Earth Matters

33:17

Sustainable Finance: Protecting Forests or Greenwashing?

Earth Matters ·

2026/07/22

Sustainable finance has become a major part of the global push towards tackling climate change and protecting nature. By helping direct investment towards projects that deliver environmental and social benefits, it has the potential to reshape how development happens. Here in Malaysia, Bank Negara Malaysia and Securities Commission Malaysia are developing a Sustainable Finance Taxonomy to help classify which economic activities can be considered sustainable. But civil society groups say that the

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28:27

Who Decides Coastal Development?

Earth Matters ·

2026/07/20

Land reclamation is often promoted as a driver of economic growth, but it's also one of the most controversial forms of development, with lasting impacts on the environment, coastal communities, and traditional livelihoods. Now, a recent Court of Appeal judgment involving the Penang South Islands reclamation project has sparked a new debate, not just about the environmental impacts of reclamation, but about who has the legal authority to approve it in the first place. Although the appeal against the

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34:49

MY Garden Birdwatch: Count Birds, Help Conservation

Earth Matters ·

2026/07/15

Birds are often described as indicators of the health of our environment. When bird populations change, they're often telling us something about the ecosystems we all depend on. That's one reason projects like MY Garden Birdwatch matter. Returning this July after a four-year break, the nationwide survey invites Malaysians to spend just 30 minutes observing birds in their local area and contribute to a growing body of scientific knowledge. Joining us to share more is Liu Lai-Wah, an avid birdwatcher

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39:06

Following the Fate of Our Forests

Earth Matters ·

2026/07/13

Ever so often, we hear about another patch of forest being cleared, excised or reclassified. But if you've ever tried to find out exactly what happened, when it happened, or whether it was even legal, you'll know just how difficult that information can be to access. That's exactly the problem journalist Law Yao Hua set out to solve. Drawing on years of reporting, hundreds of official gazettes and forest reserve maps, he has created Fate of Our Forests, a platform that brings together more than two

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37:02

Global Climate Talks & Local Impacts Explained

Earth Matters ·

2026/07/08

Climate action doesn't only happen at the annual UN Climate Conference, or COP. Throughout the year, negotiators, policymakers and civil society organisations meet to tackle the complex work of turning global climate commitments into practical action. Last month saw a packed calendar of major international gatherings, including the Global Solutions Summit in Berlin, the UNFCCC's mid-year negotiations in Bonn, and London Climate Action Week. Together, these meetings helped shape the conversations

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38:47

Examining Malaysia's Elephant Transfer to Japan

Earth Matters ·

2026/07/06

The transfer of three Malaysian elephants to Japan has sparked widespread debate over the past few months. While the move was described as a conservation partnership between two zoos, campaigners have questioned whether the transfer complied with Malaysian law, raised concerns about the elephants' welfare, and called for greater transparency over how the decision was made. In this conversation, we unpack the key issues surrounding the case, from the legal questions and ongoing investigations, to

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41:55

Why Tourist Islands Are Drowning in Waste & How To...

Earth Matters ·

2026/07/01

The more successful a tourist island becomes, the more waste it often has to manage. That's one of the central ideas behind a new report titled Pathways Towards Circularity: The Zero Waste Islands Framework, from GAIA Asia Pacific, which argues that many island destinations are trapped in an extractive cycle. Products are imported, consumed, and discarded, while local communities are left to deal with the environmental and financial costs. The report proposes a different path, one built around zero

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34:14

Nature Reads: Remembering a Wilder Malaysia

Earth Matters ·

2026/06/29

For July 2026's episode of Nature Reads, we speak to Rahayu Zulkifli, Chief Executive Officer of Marine Conservation and Research Organisation Malaysia (PULIHARA), together with co-host Dylan Jefri Ong, co-founder of Sunda Shelves. We explore the books that sparked Rahayu's love of nature and conservation, before diving into Tigers of Terengganu by A. Locke, a vivid account of a Malaysia where tigers still roamed the forests and people lived much closer to the wild. Along the way, we reflect on what

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45:12

Is Malaysia Ready for a Super El Niño?

Earth Matters ·

2026/06/24

El Niño is often thought of as a weather phenomenon, bringing hotter and drier conditions to parts of the world. But according to the Association of Water and Energy Research Malaysia, the bigger story may not be the weather itself, but rather how prepared Malaysia is to deal with the pressures that come with it, from water shortages and pollution risks to energy security and the management of critical infrastructure. Joining us to unpack these issues is Piarapakaran Subramaniam, President of the

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39:33

Taman Rimba Kiara: Saving the Park, Securing the Homes

Earth Matters ·

2026/06/22

For years, residents, activists and the Bukit Kiara longhouse community fought plans to develop part of Taman Rimba Kiara, a dispute that eventually made its way to the country's highest court. In 2023, the Federal Court ruled that the proposed development was unlawful, securing a landmark victory for those seeking to preserve the park. But throughout that long struggle, campaigners repeatedly stressed that saving Taman Rimba Kiara was only part of the story. The other part involved a promise made

