Steve Willis and Genevieve Hilton, the authors of "climate optimism" novel Fairhaven, tell the Eco-Business Podcast: Why did you write this book? Why do we need an optimistic take on climate change? Does individual action matter? Refreezing the Arctic – far fetched idea? Criticism of fossil fuels executives writing a novel about climate solutions Book chapters as pitches to industry ..read more

How can Asia Pacific secure water for future generations? The Eco-Business Podcast talks to the Vice President, Global Lifecycle Services, Emerging Markets, of water technology company Xylem, on why climate change will exacerbate existing water scarcity and quality issues in the region ..read more

Heat, storms, floods, fires – Asia is highly vulnerable to climate risk, but massively underinsured against it. This trend is putting the wallets and livelihoods of billions in jeopardy. Data by global insurer Munich Re last month showed that the region was once again poorly indemnified in 2023, with only 14 per cent of US$50 billion of damages recovered. Joining the Eco-Business Podcast to examine the factors holding Asia back on climate insurance are Dr Jack Xia, chief actuary of Singapore-based insurer Igloo, which offers an automated “Weather Index insurance” for farmers in Vietnam, and Dr ..read more

Can sustainable real estate address the climate-induced problems plaguing the Philippine capital of Manila? The Eco-Business Podcast talks to the chief sustainability officer of Arthaland Oliver Chan about the growing sustainable real estate market in the Philippines and how the company strikes a careful balance between sustainability and affordability ..read more

A strong oil and gas presence is expected at the COP28 climate summit this month, after host United Arab Emirates said everyone needs to be at the table to find better solutions to stop global warming. But many remain sceptical of whether the industry can be earnest contributors to the climate agenda. Fossil fuels are the primary cause of global warming, and some of the biggest energy majors have in recent years walked back their sustainability ambitions. Blockbuster Big Oil earnings last year amid high fuel prices have led to profiteering accusations, while environmentalists suspect that foss ..read more

Transboundary haze pollution is back with a vengeance in Southeast Asia. The Eco-Business Podcast talks to RSPO CEO Joseph D'Cruz about what the palm oil oil sector can do to put out the peatland fires that have burned annually for four decades ..read more

In celebration of Indigenous People month in the Philippines, the former United Nations special rapporteur tells the Eco-Business Podcast about her lifelong work to empower communities in Asia’s most dangerous place for environmental defenders ..read more

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas assistant governor talks to the Eco-Business Podcast about the regulator’s maiden sustainability report that she says focuses not only on meeting international standards for green finance but features an empirical study of climate impacts on banks and the nation’s first taxonomy ..read more

Joining the Eco-Business Podcast is Kim Schumacher, associate professor at the University of Kyushu, who coined the term "competence greenwashing". Tune in as we talk about: Asia is starting to crack down on greenwashing Tackling greenwashing will start in finance Intentional or unintentional greenwashing? Is there a cultural element to calling out greenwashing? Asia's most glaring greenwashing firms Competence greenwashing in Asia AI, Big Data and the future of greenwash ..read more

There is a growing awareness that the benefits and burden of the energy transition must be equally shared between men and women. In Southeast Asia, with its long-held traditional gender roles and energy inequality, the process is easier said than done. Big energy developments are on the horizon in the region. Renewables and biofuels are starting to proliferate, while coal is increasingly being shown the exit. Many of these developments will help cut carbon emissions, but a growing body of research suggests that there is no guarantee the benefits and risks can ..read more