Powering up: The world is warming up to nuclear energy as nations scramble for zero-carbon electricity Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. For years, nuclear energy has been reviled as an energy source over safety, cost and the time taken to build the power plants.  But with the world’s growing need for clean electricity to fuel everything from electric vehicles, heating and cooling to giant data centres, nuclear energy is getting its time in the sun again. Some countries, such as the United States, Japan and France, have committed to tripling nuclear energy capacity by 2050, while others, like Singapore, have said it is not ruling out its use. China is also making big investments in nuclear energy.  Compared to generators powered by fossil fuels, nuclear reactors do not produce any planet-warming emissions.  But will this be the silver bullet to getting the world to net-zero? What else is needed in the world’s decarbonisation journey?  Our guest is Mr Chris Bradley, Director of McKinsey Global Institute and Senior Partner of McKinsey & Company. The institute is the consultancy’s research arm. Chris co-wrote a recent report looking at the global decarbonisation challenge and found that we are only about 10 per cent of the way on the low-emissions journey.   Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):  2:07 What is accounting for the resurgence in interest in nuclear energy? 7:36 What are some outstanding issues hindering nuclear energy deployment?  10:18 What are the other challenges to the world’s path to net-zero?  12:18 What are the challenges for Asia’s decarbonisation journey?  15:56 How can South-east Asia speed up its energy transition?  Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu Hosts: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg) & David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts 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 --- #greenpulse

In the bid to make alternative protein palatable to the consumer, South-east Asian cuisine offers some advantages.  Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Home to glitzy bars and Michelin star restaurants, Singapore is a foodie paradise. It is a reputation that extends well beyond the dinner plate – and it is not just diners who are noticing.  The country’s research into ways of feeding the world in ways that are more beneficial for the climate and nature is also attracting global attention.  On Sept 5, the Bezos Earth Fund launched Asia’s first Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein at the National University of Singapore, with a $39 million commitment from the Bezos Earth Fund. The fund was started by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos as a philanthropic commitment to address the climate crisis. What does this centre hope to do, and how will it help with Asia’s protein pivot? Green Pulse co-hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty get the lowdown from Dr Andy Jarvis, director of future of food at the Bezos Earth Fund. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:57 The link between food production, climate change and nature loss 4:27 Is producing alternative protein really more climate-friendly than regular animal-based protein?  5:34 What is the gap in alternative protein R&D identified by the Bezos Earth Fund? 9:23 What is the role of philanthropy in the great protein pivot toward sustainable source? 12:28 The focus for Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein in the National University of Singapore  14:27 What is one advantage that South-east Asian cuisine has over others, in terms of the move to sustainable protein?  Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu Hosts: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg) & David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts 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 --- #greenpulse

Businesses are buying into new financial products that could help save nature, but funds for nature’s protection have not reached the scale required.  Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Coral reef bonds, biodiversity credits and schemes that enable national debt to be forgiven in exchange for conservation efforts. These are just some of the financial instruments that have been in the news recently, as the world races to find the funds needed to prevent nature from falling into further decline. But when did the financial sector start paying attention to nature, and can their involvement in conservation truly help to protect and restore natural ecosystems?  Financing for nature is expected to be a key topic of discussion at the COP16 biodiversity conference in Colombia in October. In the lead-up to the United Nations summit, Green Pulse co-hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty discuss the role of the financial sector in nature conservation with Ms Hoon Ling Min, investment director at decarbonisation investment platform GenZero. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 4:05 Who are the buyers of nature-linked investment products?  9:14 What drives the development of new types of nature-related financial products?  15:43 In the absence of a measurable metric for nature, how can biodiversity benefits be quantified?  17:30 How important is the role of the private sector in protecting nature? Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu Hosts: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg) & David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producer: Ernest Luis Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts 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 --- #greenpulse

Love or loathe them, could insects also become a food source in the wider context of the global population? Synopsis (headphones recommended): Green Trails is a 4-part environment podcast special for 2024 where The Straits Times hits the ground with experts. "Can this be eaten?” is an oft repeated question that every nature guide is familiar with. In July, Singapore approved 16 species of insects for human consumption, to the delight of sustainable food firms and disgust of some Singaporeans. But can bugs one day whet mainstream appetites like sambal stingray, a smokey South-east Asian dish crafted from the creature once considered as a “trash fish”? In this third episode of Green Trails, our team speaks to members of the Entomological Network of Singapore, a group of insect researchers and hobbyists, about the stories of insects in the city-state and whether these creatures can be foraged. At Windsor Nature Park, ST journalist Ang Qing meets Dr Sean Yap, a research fellow at Nanyang Technological University’s Tropical Ecology & Entomology Lab, Mr Foo Maosheng, a senior scientific officer at the National University of Singapore’s Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, and entomological educator and consultant James Khoo. For almost two hours, they go on a trail while discussing everything related to insects -  from Singapore's historical link to beetle science, to how pretty privilege shapes research in the insect kingdom. Highlights (click/tap above): 5:41 Singapore's historical role in beetle science 11:18 Debunking the myth about cockroaches 15:38 How insect as food can gain popularity akin to seafood like sambal stingray 17:53 The tastiest insects and can we forage for them 22:10 Sharing our home with insects Read Ang Qing’s previous article about a cockroach discovery in Singapore: https://str.sg/ikhv Listen to other Green Trails episodes:  Ep 1: Visit to Sungei Buloh: How Singapore can better host migratory birds - https://str.sg/BrqS Ep 2: Visit to East Coast: How reclamation will shape up against rising sea levels - https://str.sg/mRG8 Follow Ang Qing on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ichp Read her articles: https://str.sg/i5gT Host: Ang Qing (aqing@sph.com.sg) Trail producers: Hadyu Rahim, Fa’izah Sani, Amirul Karim & Hana Chen Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive Producers: Lynda Hong (lyndahong@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis (ernest@sph.com.sg) & Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg) Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts 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 --- #greenpulse #greentrails

Climate and environment data disclosures are vital. But real action is needed for cutting emissions and nature protection. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. There’s a saying in sustainability circles: What gets measured, gets changed.  And this applies particularly to companies, which are the major source of carbon emissions heating up the planet. Companies are also top sources of damage to nature, especially biodiversity loss. Corporate supply chains, products and services all have a carbon and nature footprint. So, what companies, as well as cities and public institutions, decide really matters.  But until recently, companies were under no obligation to fully measure and report their impacts and what they were doing about it.  Times have changed. A growing number of countries, including Singapore, are mandating annual corporate climate disclosures. And likely soon, nature impact disclosures, too.  One organisation that has been at the forefront of corporate environmental disclosures is the non-profit CDP.  But can we really trust the data in corporate climate and environment disclosures? Who's checking? And are disclosures really making a difference? ST's climate change editor David Fogarty hosts Sherry Madera, chief executive of CDP, which manages an environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states and regions. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 2:01 What data is being provided to CDP and is it getting better? 5:20 What percentage of companies, cities and public institutions that share data with CDP come from Asia? 7:32 How are investors using the data given to CDP? 9:40 What are the main gaps in the data? And where are companies, cities and others failing to take action? 12:42 How can we really trust the data supplied to CDP? How do you check it? 16:14 In what ways is data disclosure translating into real action on the ground? Some examples? Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis & Amirul Karim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts 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 --- #greenpulse

In the quest for renewable hydropower, indiscriminate dam building in the basin of the Mekong is changing the landscape and negatively impacting local communities and ecosystems. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Unilateral and indiscriminate dam building has been taking place in the quest for hydropower and control over water in the basin of the Mekong river - the lifeblood of mainland Southeast Asia.   But local communities most impacted by the changing face of the river system struggle to be heard amid elite-driven, urban-based decision-making and an engineering mindset, critics say.  Only one in ten of over 600 dams have been notified to the Mekong River Commission, following the 1995 Mekong Agreement among Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The Agreement was supposed to focus on sustainable development and management and tries to balance needs and rights.  Two other countries where the Mekong river flows - China and Myanmar - are not bound to notify the Commission as they are only dialogue partners.  On this episode of Green Pulse, host Nirmal Ghosh speaks to Senior Fellow and co-lead of the Mekong Dam Monitor at the Stimson Center Brian Eyler and Thailand-based Campaigns Director for Thailand and Myanmar of International Rivers Pianporn (Pai) Deetes.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 02:31 Sounding the alarm with more dams coming up  03:55  Dams in China’s part of the Mekong river are doing the most damage  06:43 How Laos attracted huge amounts of foreign investment with its “Battery of Southeast Asia” programme  12:04 In Thailand, why build more dams when there has been an oversupply of electricity 15:54 Significant environmental impacts on Vietnam and Cambodia from the Funan Techo canal, whose development would also violate the Mekong agreement  19:20 No accountability for damaging consequences  Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) and Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Fa’izah Sani Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read ST's Climate Change microsite: https://www.straitstimes.com/climate-change --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- 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 --- #greenpulse