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39:07

The Push for Orang Asli Customary Land Recognition

Earth Matters ·

2026/06/15

More than 1,500 Orang Asli and supporters recently gathered in Putrajaya to submit a memorandum calling for greater recognition and protection of Indigenous customary lands. The demonstration comes amid growing concerns over land disputes affecting Orang Asli communities across the country, including the recent demolition of homes belonging to a Jakun community in Pekan, Pahang. We take a closer look at why land rights remain such a pressing issue, what's at stake for Orang Asli communities, and

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41:14

Leading a Forest's Second Chance

Earth Matters ·

2026/06/10

Forest restoration is often described as a long game. Trees that are planted today may take decades to mature, and ecosystems can take even longer to recover. Yet restoring degraded ecosystems requires more than patience, it often depends on the commitment of individuals willing to invest their own time, energy and resources for results they may never fully see. In Sungai Buaya, Selangor, photographer, conservationist and Green Tree co-founder David Lok has spent years personally funding a forest

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30:34

Oil and Gas vs Marine Biodiversity

Earth Matters ·

2026/06/08

As we mark World Oceans Day today Coral Triangle Day in June, it's worth remembering that Malaysia sits within one of the most biodiverse marine regions on Earth. Our waters are home to coral reefs, seagrass meadows, sea turtles, sharks, and countless other species that support fisheries, tourism, livelihoods, and coastal communities. But a new report suggests that many of these ecologically important areas overlap with active and proposed offshore oil and gas development. Produced by RimbaWatch

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30:57

The Rainforest Youth Summit 2026

Earth Matters ·

2026/06/03

What does meaningful climate engagement actually look like for young people today? Beyond headlines and social media, how do we create spaces for real conversations, collaboration, and action? Those are some of the questions at the heart of the Rainforest Youth Summit, which returns this year in Sarawak with a programme focused on sustainability, culture, innovation, and youth leadership. We learn more about the summit’s journey so far, what attendees can look forward to this year, and why these

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46:55

Nature Reads: The People & Stories Behind Bukit Kiara

Earth Matters ·

2026/05/25

On this episode of Nature Reads, we speak to guest Ir. Dr. Kribanandan G Naidu, Immediate Past President of Friends of Bukit Kiara (FOBK), together with co-host Dylan Jefri Ong, co-founder of Sunda Shelves. We discuss the books, experiences, and ideas that inspired Dr Kriban’s connection to nature and conservation, the history and importance of urban green spaces like Bukit Kiara, and the newly updated edition of the thoughtfully crafted guidebook, Bukit Kiara: A Sanctuary in the City.Nature Reads

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32:29

Top Tips for Malaysian Ecotourism Road Trips

Earth Matters ·

2026/05/20

The school holidays are around the corner, along with a string of long weekends and public holidays, which means many Malaysians are probably already planning road trips and quick getaways. And with all the recent conversation around fuel subsidy rationalisation and rising travel costs, suddenly that nearby nature escape is sounding a lot more attractive. Luckily, Malaysia is full of ecotourism gems worth discovering, especially during Visit Malaysia Year 2026, so today, we’re taking a road trip

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43:03

The Unequal Reality of the Climate Crisis

Earth Matters ·

2026/05/18

Across the Pacific, communities are already living with the realities of the climate crisis. From rising sea levels to stronger storms and threats to food security, many island nations are facing impacts despite contributing only a tiny fraction of global carbon emissions. At the same time, activists and young leaders from the region are continuing to push for climate justice and greater global accountability. We discuss Pacific climate realities with Dylan Kava, a Fijian environmental advocate,

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38:26

Preserving Bukit Dinding’s Urban Forest

Earth Matters ·

2026/05/13

Urban forests often quietly disappear before people realise what has been lost. But in the case of Bukit Dinding, a growing community of residents and environmental advocates have been working hard to ensure this important green space remains protected. From conservation work and biodiversity documentation to raising awareness about development concerns, Friends of Bukit Dinding has become a strong voice for urban environmental stewardship in Kuala Lumpur. To tell us more, we’re joined by Adrihazim

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37:05

First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil...

Earth Matters ·

2026/05/11

For decades, global climate talks have largely focused on reducing emissions. But at a landmark conference in Santa Marta, Colombia, countries, scientists, Indigenous leaders and civil society groups gathered to tackle a much more direct question: how do we actually move the world away from fossil fuels themselves? The First Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels, co-hosted by Colombia and the Netherlands, has been described by some observers as a possible turning point in global climate

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30:46

Orang Asli in Malaysia: Land and Rights

Earth Matters ·

2026/05/06

Many of the challenges facing Orang Asli communities are already well known, but what’s really driving them? In Part Two of our two-part special, we turn to what many argue is the root issue: land. In Part One, we explored the lived experiences, from education and healthcare to questions around identity and development. Now, we turn to land, and why it remains one of the most critical and contested issues. This conversation is based on the policy brief “Orang Asli Advancement and the Right to Land,

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