The world watched Belém closely as leaders gathered for COP30, hoping the talks would deliver stronger climate action. Meenakshi Raman (President, Sahabat Alam Malaysia and Head of Programmes, Third World Network) was there in the thick of this year's climate negotiations, and she joins us to break down the wins, the gaps, and share the stories that didn’t make global headlines.



Image Credit: Shutterstock

The world watched Belém closely as leaders gathered for <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://cop30.br/en">COP30</a>, hoping the talks would deliver stronger climate action. Meenakshi Raman (President, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://foe-malaysia.org/">Sahabat Alam Malaysia</a> and Head of Programmes, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.twn.my/">Third World Network</a>) was there in the thick of this year's climate negotiations, and she joins us to break down the wins, the gaps, and share the stories that didn’t make global headlines.Image Credit: Shutterstock

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.

Earth Matters

Key Takeaways from COP30 in Belém

Selangor is running out of landfill space, and the state’s solution is a large waste-to-energy incinerator proposed for Batu Arang. But thousands of residents who are living near schools, homes, and even old coal-mining tunnels there, say the risks are far too high. To help us make sense of what’s happening, we speak to Abdul Hanan Bin Abd Mokti and Pauline Puah, both spokespeople from Jaringan Rawang Tolak Incinerator, who have been at the forefront of this fight. They share how they've faced silence from the authorities on their concerns, what the project means for the community, and why they believe there must be a safer way forward.

Selangor is running out of landfill space, and the state’s solution is a large waste-to-energy incinerator proposed for Batu Arang. But thousands of residents who are living near schools, homes, and even old coal-mining tunnels there, say the risks are far too high. To help us make sense of what’s happening, we speak to Abdul Hanan Bin Abd Mokti and Pauline Puah, both spokespeople from <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/jaringanrawangtolakinsinerator">Jaringan Rawang Tolak Incinerator</a>, who have been at the forefront of this fight. They share how they've faced silence from the authorities on their concerns, what the project means for the community, and why they believe there must be a safer way forward.

The Case Against the Batu Arang Incinerator

Even after 50 years of the highest possible international protection under CITES, tigers continue to be poached and trafficked at alarming levels. A new 25-year analysis - Beyond Skin and Bones: A 25-Year Analysis of Tiger Seizures - puts this into stark perspective, showing that thousands of tigers have been seized across dozens of countries, and that criminal networks are increasingly sophisticated in how they operate. To walk us through what the report uncovered, why the trade persists, and what must change for any real progress to happen, we’re joined by Kanitha Krishnasamy, Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, and co-author of the report.


Image Credit: TRAFFIC.org

Even after 50 years of the highest possible international protection under CITES, tigers continue to be poached and trafficked at alarming levels. A new 25-year analysis -<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.traffic.org/publications/reports/beyond-skin-and-bones-a-25-year-analysis-of-tiger-seizures-from-2000-to-june-2025/"> Beyond Skin and Bones: A 25-Year Analysis of Tiger Seizures</a> - puts this into stark perspective, showing that thousands of tigers have been seized across dozens of countries, and that criminal networks are increasingly sophisticated in how they operate. To walk us through what the report uncovered, why the trade persists, and what must change for any real progress to happen, we’re joined by Kanitha Krishnasamy, Director of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, and co-author of the report. Image Credit: <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.traffic.org/publications/reports/skin-and-bones-report-2022/">TRAFFIC.org</a>

Inside 25 Years of Tiger Trafficking

Sharks and rays may feel like abundant, everyday seafood in Malaysia, but new research suggests that the demand is much bigger and more complex than we think, especially online. The report From Sea to Screen shows huge volumes of these species being traded on digital platforms, including critically endangered species. We are joined by two of the co-authors - Serene Chng, Programme Manager of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia, and Serena Adam, Senior Marine Conservation Officer at WWF-Malaysia - to help us understand what is happening behind the scenes of this trade, and the issues arising from it.

Sharks and rays may feel like abundant, everyday seafood in Malaysia, but new research suggests that the demand is much bigger and more complex than we think, especially online. The report <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.wwf.org.my/?34425/From-Sea-to-Screen-Malaysias-Online-Shark-and-Ray-Trade">From Sea to Screen</a> shows huge volumes of these species being traded on digital platforms, including critically endangered species. We are joined by two of the co-authors - Serene Chng, Programme Manager of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://traffic.org/">TRAFFIC Southeast Asia</a>, and Serena Adam, Senior Marine Conservation Officer at WWF-Malaysia - to help us understand what is happening behind the scenes of this trade, and the issues arising from it.

Key Takeaways from COP30 in Belém

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