As more carbon dioxide accumulates in the atmosphere, the urgency is growing for safe and sustainable methods to remove this main greenhouse gas from the air to limit the impact of climate change.  Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. CO2 is the main greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. We can’t see it, we can’t smell it but we can definitely feel its growing impacts as the planet heats up with devastating consequences. And every year, it keeps accumulating.  Human activity is producing about 40 billion tonnes of CO2 a year. That’s mainly from burning fossil fuels and deforestation.  To fight climate change, we not only need to slash CO2 emissions, we would also need to remove billions of tonnes that our human activities had earlier emitted into the atmosphere.  And that means dramatically scaling up carbon dioxide removal technologies. We’ll never reach the Paris Agreement’s climate targets by 2050 unless we remove at least four times more CO2 from the atmosphere every year than we do at present. That’s the conclusion of a major study on carbon dioxide removal released in June 2024.  So what exactly is carbon dioxide removal, or CDR? And what is needed to really get investment pumping? In this episode, ST's climate change editor David Fogarty hosts one of the lead authors of the report, Gregory Nemet, a Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs in the United States.  Greg studies the process of technological change and the ways in which public policy can affect it. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:44 How does carbon dioxide removal (CDR) help in the fight against climate change? 3:12 The difference between CDR and carbon capture and storage (CCS) 4:58 Main findings from the recently published global report on CDR  7:58 Examples of the different types of CDR  11:43 What are the costs? 19:55 What are the environmental risks from CDR? How to ensure scaled-up methods can be sustainable? Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis & Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- 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 --- #greenpulse

Humans can and must cooperate to manage climate-driven mass migration, as a heating planet forces the poor and vulnerable, particularly in the global south, to move in order to survive.  Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. The concept of the modern nation state is a relatively recent construct, and distorts humans' innate capacity - notwithstanding our tribalism - to cooperate. Yet, a collective response is necessary to manage the mass migration of the most vulnerable groups of people in poorer countries escaping from the adverse effects of climate change, said award-winning writer Gaia Vince.  In this episode of Green Pulse, the author of Adventures in the Anthropocene and Nomad Century tells Nirmal Ghosh thatthe solution to dealing with looming mass emigration of desperate climate refugees is to redefine the concept of nations and citizenship, rather than turn them away.  But nationalism defined in terms of ethnicity  - also known as ethnonationalism - is on the rise across the globe, observes Ms Vince. She argues that there is no basis for different races as the collective fate of societies is shared by global citizens of planet earth.   Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 2:02 "When a severe storm hit New York City, it was the poor black people living in basement apartments who drowned and died" - how climate change has a threat multiplier effect for the poorest and the most marginalised  5:02 Ethno-nationalism is a social disease - it's not based on biology  6:48 Climate change will only be solved when the human race come together as a species and address these global issues 13:46 Why easing human labour across borders can help to make emigration more gradual and safer  17:20 Why our human food system, rather than climate change, makes the biggest assault on biodiversity loss Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Fa'izah Sani and Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read ST's Climate Change microsite: https://www.straitstimes.com/climate-change --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- 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 --- #greenpulse

While the future Long Island will guard against sea level rise, the trade-offs to marine life and the East Coast’s character must be addressed, stakeholders say. Synopsis (headphones recommended): Green Trails is a 4-part environment podcast special for 2024 where The Straits Times hits the ground with experts. The next episode drops in August. By end-century, Singapore’s mean sea level is expected to rise by up to 1.15m. Now a top attraction in the area, East Coast Park would be a place to avoid if nothing is done.  Frequent floods are likely to put the beach underwater in the future, as climate change continues to exacerbate rising sea levels. And if exceptionally high tides or storm surges were to hit, seawater levels could rise up to 5m, breaking through the coast. The entire park, East Coast Parkway, vehicles and void decks at housing estates like Marine Parade in the vicinity could be submerged in water.  To prevent this reality, there are plans to have a defence offshore. That is Long Island, twice the size of Marina Bay reclaimed off the east coast, with a reservoir in between. As the June 14 oil spill has shown, human activity - if not managed properly - can threaten coastal and marine habitats, including the biodiversity-rich Southern Islands.  In this second episode of Green Trails, our team heads to East Coast Park and a lesser known habitat near Marina Barrage - important to threatened species and likely to be threatened by reclamation - to find answers.  At the heart of East Coast Park, ST journalist Shabana Begum meets with representatives from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) and National Water Agency PUB - Mr Lee Wai Kin and Mr Thoo Jung Chee. Both agencies are spearheading the Long Island project. At the little-known Marina East Drive habitat, Shabana uncovers the wildlife there when she takes a walk with Mr Lester Tan, who chairs Nature Society (Singapore)’s Marine Conservation Group. In the evening, Shabana returns to East Coast Park to speak with Mr Maximus Tan, 22 and Mr Crispus Tan, 27. These youths - who will live to see Long Island taking shape in the next few decades - voice their aspirations for Long Island.  Highlights (click/tap above): 2:43 What will happen to East Coast if nothing is done to protect the shoreline?  4:00 How will Long Island defend Singapore from rising sea levels? 11:07 How will the authorities minimise the impact of reclamation on marine life?  16:13 What are the lesser-known biodiversity havens of the East Coast? 22:04 Lester on whether marine life along East Coast will eventually return post-reclamation 26:22 Reactions from Crispus and Maximus on East Coast's changing landscape 32:53 Crispus and Maximus on life on Long Island, their hopes and ideas Read about Singapore's Long Island plan: https://str.sg/ixC7 More on the mega project here:https://str.sg/6zoP Listen to other Green Trails episodes:  Ep 1: Visit to Sungei Buloh: How Singapore can better host migratory birds - https://str.sg/BrqS Ep 3: Visit to Windsor Nature Park: Can insects in SG's backyard be foraged https://omny.fm/shows/green-pulse-1/visit-to-windsor-nature-park-how-big-of-a-role-can Host: Shabana Begum (nshab@sph.com.sg) Trail producers: Lynda Hong, Hadyu Rahim, Teo Tong Kai, Eden Soh Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive Producers: Ernest Luis (ernest@sph.com.sg) & Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg) Follow Shabana on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/FEid Read her articles: https://str.sg/5EGd Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts 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 --- #greenpulse #greentrails

South-East Asia has big plans to become a regional carbon storage hub. Can it work or are the risks too great? Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. For years now, we’ve heard a lot about carbon capture and storage as one possible solution to climate change. CCS, as it is known, involves capturing carbon dioxide emissions from polluting operations, such as power plants, refineries and steel and cement production and injecting the CO2 deep underground.  And not just anywhere. It has to be the right type of geological formation to ensure the CO2 doesn’t escape.  But CCS hasn’t taken off quite as well as many, especially those in the fossil fuel industry, had hoped for. There have been several very costly failures. And yet there are plans to greatly scale up CCS, including the creation of regional CCS hubs. One of these is in South-east Asia, using depleted oil and gas wells.  This would lock away CO2 captured from industries in the region, or, CO2 brought in by tanker ships from major polluting nations such as Japan. So, is this a good idea? Can it make a difference in fighting climate change? Or, is it just storing up trouble for the future? To tell ST's climate change editor David Fogarty more about this is energy sector expert Grant Hauber, advisor for Asia for the Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis, a US-based think tank.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 2:02 What is carbon capture and storage? 4:33 What are CCS hubs and can you explain the regional plans to create them? 8:43 CCS has been around for several decades. What have we learned? 17:10 And what about liability? Who’s responsible for any leaks? 21:01 CCS remains expensive. Will a high carbon price per tonne drive investment? 25:18 And what about alternative methods to remove CO2? Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis & Hadyu Rahim  Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- 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 --- #greenpulse

Local solutions are critical for vulnerable millions as the scorching heat rapidly melts snow and ice across the fragile "third pole". Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. As the planet warms, with north India’s plains sweltering under an unprecedented heat wave, Himalayan glaciers are melting faster than ever before. On current trends, glaciers in just the Eastern Himalayas, which include Nepal and Bhutan, will lose up to 75 per cent of their ice in the near future.  The accelerated melt will expand existing glacial lakes, and form new ones. The new and enlarged lakes are a hazard as they can burst their banks and let loose all the water in flash floods downstream. In October 2023, a lake in Northern Sikkim breached, destroying an entire dam and 33 bridges downstream, killing scores of people.  But that is only one aspect of the impact of planetary warming on the so-called Third Pole - which supplies water to around 1.5 billion people. The climate crisis is a water crisis which is already affecting half of Asia.  In this episode, Green Pulse host Nirmal Ghosh discusses the complex factors at play, and their implications, with Kunda Dixit, the Kathmandu-based publisher of Nepali Times, and visiting faculty at NYU in Abu Dhabi where he focuses on climate; and Dr Bandana Shakya - also based in Kathmandu - who coordinates the Landscapes portfolio at the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). Highlights (click/tap above): 2:34 There is plenty of water; just not where it’s needed 3:53 Data sharing is critical but the process is inadequate 7:17 Depopulation of some mountain districts is up to 30 per cent in the last 10 years 12:20 Appreciating potential of co-designing nature-based solutions 17:20 Sometimes scientific collaboration is much easier than political collaboration 18:33 One major concern now: Climate despair and climate anxiety among younger people 19:30 Failure of governance has led to large parts of the Himalayan region being in food deficit Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg) and Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Fa'izah Sani Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read ST's Climate Change microsite: https://www.straitstimes.com/climate-change --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- 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 --- #greenpulse

