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Earth Matters

Climate change, ferocious weather and ‘the haze’ are now part our everyday lives. How are our lifestyles connected to them, and what can we do about it? What does the economy have to do with it? Earth Matters engages with activists and experts to explore our changing relationship with the planet that we only borrow from our children.

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All Episodes

37:16

Sabah’s Bold Plan to Save Sun Bears

Earth Matters ·

2025/04/02

Sabah has introduced its first-ever 10-year Bornean Sun Bear Action Plan (2025–2034) to tackle the pressing threats facing the species, which is classified as vulnerable to extinction. Developed through extensive consultation, the plan focuses on habitat protection, stronger law enforcement, population monitoring, and public awareness. We catch up with Dr. Wong Siew Te, a wildlife biologist, tropical forest ecologist, and the CEO and Founder of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), to

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30:39

How Wildlife Traffickers Exploit Malaysia’s Airports

Earth Matters ·

2025/03/26

Malaysia’s airports have become hotspots for wildlife trafficking, with thousands of animals smuggled through Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in just the last few months. Endangered primates, turtles, reptiles, and even bats have been packed into luggage and flown out of the country, often only intercepted at other airports outside the country. What’s allowing this illegal trade to thrive, and what needs to be done to stop it? We speak to Kanitha Krishnasamy, the Director of TRAFFIC

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18:36

Macaranga Wrap-Up: March 2025

Earth Matters ·

2025/03/24

As we close off March, time to look back at some of the top environmental news from the month past, with the co-founders of environmental journalism portal, Macaranga. Together we discuss some current legal disputes being played out in court involving Orang Asli communities, who are facing issues such as destruction of their ancestral land and cultural heritage. We also discuss the supposed pro's and con's CCUS, seeing as how the Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage Bill 2025 (CCUS Bill 2025)

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28:50

How Justice for Wildlife Malaysia Fights Crime

Earth Matters ·

2025/03/23

Behind every wildlife crime is a legal battle - one that Justice for Wildlife Malaysia (JWM) is determined to strengthen. Recognising the critical role of the judiciary in conservation, JWM works to enhance prosecutorial processes, improve investigative methods, and educate legal professionals on the far-reaching impacts of wildlife crime. Originally a spin-off of the Justice for Silent Victims (J4SV) program by Panthera and Rimba, JWM has since grown into an independent force under the leadership

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29:36

Is Carbon Capture Fueling More Fossil Extraction?

Earth Matters ·

2025/03/19

Carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) is often presented as a solution to climate change, including here in Malaysia. But according to new research by environmental think-tank RimbaWatch, CCUS is not only ineffective at reducing emissions but is actively enabling further fossil fuel extraction, and could actually unlock a 1.3 billion-tonne carbon bomb. With billions of ringgit at stake and a CCUS Bill in progress, what are the risks, and what’s the alternative? We speak to Adam Farhan,

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35:52

Just Energy Transition Partnership: What’s Next...

Earth Matters ·

2025/03/17

The Just Energy Transition Partnership, or JETP, was designed to help countries move away from coal, towards clean energy. But with the United States recently pulling out of its financial commitments, many are wondering if the model can still work. Grant Hauber, an expert in energy finance, who has been closely following developments, argues that the JETP can still succeed without U.S. involvement. Grant, who is the Strategic Energy Finance Adviser for Asia, at the Institute for Energy Economics

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41:59

Understanding Environmental Impact Assessments

Earth Matters ·

2025/03/12

When a major development project is announced—whether it’s a highway, a dam, or a large-scale plantation—one of the most critical steps in the process is the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). But how does the EIA process work, and how much influence does public feedback really have? In a three-part series, environmental journalism portal Macaranga spoke to stakeholders to explore all this and more, and we speak to environmental journalist Law Yao Hua who wrote the articles, EIA consultant and

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41:55

How Malaysia’s Seed Bill Threatens Farmers

Earth Matters ·

2025/03/10

For generations, farmers in Malaysia have saved and shared seeds, preserving biodiversity, culture, and food security. But a new proposed law could change that, shifting control of seeds—and ultimately food production—into the hands of corporations. What does this mean for the future of farming in Malaysia? How will it impact smallholder farmers, indigenous communities, and even consumers? We discuss this and more with Gabriel Hii, the co-chair of the Sarawak CSO-SDG Alliance, and Anjelen Daransun,

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32:15

The Story of The Mah Meri's Spirit Flowers

Earth Matters ·

2025/03/05

The Mah Meri’s bunga moyang, or ancestral spirit flowers, are more than just beautiful weavings - they carry deep spiritual meaning and reflect a way of life in harmony with nature. Adat & Alam: The Mah Meri Ancestral Spirit Flowers, a new book by Gerimis Art Project, compiled with guidance by the Tompoq Topoh collective, documents this sacred craft through photographs, illustrations, and essays. We speak with Gerimis Art’s co-founder Wendi Sia, to discover more about the collaboration between

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40:15

Inside the Illegal Gibbon Trade

Earth Matters ·

2025/02/26

Gibbons are among the most endangered primates in the world, yet their trafficking rarely makes headlines. As smuggling operations grow bolder, urgent action is needed to protect these intelligent, social creatures. But enforcement failures, lack of transparency, and weak rehabilitation efforts threaten their survival. So, what can be done? We’re joined by Mariani ‘Bam’ Ramli (President & Founder of the Gibbon Conservation Society) and Dr. Susan M Cheyne (Vice-Chair for the IUCN Primate

