Can philanthropy revive a stalling environmental agenda in Asia?
Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change.
The world is becoming an increasingly risky place as the impacts of climate change and nature loss worsen. And there's a growing need for more funding to limit the damage and improve the livelihoods of communities.
But the problem is, funding from governments, especially aid money, is drying up in some places. The funding gap is huge but philanthropy is helping fill some of the void. Family offices, international foundations, wealthy individuals and more are stepping in and their money is vital in helping de-risk climate and nature investments to make them more palatable for private and government funders.
Every dollar of philanthropic capital can mobilise $9 of additional funding. Together, the money can be directed towards vital areas, such as ocean health and coastal protection, sustainable land use, nature restoration and climate adaptation and much more.
The end game is not band aid solutions, Shaun Seow, CEO of Philanthropy Asia Alliance, tells Audrey Tan and David Fogarty in this latest episode of Green Pulse. The end game is to de-risk and allow private capital to 'work its magic'.
Have a listen, and let us know what you think!
Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):
1:20 How are philanthropies responding to the different environmental agendas, and funding gaps, of governments?
6:14 To what extent are philanthropies in Asia focusing on climate and catalytic funding?
12:42 How is PAA bringing together different funders?
18:54 What other areas can be a focus for philanthropies interested in Asia?
21:20 For catalytic capital, what are the key concerns for philanthropists in Asia?
25:15 As climate risks grow, are more foundations and wealthy individuals knocking on PAA's door?
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 (
audreyt@sph.com.sg ) & David Fogarty (
dfogarty@sph.com.sg )
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:
podcast@sph.com.sg
---
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/4Vwsa
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store:
https://str.sg/icyB
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
8 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Some key Brazilian exports spared from Trump's new 40% tariff
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Containers are seen at Rio de Janeiro's port, Brazil July 10, 2025. REUTERS/Pilar Olivares/File Photo U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday imposing a 40% tariff on Brazilian exports, bringing the country's total tariff amount to 50%. Some of Brazil's major exports, however, were exempted from the tax. Notable exemptions include products already covered by other specific tariffs, like passenger vehicles, iron and steel products, and a large number of parts and components used in civil aircraft. Below is a list of the products exempted from the tariff hike: PRODUCTS ALREADY SUBJECT TO PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED SECTORAL TARIFFS * Iron and steel (raw and derivatives) * Aluminum products (raw and derivatives) * Passenger vehicles (sedans, SUVs, minivans, etc.) and light trucks Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Water supply issues during Toa Payoh blaze affected firefighting operations; SCDF investigating Singapore 3 taken to hospital after fire in Marsiling flat Singapore School, parents on alert after vape peddlers approach primary school pupil Singapore Tampines, Toa Payoh BTO flats most popular among first-time home buyers in July HDB launch Sport Leon Marchand sets first world record at World Aquatics C'ships in Singapore Singapore Jail, fine for man linked to case involving 3 bank accounts that received over $680m in total Singapore Provision shop owner who raped 11-year-old gets more than 14 years' jail Singapore Escape, discover, connect: Where new memories are made * Parts for passenger vehicles and light trucks * Semi-finished and intensive copper derivative products AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD PRODUCTS * Brazil nuts * Orange juice (frozen and not frozen) and orange pulp CIVIL AIRCRAFT, PARTS, AND COMPONENTS * Civil aircraft, including airplanes, helicopters, unmanned aircraft (drones), balloons, and gliders * Aircraft engines (piston, turbojets, turbopropellers) and their parts * New, retreaded, and used pneumatic tires for aircraft * Undercarriages and other aircraft parts * Aircraft seats * Navigational instruments, radios, and radar apparatus for aeronautical use * A wide range of other components specified for civil aircraft use ENERGY AND MINERAL PRODUCTS * Crude petroleum, various petroleum oils, and fuel products * Natural gas (liquefied and gaseous) * Coal and related products (lignite, peat, coke, tars) * Electrical energy * Iron ore and tin ores * Silicon metal and metallurgical grade alumina (aluminum oxide) * Crude mica and worked building stone METALS AND METAL PRODUCTS (GENERAL EXEMPTION) * Nonalloy and alloy pig iron * Ferroalloys, including ferronickel and ferroniobium * Tin waste, scrap, oxides, and chlorides PRECIOUS METALS * Silver bullion and dore * Gold bullion and dore WOOD AND PAPER PRODUCTS * Various types of chemical and semi-chemical wood pulp * Sawn or chipped tropical wood * Paper and paper pulp products CHEMICALS AND FERTILIZERS * Various mineral or chemical fertilizers * A specific list of industrial chemicals, including potassium hydroxide and certain chlorinated hydrocarbons OTHER GENERAL EXEMPTIONS * Donations intended to relieve human suffering (e.g., food, clothing, medicine) * Informational materials (e.g., publications, films, music, artworks) * Binder or baler twine made of sisal or agave fibers REUTERS
