The Nature Pledge: Biodiversity and Sustainability in Asia and the Pacific

In 2022, the UN General Assembly recognized the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment (RHE), the same year the world agreed the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. In this episode, we speak to Astrid Puentes Riaño , UN Special Rapporteur on the human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment, and discuss the nexus of human rights and nature loss. Has t...

Rangelands cover 54% of our earth’s terrestrial surface and sustain around 500 million pastoralists world-wide, yet they receive a fraction of the attention they deserve and require. In this episode of The Nature Pledge podcast, we dive headfirst into the misunderstandings and controversies surrounding rangelands and the pastoralists that call these vital landscapes their home.  Natasha Kirit Maru...

In this episode of The Nature Pledge podcast, we dive into the upcoming flagship report from UNDP, the 2026 Human Development Report (HDR), with Pedro Conceição, the Director of the Human Development Report Office. Together we explore what might result if business and society invested in a more constructive, mutually beneficial relationship between people and nature. UNDP’s flagship report aims to...

Today, the degradation of our ecosystems is increasingly recognized as an economic, public health and national security priority. A recent security assessment by the British government has explored how environmental degradation can disrupt food, water, health and supply chains, and trigger wider geopolitical instability. A recently released assessment by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platfo...

In this episode of The Nature Pledge, we consider the power of corporate benchmarking in nudging us towards a nature positive economy. Benchmarking the biodiversity performance of large enterprises can help us understand progress and incentivize further action. And as importantly, corporate rankings and indexes can tell us a great deal about how further there is left to go in mitigating the driver...

In this 2025 recap episode, we revisit the key themes andmost valuable reflections from our guest speakers. Over 12 episodes, our guests had a lot to say about the changing political and economic environment impacting on overseas development assistance and our work on nature and sustainable development. We also spoke at length about to the tensions between regional economic growth ambitions and th...

To address biodiversity loss, climate change, poverty and inequality, trillions of dollars in public and private financing are required.  And yet the world seems to be churning faster than ever before with daily setbacks at both national and international levels. Some observers say that meeting our sustainable development ambitions are increasingly unlikely under current political and economic cir...

Social entrepreneurship has taken off in the region, including in China, with remarkable energy and results. Governments and private organizations are taking note and increasingly supporting this sector through funding and enabling policies. How might impact-focused entrepreneurs change the shape of nature conservation and sustainable use in China and elsewhere? What does their rise mean for the “...

Malaysia is a study in contrasts: a mega-diverse country at the verge of reaching advanced economy status. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the country has transformed in more ways than one over the course of its development journey. Edmund Bon, the Chair and Malaysia representative to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Committee on Human Rights provides insights into how attitudes in his country have changed to...

A recent World Economic Forum survey ranks biodiversity loss as one of the top threats to our global economy over the next ten years. Yet, a 700 billion USD annual financing gap to halt and reserve nature loss persists. Why the disconnect between the recognition of the risks to our economies and the rate and size of investments made in nature? Are the returns on investment in nature too small? Is...

Dr. Surya Deva, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to development is using his position to advance a planet-centered, participatory approach to development that, “prioritizes ecological sustainability and human participation, moving away from anthropocentric, growth-focused models.” How well is his message being received? What countries are buying it? And how might this novel interpretation of...

Businesses and banks are leaving net-zero alliances and governments are walking back sustainability disclosure requirements. Are we in a "sustainability recession"? In this episode of the Nature Pledge, we speak to Eva Zabey, CEO of Business for Nature, about how the Asia-Pacific business community is reacting in these uncertain times. Eva challenges sustainability professionals to think of this p...

In this special episode of the Nature Pledge, we journey to Papua New Guinea, a nation of unparalleled natural richness and enormous economic potential. From the capital of Port Moresby to the remote, vibrant islands off the coast of West New Britain, we talk to policy makers, civil society actors and local communities to understand the impacts of economic growth and demographic pressures on natur...

In this episode of The Nature Pledge, we explore the burgeoning world of biodiversity credits, or ‘biocredits,’ a potentially powerful tool for incentivizing nature conservation and restoration. As demand for biocredits grows in interest among private investors, individuals, and governments in the region, so do critical questions and concerns. Can we put a value on nature without risking its explo...

In this episode, we explore the impact of corporate lobbying on human rights and nature with Tulika Bansal, a well-known business and human rights expert in our region. Tulika draws on decades of experience, including her work at the Danish Institute for Human Rights, to reveal how corporate influence has weakened or “simplified” sustainability accountability and reporting initiatives. From the Bh...

The mood in the hallways of the UN Convention Center in Bangkok is both unfamiliar and uncomfortable. Stakeholders gathered here are troubled by what they see as a sudden and definitive drop in support for sustainable development, including climate action.   Recent political developments outside of Asia and the Pacific may be driving the prevailing sentiment. Still, where does that leave the susta...

Government funding for biodiversity in Asia and the Pacific is a mixed picture. While countries like Australia, China, and India have increased investments, the region still faces a staggering $100–150 billion annual biodiversity financing gap . With economic stagnation, rising debt, and competing priorities like public health and education, where does nature fit into government agendas? One poten...

Economic recovery following COVID-19 has been uneven in SE Asia. Countries face rising joblessness, household debt, and pressures on export industries. Some argue for reduced business regulations—including environmental safeguards—to attract investment. Yet, elsewhere, business leaders recognize that nature loss is the second biggest risk to the global economy, second only to climate change. In th...