Haze has returned to parts of Malaysia, reviving a problem that has persisted for decades despite repeated promises of action. But the bigger concern may be how easily societies learn to tolerate recurring problems once they become familiar, from environmental pollution and weak corporate accountability to the growing influence of artificial intelligence. As AI increasingly makes decisions on our behalf, are we at risk of gradually accepting the erosion of human agency in much the same way we have learned to live with the haze?

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Sustainability and climate change reporting has become a mainstream element of doing business, but how prepared is our workforce to carry out these responsibilities? We discuss the skills and expertise required to ensure businesses are prepared for ESG monitoring with Reenie Koh of KPMG.

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The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were launched in 2015 as a master blueprint of shared ambition for the international community covering 17 broad themes. However global progress on the SDGs has fallen woefully short of targets with only 4 years left to the deadline. What needs to be done to build momentum for the SDGs beyond 2030? We discuss this with Guillaume LaFortune, Vice President and Head of Asia at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). Read the Sustainable Development Report 2026 here.

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Malaysia is blessed with abundant rainfall, but this could change amid shifting weather patterns induced by a warming climate. How prepared are businesses and households to deal with potential water scarcity? We explore rainwater harvesting as a preemptive strategy for water security with Dr. Chee Chung Yee, Technical Director, BACFREE.

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The Social Enterprise Education Lab (SEED.Lab) was set up in 2020 by Petronas and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to build foundational skills for social entrepreneurship in Malaysia. We discuss the recipe for thriving social enterprises with Mahen Balakrishnan of SEED.Lab and a succesful graduate of the programme, Nadzrul Hanif Ahmad Nazer, co-founder of the social enterprise SEMART.

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How prepared are boards to deal with the hotter, dryer weather from the Super El Nino this year? We discuss climate governance in corporate Malaysia and get a preview of the National Climate Governance Summit (NCGS) 2026 with Dr. Gary Theseira, Chair of the Council at Climate Governance Malaysia. For more information on NCGS 2026, visit cgmalaysia.com.

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The Singapore Institute of International Affairs has issued a red alert in its 2026 Haze Outlook report, indicating a high risk of transboundary haze this year exacerbated by the El Nino phenomenon. How prepared are ASEAN countries for the haze stress test? I discuss the findings of the report with Khor Yu Leng, Senior Fellow at the SIIA. Read the full report here.

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Malaysia is bracing for a period of dryer, hotter weather as the El Nino cycle kicks in, but this doesn’t negate the annual flood risks that the country faces. What can be done to improve the country’s flood mitigation and adaptation responses in the face of climate uncertainty? We discuss this with Dr. Hezri Adnan, Fellow with the Academy of Sciences Malaysia.
Read more of his work at hezriadnan.com/blog.

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The world is bracing for a super cycle of the El Nino climate phenomenon this year that will bring hotter, dryer weather to Southeast Asia. What are the implications of El Nino conditions for Malaysia’s water systems, and what can be done to mitigate the negative effects that could ensue? We discuss this with S. Piarapakaran, President of the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia and CEO of the Centre for Water and Energy Sustainability.

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Do the sky-high prices of jet fuel strengthen the economic case for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which has long been touted as one of the main keys to decarbonizing air travel? We discuss the state of play with Shantanu Gangakhedkar, Principal Consultant at Frost and Sullivan.

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