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16:18

Macaranga Wrap-Up: February 2025

Earth Matters ·

2025/02/24

For February's wrap-up of top environmental news, Wong Siew Lyn, co-founder of environmental journalism portal Macaranga, joins us to first discuss the impacts of the recent flooding on conservation projects in Kinabatangan in Sabah, then to explain the government's plans to punish litterbugs, and finally how Malaysia chairing ASEAN might impact the environment and sustainability efforts across the region.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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29:57

How Communities Are Stopping Logging In Sarawak

Earth Matters ·

2025/02/23

For years, Indigenous communities in Sarawak have fought to protect their ancestral lands from unsustainable logging, challenging industry practices and certification schemes that failed to recognise their rights. Their persistence has led to a victory that saw contested logging concessions lose their certification, marking a turning point in the push for stronger protections. We speak with Celine Lim, Managing Director of Save Rivers, to find out more how the Stop The Chop campaign played a huge

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34:13

Perdana Botanical Garden Walks: Nature, Wildlife & More

Earth Matters ·

2025/02/19

Perdana Botanical Garden is more than just a scenic escape in the heart of Kuala Lumpur—it’s also a gateway to understanding Malaysia’s rich biodiversity. Thanks to the newly established Forest Learning Centre, visitors now have the opportunity to explore nature through guided walks designed to make forest learning fun and accessible. From pollinators to wetlands and even nighttime adventures, we find out more about these thematic walks from guide Siti Syuhada Sapno, who is also the Programme

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39:51

Bleaching, Breakdown, and Hope for Coral Reefs

Earth Matters ·

2025/02/17

What’s the state of Malaysia’s coral reefs, and what can we do to protect them? These vibrant ecosystems are essential for marine life and coastal communities, but they face growing threats and pressure from human activity and climate change. Julian Hyde, the CEO of Reef Check Malaysia, walks us through the key findings of the Status of Coral Reefs in Malaysia 2024 report, focusing on the urgent need for sustainable management, and how protecting coral reefs is essential for Malaysia’s economy and

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38:02

The Realities of Rehabilitating & Releasing Rescued...

Earth Matters ·

2025/02/12

In Sabah, rescuing and rehabilitating sun bears is only half the battle. The real challenge lies in preparing them for life in the wild, while addressing the root causes of their declining population: illegal trade and loss of habitat. All of this is covered in Macaranga's latest article, Helping Sabah’s Sun Bears Return to the Wild, which also discusses how many released bears struggle to survive back in the wild, and why conservationists are stressing that keeping sun bears in their natural

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45:11

Trump’s Environmental Policies: Who Wins, Who Loses?

Earth Matters ·

2025/02/10

When we think about climate action, it’s easy to focus on what’s happening in our own backyard. But the reality is, decisions made in big economies - especially in the US - have a huge impact on the rest of the world. With Donald Trump back for a second term as President of the United States of America, what does that mean for the environment? What policies could shift, and how might that affect global efforts to tackle the climate crisis? To help us make sense of it all, we speak to Rob Dietz,

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32:00

Inside Green Wira: Zero Waste Education in Schools

Earth Matters ·

2025/02/05

As environmental awareness grows, initiatives like Zero Waste Malaysia’s Green Wira Programme (GWP) are shaping the next generation of sustainability champions. GWP is an educational programme dedicated to training educators in Malaysia on sustainability and zero-waste living implementation. Currently open to primary and secondary school educators in the Klang Valley, the programme - which is endorsed by the Ministry of Education - equips teachers with the knowledge and skills to lead impactful

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37:44

US Pulls Out Of Paris Agreement - What Happens Next?

Earth Matters ·

2025/02/03

The United States’ exit from the Paris Agreement - again - raises urgent questions about the future of global climate negotiations. What does this mean for COP30 in Brazil, where countries are expected to present new climate commitments? How might the absence of US leadership affect international efforts to curb emissions? We speak to Meenakshi Raman, the President of Sahabat Alam Malaysia and the Head of Programmes at the Third World Network, to help us break down the implications of this

en-US

19:41

Macaranga Wrap-Up: January 2025

Earth Matters ·

2025/01/27

In 2025's first round-up of top environmental news from the month past, we tackle how coastal erosion is devastating coastlines in some parts of Malaysia, before looking at how the highest sea temperatures on record in 2024 has led to one of the worst coral bleaching incidents in Malaysian waters. We also take a look at the Natural Resources And Environmental Sustainability Ministry's announcement that executive summaries of environmental impact assessment reports will be made accessible to the

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29:03

Snakes Explained!

Earth Matters ·

2025/01/26

As we slither into the Year of the Snake this Chinese New Year, it’s the perfect time to shed our fears and learn more about these fascinating creatures. While snakes are oftenportrayed as symbols of fear or danger, they are in fact vital components of our natural world. We catch up with naturalist Andrew Sebastian, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ecotourism and Conservation Society of Malaysia (ECOMY), to discuss Malaysia's incredible snake diversity, and why we should replace fear with

en-US

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