Earth Matters
Earth Matters
Climate change, ferocious weather and ‘the haze’ are now part our everyday lives. How are our lifestyles connected to them, and what can we do about it? What does the economy have to do with it? Earth Matters engages with activists and experts to explore our changing relationship with the planet that we only borrow from our children.Social links:
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Examining Malaysia's Elephant Transfer to Japan
The transfer of three Malaysian elephants to Japan has sparked widespread debate over the past few months. While the move was described as a conservation partnership between two zoos, campaigners have questioned whether the transfer complied with Malaysian law, raised concerns about the elephants' …
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Why Tourist Islands Are Drowning in Waste & How To Fix It
The more successful a tourist island becomes, the more waste it often has to manage. That's one of the central ideas behind a new report titled Pathways Towards Circularity: The Zero Waste Islands Framework, from GAIA Asia Pacific, which argues that many island destinations are trapped in an extrac…
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Nature Reads: Remembering a Wilder Malaysia
For July 2026's episode of Nature Reads, we speak to Rahayu Zulkifli, Chief Executive Officer of Marine Conservation and Research Organisation Malaysia (PULIHARA), together with co-host Dylan Jefri Ong, co-founder of Sunda Shelves. We explore the books that sparked Rahayu's love of nature and conse…
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Is Malaysia Ready for a Super El Niño?
El Niño is often thought of as a weather phenomenon, bringing hotter and drier conditions to parts of the world. But according to the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia, the bigger story may not be the weather itself, but rather how prepared Malaysia is to deal with the pressures tha…
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Taman Rimba Kiara: Saving the Park, Securing the Homes
For years, residents, activists and the Bukit Kiara longhouse community fought plans to develop part of Taman Rimba Kiara, a dispute that eventually made its way to the country's highest court. In 2023, the Federal Court ruled that the proposed development was unlawful, securing a landmark victory …
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The Push for Orang Asli Customary Land Recognition
More than 1,500 Orang Asli and supporters recently gathered in Putrajaya to submit a memorandum calling for greater recognition and protection of Indigenous customary lands. The demonstration comes amid growing concerns over land disputes affecting Orang Asli communities across the country, includ…
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Leading a Forest's Second Chance
Forest restoration is often described as a long game. Trees that are planted today may take decades to mature, and ecosystems can take even longer to recover. Yet restoring degraded ecosystems requires more than patience, it often depends on the commitment of individuals willing to invest their own…
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Oil and Gas vs Marine Biodiversity
As we mark World Oceans Day today Coral Triangle Day in June, it's worth remembering that Malaysia sits within one of the most biodiverse marine regions on Earth. Our waters are home to coral reefs, seagrass meadows, sea turtles, sharks, and countless other species that support fisheries, tourism, …
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The Rainforest Youth Summit 2026
What does meaningful climate engagement actually look like for young people today? Beyond headlines and social media, how do we create spaces for real conversations, collaboration, and action? Those are some of the questions at the heart of the Rainforest Youth Summit, which returns this year in Sa…
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Nature Reads: The People & Stories Behind Bukit Kiara
On this episode of Nature Reads, we speak to guest Ir. Dr. Kribanandan G Naidu, Immediate Past President of Friends of Bukit Kiara (FOBK), together with co-host Dylan Jefri Ong, co-founder of Sunda Shelves. We discuss the books, experiences, and ideas that inspired Dr Kriban’s connection to nature …
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