Eco-Business

Studio EB Small-to-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a crucial role as the unacknowledged economic backbone of Malaysia, accounting for 38 per cent of the nation's GDP. However, these enterprises face obstacles in adopting sustainability compliance, primarily due to insufficient funding, expertise and manpower.

A smallholder farmer on a plantation in Indonesia

The Malaysian bank is the first to set decarbonisation targets for the sector, aiming to cut portfolio emissions intensity by 16 per cent by 2030. However, its commitment does not directly include smallholders, who are not within its existing base of clients.

The risk of emissions leaking from carbon storage and nature-related projects has held investors back from carbon markets, fuelling an increase in new insurance offerings.

Malaysia’s southernmost state is exploring clean power exports and boosting EV infrastructure development via a proposed special economic zone with Singapore. Johor's green economy plan will also look to bolster flood defences.

Oleh Robin Hicks

Oleh Catherine Early

Oleh Ng Wai Mun

Semua Malaysia Berita →

Smallholder farmer hoists fresh fruits bunches

Studio EB The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil's Guntur Cahyo Prabowo argues why certified smallholders should be able to sell their produce under the European Union's new deforestation regulation, including via a RSPO smallholder credits system. Oleh Guntur Cahyo Prabowo

Who’s leading the race to develop electric vehicles in Southeast Asia? The answer is complicated. Oleh Tham Siew Yean

Reducing methane emissions is key to limit global warming. Oleh Dr Shareen Yawanarajah

As COP 28 approaches, Southeast Asia policymakers see the need for climate adaptation as well as mitigation. But there is an urgent need to encourage multiple sources of finance in this arena. Oleh Vinod Thomas

Oleh Sharon Seah dan Helena Varkkey

Oleh Jessica Cheam

Oleh Mirza Sadaqat Huda

Oleh Elyssa Kaur Ludher

Seluruh Malaysia Opini →

The origin of Covid-19 is believed to be a market selling live wild animals. Eco-Business asked Anbarasi Boopal of Singapore-based animal welfare charity Acres about the link between the exploitation of animals and pandemics, and what can be done to curb the illegal wildlife trade.

Air-conditioning units on a building in Singapore

Improving energy efficiency could meet a quarter of Southeast Asia’s emissions reduction targets. Here is how efficiency could drive Southeast Asia's energy transition.

Southeast Asian nations are racing to bring clean, affordable power to their people, but one country is outrunning them all. How can states make their renewable energy transition a success?

Simon Lord and Pamela Mar on Sustainability One on One

In the first in a new video series where sustainability leaders interview each other about the toughest things about their jobs, Simon Lord of Malaysian palm oil giant Sime Darby Plantation went head to head with Pamela Mar of Hong Kong-based textile and apparel giant Fung Group.

Seluruh Malaysia Video →

The oil and gas sector needs to cut operational emissions faster, Charlotte Wolff-Bye tells the Eco-Business podcast. But slashing fuel output won’t do for the Asian supplier, and it welcomes respectful debate at the climate summit.

Studio EB Transboundary haze pollution is back with a vengeance in Southeast Asia. The Eco-Business Podcast talks to RSPO CEO Joseph D'Cruz about what the palm oil sector can do to put out the peatland fires that have burned annually for four decades.

Studio EB Plant-based milks have grown in popularity in recent years, driven by a combination of health, environmental and practical concerns. Nutritionists on the Eco-Business podcast, produced in association with Kerry, weigh the pros and cons of non-dairy milk.

The stories of Malaysia’s indigenous tribes are now being captured through the fresh lenses of young female filmmakers. In this bilingual podcast recorded in English and Bahasa Melayu, they tell Eco-Business why they've picked up the camera.

Semua Malaysia Podcast →