The Climate Conversations

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A brand new season looks past promises and policy and into people and practices in meeting the challenges of climate change. Each week, we talk to experts who help us understand one of the most pressing issues facing humankind.

CNA


    • Jun 18, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 20m AVG DURATION
    • 173 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Climate Conversations

    Climate geoengineering: Planet savers or madcap experiments?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2025 23:19


    Money and resources are increasingly being invested in climate geoengineering. Jack Board and Liling Tan debate the science and sense of manipulating the climate to counter global warming.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Record temperatures, extreme rain incoming this summer

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2025 16:35


    The upcoming northern hemisphere summer is set to break more heat records. From holidays, to workers and crops - the searing temperatures are going to have consequences, as Jack Board and Liling Tan discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Mining in the deep blue

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2025 16:54 Transcription Available


    US President Donald Trump wants to mine the seafloor. And while the industry has its supporters, scientists say hunting for precious minerals underwater could be highly damaging to the ocean. Jack Board and Liling Tan dive into the topic, ahead of the UN Ocean Conference.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Climate cost of conflict

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 19:11


    Climate change and conflict are increasingly fuelling one another, leaving lasting environmental impact across war-struck regions of the world. CNA’s Jack Board and Liling Tan discuss the latest research covering an overlooked factor in today’s hot zones.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Battle lines in the water crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2025 13:29


    The Indus River is at the centre of a simmering conflict between India and Pakistan, neighbours who share the flow of the river. It’s another example of water being central to rising tensions. Jack Board and Liling Tan discuss how the power of water can be weaponised by countries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    What's holding investors back from green projects?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 17:20


    Angrier planet, messier times. What's keeping green investors cautious, and how can countries brace better? Jack Board and Liling Tan find answers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Passports for sale: Climate-vulnerable nations take unconventional steps for survival

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2025 13:03 Transcription Available


    Island nations battling extreme weather and rising seas are offering citizenship in exchange for climate financing. They get money to relocate, reinforce and redevelop, while investors get visa-free passports. Jack Board and Liling Tan discuss survival and sovereignty in the face of global warming.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Green hydrogen: Future game changer or false hope?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 26:16


    Green hydrogen has been touted as a promising solution to cleaning up transport, shipping and aviation. But this clean technology has run into multiple hurdles. Jack Board and Lilling Tan chat with Alex Tancock, the CEO of InterContinental Energy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The ‘White Lotus' effect is redefining the way we travel, but is it sustainable?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025 14:02


    Ever fallen in love with a film's location set and booked a holiday there? You're in good company. "Set-jetting" travel is on the rise, thanks in part to the White Lotus effect that saw bookings surge for destinations featured in the popular HBO series. This week on Climate Conversations, Jack Board and Liling Tan weigh the economic gains of set-jetting against the environmental toll. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Fast fashion vs sustainable threads

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2025 20:55


    The global apparel industry remains a major contributor to pollution and waste. But there are ways to still look good without feeling bad. Ahead of International Day of Zero Waste, Jack Board and Liling Tan chat with Michael Sadowski from the Circulate Initiative.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Sustainable aviation fuels were meant to take off. What's gone wrong?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 16:00


    A few years ago, airlines were pushing hard on developing green jet fuels. But adoption rates are slow. Jack Board and Liling Tan unpack the future of clean flying. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Dirty skies: Why almost no one is breathing safe air in Southeast Asia

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 14:58


    A new report tracks air pollution levels right across the world. The good news? Air quality is slightly improving in Southeast Asia. But as Jack Board and Liling Tan discuss, there are lingering health concerns for all of us breathing in dirty air. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    How nuclear may be a larger factor in the clean energy equation

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 17:55 Transcription Available


    They're smaller, safer, scalable, and they could bring nuclear power to places never thought possible. Small modular reactors are the next big thing in the nuclear power race, but Dr Alvin Chew from the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies tells Liling Tan safety trumps tech every time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Cli-Fi? Finding climate themes in popular film and TV

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 24:22


    Climate themes in science fiction are everywhere. Some of our favourite shows are telling important stories about our life on Earth. Sci-fi expert Jamie Uy joins Jack Board and Liling Tan to discuss environmental calamity, the end of the world, wars over resources and fantastic technological innovations in some of their favourites.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Countries are neglecting to hand in their climate homework