Investors are on the hunt for companies that not only cut greenhouse gas emissions but also transform industry and society.  Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. There’s growing investor interest in companies at the cutting edge of green tech innovation. Specifically, companies whose solutions aim to cut greenhouse gas emissions while helping industry wean itself off fossil fuels and switch to greener and cleaner materials.  More than ever, green-tech investment is needed. Much of the energy we use to produce electricity, power our industries and our cars produces emissions that are heating up the planet. It's like we're stuck in a vicious cycle as climate impacts worsen.  The good news is there are private companies working on solutions that can provide green power to industries, boost battery efficiency, even create a new type of leather from mycelium, or fungal fibres. The green solutions out there are growing quickly as more entrepreneurs move into this space. To find out more about this, ST's climate change editor David Fogarty hosts Meghan Sharp, global head of Decarbonization Partners, a joint venture between Blackrock and Temasek that invests in private companies working on clean energy, electrification, green materials and the circular, digital economy.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:34 Tell us about your role and what you look for in green-tech companies.  2:46  What is the investment focus of Decarbonization Partners? 7:13 Of all the available types of green technology, which ones excite you the most? 13:34 Which emerging technologies will attract the most investment in the coming decade? 15:34 And is investment in green technology growing or is there still a large gap? 17:35 “For great companies, there will always be funding.” Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis & Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- 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 --- #greenpulse

Migratory species are broadly in decline, disrupted by alteration of field and forest habitats, and by hunting in the case of South-east Asia. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. The East Asian migratory bird flyway is perhaps the most diverse of the world's nine north-south migratory bird flyways, with millions migrating north to south, from freezing latitudes to warmer climates - some shorebirds even fly down to as far as Australia.  But migratory species are in deep trouble; a recent UN report revealed that nearly half of the world's migratory species are declining in population. Habitat loss has been affecting up to 75 per cent of them.  The state of birds is one indicator of how humans have altered the environment, largely due to infrastructure developments transforming landscapes. Fragmentation and loss of habitats are key issues for migratory shorebirds as their coastal feeding areas on mud flats along the East Asian seaboard are being reclaimed.  In this episode of Green Pulse, Thailand-based Philip Round, regional representative of the Wetland Trust and associate professor at the Department of Biology at Mahidol University, and Singapore-based Yong Ding Li, regional coordinator at BirdLife International, join co-host Nirmal Ghosh to talk about what birds are up against.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 6:06 Why rice growing is making it difficult for birds to thrive 14:58 Hunting happens on a large scale for the pet bird industry in various parts of Southeast Asia   20:12 How the use of netting to protect crops, particularly aquaculture ponds, becomes accidentally fatal to birds 24:04 Many government agencies in Southeast Asia are inadequately resourced to enforce conservation measures.  26:02 Bright spots on conservation for migratory birds  Listen to related podcasts on birds:  A visit to Sungei Buloh: How Singapore can better host migratory birds: https://omny.fm/shows/green-pulse-1/a-visit-to-sungei-buloh-how-singapore-can-play-a-b Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg), Lynda Hong, Fa'izah Sani and Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read ST's Climate Change microsite: https://www.straitstimes.com/climate-change --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- 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 --- #greenpulse

Why mudflats are vital for dwindling numbers of birds that stop over seasonally. Synopsis (headphones recommended): In this new 4-part environment podcast series for 2024 - Green Trails - The Straits Times hits the ground with experts in spaces that are critical to the interlinked crises the planet faces: climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss. The next episode drops in June. For this inaugural episode, our team heads to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, the local haven for birds that travel across the world to refuel at. The society - one of the island's oldest non-governmental organisations - convinced the government to preserve Sungei Buloh as a wetland reserve by showing officials the diversity of birds that depend on the spot. ST journalist Ang Qing takes a walk with representatives from the Nature Society (Singapore) - Veronica Foo and Tan Gim Cheong. They talk about the lesser-known Mandai Mangrove and Mudflat, which is key to supporting the thousands of migratory shorebirds that stop over in Singapore between August and March, and why it should also receive full protection from the law. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:30 Why is Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve so special? 7:01 Have there been fewer shorebirds at the reserve? 11:15 What kind of man-made features threaten migratory birds? 18:00 Why a lesser known mudflat needs to get stronger legal protection Read an earlier article on migratory birds: https://str.sg/JtYUU Discover the Nature Society (Singapore) Bird Group: https://str.sg/wNzGa Read also: Green Trails Podcast: Experience Singapore’s spaces through sound - https://str.sg/qcCm Listen to other Green Trails episodes:  Ep 2: Visit to East Coast: How reclamation will shape up against rising sea levels - https://str.sg/mRG8 Ep 3: Visit to Windsor Nature Park: Can insects in SG's backyard be foraged https://omny.fm/shows/green-pulse-1/visit-to-windsor-nature-park-how-big-of-a-role-can Host: Ang Qing (aqing@sph.com.sg) Trail producers: Lynda Hong, Hadyu Rahim, Teo Tong Kai, Amirul Karim, Eden Soh Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive Producers: Ernest Luis (ernest@sph.com.sg) & Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg) Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts 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 --- #greenpulse #greentrails

Carbon credit ratings can bring much needed transparency and accountability to the market – but is it enough to overcome years of mistrust? Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Depending on who you speak to, carbon credits hold great promise as a tool to achieve deep cuts in carbon emissions to fight climate change. Or they are a scam that fails to deliver what they promise.  A major problem around the carbon credit market is trust and transparency – do carbon offset projects achieve what they pledge? How can we be sure? And will local communities benefit? Ultimately, carbon credits should be treated like any other financial asset – they should be held up to scrutiny. And that means they should be rated for their quality and integrity, just like bonds.  And increasingly that is what is happening. Several companies now offer ratings services for carbon credits to help buyers make better choices and meet due diligence requirements. But will this be enough to answer critics’ concerns about the carbon market? To learn more about this, we speak to Mr Duncan van Bergen, co-founder of Calyx Global, a carbon credit ratings company based in Singapore.   Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:38 What are the main concerns about carbon credits? 4:04 How is trust being restored to the carbon credit market? 6:13 What does a high-quality carbon credit look like? 10:47 Your firm rates credits from projects from highest (A-rating) to lowest (E-rating). What percentage are at the highest rating and what types of projects are these? 14:40 What is the main worry about forestry projects? 20:54 What are the non-carbon benefits of carbon projects and why are they important? Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Fa'izah Sani & Amirul Karim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- 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 --- #greenpulse

In a storied career, the diplomat Professor Tommy Koh also chaired the Earth Summit in 1992 and negotiated the Law of the Sea. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. The framers of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea did not foresee global warming affecting oceans to the extent that it does - causing acidification and the death of coral reefs - said the top diplomat who was president of the 1973 conference that produced the Convention known as UNCLOS.  In this episode, Singapore’s ambassador at-large and foremost international environmental law expert Tommy Koh - who also chaired the pivotal 1992 Earth Summit - tells host ST's global contributor Nirmal Ghosh that plastic debris in the oceans now is of severe concern. He adds that the international community has also failed to be good stewards of the world's fisheries. According to the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), unsustainable practices have depleted about 90 per cent of major fisheries - and fishing fleets continue to be subsidised. The total capacity of the world’s fishing fleets is beyond the sustainable limit of the oceans.  Meanwhile, unlike climate change, the loss of biodiversity has failed to capture the popular imagination even as some scientists are calling the current era "the sixth extinction." There is hope, however, that the international community is at a tipping point, with people and governments waking up to the danger of this unprecedented loss.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 2:22 The blind spot during negotiations of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 3:57 Large amounts of marine plastic debris in the ocean is a very serious problem 5:01 Why it is unsustainable to subsidise the fishing industry 6:05  How the man or woman on the street can link the loss of biodiversity to their individual welfare and interest 9:46 What are the shortfalls in efforts to curb global warming 12:43 How densely populated Singapore managed to maintain green spaces Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Fa'izah Sani and Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read ST's Climate Change microsite: https://www.straitstimes.com/climate-change --- Discover more ST podcast channels: The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- #greenpulse

Humanity will never achieve net-zero emissions by the middle of the century unless the building sector figures out how to become truly green. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Who hasn’t escaped a scorchingly hot day by seeking refuge in a nicely chilled shopping centre? Or, for those in cold climates, in a toasty warm office or cafe?  But have you ever wondered how much energy it takes to cool, heat and power the buildings in our cities and towns? It’s a lot. In fact, the building sector is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions – about 39 per cent of all energy-related CO2 emissions come from buildings and the materials used to construct them.  Humanity will never reach net-zero emissions by the middle of the century unless we can make buildings truly green. So, how is the building sector responding to the climate challenge? How are building owners and managers cutting emissions and what more can they do? What regulations are there in Singapore and the region to encourage greater energy efficiency and retrofitting of older buildings to help them go from brown to green? To learn more about this, ST's climate change editor David Fogarty hosts the Singapore-based head of ESG consulting & sustainability services at global real estate agency CBRE, who also happens to be named David Fogarty. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:55 How large are the emissions from the building sector and how fast is the sector growing? 2:50 What can be done to cut emissions? What steps are being taken now? 5:09 What are embedded emissions? And how great is the challenge in cutting carbon emissions from making building materials? 7:17 There are regulations incentivising energy efficiency in buildings, including retrofitting. Are these making a difference? 11:49 In David Fogarty's role, some of the key trends he is seeing, such as green leasing 15:10 What will the buildings of 2050 or 2060 look like? Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- #greenpulse

