Green Pulse

Singapore is also testing out solutions to tackle heat without air-conditioning. Synopsis: Every Tuesday, we discuss how environmental issues intersect with business, politics and society. After three years of clear skies, the haze is back in Singapore. One contributor to the pollution is the El Nino weather phenomenon, which causes drier, hotter weather in South-east Asia.  This causes fires typical of Indonesia’s agroforestry landscape to burn harder and longer.  So how is Singapore responding to the double whammy of haze and hotter weather?  Green Pulse host Audrey Tan talks to correspondents Shabana Begum and Ang Qing on what they have observed while reporting on these conditions.  Highlights (click/tap above): 2:13 The impacts of El Nino in South-east Asia 7:39 How people in Singapore are responding to the heat and haze 13:50 Are people in Singapore heat-tolerant or heat-avoidant? 15:53 Solutions to help people adapt to heat without air-conditioning 20:24 What are the global impacts of El Nino? Read Qing’s and Shabana’s related articles: Solar-powered air-con, freeze-tech and ‘fan-jakketos’ among innovative cooling gadgets on the market: https://str.sg/b6WC Emergency visits for respiratory cases up even with small spikes in PM2.5 levels: S’pore study: https://str.sg/mVPv Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2 Host: Audrey Tan ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producer: Ernest Luis  Follow Green Pulse Podcast every Tuesday as we discuss how environmental issues intersect with business, politics and society: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag YouTube: https://str.sg/fapS Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7  Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts  --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Conservationists must make their pro-nature arguments to the mainstream, says ST’s Bhavan Jaipagras.  Synopsis: Every Tuesday, we discuss how environmental issues intersect with business, politics and society. Recent announcements about new developments coming at the expense of nature areas in Singapore have reignited the perennial ‘conserve versus develop’ debate.  Such discussions were first sparked when housing plans for the Gillman and Maju estates, on which secondary forests have grown, were revealed in July. In August, plans for a new western island – built by reclaiming several of Singapore’s southern islands – generated further discussion on the issue. Host Audrey Tan discusses with ST’s senior columnist Bhavan Jaipragas how the national debate on this can be more constructive.  Our Green Pulse podcast has returned from a hiatus and every Tuesday from October onwards, host Audrey Tan will highlight how environmental issues intersect with business, politics and society. Each episode also comes with a video version - with more show links below. Highlights (click/tap above): 2:59 Initial reactions to the responses to the Gillman and Maju developments  8:54 Who are the players involved in Singapore’s ‘develop or conserve’ discussions?  11:56 Who should arguments made by both sides be pitched at?  17:38 Possible to bring in the intangible benefits of nature in public discussions?  21:54 How to improve consultation process between government and conservationists Read more: More green spaces to be retained in Gillman Barracks, Maju Forest: Alvin Tan: https://str.sg/tjCJ Timeline, reclamation profile of new western island not yet determined: Chee Hong Tat: https://str.sg/FUPJ Read more from Bhavan Jaipragas: https://str.sg/b49w Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2 Host: Audrey Tan ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producer: Ernest Luis  Follow Green Pulse Podcast every Tuesday as we discuss how environmental issues intersect with business, politics and society: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag YouTube: https://str.sg/fapS Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7  Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts  --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our hosts try to make sense of conflicting developments in this city state. Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times provides you with a South-east Asian perspective to global environmental challenges. Trees can keep urban environments cool, and Singapore has been leveraging this “superpower” of nature by expanding its tree-planting efforts. There is a plan to plant a million trees across the country by 2030, while organisations are rolling out microforests and skyrise greenery to beautify and cool down concrete environments. Yet, at the same time, Singapore is also cutting down secondary forests to meet other national needs, including for housing and industrial purposes. How can we make sense of this green paradox? Listen to the discussion on this episode of Green Pulse, and stay tuned till the end for a special announcement! Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:50 How has Singapore’s greening strategy changed over the years? 11:40 What are some existing tools used in Singapore to make decisions on which secondary forest plot to conserve or develop? 18:15 Can Singapore consider an EIA law or biodiversity offsets? 25:25 Do Singaporeans recognise the inherent value of nature? Green Pulse LinkedIn newsletter: https://str.sg/green-pulse-nl Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/jcvy Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu Hosts: Audrey Tan ([email protected]) & David Fogarty ([email protected]) Produced & edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Improving people’s ability to withstand hotter weather is one part of Singapore’s adaptation plan. Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times provides you with a South-east Asian perspective to global environmental challenges. As Singapore’s hottest month of the year, May, approaches and global energy volatility drives up Singapore's electricity tariffs, how can Singapore beat the heat in 2026? In this episode of Green Pulse, hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty explore Singapore’s upcoming National Adaptation Plan and its focus on heat resilience. Beyond national cooling strategies, they also share practical ways to lower your energy bills and stay cool without aircon. From individual cooling hacks to the latest on climate adaptation, discover how individuals can thrive in a hotter city-state.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:50 What is climate adaptation? 3:58 To cope with rising heat, we need tailored solutions for different groups of people. 8:30 El Nino is looming. It’s time to prepare for sizzling temperatures. 10:30 Apart from heat, what are the other climate impacts facing Singapore? 16:02 Are adaptation investments bankable? Are they wise bets for business? 21:03 Better climate risk assessments and new financial tools are needed, too. 23:25 Top tips for keeping cool as the mercury, and energy costs, rise. Green Pulse LinkedIn newsletter: https://str.sg/green-pulse-nl Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/jcvy Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu Hosts: Audrey Tan ([email protected]) & David Fogarty ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Middle East conflict sends oil and gas prices soaring, Green Pulse hosts discuss if geopolitics will break ASEAN’s fossil fuel addiction. Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times provides you with a South-east Asian perspective to global environmental challenges. The war in the Middle East is causing energy prices around the world to spike, due to Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz – an important shipping route for oil and gas – and attacks on fossil fuel production facilities.  For energy-importing nations, the volatility is no longer just an economic concern. It’s a matter of national security. Coming on the heels of the war in Ukraine, the latest crisis poses a difficult question: How can Singapore and its ASEAN neighbours insulate themselves from global shocks?  Green Pulse hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty discuss energy security and the role of renewables in this episode.  Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 3:19 Everyone is scrambling for fossil fuel supplies. Is this the time to be talking about renewables? 5:54 This latest energy crisis needs to accelerate the birth of the ASEAN Power Grid. 7:06 What lessons did the world learn from the 2022 energy crunch? 14:45 Boosting ASEAN’s energy resilience limits the region being held hostage by geopolitics.  19:17 ASEAN needs a clean-energy champion. Who will step up to rally the region? Green Pulse LinkedIn newsletter: https://str.sg/green-pulse-nl Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2 Follow David Fogarty on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/jcvy Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu Hosts: Audrey Tan ([email protected]) & David Fogarty ([email protected]) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag Feedback to: [email protected] --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7 Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX --- #greenpulseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.