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 14:01


    Every five years, countries are expected to give new climate change action targets. A shockingly small number of them met the deadline this month. Jack Board and Liling Tan discuss why and which single nation in Southeast Asia got a pass mark. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    How do microplastics end up in human brains?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2025 14:07 Transcription Available


    The emergence of microplastics across the planet is leading to new health challenges. Jack Board and Liling Tan discuss some new research and the ways we could contend with tiny particles causing a huge problem.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Roaring back to life: Tigers rebounding in Thailand

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 19:45 Transcription Available


    The tiger is alive in the forests of Thailand. The iconic species is enjoying a boom period of population growth, thanks to conservation efforts. Jack Board and Liling Tan discuss how it’s been done.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Trump 2.0: Red lines through green policies

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 19:48


    US President Donald Trump announced his return to the White House with a flurry of executive orders, including many impacting climate and energy policy. Jack Board and Liling Tan chat with HuffPost’s Alexander Kaufman to understand what it means for the US and the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The coolest technology shaking up clean energy in 2025

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 19:11


    Innovation in clean energy is moving fast. As the world marks International Day of Clean Energy, Jack Board and Liling Tan pick out some of the technologies to watch in 2025. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Wildfires out of control: How natural disasters are made worse by climate change

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 22:24


    California is struggling with wildfires as people evacuate their homes which are burning to the ground. What’s in store for 2025 when it comes to natural disasters here and around the world as climate impacts intensify? Jack Board and Liling Tan speak to Ira Spitzer who is reporting from Los Angeles. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Will Southeast Asia's digital rush come at a climate cost?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2025 17:08 Transcription Available


    Southeast Asia is one of the hottest markets for setting up new digital infrastructure. But this modern-day gold rush of building data centres poses a huge climate challenge - dealing with the enormous carbon footprint. Jack Board and Liling Tan give a ringside report. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Best of: Why are extinct species coming back in Singapore?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 1, 2025 17:45 Transcription Available


    In the final installment of our top five episodes of the year, Liling Tan speaks to Yeo Suay Hwee and Tan Gim Cheong from the Nature Society about certain native species that were once uprooted are now are coming back, and those that are lost forever. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Best of: Migrant workers bear the brunt of heat stress

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2024 23:56


    In the fourth of our top five episodes from the archives, Liling Tan asks Associate Professor Jason Lee, Director of the Heat Resilience and Performance Centre at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in NUS about the risks migrant workers face and what other innovative solutions can employers look at to improve the situation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Best of: Can AI better predict the weather?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2024 19:05


    In the third of our top five episodes of the year, Jack Board and Liling Tan explore how the use of AI is changing industries in unimaginable ways, especially in the climate change and sustainability space.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Best of: Must climate communication be so dense?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 25:03


    In the second of our top five episodes of the year, Liling Tan and Jack Board speak with climate academics Prof Winston Chow and Assoc Prof Terry van Gevelt from Singapore Management University to find out why explaining climate change can get tricky when jargon gets in the way.  This podcast episode is in partnership with the inaugural Ideas Festival. You can find out more at www.ideasfestival.edu.sg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Best of: How else can an air-con nation keep cool in a heatwave?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2024 17:59 Transcription Available


    In the first of our top five episodes from the archives this year, we roll back the clock to the first episode of Climate Conversations where hosts Jack Board and Liling Tan tell you why the heatwave will create bigger problems in future than just wilting plants.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    A climate wrap of 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 24:03


    From apocalyptic storms to silver linings, Jack Board and Liling Tan talk through some of the key issues around climate change. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    EVs in Asia: Ready to roll or stuck in the lot?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 21:01


    An electric vehicle revolution has been underway for a few years. But it hasn't quite been a smooth road with the technology still facing cost issues, infrastructure questions and turbulence from geopolitics. Liling Tan and Jack Board talk through what's happening in the EV industry in Southeast Asia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    COP29: Spicy speeches and the Trump wild card

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 20:54


    The global climate talks are happening in Baku, Azerbaijan. Jack Board tells Liling Tan all that's happened so far - from the focus on finances to spicy speeches, and an incoming US president who's hijacked the summit without even being there.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    COP29: Why you should be paying attention to this year's big climate talks

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2024 28:58 Transcription Available


