People, Planet, Profit

How are major palm oil players ensuring smallholders in their supply chain comply with evolving sustainability regulations? We hear from Dr. Shariman Alwani, CEO of SD Guthrie International about the company’s support for smallholders under its Beyond Zero Framework that was launched last year as well as efforts to make sustainable palm oil more mainstream. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

US President Donald Trump took immediate steps to reverse the energy policies of his predecessor, Joe Biden, including by declaring a national energy emergency via Executive Order. How might these moves shape the energy sector moving forward? We discuss this with Kenneth Medlock, Senior Director at the Center for Energy Studies at Rice University's Baker Institute of Public Policy. Image Credit: S...

How can digital technology improve the productivity and supply chain issues of the Malaysian agrofood sector? We speak to Syed Aiman Jaafar, CEO of the agritech platform Farmbyte on how they see digital tech contributing to food security by reducing waste. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2024 was the year marked by diverging views of ESG between those that support its implementation versus the skeptics, driven by a rise in right-wing politics around the world, especially in the US and Europe. Will we see continued backlash against ESG in 2025 and what does that mean for businesses trying to navigate the international ESG regulations? We discuss how this and other themes could play...

Carbon markets received a big boost during the COP29 UN Climate Change Conference with member states adopting new guidelines for Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. How will this shape the development of the carbon market landscape moving forward especially in ASEAN? We discuss this with Dr. Renard Siew, President of the Malaysia Carbon Market Association. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omn...

When it comes to philanthropy and social responsibility, does corporate Malaysia put their money where their mouth is? That’s what social enterprise Wiki Impact aims to explore in their annual " Bursa Top 20: Who’s the Most Charitable? " report, with the latest edition covering 2023 data issued in November. We discuss what the findings reveal about corporate philanthropy in Malaysia with Terence O...

The world is experiencing higher temperatures each year as a result of climate change, with 2024 projected to be the hottest on record so far. How prepared is Malaysia to deal with a hotter reality? We discuss the findings of a working paper by KRI Research Associate Wan Amirah Wan Usamah on the policies that should be considered to adapt to warmer climes. Read the full report here .  Image C...

The UN Climate Change Conference or COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan recently reached an agreement on Article 6 of the Paris Agreement governing how countries can cut global emissions through carbon markets. We discuss the implications of this with Matt Sechovsky of Fitch Solutions. Image Credit: shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump’s first term in the White House undeniably set back the global climate change agenda. What can we expect in his second term? We speak with Dr. Gautam Jain of Columbia University to discuss the ways in which the Trump administration could undo the climate policies of Joe Biden - but also reasons to stay optimistic about the momentum of the energy transition. Image Credit: shutterstock....

ASEAN is one of the world’s largest consumers of energy but is also especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. As a result, there is shared acknowledgment that the region needs to accelerate its transition to renewable energy sources - but are we making the right progress? We get industry perspectives from Kavita Gandhi, Executive Director of the Sustainable Energy Association of Sing...

The World Bank and the Securities Commission of Malaysia recently launched the ESG Disclosure Assessment providing a baseline of reporting practices among Malaysian corporates, ahead of the implementation of the National Sustainability Reporting Framework beginning in 2025. We speak to Fiona Stewart, Lead Financial Sector Specialist at the World Bank to discuss the findings of the report. See omny...

Malaysia has set the clear goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050, with the energy transition being a key component. To what extent does Budget 2025 pursue these aims? We go through some of the green initiatives of the budget with Ganesha Pillai, Senior Research Associate at the Asia School of Business. Brought to you by Mah Sing. Reinvent Spaces. Enhance Life. Image Credit: shuttersto...

The 2024 UN Food Waste Index highlighted that more than 1 billion tonnes of food is wasted annually. With the food services and retail sector accounting for approximately 40% of global food waste, how are industry players addressing this issue? On the eve of World Food Day, we discuss the factors contributing to food waste and initiatives to mitigate them with Lee Qi Ni, Corporate Responsibility a...

What are the major attitudes in Southeast Asia with regard to decarbonisation and energy transition? We unpack some of the findings from the Southeast Asia Climate Outlook 2024 Survey Report with Mirza Sadaqat Huda of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. Image Credit: shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hydrogen economy is said to be a key lever to the world achieving its net zero targets, but what does the pathway look like? We discuss the role of hydrogen in global decarbonisation efforts with Daniela Vivaesh and Voon Jye Yng of ERM. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In two months, the 29th United Nations climate change conference or COP29 will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan. How will Baku build on the developments of COP28 in Dubai and what are the sticking points that could dominate discussions? We get a preview of what to expect from Hannah Fernandez of Eco-Business. Image Credit: Poetra. RH / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

Malaysia is blessed with abundant sources of water, including ample rainfall, but government officials are warning of a crisis scenario in the future if water stewardship doesn’t improve. What are the challenges and available solutions to safeguard this precious resource? We discuss the complexities of water and wastewater management with Olivier Estienne, Malaysia Country Director for Veolia Wate...

Although women have made immense strides as entrepreneurs, challenges persist in Malaysia and the world over for women looking to take their businesses to the next level. How much has the ESG movement tipped the scales for women in entrepreneurship and what are the initiatives that can make a difference? We get perspectives from Ingrid Vanderveldt, the founder and CEO of Empowering a Billion Women...

Although the concept of circularity has gained traction in global policy discussions, there hasn’t yet been tangible impact on the ground. Could this change with the launching of the National Circular Economy Blueprint in Solid Waste Management 2035 to 2045 by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government this month. How much could this plan move the needle? We discuss this with Dr. S. Sri Ume...

Malaysia is lauded for its diversity, but how much of that is actually reflected in the corporate world? Today we discuss findings from the 2024 Talent Trends Report by consultancy Michael Page, focusing on the issue of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) with Nic Chambers, Managing Director of Michael Page Malaysia. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

Bloomberg Intelligence estimates that the ESG market could grow to 40 trillion US dollars. In light of this unstoppable trend, how are asset management companies adapting to the ESG requirements in making investment decisions? We get insights from Sylvia Chen, Head of ESG for South Asia of French asset management firm Amundi. People, Planet, Profit is brought to you by UMW Toyota. Image Credit: sh...

Sustainability commitments have become mainstream in the corporate world, but how much is the rhetoric backed by action especially from corporate boards? We discuss the findings of a recent report by Stewardship Asia Centre with CEO Rajeev Peshawaria. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Small-holders make up 40% of Malaysia’s palm oil output and control around 26% of palm oil areas. How are they impacted by the sustainability imperatives of global supply chains? We discuss these themes in the context of independent smallholders in Johor with Dr. Asad Ata, Associate Professor at the Asia School of Business and Director at the Center for Sustainable Small-owners. See omnystudio.com...

There have been a flurry of headlines over the past month highlighting the problem of illegal waste and recycling in the country. What are the gaps in regulatory oversight and can there be better policies in place to tackle plastic and hazardous waste? We speak to Wong Si Peng of the advocacy group C4 and Wong Pui Yi of the Basel Action Network. People, Planet, Profit is brought to you by UMW Toyo...

The Edelman Trust Barometer has become a mainstay in corporate surveys, taking the temperature of public trust levels towards the government, businesses, civil society groups and media across 28 countries. The 2024 edition looks at the nexus between trust and innovation. We discuss some of the highlights with Chris De Cruz, Chief Operating Officer of Edelman Malaysia. People, Planet, Profit is bro...