Green Pulse

The Straits Times
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Green Pulse

Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Podcasters: Audrey Tan & David Fogarty Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

  1. Visit to Punggol: How human-wildlife conflict can be mitigated

    19 NOV

    Visit to Punggol: How human-wildlife conflict can be mitigated

    While Singapore is transforming into a City in Nature, natural habitats have been lost to development, leading to more human and animal clashes. How can wildlife and humans live in harmony?  Synopsis (headphones recommended): Green Trails is a four-part environment podcast special for 2024 where The Straits Times hits the ground with experts. In this fourth episode, our trails won’t be entirely green. Instead of a nature park or a green space, we head over to an urban place surrounded by buildings and construction noise.  The new neighbourhood of Punggol Northshore recently saw some monkey business, with troops of long-tailed macaques spotted at construction sites and even eating at a void deck of an HDB block.   To find out how residents can responsibly live in a macaque hotspot, ST journalist Shabana Begum speaks with co-chief executive of Animal Concerns Research and Education Society (Acres) Anbarasi Boopal, and president of the Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) Andie Ang.  Strolling along Punggol Settlement and the promenade opposite Coney Island, the conversation turns to other wildlife in our midst – from the common palm civets that tend to sneak into private houses, to the ever-present junglefowls. Animals in urban areas being culled is never a clear-cut decision, as Ms Anbarasi says: “Removal (of animals) is always not a solution. And where do we draw the line, right?  “We are okay with hornbills, but we're not okay with other birds.” Highlights (click/tap above): 2:10 Why is Punggol a monkey hotspot? 4:45 Monkey see, monkey don’t do 11:08 When otters and civets visit homes  14:30 Is culling the best way to reduce bird numbers? 17:08 What to do when you encounter a snake Read ST’s previous commentary about co-existing with wildlife: https://str.sg/tYpq Find out more about macaques in Punggol: https://str.sg/ephc 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 Ep 3: Visit to Windsor Park: Can insects in SG's backyard be foraged? - https://str.sg/4V6nQ Host: Shabana Begum (nshab@sph.com.sg) Trail producers: Hadyu Rahim, Fa‘izah Sani, Amirul Karim & Elsa Goh  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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    22 min
  2. Climate finance at COP29: Loans can't help developing nations avert climate crisis

    18 NOV

    Climate finance at COP29: Loans can't help developing nations avert climate crisis

    The amount, quality and access of climate finance among key issues to be discussed at COP29. Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Expectations are mounting on negotiators at COP29, the UN climate conference, to produce an outcome on climate finance. The annual summit, from Nov 11 to Nov 22 in Baku, Azerbaijan, is shaping up to be a “finance COP”, where discussions on the new collective quantified goal for climate finance – or how much money should be channelled to developing countries to help them take climate action – are expected to conclude. In this episode, hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty chat with Ms Illari Aragon, the climate policy justice lead at nonprofit Christian Aid.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 2:39 What do we mean by climate finance?  4:18 Why are discussions on the new climate finance target so contentious?  11:29 The situation on climate finance in South-east Asia 12:38 The difference between providing and mobilising climate finance  14:40 Challenges for developing countries to access climate finance 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    20 min
  3. Avoidance, removals and reduction: What blocks agreement on carbon markets at COP29?

    4 NOV

    Avoidance, removals and reduction: What blocks agreement on carbon markets at COP29?

    International carbon markets can help to channel funding to developing countries and help them take action to tackle climate change. Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. What is the difference between carbon avoidance, removal or reduction? This question is one of a few key ones holding up global consensus on the establishment of a global carbon credit programme under Article 6 the Paris Agreement. At the UN climate conference COP29, which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from Nov 11 to 22, negotiators will be hammering out the details to enable this programme to be implemented. Article 6 of the Paris Agreement allows countries to cooperate with one another to achieve their climate targets, such as through carbon markets.  What are the differences between these three terms, and why are they so contentious? To find out more about the roadblocks hindering an agreement on carbon markets at COP29, hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty chat with Mr Anshari Rahman, director of policy and analytics and investment firm GenZero. Mr Anshari was a former climate negotiator on Article 6 with the Singapore Government. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 2:08 What is Article 6 all about? 4:07 Why is Article 6 important for South-east Asia? 7:42 What are the main sticking points of negotiations on Article 6? 9:33 What are the issues surrounding the varying definitions of carbon avoidance, removal, or reduction? 13:58 What are the other benefits that Article 6 can deliver? 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: Eden Soh 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    21 min
  4. After the 'Paris Agreement' for nature was adopted in 2022, what's next at COP16 biodiversity meet?

    19 OCT

    After the 'Paris Agreement' for nature was adopted in 2022, what's next at COP16 biodiversity meet?

    Unlocking new sources of financing for nature, ending harmful subsidies and benefit sharing among issues to be discussed 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. It has been two years since the Global Biodiversity Framework was adopted, and almost 200 countries are set to gather in Cali, Colombia, from Oct 21 to Nov 1 to discuss the way forward. The framework, touted as the biodiversity equivalent of the Paris Agreement that aims to help the world avert catastrophic climate change, wants to help slow, even reverse, nature’s decline.  The framework outlines four goals that the world hopes to achieve by 2050, including protecting and restoring nature and closing the biodiversity finance gap. The framework also outlines 22 targets, to be achieved by 2030, to help the world achieve the longer-term goals. Targets include the one to restore 30 per cent of all degraded ecosystems by 2030, and to protect and restore 30 per cent of the world’s lands and seas by that same timeline.  At COP16, countries are expected to come up with an action plan to translate these goals and targets into concrete action. But what are some hot topics, and how will countries navigate this? To find out more, hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty chat with Mr Will McGoldrick, Asia-Pacific managing director for The Nature Conservancy.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 2:29 Why is COP16 important?  4:48 What does The Nature Conservancy – one of the world’s largest environmental non-profit organisations that is tracking negotiations – expect to see at COP16?  6:40 Protecting nature does not come cheap. What are negotiations looking like on the finance front?  9:46 How do we start to phase out subsidies that harm nature?  14:30 Benefit sharing is expected to be another topic of discussions at COP16. What is it and why is it important?  17:12 How are South-east Asian countries approaching nature conservation?  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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    20 min
  5. A relook at nuclear energy's role in the net-zero goal

    5 OCT

    A relook at nuclear energy's role in the net-zero goal

    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 (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 & Lynda Hong 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    18 min
  6. Bezos Earth Fund's menu for Asia: Bugs, slaughter-free meat and fermented protein

    14 SEPT

    Bezos Earth Fund's menu for Asia: Bugs, slaughter-free meat and fermented protein

    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 (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 & Lynda Hong 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    17 min
  7. Eco-nomics: Putting a value on nature is also key to saving it

    31 AUG

    Eco-nomics: Putting a value on nature is also key to saving it

    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 (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 & Lynda Hong 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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    23 min
  8. Visit to Windsor Nature Park: Can insects in SG's backyard be foraged?

    26 AUG

    Visit to Windsor Nature Park: Can insects in SG's backyard be foraged?

    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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    24 min
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About

Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Podcasters: Audrey Tan & David Fogarty Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Information

  • Creator
    The Straits Times
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2024
  • Episodes
    142
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024 The Straits Times
  • Show Website
    Green Pulse

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