Cost of greening skies

Why higher ticket prices don’t stop travel

Framework for greener mobility choices

The return of autonomous robo-taxis

What else can individuals do for climate?

Which means of various green transportation can decarbonise the most?

Synopsis: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times examines not just vehicle prices but wider transport issues and trends connected to public and private transport.

From October 2026, travellers departing Singapore will contribute to the purchase of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). But is this levy enough to tackle aviation’s carbon problem?

Hosted by ST senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe, the panel - comprising Mr Andrey Berdichevskiy, partner and associate director of Boston Consulting Group and Professor S. Viswanathan from Nanyang Business School - discusses the hard-to-abate aviation sector, the true cost of green flying, and whether we should rethink that long-haul trip to visit the northern lights.

Back on the ground, the conversation shifts to the return of the Robo-taxi. Are autonomous vehicles the solution to our “last mile” woes in estates like Punggol?

Plus, the experts share practical advice on the “Avoid, Shift, Improve” framework, from taking the train to KL, to swapping a steak for a salad in helping commuters to keep it “wheel and green”.

This episode was recorded and filmed on Dec 2 at SPH Media’s revamped auditorium, in front of a live audience of 60 ST readers. It was the sixth and final ST Podcast Live! Session for 2025, capping a special series celebrating The Straits Times’ 180th anniversary.

Highlights (click/tap above):

01:43 The cost of greening skies in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and for flights out of SG

04:45 Why increasing ticket prices doesn’t dampen travelling  

12:09 A practical framework for greener mobility choices, from Zoom calls to high-speed rail 

19:47 The return of autonomous vehicles like the Robo-taxi  

31:38 From giving up the car to adopting a "flexitarian" diet - what else can individuals?

Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles: https://str.sg/wt8G

Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/iqkJ

Read more COE articles: https://str.sg/iGKC

Host: Lee Nian Tjoe (niantjoel@sph.com.sg)

Produced & edited by: Eden Soh

Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong

Follow Wheel Insights Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:

Channel: https://str.sg/iTtE

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/iqW2

Spotify: https://str.sg/iqgB

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX

---

#wheelinsights

Which means of various green transportation can decarbonise the most?
Synopsis: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times examines not just vehicle prices but wider transport issues and trends connected to public and private transport.
From October 2026, travellers departing Singapore will contribute to the purchase of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). But is this levy enough to tackle aviation&rsquo;s carbon problem?
Hosted by ST senior transport correspondent Lee Nian Tjoe, the panel - comprising Mr Andrey Berdichevskiy, partner and associate director of Boston Consulting Group and Professor S. Viswanathan from Nanyang Business School - discusses the hard-to-abate aviation sector, the true cost of green flying, and whether we should rethink that long-haul trip to visit the northern lights.
Back on the ground, the conversation shifts to the return of the Robo-taxi. Are autonomous vehicles the solution to our &ldquo;last mile&rdquo; woes in estates like Punggol?
Plus, the experts share practical advice on the &ldquo;Avoid, Shift, Improve&rdquo; framework, from taking the train to KL, to swapping a steak for a salad in helping commuters to keep it &ldquo;wheel and green&rdquo;.
This episode was recorded and filmed on Dec 2 at SPH Media&rsquo;s revamped auditorium, in front of a live audience of 60 ST readers. It was the sixth and final ST Podcast Live! Session for 2025, capping a special series celebrating The Straits Times&rsquo; 180th anniversary.
Highlights (click/tap above):
01:43 The cost of greening skies in Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and for flights out of SG
04:45 Why increasing ticket prices doesn&rsquo;t dampen travelling&nbsp;&nbsp;
12:09 A practical framework for greener mobility choices, from Zoom calls to high-speed rail&nbsp;
19:47 The return of autonomous vehicles like the Robo-taxi&nbsp;&nbsp;
31:38 From giving up the car to adopting a "flexitarian" diet - what else can individuals?
Read Lee Nian Tjoe's articles:<a href="https://str.sg/wt8G"> https://str.sg/wt8G</a>
Follow Lee Nian Tjoe on LinkedIn:<a href="https://str.sg/iqkJ"> https://str.sg/iqkJ</a>
Read more COE articles:<a href="https://str.sg/iGKC"> https://str.sg/iGKC</a>
Host: Lee Nian Tjoe (<a href="mailto:niantjoel@sph.com.sg">niantjoel@sph.com.sg</a>)
Produced &amp; edited by: Eden Soh
Executive producers: Ernest Luis and Lynda Hong
Follow Wheel Insights Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/iTtE">https://str.sg/iTtE</a>
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/iqW2">https://str.sg/iqW2</a>
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/iqgB">https://str.sg/iqgB</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
SPH Awedio app: <a href="https://www.awedio.sg/" data-stringify-link="https://www.awedio.sg" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://www.awedio.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/wvz7" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-stringify-link="http://str.sg/stpodcasts" data-sk="tooltip_parent">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa" data-stringify-link="https://str.sg/4Vwsa" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/icyB">https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/icyX">https://str.sg/icyX</a>
---
#wheelinsights

Examines wider public and private transportation issues, including vehicle prices.

Synopsis: Every 3rd Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times examines wider public and private transport issues including vehicle prices.

Podcaster: Lee Nian Tjoe

Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim

Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis:&nbsp;Every 3rd Wednesday of the month, The Straits Times examines wider public and private transport issues including vehicle prices.
Podcaster: Lee Nian Tjoe
Produced and edited by: Amirul Karim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis &amp; Lynda Hong
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Advertisement