Episodes

  • Eco Money: What's stopping businesses from investing in nature? And a deep dive into gaps in Sustainability Reporting.
    Jan 24 2025

    A recent analysis of 700 companies across 11 industries and 14 Asia-Pacific jurisdictions revealed that while 72% acknowledged issues like water and biodiversity, only 25% considered them material to their business.

    What’s driving the disconnect and the key gridlocks in finance models? And what are the implications now that the US has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement a second time?

    On this episode of Eco Money, Professor Lawrence Loh, Director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at the NUS Business School shares his insights.

    Presented by: Audrey Siek
    Produced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)
    Assistant Producer: Muhammad Nazirul Asrar
    Photo credits: Getty Images

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    10 mins
  • Eco Money: What role should private capital play when public funding isn’t enough to tackle climate challenges?
    Jan 17 2025

    Identifying financing needs for climate action is not straightforward, especially when it comes to finding equal footing and funding.

    With government budgets already strained and differences in standards and expectations, as seen with the stalled negotiations at COP29, the private sector is set to play an increasingly larger role in closing the gap.

    As part of efforts to recognise the importance of private sector engagement in the climate fight, governments worldwide have begun implementing policies and incentives to catalyse private climate finance. But, stimulating private climate finance entails more than just standard courses of action.

    What role should private capital play when public funding isn’t enough to tackle climate challenges?

    On this episode of Eco Money, Melvyn Yeo, Founder & Managing Partner of TRIREC - a venture capital firm focused on decarbonisation investments - shares his insights.

    Presented by: Emaad Akhtar
    Produced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)
    Assistant Producer: Muhammad Nazirul Asrar
    Photo credits: Earth.com

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    9 mins
  • ECO MONEY: Highlights from half a decade of Eco Money
    Oct 16 2024

    Over the past five years, the Eco Money segment has reported on record breaking temperatures, green bonds, blue bonds, brown bonds, and even rhino bonds - and shared the latest news and views when it comes to sustainability investment.

    In the last episode of Eco Money, Rachel Kelly reflects on key topics covered and highlights from the segment.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    13 mins
  • ECO MONEY: Equity emissions on the rise
    Oct 9 2024

    Emissions have continued to slowly increase for equities.

    That’s according to the latest research from London Stock Exchange Group.

    This despite aggressive global decarbonisation targets.

    In its paper - Decarbonisation in portfolio benchmarks - LSEG aims to unlock key trends and challenges of calculating portfolio emissions.

    To get the details, Rachel Kelly speaks to Jaakko Kooroshy, Global Head of Sustainable Investment Research at FTSE Russell

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    10 mins
  • ECO MONEY: Lack of employee sustainability training holding organisations back
    Oct 2 2024

    Sustainability may be a top business priority, BUT would it surprise you to know that only 6% of business leaders report that their organisation has completed at least one round of sustainability implementation according to NTUC Learning Hub’s Sustainability for Business Resilience Report 2024.

    Holding back efforts seems to be a gap between management and employee expectations when it comes to sustainability training and implementation.

    Rachel Kelly speaks to Mr Low Choon Chye Head, Sustainability, NTUC LearningHub to get the details.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    16 mins
  • ECO MONEY: Which REITS are most susceptible to the effects of climate change?
    Sep 24 2024

    According to a special report by consultancy, XDI - close to one in 10 assets belonging to Reits across Asia-Pacific will be at high risk from the effects of climate change and extreme weather by 2050.

    The 2024 Singapore Governance and Transparency Index has also indicated that S-Reits commonly identified climate change as a material issue.

    To get a clearer picture when it comes to the impact of climate change on Reits Rachel Kelly spoke with Lee Wei Hock, Deputy Assurance Leader, Ernst & Young LLP.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    9 mins
  • ECO MONEY: Singapore sustainable energy professionals call for more aggressive action on goals
    Sep 17 2024

    Singapore has once again emerged as the ASEAN leader in energy transition efforts, for the second year in a row.

    That's according to the latest annual survey by the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) with 250 industry professionals from the energy sector.

    However, nearly one-third of energy professionals believe the city-state’s renewable energy targets need more aggressive action.

    SEAS says respondents are concerned that Singapore remains dependent on natural gas and see lack of regulatory frameworks and barriers in cross-border interconnection agreements as well as regulatory uncertainties in tightened energy markets as hurdles.

    Rachel Kelly speaks to Kavita Gandhi, Executive Director of the Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore to find out more.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    15 mins
  • ECO MONEY: CEOs’ prioritization of sustainability has declined
    Sep 10 2024

    There’s been a sharp decline in CEOs’ prioritization of sustainability - that’s according to the latest research from Bain & Co.

    Instead AI, growth, inflation, and geopolitical uncertainty have risen to the top of their agendas.

    That said, this slowing momentum on sustainability could come with a tangible cost.

    Bain estimates a temperature increase of 2 degrees Celsius could cut $6 trillion from the value of the S&P 5001, in addition to the devastating environmental and social consequences.

    Many companies are reassessing, adjusting, and, in some cases, retracting their climate commitments.

    Rachel Kelly has more in this week's Eco Money.

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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    4 mins