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 Sarawak with a programme focused on sustainability, culture, innovation, and youth leadership. We learn more about the summit’s journey so far, what attendees can look forward to this year, and why these conversations matter now more than ever from Dr. Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor, the CEO of the Sarawak Tourism Board, and Marina Abdullah, the Summit Director of the Rainforest Youth Summit.

Listen to the interview with Fijian climate activist Dylan Kava, an attendee of this year’s summit, here.

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 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.rainforestyouthsummit.com/">Rainforest Youth Summit</a>, which returns this year in Sarawak with a programme focused on sustainability, culture, innovation, and youth leadership. We learn more about the summit’s journey so far, what attendees can look forward to this year, and why these conversations matter now more than ever from Dr. Sharzede Datu Haji Salleh Askor, the CEO of the Sarawak Tourism Board, and Marina Abdullah, the Summit Director of the Rainforest Youth Summit.Listen to the interview with Fijian climate activist Dylan Kava, an attendee of this year’s summit, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.bfm.my/content/podcast/the-unequal-reality-of-the-climate-crisis">here</a>.

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

The Rainforest Youth Summit 2026

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 time, energy and resources for results they may never fully see. In Sungai Buaya, Selangor, photographer, conservationist and Green Tree co-founder David Lok has spent years personally funding a forest restoration initiative that brings together Orang Asli communities, conservationists and forestry authorities. He joins us to discuss the challenges and rewards of restoring a degraded landscape, what meaningful progress looks like over decades rather than years, and how a new exhibition of his works, Forest Speaks, is helping to support the effort.

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 time, energy and resources for results they may never fully see. In Sungai Buaya, Selangor, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.studiodl.com.my/">photographer</a>, conservationist and Green Tree co-founder <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.facebook.com/davidlok.sdl/">David Lok</a> has spent years personally funding a forest restoration initiative that brings together Orang Asli communities, conservationists and forestry authorities. He joins us to discuss the challenges and rewards of restoring a degraded landscape, what meaningful progress looks like over decades rather than years, and how a new exhibition of his works, Forest Speaks, is helping to support the effort.

Leading a Forest's Second Chance

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, livelihoods, and coastal communities. But a new report suggests that many of these ecologically important areas overlap with active and proposed offshore oil and gas development. Produced by RimbaWatch with technical contributions from SkyTruth and support from the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development, the report titled Reefs at Risk: Mapping Fossil Fuel Threats to Sensitive Marine Environments in Malaysia, presents the first comprehensive mapping of how Malaysia's offshore fossil fuel industry intersects with what it calls Sensitive Marine Environments. To discuss the findings and what they could mean for marine conservation, governance, and the energy transition, we're joined by Adam Farhan, Co-Founder and Director of RimbaWatch, and Angelina Dacanay, Southeast Asia Energy Transition Lead at the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development (CEED).


Image Credit: Inside Climate News

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, livelihoods, and coastal communities. But a new report suggests that many of these ecologically important areas overlap with active and proposed offshore oil and gas development. Produced by <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://rimbawatchmy.com/">RimbaWatch</a> with technical contributions from SkyTruth and support from the Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development, the report titled <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1oNHgpAXDEpLEdX1aPW22OpIc8M_QWowa">Reefs at Risk: Mapping Fossil Fuel Threats to Sensitive Marine Environments in Malaysia</a>, presents the first comprehensive mapping of how Malaysia's offshore fossil fuel industry intersects with what it calls Sensitive Marine Environments. To discuss the findings and what they could mean for marine conservation, governance, and the energy transition, we're joined by Adam Farhan, Co-Founder and Director of RimbaWatch, and Angelina Dacanay, Southeast Asia Energy Transition Lead at the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://ceedphilippines.com/">Center for Energy, Ecology, and Development</a> (CEED). Image Credit: Inside Climate News

Oil and Gas vs Marine Biodiversity

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 and conservation, the history and importance of urban green spaces like Bukit Kiara, and the newly updated edition of the thoughtfully crafted guidebook, Bukit Kiara: A Sanctuary in the City. 

Nature Reads on Earth Matters is a monthly show where we explore the stories behind books that bring us closer to nature and the world around us, done in collaboration with independent bookstore Sunda Shelves.

On this episode of Nature Reads, we speak to guest Ir. Dr. Kribanandan G Naidu, Immediate Past President of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://fobk.org/">Friends of Bukit Kiara</a> (FOBK), together with co-host Dylan Jefri Ong, co-founder of <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://linktr.ee/sundashelves">Sunda Shelves</a>. We discuss the books, experiences, and ideas that inspired Dr Kriban’s connection to nature and conservation, the history and importance of urban green spaces like Bukit Kiara, and the newly updated edition of the thoughtfully crafted guidebook, Bukit Kiara: A Sanctuary in the City.&nbsp;Nature Reads on Earth Matters is a monthly show where we explore the stories behind books that bring us closer to nature and the world around us, done in collaboration with independent bookstore Sunda Shelves.

The Rainforest Youth Summit 2026

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