The role of militaries, and conflicts, in driving global warming can no longer be ignored. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Even in peace times, militaries are huge emitters of the greenhouse gases that drive global warming. The US military with its global network of bases, has a particularly large carbon footprint - and outsources it to host countries who must account for it under their own reports to the United Nations.  Humanity is at war in two places currently - Ukraine and the Middle East - with several other low-level conflicts in different parts of the globe, and military expenditure on the rise. Historical data shows that past wars produced staggering amounts of greenhouse gasses. The destruction of forests in Vietnam in the 1960s by the US’s use of the chemical herbicide Agent Orange is estimated to have generated emissions in the range of 300-400 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) - about seven to eight times the annual emissions of the country of Switzerland.  The burning of oil wells by then-dictator Saddam Hussein's army in 1990 as western coalition forces drove Iraqi forces out of Kuwait, generated probably more than 400 million tonnes.  Until recently however, the carbon emissions of wars and militaries were not seriously considered. When the Kyoto Protocol was negotiated in 1997, the United States pushed for the exclusion of bunker fuels - essentially transport fuel for ships and airplanes, much of which is used by its military.  That is slowly changing. While militaries’ carbon footprints are trending downwards in line with other economic sectors, as economies broadly become more fuel efficient, conflicts sharply spike CO2 emissions, and any increase in geopolitical conflict risks diverting taxpayer funding from climate adaptation and mitigation programmes.  There is now a clear view in the United Nations, that this dilemma must be addressed, says University of Zurich climate policy expert and senior founding partner of Perspectives Climate Group Dr Axel Michaelowa, in conversation with Straits Times Global Contributor Nirmal Ghosh in this episode of the Green Pulse podcast.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 3:30 Impact of Agent Orange on forest destruction during the Vietnam War; carbon emissions in the range of 300 to 400 million tons  4:57 Conflict in Gaza - the destruction of buildings and emissions of 30 to 40 million tons  6:10 How 10 to 15 years of opportunity for mitigation was lost due to the United States advocating to exempt the need to report and cover emissions from ships and planes - driven mainly by military.  9:05 With US bases outside of its country, these substantial emissions would be accounted under the country where the base is located.  11:25 The indirect consequence of geopolitical conflicts on increased carbon emission 14:13 International recognition that carbon emissions from militaries and conflicts need to be accounted for.  Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Edited by: Amirul Karim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Read ST's Climate Change microsite: https://www.straitstimes.com/climate-change --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Tipping points are a grave threat but it’s not too late for humanity to reduce the risks.  Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. The world is on the brink of major changes to the natural world that could have truly devastating consequences for billions of people.  These are parts of the natural world that are at risk of abrupt and irreversible changes. For instance, runaway melting of the Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets; collapse of a key ocean circulation in the Atlantic; melting of permafrost; dieback of the Amazon rainforest and warm-water coral reefs. There are many more.  What’s causing this? Man-made global warming is a major reason. So is pollution and over-exploitation of resources.  Planetary tipping points represent one of the gravest threats to humanity, yet many people seem unaware of the danger. And some of these tipping points might be close to, or already past the point of no return. Yet, there’s still time to stop others from occurring if we act fast.  To learn more about this, we speak to Professor Tim Lenton, Director of the Global Systems Institute at Exeter University in Britain. Tim recently led the biggest study yet into global tipping points.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:29  What are planetary tipping points and why should we be concerned? 2:23  What are some examples and how close are we to some of these tipping points? 4:06 And what are the major tipping point risks for Asia? 9:01 Tell us more about the danger from a cascade of tipping points, where one major planetary change causes a domino effect of triggering other tipping points? 14:29  The good news is that there are steps humanity can take – positive tipping points. What are some examples? 17: 40 But humanity has already caused major changes to the planet. Does that mean we have to adapt to a rapidly changing world no matter what we do?  Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Amirul Karim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Human development is rapidly destroying the natural habitat for recovering wildlife populations such as tigers. Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. The success of India’s conservation efforts conversely means that rising wildlife populations increasingly, have nowhere to go. Wild tigers are being spotted in many small towns and villages - from the mustard fields of Haryana near New Delhi, to the mountains of Bhimtal in Uttarakhand. In many cases, accidental encounters have resulted in human casualties, and the big cats have had to be tranquilised and relocated to jungles or rescue centres out of harm’s way. Clashes of humans with elephants have also taken a weekly toll in some Indian states. In this episode, we look at why a rethink is necessary to manage growing wildlife populations. ST's global contributor Nirmal Ghosh speaks with two field conservationists who are working the ground in and around wildlife habitats across India.  They are the director of The Corbett Foundation Kedar Gore and the president of the Wildlife Conservation Trust Anish Andheria. Both experts give their first-hand account of the implications of the growing interface between people and wildlife, and debate new solutions for India.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:55 Are we reaching the limits of wildlife conservation, as shown in India? 7:33 Lessons learnt from human-wildlife negative interaction 14:33 On the new debate on limited hunting, like in a few places in Africa, to generate revenue and reduce conflict - how feasible is this in India's context?  17:25 Why controlled hunting comes with many risks and why regulation is difficult to achieve in India 21:29 How aware are local communities of the larger threat of climate change and a warming planet? 24:55 On habitat restoration work that started in 2017  Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Edited by: Amirul Karim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg ST's Climate Change microsite: https://www.straitstimes.com/climate-change --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Renewable energy is cleaner and more affordable and is poised for rapid growth in South-east Asia once key roadblocks are overcome.  Synopsis: Every first and third Sunday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Green Pulse is starting off 2024 with an appropriately green theme -- renewable energy. Specifically, the investment opportunity for green power in South-east Asia.  The region is one of the world's economic growth engines and it is hungry for power to drive that growth, fuel its factories and lift millions out of poverty.  And yet it remains deeply dependent on polluting coal, oil and gas. But cleaner wind and solar, and increasingly battery storage, are becoming more competitive and compelling investment choices. So what is the outlook? Are we on the cusp of a green revolution? ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Mr Edward Northam, head of Core Renewables and head of Asia-Pacific for Macquarie Asset Management Green Investments. Singapore-based Mr Northam is a veteran of the clean energy space and they both discuss an investor's point of view of the opportunities for the region.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:23 What are the opportunities for green energy investment in SE Asia? 2:57 Edward Northam on what he sees as the best opportunities in terms of countries and technologies 8:26 What are three key roadblocks to faster investment that need to be overcome? 12:25 Industry veteran Northam on his background and Macquarie’s green investments 19:55 How is Singapore helping SE Asia accelerate the green transition? 22:03 Green investment is good investment: The way of the future? Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Amirul Karim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

A fund to pay highly vulnerable countries for loss and damage from climate impact, was finally initiated at the COP28 climate talks in Dubai.  Synopsis: The Straits Times' climate editor David Fogarty is at COP28 from Nov 23 till Dec 12 in Dubai, the United Nations climate change conference. The Pacific island nation of Vanuatu is a remote chain of about 80 islands, many of them mountainous, with a total population of over 300,000 people. It has suffered devastating cyclones, rising sea levels, coral bleaching from warming oceans and other impacts, costing its people and the economy dearly. Each major disaster drains the budget and sets the country back, with damaged houses, roads, schools and hospitals needing to be repaired or rebuilt. Vanuatu has long championed the idea of a fund to pay highly vulnerable countries for the loss and damage from climate impact. And it has been a strident voice pushing for big polluting nations to face up to their responsibilities for the human rights impacts caused by their emissions.  Vanuatu, along with other Pacific island nations, is calling for a total phase out of fossil fuels to try to save their nations at COP28.  In this episode, recorded at COP28, ST's David Fogarty hosts Mr Ralph Regenvanu, Vanuatu’s Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, who is a leading voice for ambitious climate action. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 0:56 Why is Vanuatu so vulnerable to climate change impacts? 3:14 How are the worsening impacts affecting people and the economy? 5:51 Vanuatu’s role in pushing for big polluters to take responsibility for the impact of their emissions 11:50 Australia is a major donor but also a major fossil fuel exporter. How best to manage that relationship? 17:50 Is there a limit to what Pacific island nations can withstand in terms of climate impacts? What does the future look like? Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Amirul Karim Edited by: Amirul Karim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #GreenPulse #COP28

Can burning fossil fuels be phased out before the world gets too hot to live in? Synopsis: The Straits Times' climate editor David Fogarty is at COP28 from Nov 23 till Dec 12 in Dubai, the United Nations climate change conference. Every year, the Global Carbon Project releases its Carbon Budget, which projects global fossil fuel and land use emissions. The Global Carbon Project is a consortium of scientific institutions and the annual carbon budget study involves more than 100 scientists.  And this year’s study predicts that fossil fuel carbon emissions will reach a new record in 2023, driven largely by strong growth in coal, oil and gas consumption in India and China. On top of this are carbon emissions from land use, such as deforestation and fires globally.  And the world could hit the 1.5 deg C key temperature limit within 7 years at current rates of emissions, the study says. In this episode, recorded at COP28, ST's David Fogarty hosts leading climate scientist Professor Pierre Friedlingstein, who coordinates the Global Carbon Budget study. He is also Chair in Mathematical Modelling of the Climate System at the University of Exeter in Britain. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 4:07 Key findings from this year’s Global Carbon Budget analysis 6:38 What are the trends for fossil fuel emissions in India and China? 9:38 Which findings from this year’s study concern Professor Friedlingstein the most, and which give him hope? 12:00 Is the world any closer to a global peak of emissions? 14:56 The land and oceans absorb a lot of CO2; will they remain in good shape as the world warms? Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Amirul Karim Edited by: Amirul Karim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #GreenPulse #COP28