    Climate negotiations are taking place in Azerbaijan, with a focus on raising money to help poorer nations handle the impacts of a heating planet. Jack Board and Liling Tan discuss what they're looking out for and hear exclusively from COP29 CEO, Elnur Soltanov. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Breaking down the complicated business of carbon capture

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 24:48


    Carbon dioxide is responsible for 76 per cent of total greenhouse gas emissions. And yet, the potential to lock up harmful emissions is big business. Jack Board speaks to a world leader in this space, the CEO of Climeworks Christoph Gebald. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Can we save Southeast Asia's capitals from drowning?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 24:55


    The region's large capital cities - Bangkok, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur - are facing a multitude of threats centred around water, from flooding, land subsidence, groundwater extraction or sea level rise. To combat these issues, engineering mega adaptation projects are often raised as solutions. Can they save our capitals? Jack Board and Liling Tan chat with CNA correspondents Nivell Rayda and Rashvinjeet Bedi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Kids ask the darndest questions: Climate edition

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 21:58


    Just when he thought he was clear of the classroom after being grilled by pre-schoolers on going plastic-free, CNA Correspondent Matthew Mohan finds himself back in the hot seat with Liling Tan on Climate Conversations, taking even tougher questions from kids about all things plastics. Can they answer them all?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    What's the biodiversity COP all about?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 28:03 Transcription Available


    Globally important biodiversity talks are about to take place in one of the most dangerous countries for environmental defenders. COP16 host Colombia has a lot at stake, and so does the planet, as Jack Board and Liling Tan discuss with environment reporter Oliver Griffin. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    It's time for some cheerful climate news

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 22:36 Transcription Available


    Innovations to make flying time shorter, transporting cargo in a more efficient way and banks moving away from financing fossil fuel loans - there is quite a lot of blue sky thinking in the climate space. Jack Board and Liling Tan list them out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Why is climate change still too 'niche' to be part of mainstream conversations?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024 32:49


    Despite the impact of climate change being felt across the planet – it's still rarely part of everyday conversations. Jack Board and Liling Tan speak to Katharine Hayhoe, a Canadian climate scientist, on why people avoid the topic, and how it's not just up to scientists to do the job of communication.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    'Progress not perfection': Formula 1 sustainability chief on the race going green(er)

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 31:39


    The roar of the F1 engines is back again this year in Singapore and race organiser Singapore GP says it's on track to halve its energy emissions by 2028. This includes reducing energy use, tapping on green energy sources and limiting their carbon footprint. Jack Board and Liling Tan chat about whether these green goals are achievable as the rubber hits the road. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Singapore companies going green is still very much a work in progress

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024 31:46


    This episode is brought to you by Schneider Electric, a digital partner for sustainability and efficiency.   As the clock ticks towards Singapore's mandatory climate reporting requirements, Schneider's cluster president for Singapore and Brunei, Yoon Young Kim, and Singtel's vice president of group sustainability, Andrew Buay explain what sets companies apart when it comes to disclosing their carbon emissions across scopes 1, 2 and 3, and what they stand to lose if they don't start early. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    “I'm terribly worried”: UN chief on warming temperatures in Southeast Asia

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 19:22 Transcription Available


    Which country needs to reverse emissions trends? Who has to start phasing out coal? Who must answer the SOS on rising sea levels affecting islands and coastal cities? In an exclusive interview with CNA, UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres tells Climate Conversations co-host Liling Tan why the world's biggest polluting countries need to accelerate change.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Can the medical industry reduce its staggering carbon footprint?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2024 16:03


    From massive amounts of energy usage in hospitals, nursing homes and clinics to single use plastics for medical supplies, the medical industry's carbon footprint beats that of shipping or aviation. But how do you save lives and save the planet too? Jack Board and Liling Tan break it down. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    The rate of Singapore's food waste is ‘crazy': MP Louis Ng

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2024 26:15


     For a small country, Singapore wastes a staggering amount of food. And yet, there are people who struggle to eat three good meals a day. To tackle this, member of parliament Louis Ng spearheaded the Good Samaritan Food Donation Bill which was passed on Aug 7. He speaks to Liling Tan and Jack Board on why he embarked on this journey.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    Earth Overshoot Day: Will future generations pay for our ecological deficits?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 14, 2024 16:36


    Earth Overshoot Day happened on August 1st. This means we've used up the earth resources faster than we should. Jack Board and Liling Tan chat through what that means for us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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