthless. The conclusion has been widely panned as inaccurate. 

So what are these projects really like on the ground? How difficult are they and how much work goes into creating and running them? 

In this episode, we speak to Todd Lemons and Jim Procanik, who developed the Rimba Raya project in Central Kalimantan in Indonesia more than a decade ago. The project saved a large area of peat swamp forest from being chopped down to grow oil palms.

Lemons and Procanik explain more about Rimba Raya, the forest area and the projects to help save the forest and boost local livelihoods. 

Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

1:31 What is the Rimba Raya project and why is it important?

4:05 The project’s impact on the forest area

8:29 “The forest is our most efficient mechanism for fighting climate change.”

12:57 There are fears forest carbon projects can be damaged by fire or logging. How to address this?

17:45 “These forests have so many other benefits other than CO2 sequestration (which is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide)

Listen to Pt 1 - Forest carbon offsets - scam or climate saviour?: https://str.sg/ikxn

Produced by: David Fogarty ([email protected]), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Fa'izah Sani

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

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Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

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#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

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Special edition series:

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

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Our expert guest offers his evaluation of a recent investigation by British media outlet The Guardian.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

Forests are one of nature’s ways of soaking up large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), helping apply the brakes to climate change. This explains why halting deforestation and replanting forests makes sense. Investors who do this, want to earn a return for their efforts by selling tradeable “offsets” representing a tonne of CO2 removed, or avoided from being emitted, such as protecting a forest under threat from clearing. 

Forest carbon offsets have become big business, helping offset buyers to reduce their carbon footprint and meet their climate targets, in addition to other carbon-cutting steps that they must take. But rainforest carbon offsets are controversial because of concerns over the quality of the credits and projects and whether the forests will really remain standing for the long term. And do these projects really lead to big reductions in deforestation?

The issue has come to the fore after a recent investigation by The Guardian, which concluded that rainforest carbon offsets issued by Verra, the world's main certification body for offsets, were mostly worthless. Though widely panned as being flawed, the conclusions by The Guardian have highlighted the need for further tightening of the standards and scrutiny of forest carbon offsets. 

In this episode, ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Professor Koh Lian Pin - director of the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions - who has been working to boost the integrity of nature-based carbon offset projects. He looks at the pros and cons of rainforest carbon offsets. 

Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

1:19 What are forest carbon projects?

4:56 How much carbon are we talking about?

7:15 Why have these projects been so controversial?

12:15  “The good must continually get better” in carbon accounting and monitoring

17:08 “The highest quality carbon offset is actually the one we don’t need.”

Produced by: David Fogarty ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Hadyu Rahim

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

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Feedback to: [email protected]

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Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu

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In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt

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Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN

Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf

Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m

ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE

#PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad

Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX

Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL

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Special edition series:

The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2

Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn

Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB

Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa

---

Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts!

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Nations have this decade to halt and start to reverse the damage.

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.

At the recent COP15 United Nations biodiversity conference in Canada, nearly 200 nations agreed on a series of targets that aim to halt and eventually reverse the loss of nature. The “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework” includes four goals and 23 targets for achievement by 2030.

Striking the deal for nature was years in the making and urgent. Deforestation, over-fishing, poaching, pollution and climate change have taken a heavy toll on nature in recent decades, leading to sharp declines in wild animal species and escalating rates of extinctions. About a million species are at risk of extinction, many within decades, the United Nations' biodiversity science panel has said. 

One of the key targets agreed was conserving and managing at least 30 per cent of the world’s land and marine areas by 2030 -- or 30 x 30. It’s a huge challenge – currently about 17 per cent of land and 10 per cent of marine areas are under some form of protection.

In this episode, we speak to Dr Zeng Yiwen from the Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions at the National University of Singapore. Dr Zeng and his colleagues have looked at what's needed to achieve the 30 x 30 goal and the funding needed. 

Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):

1:35 How bad are things in the natural world?

3:07 Tell us more about the 30 x 30 goal?

4:40 It's the quality, not the quantity, of the land being conserved that matters.

7:24 What did COP15 decide on financing to help nature?

8:52 What can highly urbanised nations, such as Singapore, do to help meet the global 30 x 30 target?

Produced by: David Fogarty ([email protected]), Ernest Luis and Hadyu Rahim

Edited by: Hadyu Rahim

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