At the COP28 climate talks in Dubai from Nov 30-Dec 12, a first-ever dedicated Health Day has been set aside today on Dec 3.  Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. From heatwaves and floods triggering illness and death to air pollution from burning fossil fuels killing millions of people a year, climate change really is a global health crisis and requires urgent action to cut greenhouse gas emissions.  Yet for nearly 30 years, the annual UN climate conferences, or COPs, have failed to focus on the escalating human impacts from climate change. Negotiators have focused more on cutting greenhouse gas emissions than on the link to health.  In this episode, ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Dr Maria Neira, the World Health Organisation's top public health and environment official, to talk more about the importance of such issues on the COP's first-ever Health Day.  They discuss why it is so urgent that nations take action now to tackle climate change and why doing so could be the ultimate public health opportunity. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:06 Why is the climate crisis a health crisis? Key connections 6:53 Why haven’t UN climate talks focused more strongly on the link between climate and human health?  9:48 Dr Maria Neira: “If we reduce the bad quality of the air we breathe every year, we could save at least 5 million lives.” 11:37 Tough action against climate change could be the ultimate public health opportunity 13:34 Dr Maria Neira: “The moment people connect health and climate change, I think there will be an incredible increase in the sense of urgency.” Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Better protection, waste management imperative for coral reef survival. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Coral reefs occupy only about 0.2% of the ocean floor, yet they are home to a quarter of all marine life. But oceans absorb most of the heat trapped in the atmosphere due to increasing greenhouse gases; this has caused oceans to warm and become more acidic, and there has been a lot of damage to corals. The corals can recover, but can they keep up?  In this episode, The Straits Times’ US Bureau Chief Nirmal Ghosh discusses the risk to, and the resilience of, coral reefs, with experts on either side of the world - Jennifer Pollom in Florida, executive director of the Ocean Conservation Foundation and director of conservation for Rainbow Reef Dive Centre, and marine ecologist Dr Jani Tanzil, facility director at St John’s Island National Marine Laboratory in Singapore. Highlights (click/tap above): 00:42 Australia's Great Barrier Reef has suffered six mass bleaching events between 1998 and 2022 - with back-to-back events in 2016 and 17. 02:58 In Key Largo, month over month photographs of massive deterioration  04:51 In the Gulf of Thailand, some low levels of bleaching in the shallow waters - but it's nothing like what was seen in 2016 in Southeast Asia. 05:55 Heat waves are pretty typical in South Florida, but this is the largest bleaching event that we've basically ever seen. 08:08 Human anthropogenic stress - like sedimentation - has a huge additional, negative synergistic effect with global warming.  10:16 Instant morbidity in shallow reefs in Florida  11:17 Huge concern for the future because the reefs are what everybody comes to, to see, to snorkel, to scuba dive, and also to fish.  12:38 There has been a rise in conservation tourism in Southeast Asia - a good thing overall.  14:15 In Indonesia over a million corals have been transplanted, but only a fraction actually followed throughStandards on what constitutes green investments: Why this is important  18:27 Wish list : more protection, more waste management  Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Fa’izah Sani & Amirul Karim Edited by: Amirul Karim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Nirmal Ghosh on X: https://str.sg/JD7r Read Nirmal Ghosh's articles: https://str.sg/JbxG --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Technology has the tools to help all of us cut our emissions. But to be credible, big tech firms also need to cut their own large carbon footprints.  Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. A lot of technology at the centre of our lives, from data centres to laptop computers to video streaming and our data-hungry mobile phones, requires a lot of energy. So, what is the solution? And can clever technology really help all of us cut our carbon footprints? Who better to tell us about this than Ms Kate Brandt, the chief sustainability officer for Google. The tech giant is also developing products and services that help people around the world cut their emissions. ST’s climate change editor David Fogarty hosts Ms Brandt to discuss Google’s initiatives to cut emissions right across its operations and some of the new technologies that can help its billions of daily users shrink their carbon bubbles.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 4:14 What are people searching for regarding steps they can take to cut carbon pollution? 7:21 How is tech/AI saving people during extreme weather events, such as early warning systems? 09:53 Steps Google is taking to cut its own emissions 13:57 What are some of the climate tech tools available, or soon to be available, in Singapore? 16:17 Ms Brandt's reflections from her discussions with political and business leaders at the New York Climate Week in September 2023 Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Edited by: Amirul Karim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Find out why support from governments could be just what the market needs to improve quality and integrity. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Carbon credits have been in the news a lot lately. And not always for the right reasons, with concerns about whether they really do help reduce emissions.  Yet carbon credits can be a useful tool in tackling climate change. Paying investors for every tonne of carbon emissions they take out of the atmosphere or avoid from being emitted can help developing nations ramp up climate action.  What is needed is tougher standards and more careful vetting of carbon offset projects. And Singapore, which is positioning itself as a global hub for carbon offset trading and project financing, is helping drive efforts to boost the quality and integrity of carbon offsets.  For instance, the government recently announced the eligibility criteria for carbon offsets that can be used by big polluters under the nation’s carbon tax regime.  In this episode, ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, to find out more about this.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:05 Why are carbon credits a useful tool and how can they help Singapore meet its climate targets? 5:26 Yet concerns remain about carbon offsets. Why is that? 9:59 What are the new eligibility criteria for offsets that can be used in Singapore’s carbon tax regime? 15:03 How will carbon offsets used by firms in Singapore be vetted? 19:37 What are corresponding adjustments? 24:05 Will the 5 per cent offset cap in the carbon tax scheme be increased? Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Amirul Karim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Each follow on the audio apps below and a rating really helps us! Happy listening! Synopsis: A brand new feature is within The Straits Times app, which you can download from the Apple app store or the Google Play store. For those of you who already have it, the latest version update now has a dedicated Podcast Section, where you can listen to our latest incoming show episodes and check out back episodes too. You can also choose to follow our podcast RSS feeds, or the shows on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. If you have a smart home speaker like the Google Home or Nest device, or your Android phone, just say: “Hey Google, play me (name of any of the shows below) or The Straits Times Podcasts.” Get The Straits Times app from The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX Produced & edited by: Ernest Luis (ernest@sph.com.sg) & Teo Tong Kai Follow ST Podcasts: Channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/wukK Spotify: https://str.sg/wukH SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg/ Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Discover more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 The Usual Place: https://str.sg/wEr7u In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Hard Tackle: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX --- ST Podcast website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts ST Podcasts YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- 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 #stpodcasttr

Why non-native species like the golden-backed weaver and monk parakeet need to be dealt with before they spread elsewhere. Synopsis (headphones recommended): In our first audio trail of Singapore’s nature spaces, The Straits Times explores the ins and outs of creatures in these places with those who know them well. Listen to birdsong at the Kranji Marshes with the president and vice-president of freshly hatched conservation group Bird Society of Singapore Keita Sin and Movin Nyanasengeran who take ST journalist Ang Qing around one of the largest freshwater marshes here. During a two-hour walk, they experience a morning at the remote park, which is home to more than 170 birds in north-western Singapore. They banter on all things bird-related, from ‘parrot politics’ to the mounting threat of invasive bird species to Singapore and South-east Asia. This comes as the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services reported in September that more than 3,500 harmful invasive species have cost the global economy at least US$423 billion (S$576 billion) a year. And the annual expense has quadrupled every decade since the 1970s. You can also read our accompanying ST podcast article to see pictures of the various bird species mentioned (link below).  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:49 The tale of the golden-backed weaver and what it means for Singapore 6:47 Parrot pet problems and ‘politics’ 8:55 What you need to know about Kranji Marshes 9:25 The origins and ambitions of Bird Society of Singapore 15:55 Debunking common myths about birds To see the various bird species named in this podcast, read our podcast article: https://str.sg/ichq Produced by: Ang Qing (aqing@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim, Teo Tong Kai & Paxton Pang Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Discover The Bird Society of Singapore: https://str.sg/ichc Follow Green Pulse Podcast channel here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Ang Qing on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ichp Read her articles: https://str.sg/i5gT --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check  https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (6 eps): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse #greentrails

Can sustainable aviation fuel help airlines rein in growing greenhouse gas emissions? Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Most of us enjoy flying, especially for that much-needed holiday break. But most of us also know that flying produces lots of greenhouse gas emissions and that taking plane trips can be the single biggest component of our carbon footprint each year.  Plane and engine manufacturers have been pretty good at achieving efficiency gains over the years. But international aviation is growing quickly. Without strong action, emissions from the sector will double or even triple by 2050. One immediate solution being offered is sustainable aviation fuel or SAF for short. But how green is it? In this episode, ST's climate editor David Fogarty chats with Mr Sami Jauhiainen, regional vice-president for renewable aviation at Neste, a Finnish refining company. It has recently expanded its operations in Singapore and is now a major producer of SAF.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:11 What is sustainable aviation fuel and how is it made? 4:14 Does Neste use any food crops to produce the fuel? 9:07 Current global demand for SAF 11:59 Environmental benefits and emissions reductions from using SAF 18:07 The current cost of SAF? How will the costs fall?  Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Paxton Pang Edited by:  Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on X: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Businesses have often paid little heed to nature in the race for profits. A new framework will help companies realise that damaging nature is risky business. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Who doesn’t enjoy a walk in a park or forest, breathing clean air, or watching wildlife?Yet, humanity has done a pretty good job in destroying nature, such as deforestation, pollution and over extraction of resources.  Part of the problem is that we've taken nature for granted and treated its bounty as free. And for many of us, the problem can seem far away from big cities.  Today’s episode of Green Pulse has some nature-positive news. There’s now a way to help companies make better choices to protect nature and better understand their impacts on the natural world.  A global framework, or guide, to help firms measure and report their nature-related risks and impacts has been developed and it is being released this week. Called the Taskforce for Nature-Related Financial Disclosures, or TNFD, it could soon be adopted by regulators to drive better protection of nature.  To tell us more about this is Mr Tony Goldner, executive director of the TNFD, who is based in London.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:54 Why is nature so important to society? 5:43 How urgent is the need to tackle the crisis of nature loss? 10:01 How did the TNFD framework come about and what are nature-related risks? 17:03 Nature is very complex. How can companies measure their impacts? 24:02 There have been many efforts in the past to tackle nature loss. Is the TNFD the magic formula we're all been looking for? Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Paxton Pang Edited by:  Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

