| View/share online → 16 August 2023 |
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| Editor’s Note Welcome to Insights: Our refreshed newsletter A meandering river in the Southern Cardamom REDD+ project in Cambodia, situated within one of the last intact rainforests in Southeast Asia. Image: Filip Agoo/Everland Jessica Cheam Founder and Managing Director Dear EB reader, Over the years, many of you will have become familiar with our weekly newsletter – now delivered to the inboxes of almost 100,000 discerning readers every week – and its reliable look. As Winston Churchill once said, to improve is to change. Today, we are excited to unveil a refreshed edition to better reflect our times – a vibrant and sharper newsletter named 'Insights', bringing you incisive updates about our world through the sustainable development lens.   As our community grows and needs evolve, timely and accurate information is increasingly valuable. For the launch of our new edition, we feature a special report on REDD+ sites in Cambodia, where our correspondent takes an in-depth look at the state's big bet on forest offsetting schemes. Elsewhere in Southeast Asia, we analyse the impact of plans by countries to ramp up gas production despite the threat it poses to the 1.5°C warming limit. A recent report also finds that the Global North and South differ significantly on views towards degrowth. Enabling an equitable transition has become a strategic priority on the international agenda, yet how this can be achieved in practical terms remains elusive. This is the key focus of our upcoming flagship forum, Unlocking capital for sustainability 2023 hosted in partnership with United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), which is also being launched this week with a brand new website. We will be hosting four in-person events in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines before culminating in the Singapore summit on 27 to 28 September. We invite you to join us as we discuss the key mechanisms that will unlock capital for Asia’s transition. As always, you can rely on us to bring you the latest developments and exclusive insights into our changing world through our wide range of newsletters, including our daily digest and country editions. Do sign up for them – and let us know what you think about our new look. |
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| Top stories this week |
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| Behind Cambodia's big bet on REDD+ projects The forest conservation strategy provides locals alternative income, but critics say it fails to curb illicit logging by the rich and powerful. Read now → |
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| An investor’s guide to buying forest carbon offsets For instance, what counts as a good project baseline – the lack of which being a major contention in recent integrity accusations? Read now → |
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| Philippines' BPI green bond gets US$250 million investment from IFC The record deal will finance renewable energy and electric vehicle projects in the country. Read now → |
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| Newly approved gas reserves in Malaysia, Vietnam threaten 1.5°C warming limit: report Several oil fields have potential lifespans extending beyond the net-zero timeframe of their host countries. Read now → |
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| ‘Decarbonisation cannot cost us business growth’: Pan Brothers sustainability chief on the net-zero challenge One of Indonesia’s largest garment makers sees roadblocks in national renewables purchasing limits and a declining local textiles industry. Read now → |
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| Climate experts from Global South cool on degrowth: survey Scientists from emerging economies favour “green growth”, against support in the West for scaling back economic activity to rein in climate risks. Read now → |
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| 'Environmental defenders are the glue of the Philippines’ democracy': Delikado director Karl Malakunas The veteran journalist shares how a simple story idea turned into an Emmy-nominated documentary on Palawan locals' risky fight against environmental destruction. Read now → |
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| EB Studio Can reforestation efforts reverse the damage done in the Philippines? Decades of logging, urbanisation and land conversion have destroyed forests in the Philippines. The country is trying to strike a better balance between meeting the needs of society and putting nature first. Read the full story → |
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| EB Studio Why renewable energy has the potential to power the Philippines’ future The Philippines adopted a national goal to increase the share of renewable energy in its power generation mix to 35 percent by 2030. New policies and technologies can help the nation enhance its energy security, say industry experts. Read the full story → |
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| Opinion |
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| Consultants find climate crisis is good for business The reliance on for-profit sustainability advisers reflects how neoliberalism has corrupted the state and interests of civil society. Read now → |
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| Why it’s more important than ever to invest in the voluntary carbon market Purchasing high-quality carbon credits is not only good for the environment, it is also smart business. Read now → |
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| How climate change is killing languages Forced migration is to blame in driving tongues to extinction in the world’s most linguistically diverse regions. Read now → |
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| Does sportswashing even work? Some countries are investing in sports to promote their reputations on a global stage and deflect attention away from less favourable perceptions of some of the key institutions they manage. Read now → |
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| People |
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| Standard Chartered Bank appoints first head of social sustainability Natalie Marko Nietsch has been appointed to lead new business and partnerships to boost the bank's social impact. She will be based in Singapore. Read now → |
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| Keppel Corp hires Bennett Wong from Paia Consulting to drive net-zero targets Singaporean conglomerate Keppel Corporation has hired Bennett Wong from consulting firm Paia as a senior member of its sustainability team. Read now → |
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| Press Releases |
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| Cities Ten countries to bag UNDP's 2023 Equator Prize |
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| Policy & Finance ADB forecasts continued pandemic recovery for Pacific economies in 2023, 2024 |
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| Cities International Day of Care and Support: a milestone for gender equality, sustainable societies |
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| Featured Event UCFS 2023 - Indonesia: Navigating Indonesia’s net-zero journey The race is on for Indonesia to achieve its announced goal of reaching net zero emissions by 2060. The landmark target will require the country to triple renewable energy investments by 2030... View the event details → |
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| Events |
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| 8 September 2023 • Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia UCFS 2023 - Malaysia: Powering a fair and just energy transition for Malaysia |
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| 9 September 2023 • Singapore Sustainability for All: How AIIB is financing infrastructure for tomorrow |
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| 25 September 2023 • Manila, Philippines Zeroing in on net zero: From corporate pledges to action |
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| 28 September 2023 • Singapore Unlocking Capital for Sustainability 2023 – Enabling an equitable transition |
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| Jobs |
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| Singapore • Greenview Data analyst (Singapore) |
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| Singapore • Reclaim Finance Policy analyst - just transition (Singapore) |
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| Singapore • EB Impact Executive director |
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| Research |
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| Policy & Finance How plastic credits are supporting the Global Plastics Treaty |
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| CSR Lego and the toy makers: How sustainability comes to play land |
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| Stay updated Eco-Business 1 Rochester Park Singapore Singapore 139212 |
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