Straits Times
8 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Trump will meet South Korea's trade delegation, Seoul says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: The South Korean and American flags fly next to each other at Yongin, South Korea, August 23, 2016. Picture taken on August 23, 2016. Courtesy Ken Scar/U.S. Army/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo SEOUL - U.S. President Donald Trump will meet South Korea's trade delegation, South Korea's presidential office said on Thursday, as top officials from Seoul are in Washington to cut a last-minute deal on U.S. tariffs. South Korean Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol, Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan and Minister for Trade Yeo Han-koo met U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday, according to the finance ministry. Industry and trade ministers have been in Washington since last week to reach a deal before August 1, a deadline set by Trump for 25% tariffs to kick in against South Korea, a major U.S. ally and powerhouse exporter of chips, cars and steel. Pressure has been mounting on South Korea since Japan clinched a deal to cut Trump's threatened tariffs to 15% earlier this month. Top business leaders were also reported to be flying in to help lobby for a deal on U.S. tariffs. The South Korean government is negotiating with the U.S. by setting up a package of trade and offers on industrial cooperation such as in shipbuilding, chips and batteries, officials say. REUTERS
Straits Times
38 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Trump hits Brazil with 50% tariffs, excludes aircraft, orange juice, energy
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The US softened the trade blow to Brazil by excluding sectors such as aircraft, energy and orange juice. WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump on July 30 slapped a 50 per cent tariff on most Brazilian goods to fight what he has called a 'witch hunt' against former President Jair Bolsonaro, but softened the blow by excluding sectors such as aircraft, energy and orange juice. That came as a relief for many in Brasilia, who since Mr Trump announced the tariff had been urging protections for major exporters caught in the crossfire. Shares of planemaker Embraer and pulpmaker Suzano rose. 'We're not facing the worst-case scenario,' Brazilian Treasury Secretary Rogerio Ceron told reporters. 'It's a more benign outcome than it could have been.' In a factsheet about Mr Trump's executive order on July 30, the White House tied the tariffs to Brazil's prosecution of Mr Bolsonaro, who is standing trial on charges of plotting a coup to overturn his 2022 electoral loss. The executive order came as the US also announced sanctions on a Brazilian Supreme Court justice overseeing Mr Bolsonaro's trial, accusing the judge of authorising arbitrary pre-trial detentions and suppressing freedom of expression. Still, Mr Trump's executive order formalising a 50 per cent tariff excluded dozens of key Brazilian exports to the United States, including civil aircraft, pig iron, precious metals, wood pulp, energy and fertilisers. Among the top concerns in the government of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva were aircraft produced by Embraer, which exports 45 per cent of its commercial aircraft and 70 per cent of its executive jets to the United States. Analysts had also warned of a serious potential impact on Suzano, one the world's largest wood pulp producers. Embraer shares rose 11 per cent in Sao Paulo and Suzano gained over 1 per cent in afternoon trading. Former Brazilian trade secretary Welber Barral warned it was too soon to celebrate, however. He estimated that the list of Brazilian products exported to the US comprises approximately 3,000 items, and only a fraction of these received exclusions. 'There will be an impact,' he said of the tariffs. More on this topic Trump says he thinks US will have a 'very fair deal' on trade with China The July 30 executive order did not include exemptions for beef or coffee, two key exports to the United States, he noted. Brazilian meatpacking lobby Abiec, which represents beef producers including JBS and Marfrig, did not immediately comment on the July 30 executive order. On July 29, the group said the new tariffs would make sales to the US "inviable." Despite language exempting 'energy and energy products' from the tariffs, energy companies operating in Brazil suspended oil shipments to the United States, citing uncertainty, industry group IBP told Reuters. REUTERS