This nascent industry holds much promise but needs to manage the giddy ambitions of some investors and governments.  Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Everyone is talking about green hydrogen as the fuel of the future. It’s regarded as a key way the global economy can transition away from polluting fossil fuels to create a cleaner and greener future.  Huge projects have been announced worth many billions of dollars. And more and more governments say they see the promise of using renewable energy to create hydrogen that can power factories, generate electricity and even fuel ships and planes.  But is this all just more hype or is there real promise in rapidly scaling up green hydrogen production? To find out the challenges ahead, ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Mr Alex Tancock, chief executive officer and co-founder of InterContinental Energy, a developer of large-scale hydrogen projects in some of the sunniest places on Earth.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:34 What is green hydrogen? Why is it attracting so much interest from investors and governments? 4:21 Main uses for green hydrogen 16:40 More than 1,000 green hydrogen projects have been announced recently, yet very few have reached financial close: What's holding the industry back? 20:27 Mr Alex Tancock: "The challenge we have is to scale-up and scale-up very quickly. And I see that as more of an opportunity." 21:46 Costs of green hydrogen Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Paxton Pang Edited by: Fa'izah Sani & Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: COE Watch: https://str.sg/iTtE In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Will this kickstart a change in Singaporean habits towards embracing a greener and less wasteful society? Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Plastic bags. Let’s face it, most of us use them. They are a key feature of our consumer lifestyles, a symbol of convenience. But they are a huge source of waste, with the vast majority burned, sent to landfills or clogging rivers and the sea.  On July 3, 2023, Singapore introduced a minimum 5 cents charge for disposable plastic bags provided at hundreds of supermarkets.  The aim is to nudge shoppers to think about how many bags they use and to switch to reusable bags instead. It’s all part of changing behaviour to reduce the huge amount of plastic waste and curb environmental impacts.  So what’s the reaction been to the bag charge? Is it changing behaviour?  ST climate editor David Fogarty invites science content creator Ms Kong Man Jing to the studio. She is better known as BioGirl MJ in her YouTube and Instagram channels Just Keep Thinking.  Highlights (click/tap above): 3:18 What sort of plastic Ms Kong sees during her regular group visits to the seashore 7:03 How are people responding to the plastic bag charge? 9:34 The idea of a fee per bag at supermarkets faced strong resistance. Why is that? 15:10 Should Singapore move towards a higher charge and a total ban on all single-use plastics? Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Paxton Pang Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Discover more ST podcast channels: In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse #asianinsider

Plastic's risks to the environment and human health far outweigh the benefits.  Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Bans on single-use plastics are essential, experts say. Nations are also negotiating a global plastic pollution treaty to try to bring the crisis under control. But more is needed.  In this episode, ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Dr Sarah Dunlop, who leads the Plastics & Human Health Research Program at the Minderoo Foundation in Australia. She is also Emeritus Professor, University of Western Australia. She tells Green Pulse that plastics are an incredible success story and are used to make many things from bottles to carpets to Dreamliner aircraft. And such is the demand for plastics that production has soared in recent decades to more than 450 million tonnes a year and it could reach more than 1 billion tonnes by mid-century.  Yet the majority of plastics ever made still exist – discarded in landfills, or dumped in the environment. And only about 10 percent of plastics are currently recycled.  Add to this the threat from more than 10,000 chemicals added to plastics to make them flexible, flame retardant, different colours and other characteristics. These chemicals leak out into the environment and get inside the human body. Chemicals associated with plastics have been linked to cancers, miscarriages, hormonal changes, obesity and other serious health impacts that cost billions of dollars a year.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:34 How great is the threat from plastics? 6:58 Singapore recycles 6 per cent of plastics but otherwise produces 1 million tonnes of plastic waste each year, most of which is incinerated; why is recycling plastics a real challenge? 13:10 What is the Minderoo Foundation, and what challenges it tackles 15:50 What are some of the risks from the thousands of toxic chemicals added to plastics? 22:00 Is it possible to urgently design plastics that are less toxic? Solutions to reduce plastic consumption and waste 29:29 “The plastics treaty is a once-in-a-lifetime fantastic opportunity”, says Dr Sarah Dunlop Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Paxton Pang Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Discover more ST podcast channels: In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

The climate crisis is causing a mental health crisis as anxiety over the future robs many of a sense of hope. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Anxiety about climate change can trigger feelings of helplessness and anger at governments and businesses for not doing enough to take action. There's disappointment that leaders are not treating the climate crisis as a real global crisis. Some young couples say they do not want to have children, fearing that the future will be too bleak.  Yet there is hope. In this special episode of Green Pulse, The Straits Times' US Bureau Chief Nirmal Ghosh speaks with Dr Britt Wray, an expert on climate change and mental health at Stanford University's School of Medicine.  Dr Wray describes how climate anxiety is a mental health issue but also looks at ways to cope. For instance, looking at positive examples of adapting to climate change and positive climate policies. And the benefits of building strong social bonds within communities to reduce the feelings of being isolated and alone. Collective understanding and action can be a powerful uniting force, she says.  Highlights (click/tap above): 1:30 Is there enough recognition of climate anxiety as part of the climate crisis? 3:12 Are we seeing the death of optimism or is there a determination to take action? 9:31 “Climate anxiety is hurting mental health everywhere.” 13:10 How is the media reporting on the climate crisis and has it fed growing feelings of anxiety? 18:21 What is your elevator pitch on climate anxiety and ways to help people cope? Helplines MENTAL WELL-BEING •  Institute of Mental Health’s Mental Health Helpline: 6389-2222 (24 hours) •  Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 (24 hours) / 9151-1767 (24 hours CareText via WhatsApp) •  Singapore Association for Mental Health: 1800-283-7019 •  Silver Ribbon Singapore: 6386-1928 •  Tinkle Friend: 1800-274-4788 •  Chat, Centre of Excellence for Youth Mental Health: 6493-6500/1 •  Women’s Helpline (Aware): 1800-777-5555 (weekdays, 10am to 6pm)COUNSELLING •  TOUCHline (Counselling): 1800-377-2252 •  TOUCH Care Line (for caregivers): 6804-6555 •  Care Corner Counselling Centre: 6353-1180 •  Counselling and Care Centre: 6536-6366ONLINE RESOURCES •  mindline.sg •  eC2.sg •  tinklefriend.sg •  chat.mentalhealth.sg •  carey.carecorner.org.sg (for those aged 13 to 25) •  limitless.sg/talk (for those aged 12 to 25) Produced by: Nirmal Ghosh (nirmal@sph.com.sg), David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Discover more ST podcast channels: In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse #mentalhealth

Is it feasible to build a sea wall around the island of Singapore?  Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. To celebrate the 5th anniversary of ST Podcasts, we had our first podcast recordings in front of a live audience of 60 youths at the intimate Temasek Shophouse along Orchard Road recently. One topic of the rising sea-level threat to Singapore was done for our Green Pulse Podcast series, and the other was about speaking up on youth mental challenges for our Health Check Podcast (which will be out in two days' time - see link below). Sea-level rise in Singapore is expected to reach 1m by 2100, but this could go up to 5m during heavy rainfall and storm surges, when there is an abnormal rise of water. About 30% of Singapore's land is less than 5m above sea level.  For this episode, we had two guests - science content creator Ms Kong Man Jing, better known as BioGirl MJ in her YouTube and Instagram channels Just Keep Thinking, and Ms Audrey Tan, science comms & outreach lead at the NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions and the Tropical Marine Science Institute. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:25 Breaking down youth and general awareness of the sea-level rise threat to Singapore; progress of key solutions 7:45 Making sea-level science and overall climate issues relatable to youth and the wider public in general 13:26 From 2023 onwards, national water agency PUB will explore feasibility of using an underground drainage and reservoir system to combat inland and coastal flooding; how will it work? 16:10 Is it feasible to build a hard 'sea wall' structure around Singapore to protect the island?  20:00 Nature-based solutions: Recently, in June, Singapore announced reef restoration plan for 100,000 corals to be planted and grown in local waters from 2024 Listen to our other live recording at Temasek Shophouse for Health Check Podcast: https://str.sg/iwkc Produced by: Ernest Luis (ernest@sph.com.sg), Hadyu Rahim & Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg --- Discover more ST podcast channels: In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

