Sustainable Asia

In this episode… we’ll traverse from Hong Kong to South Korea and onto Pune, India. We start with Hong Kong, where Sustainable Asia is based, because no new legislation on plastic waste has been introduced for over a decade. Then we peak through the curtain of the COVID pandemic to see how South Korea is reacting to their recent surge in plastic waste. Finally we turn to Pune, India...

Sparked by the zero waste movement, Asian countries are focusing on reducing..rather than recycling... plastic waste. We start our story on the wealthy island nation of Japan…where the rural village of Kamikatsu…can no longer afford the cost of incinerating disposable plastic and other types of waste. But the question remains, can poorer southeast asia neighbours also apply these zero wa...

We first travel to a waste bank on the island of Lembeh, Indonesia to see how recycling works (or doesn’t work) in small villages. Then we take a look at PET plastic recycling in Asian urban centres...it’s feasible…but if local governments here shoulder the burden of collecting and sorting the plastic waste...is that really making the polluters pay?  This new 5-episode season is based on...

We start with Melati Wijsen’s story….a young Indonesian civic advocate who went on a hunger strike in an effort to ban plastic bags on Bali.  With waste collection rates hovering around 44%, are Asian countries really to blame for the pollution crisis brought by disposable plastic packaging?   This new 5-episode season is based on The Asia Plastic Atlas from the Heinrich Boell Found...

The plastic waste crisis in Asia is real...and it doesn’t seem to be getting better.... It’s clear that we need a new approach to reducing disposable plastic waste and its impact on the communities of Asia. This new 5-episode season is based on The Asia Plastic Atlas from the Heinrich Boell Foundation with support from Break Free From Plastic Asia Pacific. Guests: Lili Fuhr, Heinrich Boe...

With Fukushima’s horrific earthquake-induced nuclear disaster still haunting Japan nowadays, the East Asian nation is finding it increasingly difficult to rehash developing nuclear plants as renewable energy sources. In this episode, we also cover China’s funding pullout from overseas coal power plants, India’s water sources springing back to life, South Korea’s five year sustainable fishing plan,...

China is set to launch its most green-focused plan during two important annual meetings, giving more details on how it plans to eliminate carbon emissions by 2060. We also cover China’s crackdown on illegal wildlife trade, the unexpected silver linings of plastic waste dumps and how technology helps struggling fishermen.  Production credits: Hosts: Chermaine Lee and Bonnie Au Associate produc...

As Asia’s financial hub just announced its new budget, Hong Kong is set to launch the largest amount of green bonds ever in Asia, aiming to raise billions for sustainable projects. In this episode: how China’s carbon neutrality will play into China’s upcoming annual meetings, Indonesia’s horrendous forest fires and Japan’s innovative packaging alternative to plastics.  Production credits: Hos...

As K-pop bands like BTS and Blackpink have become global sensation, our young hosts talk about how their fans groups from all over the world are a strong new force for climate action. In this episode, we also cover China’s role in carbon-heavy Bitcoin mining, India’s crackdown on the Friday for Future founder and how cutting trees might benefit the earth. Pause your K-pop playlist and tune in to g...

While the Year of the Ox kicked off, our young hosts’ celebration was cut short.  Nature’s Bite dampened Asia’s festive atmosphere - from an earthquake in Japan to an avalanche-induced flood in India. Our hosts uncover the culprit of Southeast Asia’s deforestation.  And take a look at Hong Kong’s ambitious carbon neutral plan as well as the plight of the city’s indigenous cattle.  P...

Is climate activism working? Our young hosts talk about how Japan, South Korea and Vietnam’s student activists rallied against building coal-fired plants. We also discuss China’s national carbon credit trading and backlashes from its dam water use.  Feel the powerful bite of climate activism this week! Production credits: Hosts: Chermaine Lee and Bonnie Au Associate producer:  Jiaxing Li...

Reminiscing about good times in Japan, our tourism-hungry hosts talk about the creative but alarming graphics depicting the country at the end of this century if climate change continues at the current rate. We also talk about South Korea’s first step in its ambitious carbon neutral goal and Mongolia’s unexpected struggle as a climate change hotspot.  Get a real bite of East Asia’s green news...

