People, Planet, Profit
From SEEDlings to Social Enterprises
The Social Enterprise Education Lab (SEED.Lab) was set up in 2020 by Petronas and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) to build foundational skills for social entrepreneurship in Malaysia. We discuss the recipe for thriving social enterprises with Mahen Balakrishnan of SEED.Lab and a succesful graduate …
21:22Clean
Are Boards Considering the El Nino Effect?
How prepared are boards to deal with the hotter, dryer weather from the Super El Nino this year? We discuss climate governance in corporate Malaysia and get a preview of the National Climate Governance Summit (NCGS) 2026 with Dr. Gary Theseira, Chair of the Council at Climate Governance Malaysia. F…
21:53Clean
Red Alert: ASEAN's Haze Stress Test
The Singapore Institute of International Affairs has issued a red alert in its 2026 Haze Outlook report, indicating a high risk of transboundary haze this year exacerbated by the El Nino phenomenon. How prepared are ASEAN countries for the haze stress test? I discuss the findings of the report with…
21:32Clean
Proactive, Not Reactive: Consider an Industrial Strategy for Flood Management
Malaysia is bracing for a period of dryer, hotter weather as the El Nino cycle kicks in, but this doesn’t negate the annual flood risks that the country faces. What can be done to improve the country’s flood mitigation and adaptation responses in the face of climate uncertainty? We discuss this wit…
22:16Clean
El Nino and the Risks for Water Security
The world is bracing for a super cycle of the El Nino climate phenomenon this year that will bring hotter, dryer weather to Southeast Asia. What are the implications of El Nino conditions for Malaysia’s water systems, and what can be done to mitigate the negative effects that could ensue? We discus…
20:17Clean
What Would Make SAF More Affordable for Airlines?
Do the sky-high prices of jet fuel strengthen the economic case for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which has long been touted as one of the main keys to decarbonizing air travel? We discuss the state of play with Shantanu Gangakhedkar, Principal Consultant at Frost and Sullivan. Image Credit: Sh…
19:20Clean
Counting the Cost of Carbon Emissions: An Engineer's Perspective
How prepared are Malaysian businesses to take on the obligation of carbon emissions reporting and reduction? I’ll be getting insights from Prof. Dr. Dominic Foo of University of Nottingham Malaysia on what businesses can do to get started and also how useful Carbon Emissions Pinch Analysis is as a …
21:18Clean
EVs: The Imperfect Road to Net Zero
The Strait of Hormuz blockade and the ensuing supply shortages of fossil fuels have renewed interest in electric vehicles, especially in Southeast Asia. But is the EV agenda truly green and what structural economic changes are needed to reap the full benefits of decarbonisation through electrificat…
23:24Clean
Charting Malaysia's Climate-Aligned Development Pathway
Malaysia aims to reach high income status by 2030, but the development pathway needs to take into account the mitigation and adaptation needs of climate change. We speak to Muthukumara S. Mani, Lead Environmental Economist with the World Bank about how Malaysia can balance these interests in the sh…
22:20Clean
The Economics of Biofuels
In response to soaring petroleum diesel prices, Southeast Asian governments including Malaysia are looking to increase biofuel blends. We discuss the economics of biodiesel production and its link to energy security with economist Khor Yu Leng of Segi Enam Advisors. This episode of People, Planet…
20:54Clean