The Climate Conversations

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

 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 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.

With temperatures breaking records in Singapore, what risks do migrant workers have? Aside from just drinking more water, what other innovative solutions can employers look at? Liling Tan asks Associate Professor Jason Lee who is also the Director of the Heat Resilience and Performance Centre at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in NUS. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If elected, Kamala Harris will need to thread the needle between being strong on climate change and not upsetting hugely influential big oil and gas companies. Jack Board discusses her prospects with NYU climate and energy expert, Dr Carolyn Kissane.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jack Board takes a trip deep into the heart of communities on the climate front line in the Pacific, where culture, identity and nationhood are all at stake. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a year since supermarkets in Singapore have stopped giving out free plastic bags. Has that created a dent in our consumption of plastics? Jack Board and Liling Tan wrap their heads around the plastic conundrum.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As nations try and find solutions to sustain ever increasing energy needs, nuclear energy is being seriously considered by Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore. Can experts find a way to deal with the safety and cost issues? Jack Board and Liling Tan talk through the science and scary scenarios. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oil and water never mix so when there's a spill, all kinds of environmental, financial and even emotional impact ensue. Jack Board and Liling Tan drill deep into the impact of spills and how innovative solutions can prevent them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The vertical farming revolution is a way to deal with climate impacts on traditional farming and food insecurity. But heavy energy and technology costs are getting in the way of scale and commercial success. Jack Board and Liling Tan lay out the facts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.