Masked up for over a year, our young hosts wonder and report on what is happening to all the disposable masks in Asia. We talk about the notorious plastic crisis in Hong Kong and China, bleaching of ocean corals in Taiwan and a shocking story in India that may change animal rights laws there.  Sit tight, put on your reusable mask, and prepare yourself for a “bite” of news. Production credits:...

In beanies and thick jackets, our young hosts are surviving the coldest winter in East Asia while bringing you the latest updates on the region’s green news! We talk about why climate change is contributing to this chilly weather and what some Asian countries are doing to reduce their carbon output. Prepare yourself a cup of hot chocolate, and get a “bite” of our environmental news round...

As we are all turning over a new leaf in 2021 we cherry-pick the most important updates of the environmental sector in Asia. In this brand new weekly series from now through March, young journalists Bonnie Au and Chermaine Lee deliver you green news in less than ten minutes. In this pilot episode, we will offer a review of climate-related Asia news in 2020!    Production c...

We have some good news we can’t wait to share with you…. including a brand new series launching in January 2021 that differs from our previous shows.  And it gives us the opportunity to wish you Seasons Greetings from the entire Sustainable Asia team!!

We are wrapping up Season 10 with highlights from our #AskSustainableAsia livestream event with guest speakers Jiliang Chen of Greenovation Hub and Zhou Wei Greenpeace East Asia.  A lively discussion about the outcome of the recent CCAMLR meetings and what it means for China’s fishing interests in Antarctica waters. Guests Zhou Wei , Senior Oceans Campaigner of Greenpeace East Asia, Beijing J...

Guest host Jennifer Turner, Director of the China Environment Forum for the Woodrow Wilson Center, talks with UN Patron of the Oceans Lewis Pugh and renowned freediver JesSea Lu about why they chose to plunge themselves into the frozen seas off Antarctica. How are they using this amazing feat as a platform with CCAMLR members China and Russia to advocate for preserving one of the last undistu...

Jennifer Turner, Director of the China Environment Forum for the Woodrow Wilson Center, talks with Dr. Liu Nengye and Julian Chen. How does China’s investment in new fishing vessels and icebreakers bound for Antarctica impact their decision to approve three new marine protected areas in the Southern Ocean? Guests Dr. Liu Nengye , Macquarie Law School  Julian Chen , Greenovation Hub Highl...

Jennifer Turner, Director of the China Environment Forum for the Woodrow Wilson Center talks with two Chinese experts about rising ocean conservation awareness in China and why protecting the pristine southern ocean ecosystem of Antarctica is good for the planet...and good for China.  Guests Dr. Bin Bin Li , Duke Kunshan University Dr. Julia Xue , Shanghai Jiaotong University Highlights 08:20...

Over this season, we’ve explored how the problem of the Plastic First Mile is being tackled in countries across Asia. In the final episode of the season, we explore the bigger picture. We speak to Doug Woodring of Ocean Recovery Alliance and Brenda Haitema of  First Mile about the state of plastic recycling in Asia, the challenges of financing small and large waste infrastructure, and the fut...

The way Chinese cities are handling plastic waste is changing dramatically - with new household waste separation rules starting in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. There are interesting projects, along with updated waste management laws, designed to encourage increased recycling and better waste separation. But, will this be enough to tackle the insurmountable disposable plastic waste crisis? Guest...

Indonesia has more than 3 million tons of plastic leaking into the ocean every year. Its government announced a plan to cut marine plastic waste by 70% by 2025, so they reached out to the World Economic Forum’s plastic waste initiative for help. But who are the women driving this process and how are they going to put Indonesia on a roadmap to solve their plastic waste dilemma? &nbsp...

Bali’s natural beauty attracts many tourists from around the world, but with that comes plastic waste...a lot of it! We speak with people at McKinsey.org to understand how they developed a plastic bottle recycling pilot program in Bali… that may change the course of waste collection and recycling across all of Indonesia. Guests:   Shannon Bouton - Global Executive Director for Sustainable Com...

Hong Kong’s tall buildings, narrow streets and small retailers present a challenge for plastic beverage bottle collection and recycling. In this episode, we continue the story of Hong Kong’s Drink without Waste consortium - a group of over 40 organisations in Hong Kong involved in beverage production and distribution. After a great deal of research, this group has narrowed down on the best so...