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.

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Key Takeaways from COP30 in Belém

Not too far from the heart of Kuala Lumpur, there’s a place where mangroves meet mudflats, migratory birds stop to rest, and silvered leaf monkeys peer down from the trees. The Kuala Selangor Nature Park may be easy to reach, but its importance goes far beyond a weekend escape. In conjunction with World Wetlands Day, we’re taking a closer look at this unique wetland ecosystem, including how it protects coastlines, supports wildlife, and connects people to nature. Joining us to do that are Ng Sean Fong, the Data & Policy Officer at the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS), and Vivian Soon, a Wildlife and Conservation Officer, also with the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS). 

Not too far from the heart of Kuala Lumpur, there’s a place where mangroves meet mudflats, migratory birds stop to rest, and silvered leaf monkeys peer down from the trees. The<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://mns.my/kuala-selangor-nature-park-ksnp/"> Kuala Selangor Nature Park</a> may be easy to reach, but its importance goes far beyond a weekend escape. In conjunction with World Wetlands Day, we’re taking a closer look at this unique wetland ecosystem, including how it protects coastlines, supports wildlife, and connects people to nature. Joining us to do that are Ng Sean Fong, the Data &amp; Policy Officer at the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://mns.my/">Malaysian Nature Society</a> (MNS), and Vivian Soon, a Wildlife and Conservation Officer, also with the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS).

Saving Wetlands: The Story of Kuala Selangor Nature Park

Malaysia’s coral reefs are in trouble, and the numbers are getting harder to ignore. Reef Check Malaysia’s latest survey shows that live coral cover has fallen again, marking the third straight year of decline. But what does that actually mean for our oceans, our livelihoods, and our future? We speak to Julian Hyde, the CEO of Reef Check Malaysia, to unpack the findings of their 2025 Annual Survey, and to explore why a major new global agreement, the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, also known as the BBNJ or High Seas Treaty, matters for Malaysia, and the wider ocean.


Image Credit: Reef Check Malaysia

Malaysia’s coral reefs are in trouble, and the numbers are getting harder to ignore. <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.reefcheck.org.my/">Reef Check Malaysia</a>’s latest survey shows that live coral cover has fallen again, marking the third straight year of decline. But what does that actually mean for our oceans, our livelihoods, and our future? We speak to Julian Hyde, the CEO of Reef Check Malaysia, to unpack the findings of their <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://reefcheck.org.my/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2025-Annual-Survey-Report.pdf">2025 Annual Survey</a>, and to explore why a major new global agreement, the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, also known as the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.un.org/bbnjagreement/en">BBNJ</a> or High Seas Treaty, matters for Malaysia, and the wider ocean. Image Credit: Reef Check Malaysia

Malaysia Loses 47,000 Football Fields of Coral

Nature Reads on Earth Matters is the show where we explore the stories behind books that bring us closer to nature and the world around us. Every month, we team up with the good folks at Sunda Shelves, an independent bookstore with a passion for wild places and thoughtful reads. For this month's episode, we speak to Su Mei Toh, a freelance researcher and advisor at Wild Asia. Together with co-host Surin Suksuwan, the co-founder of Sunda Shelves, Su Mei joins us to share more about a selection of books that range from environmental classics and Indigenous knowledge, to science writing and field guides rooted in Malaysia.


Books discussed on this episode include:

1. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson

2. Soil and Soul by Alistair McIntosh

3. The Orang Asli and the Contest for Resources by Colin Nicholas

4. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

5. Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky

6. Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez

7. An Immense World by Ed Yong

8. Birds of Malaysia - Lim Kim Seng, Yong Ding Li & Lim Kim Chuah


9. Beyond Mimo's Tree by Abyan Junus-Nishizawa & Farah Landemaine


10. A Naturalist’s Guide to the Trees of Southeast Asia - Saw Leng Guan

Nature Reads on Earth Matters is the show where we explore the stories behind books that bring us closer to nature and the world around us. Every month, we team up with the good folks at Sunda Shelves, an independent bookstore with a passion for wild places and thoughtful reads. For this month's episode, we speak to Su Mei Toh, a freelance researcher and advisor at Wild Asia. Together with co-host Surin Suksuwan, the co-founder of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://linktr.ee/sundashelves">Sunda Shelves</a>, Su Mei joins us to share more about a selection of books that range from environmental classics and Indigenous knowledge, to science writing and field guides rooted in Malaysia. Books discussed on this episode include:1. Silent Spring by Rachel Carson2. Soil and Soul by Alistair McIntosh3. The Orang Asli and the Contest for Resources by Colin Nicholas4. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer5.&nbsp;Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky6.&nbsp;Arctic Dreams by Barry Lopez7. An Immense World by Ed Yong8. Birds of Malaysia - Lim Kim Seng, Yong Ding Li &amp; Lim Kim Chuah<ol start="9"><li>9. Beyond Mimo's Tree by Abyan Junus-Nishizawa &amp; Farah Landemaine</li><li>10. A Naturalist’s Guide to the Trees of Southeast Asia - Saw Leng Guan</li></ol>

Key Takeaways from COP30 in Belém

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