The Asian Development Bank is trying to bring green power to the people while curbing climate risks. It’s a huge challenge. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Asia is the economic engine of the world. This powerhouse region is growing quickly and so are its energy demands.  Millions of people still do not have access to electricity or clean cooking stoves. And its growing economies need affordable and reliable energy to power the region’s burgeoning industries. But Asia is also the world’s top source of greenhouse gas emissions heating up the planet. And these emissions, mainly from burning fossil fuels, are driving more severe flooding, droughts, fires and higher seas that are taking a huge toll on the region.  So how to bring power to the people without cooking the region and the planet? In this episode, ST's climate editor David Fogarty speaks with Dr Priyantha Wijayatunga, chief of the energy sector group at the Asian Development Bank, who is leading the ADB’s efforts to fund the region’s multi-trillion dollar energy transition.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:22 What is the climate and energy challenge in Asia? 5:59 Is it possible to meet the region’s energy needs while reducing the climate risks? 13:25 Are you the man in the hot seat driving the region’s green transition for the bank? 14:47 For SE Asia, what’s the current trend for green energy investment? 16:31 What is the ADB’s US$100 billion climate fund and how is it working? Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis & Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Steps are being taken to reverse decades of damage to oceans. But is it too little too late? Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. We’re celebrating the 100th episode of our Green Pulse Podcast series. And what better way to mark it than taking a deep dive into the oceans -- the planet's most important and greatest expanse of life.  Without the oceans, humanity wouldn't exist. But like the rest of the planet, the oceans are in trouble. They’re suffering from pollution, overfishing and the impacts of climate change, from rising ocean temperatures to acidification. Yet, lots of things can, and are, being done to reverse the damage. Nearly 200 nations recently agreed to conserve and protect 30 per cent of the world's oceans by 2030. And nations also recently agreed on a treaty to protect biodiversity on the high seas. So has the tide turned for the world's oceans? ST's climate editor David Fogarty speaks with Dr Francesco Ricciardi, a senior environment specialist with the Asian Development Bank who is an expert in ocean biodiversity. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:00 Why are oceans critical to life on the planet? 4:08 Risks from the damage humanity is doing to the oceans? 8:40 Best solutions to help the oceans recover 16:35 Explaining the Asian Development Bank’s US$5 billion Healthy Oceans Implementation plan 18:24 The oceans are getting warmer and an El Nino event is predicted this year. Are we expecting more marine heatwaves and damage to coral reefs? Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis & Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Find out how our guest speaker is making climate change and sustainability more relatable.  Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Climate change is a growing problem for humanity. Almost every day, we hear that we need to cut emissions, live greener lifestyles. It can all seem a bit daunting.  For instance, major reports from the United Nations' climate science panel spell out clearly the growing risks of climate change, the impacts and how to cut emissions. But it's a challenge for ordinary people to really make sense of it all, let alone take steps along the green path.  That's where the science communicators come in. They can cut through the jargon and spell out why action on climate change and sustainability matters -- and how it can improve livelihoods, too.  In this episode, ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Ms Qiyun Woo, a Singaporean illustrator, environmentalist and sustainability consultant. She is also the creator of The Weird and Wild Instagram site.     Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:15 Can you explain more about your Instagram site and popular cartoons? 6:59 What’s the trick in getting the messaging around climate science and sustainability just right? 9:50 What about the risks from greenwashing? 15:03 As a sustainability consultant, you help clients on their green journey. What does this work involve? 18:02 What feedback do you receive from your followers, how does it help you? Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis & Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Keeping the world honest on greenhouse gas emissions is vital in fighting climate change.  Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Every year, humanity releases more than 50 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases into the air – mainly from burning and extracting fossil fuels and chopping down forests. Nature can’t absorb all this extra, so the gases accumulate in the air, heating up the planet and driving more extreme weather and rising sea levels. It’s like adding more fuel to a fire.  While many nations have agreed on targets to cut emissions and reach net zero emissions around the middle of this century, it’s becoming increasingly critical to accurately measure where all these emissions are coming from and if governments and corporations are really taking the steps they say they will.  Getting a true picture of global greenhouse gas emissions is vital and that means accurate and transparent data for all to see. It’s about ensuring a level playing field and no backsliding. But not all nations or companies have the ability or desire to accurately measure and report their emissions. That is changing with better analytical methods and new technologies, such as satellites that can directly measure greenhouse gas emissions from power plants or coal mines – meaning there’s no more hiding.  To discuss this is Dr Pep Canadell, executive director of the Global Carbon Project, a scientific group that analyses global greenhouse gas emissions trends. He explains what the group does and how accuracy is improving, especially ahead of a major United Nations’ global climate assessment that is being released at the end of this year.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:09 What is the Global Carbon Project and why is its work important? 3:49 Where does a lot of data on greenhouse gas emissions come from and can we trust it? 6:58 Are there still significant data gaps and how do you deal with this? 11:40 Measuring greenhouse gases might seem a bit nerdy. Explain why tracking emissions is vital for monitoring global action on tackling climate change. 14:56 How has new technology improved data accuracy and transparency? For instance, new generations of satellites.  Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis & Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Find out why nations need to invest more in resilience to cope with what’s to come. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Critical in the climate crisis fight is helping politicians and the public better understand the causes of climate change and solutions, and not allowing vested interests, such as the fossil fuel industry, to muddy the picture and delay action.  To discuss this is Dr Vinod Thomas, a visiting professor at the National University of Singapore, who was a former World Bank vice-president. His recently published book is a guide to how best to respond to the climate change threat and how to become better prepared for the worsening impacts to come. Highlights (click/tap above): 1:28 Dr Thomas on his just-published book Risk and Resilience In The Era Of Climate Change 4:59 Risks from climate change and from inaction 9:43 Main reasons for humanity’s slow response 13:07 Good news: There are existing and emerging solutions 16:19 There’s a real need to help the public and policymakers ‘join the dots’, to understand the causes and impacts of climate change Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL --- Special edition series: True Crimes Of Asia (new): https://str.sg/i44T The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Find out the qualities of a good chief sustainability officer. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Climate change and the growing biodiversity crisis are having far reaching impacts on businesses. Governments are adopting tougher regulations, too, and businesses also have to be much more transparent about their environmental footprints and how they plan to improve. For instance, the Singapore Exchange has mandated climate risk disclosures for listed companies from this year and companies are increasingly rated on their sustainability policies and practices.  Pressure is also coming from investors and consumers who are demanding businesses go green and clean up their supply chains.  That’s where chief sustainability officers, or CSOs, come in. They can help firms navigate this changing world and help save corporate reputations –  and many companies are finding that going green is good for business. To find out more about the rise of the CSO, ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Ms Cherine Fok. A partner at KPMG Singapore’s environmental, social and governance team, she works closely with firms making the transition. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 3:20 CSOs are change-makers – their key role is to bring the organisation together to drive change 5:04 Qualities of an effective CSO 7:57 Where should a CSO sit within a company? 8:45 Why the CSO role and studying sustainability is crucial for youth and the next generation of business leaders Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim, Eden Soh & Teo Tong Kai Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL --- Special edition series: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Why a new UN treaty gives hope to the world’s ailing oceans and is important to South-east Asia. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Did you know oceans provide about half the oxygen we breathe and soak up about 90 per cent of the excess heat generated by global warming? They also soak up about a third of the carbon dioxide emissions from mankind’s activities. While this is slowing the pace of climate change, the oceans are becoming warmer and more acidic. And that’s threatening coral reefs and key food chains.  Yet, there’s good news. Earlier this month, more than 190 nations agreed to the text of a new United Nations treaty to conserve and sustainably use the high seas. It’s the first treaty to focus on better protection for an area covering more than 60 per cent of the world’s oceans – the vast expanse outside national boundaries.  The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty (BBNJ) is nearly two decades in the making. It builds on another recent UN biodiversity agreement sealed in December 2022 at the UN’s COP15 biodiversity conference in Montreal. Nearly 200 nations agreed at COP15 to conserve and protect 30 percent of the world’s land, coastal and marine areas by 2030. This treaty will be key to meeting the 30 per cent target.  To find out more about the BBNJ treaty, we speak to Dr Edward Game, lead scientist & director of conservation, Asia Pacific, for The Nature Conservancy.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:24 What is the new treaty and how will it reduce the risks facing oceans? 5:50 Oceans hold the greatest amount of biodiversity on the planet 9:19 Why is the treaty so important to South-east Asia? 10:39 How can the treaty tackle fishing, pollution and other threats? 14:00 Seabed mining could pose major risks to the deep ocean Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL --- Special edition series: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Indonesia's Rimba Raya project developers explain how rigorous the verification and auditing process is. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Forests soak up large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and halting deforestation and replanting forests make sense as a strategy to fight climate change – and save nature, too. Investors who do this, want to earn a return for their efforts by selling tradeable “offsets” representing a tonne of CO2 removed, or avoided from being emitted, such as protecting a forest under threat from clearing.  But a recent investigation by The Guardian concluded that rainforest carbon offsets issued by Verra, the world's main certification body for offsets, were mostly worthless. The conclusion has been widely panned as inaccurate.  So what are these projects really like on the ground? How difficult are they and how much work goes into creating and running them?  In this episode, we speak to Todd Lemons and Jim Procanik, who developed the Rimba Raya project in Central Kalimantan in Indonesia more than a decade ago. The project saved a large area of peat swamp forest from being chopped down to grow oil palms. Lemons and Procanik explain more about Rimba Raya, the forest area and the projects to help save the forest and boost local livelihoods.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:31 What is the Rimba Raya project and why is it important? 4:05 The project’s impact on the forest area 8:29 “The forest is our most efficient mechanism for fighting climate change.” 12:57 There are fears forest carbon projects can be damaged by fire or logging. How to address this? 17:45 “These forests have so many other benefits other than CO2 sequestration (which is the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide) Listen to Pt 1 - Forest carbon offsets - scam or climate saviour?: https://str.sg/ikxn Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Hadyu Rahim & Fa'izah Sani Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL --- Special edition series: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Our expert guest offers his evaluation of a recent investigation by British media outlet The Guardian. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Forests are one of nature’s ways of soaking up large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), helping apply the brakes to climate change. This explains why halting deforestation and replanting forests makes sense. Investors who do this, want to earn a return for their efforts by selling tradeable “offsets” representing a tonne of CO2 removed, or avoided from being emitted, such as protecting a forest under threat from clearing.  Forest carbon offsets have become big business, helping offset buyers to reduce their carbon footprint and meet their climate targets, in addition to other carbon-cutting steps that they must take. But rainforest carbon offsets are controversial because of concerns over the quality of the credits and projects and whether the forests will really remain standing for the long term. And do these projects really lead to big reductions in deforestation? The issue has come to the fore after a recent investigation by The Guardian, which concluded that rainforest carbon offsets issued by Verra, the world's main certification body for offsets, were mostly worthless. Though widely panned as being flawed, the conclusions by The Guardian have highlighted the need for further tightening of the standards and scrutiny of forest carbon offsets.  In this episode, ST's climate editor David Fogarty hosts Professor Koh Lian Pin - director of the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions - who has been working to boost the integrity of nature-based carbon offset projects. He looks at the pros and cons of rainforest carbon offsets.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:19 What are forest carbon projects? 4:56 How much carbon are we talking about? 7:15 Why have these projects been so controversial? 12:15  “The good must continually get better” in carbon accounting and monitoring 17:08 “The highest quality carbon offset is actually the one we don’t need.” Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover more ST podcast channels: In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN Green Pulse: https://str.sg/JWaf Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL --- Special edition series: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuZ2 Invisible Asia (9 eps): https://str.sg/wuZn Stop Scams (10 eps): https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid (5 eps): https://str.sg/wuJa --- Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Nations have this decade to halt and start to reverse the damage. Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. At the recent COP15 United Nations biodiversity conference in Canada, nearly 200 nations agreed on a series of targets that aim to halt and eventually reverse the loss of nature. The “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework” includes four goals and 23 targets for achievement by 2030. Striking the deal for nature was years in the making and urgent. Deforestation, over-fishing, poaching, pollution and climate change have taken a heavy toll on nature in recent decades, leading to sharp declines in wild animal species and escalating rates of extinctions. About a million species are at risk of extinction, many within decades, the United Nations' biodiversity science panel has said.  One of the key targets agreed was conserving and managing at least 30 per cent of the world’s land and marine areas by 2030 -- or 30 x 30. It’s a huge challenge – currently about 17 per cent of land and 10 per cent of marine areas are under some form of protection. In this episode, we speak to Dr Zeng Yiwen from the Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions at the National University of Singapore. Dr Zeng and his colleagues have looked at what's needed to achieve the 30 x 30 goal and the funding needed.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:35 How bad are things in the natural world? 3:07 Tell us more about the 30 x 30 goal? 4:40 It's the quality, not the quantity, of the land being conserved that matters. 7:24 What did COP15 decide on financing to help nature? 8:52 What can highly urbanised nations, such as Singapore, do to help meet the global 30 x 30 target? Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m Music Lab: https://str.sg/w9TX #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. In this episode, we look more deeply at the challenges of actually achieving net zero emissions for complex portfolios held by big investment managers and the risks of greenwashing claims by bad actors. What does achieving net zero emissions by 2050, mean for investors and what are the risks and challenges? ST’s climate editor David Fogarty hosts his Paris-based guest Ms Clemence Humeau, head of sustainability, coordination and governance for AXA IM. This episode is brought to you by AXA Investment Managers: https://str.sg/wCpw Highlights (click/tap above): 2:20 Achieving net zero emissions across a broad portfolio of assets isn't easy; 65% of AXA IM's assets under management now committed to be managed in line with net zero in 2050. What does it mean? 4:38 What goes into designing a net zero pathway?  7:10 Risk of being boycotted by the finance sector, or facing downgrades by ratings agencies, for example? 9:03 Greenwashing claims by companies, even some financial sector actors saying they are committed to net-zero emissions but still investing in polluting companies or assets 10:03 Net zero is also about investing in companies which are transitioning and trying to decarbonise their activities 12:30 Why AXA IM will divest eventually, for companies that don't achieve decarbonisation objectives along the way Listen to Pt 1: How insurers and asset managers can drive the green transition - https://str.sg/wFuz More from AXA IM on responsible investing: https://str.sg/wCpi Protecting portfolios against greenwashing: https://str.sg/wCp5 Sustainable Investing: https://str.sg/wCpS Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. In this episode, we look how insurers and asset managers can be powerful actors in accelerating the green transition. The finance sector, including insurers, can set tougher policies that limit or exclude financing and coverage to fossil fuel-linked firms and instead focus on renewable energy and other low-carbon investments. ST’s climate editor David Fogarty hosts his Paris-based guest Thomas Coudert, head of fixed income sustainability for AXA Investment Managers. This episode is brought to you by AXA Investment Managers: https://str.sg/wCpw Highlights (click/tap above): 1:12 The investment management industry, what it invests in and how much money is at its disposal to invest in companies and assets? 2:29 The Net Zero Asset Managers Commitment: With 291 signatories, including AXA IM, it commits to support the goal of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner 3:35 Their 3-step action plan 5:45 Outlook and industry expectations after a 'disappointing' COP27 7:15 AXA IM has nearly 900 billion euros in assets under management: What portion is invested in green energy assets, or green bonds? How it is lowering its exposure to fossil fuel assets 9:46 How the Russian invasion of Ukraine will delay the transition to a low-carbon economy in short term, but how it could drive the green transition in the long term 11:00 After COP27, is there stronger action outside the UN process that gives hope? How blended finance can support climate change transition Listen to Pt 2: Driving net zero plans and helping companies decarbonise - https://str.sg/wFuD More from AXA IM on responsible investing: https://str.sg/wCpi Protecting portfolios against greenwashing: https://str.sg/wCp5 Sustainable Investing: https://str.sg/wCpS Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis and Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. At the COP27 climate talks here in Egypt, a key focus is how to help poorer, more vulnerable nations cope with increasingly extreme weather events that threaten their homes, their jobs and the food they grow.  Adapting to climate impacts has become an urgent need for billions of people around the globe, yet the money to help them is a fraction of what's needed.  Wealthy nations are under pressure at COP27 to give more climate cash since they are most responsible for the emissions that are making the world's weather more dangerous. And few places are more vulnerable to climate impacts than Africa.  In this episode, ST's climate change editor David Fogarty speaks with Dr Debra Roberts, a leading scientist with the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and a global expert on adaptation and urban resilience. Dr Roberts is also head of the Sustainable and Resilient City Initiatives Unit in Durban, South Africa.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:43 Why has adapting to climate change become so important? 3:19 “Africa’s biggest adaptation need is basic development” 6:09 Why is it important to also look at how nature is being affected by climate change? 11:58 Is it possible to make cities climate-proof? 14:39 Is there a limit to adapting to climate change? Produced by: David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg) & Audrey Tan, Ernest Luis and Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Subscribe to Green Pulse Podcast series and rate us on your favourite audio apps: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Audrey Tan on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLMB Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse

Synopsis: Every first and third Monday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Governments are at the heart of global climate action, setting the policies and direction for businesses and the public. And their influence will be on full display at this year’s COP27 climate talks in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt. Delegates from nearly 200 nations are tasked with accelerating action on climate change and boosting finance for poorer countries.  But many governments have been too slow to act, leading to rising greenhouse gas emissions and global temperatures. What can be done to get them to act? In this episode, ST's climate change editor David Fogarty and co-host Audrey Tan speak with Ms Sharon Seah, Senior Fellow at the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute and coordinator of the Climate Change in Southeast Asia Programme, to discuss the key role of governments and what steps they can take to accelerate climate action, especially in South-east Asia. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:28 Why are governments so important in speeding up climate change action? 2:34 What are some of the tools governments can use to increase green investments? 5:25  Why are governments so slow to act? 9:57 What are the kinds of climate actions people in Asean expect from their governments? 14:00 "We need a major transformation of economies. We need a price on carbon." Produced by: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg), David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg), Ernest Luis, Eden Soh and Hadyu Rahim Edited by: Hadyu Rahim Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and rate us: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Google Podcasts: https://str.sg/J6EV Website: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg Follow Audrey Tan on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLMB Read her stories: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on Twitter: https://str.sg/JLM6 Read his stories: https://str.sg/JLMu --- Discover ST's special edition podcasts: Singapore's War On Covid: https://str.sg/wuJa The Unsolved Mysteries of South-east Asia: https://str.sg/wuZ2 Stop Scams: https://str.sg/wuZB Invisible Asia: https://str.sg/wuZn --- Discover more ST podcast series: Asian Insider: https://str.sg/JWa7 Health Check: https://str.sg/JWaN In Your Opinion: https://str.sg/w7Qt Your Money & Career: https://str.sg/wB2m #PopVultures: https://str.sg/JWad ST Sports Talk: https://str.sg/JWRE Bookmark This!: https://str.sg/JWas Lunch With Sumiko: https://str.sg/J6hQ Discover ST Podcasts: http://str.sg/stpodcasts Discover BT Podcasts: https://bt.sg/pcPL Follow our shows then, if you like short, practical podcasts! #greenpulse