Eight Million

Put on your headphones and get ready for two new seasons from the Sustainable Asia Podcast about the Global Plastic Treaty and Asia’s Air Pollution woes.Guests:Jennifer L. Turner, China Environment Forum of Wilson Center, Washington DCAnd from Sustainable Asia:WuYuFei, Fujian, ChinaKhoa Tran, Hong Kong, ChinaChermaine Lee, Hong Kong, ChinaMarcy Trent Long, Hong Kong, ChinaSubscribe for Sustainable Asia latest episodes and review us on listennotes!Check out the China Environment Forum and the Wilson Center  for great research and webinars on plastic pollution.Production credits:Sound Engineer:  Avery ChoiIntro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin

The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin is protected at the highest level in China, but its numbers are dwindling fast. In Hong Kong, where the species is affectionately known as the Chinese white dolphin, only 37 individuals remain. Their struggle for survival pits them against massive development projects and fishing vessels because dolphins use sonar - not sight - for survival. How can we mitigate the cacophony in Asia’s oceans to help keep vulnerable species like the Chinese white dolphin safe from harm?Guests:Sarah Yip, Eco Cheung ChauDoris Woo, WWF Hong KongDr. Zheng Ruiqiang, ChinaBlue Sustainability Institute (formerly Shantou University)Visit China Dialogue Ocean to learn more about our oceans in crisis.Subscribe for Sustainable Asia latest episodes and review us on listennotes.Production credits:Hosts: Marcy Trent Long and Stella Chen Producer: Bonnie AuAssociate producers: Stella Chen, WuYufeiAudio Editor: Avery ChoiIntro/outro music: Alex MauboussinMusic from Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessio

In this episode, we visit the Great Barrier Reef to discover the clamorous underwater world of marine life sounds. What can we learn from listening closely to the underwater soundscape? And are there ways we can use sounds to help, rather than harm, the animals in our ocean ecosystems?  Guests:Timothy Gordon, University of ExeterVisit China Dialogue Ocean to learn more about our oceans in crisis.Subscribe for Sustainable Asia latest episodes and review us on listennotes.Production credits:Hosts: Marcy Trent Long and Stella Chen Producer: Bonnie AuAssociate producers: Stella Chen, WuYufeiAudio Editor: Avery ChoiIntro/outro music: Alex MauboussinMusic from Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue):True Blue Sky, Palms Down and BasketlinerSoundscape and Video credits:Degraded reef snapping shrimp sound- credit Tim Gordon, University of ExeterLayered reef sound - credit Tim Gordon, University of ExeterFish sound - unknown from Great Barrier Reef - credit Tim Gordon, University of ExeterFish sound

It turns out, sound is really the dominant sense for animals underwater. For anything further than 10 metres away, marine life uses sound rather than sight to gather information. So human produced noise pollution - whether its construction or shipping vessels - alters ocean animals ability to communicate, mate and even survive. In this season, we first describe the beauty of undersea animal acoustics and then dive into the impact of noise pollution on marine life in China’s southern ocean.Guests:Timothy Gordon, University of ExeterSarah Yip, Eco Cheung ChauVisit chinadialogueocean to learn more about our oceans in crisis.Subscribe for Sustainable Asia latest episodes and review us on listennotes.Production credits:Hosts: Marcy Trent Long and Stella Chen Producer: Bonnie AuAssociate producers: Stella Chen, WuYufeiAudio Editor:  Avery ChoiIntro/outro music: Alex MauboussinMusic from Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue):Palms Down, Basketliner and Taoudella 

As ocean temperatures rise with global warming, tropical cyclones are hitting Asian nations like Japan and the Philippines like never before. So to end this season..we wanted to talk about climate change. We start with a story about a zero waste village created from the devastation of Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. Then we weave together experts from earlier episodes to find out: What is the link between disposable plastic waste and climate change?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:Miko Alino, GAIA Asia Pacific, PhilippinesAkira Sakano, Zero Waste Japan, JapanLakshmi Narayan, KKPKP, SWaCH and Break Free From Plastic, Pune, IndiaAngus Ho, Greeners’ Action, Hong KongLili Fuhr, Heinrich Boell Foundation, BerlinMr. PremaKumara, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, JapanAshwin Subramaniam, GA Circular, SingaporeVon Hernandez, Break Free From Plastic, Philipp

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 where under appreciated workers form the backbone of their unregulated recycling systems.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:Angus Ho, Greeners’ Action, Hong KongPark Da-hyo, Korea Zero Waste Movement Network, South KoreaDoun Moon, GAIA - Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives, Berkeley CaliforniaLakshmi Narayan, KKPKP, SWaCH and Break Free From Plastic, Pune, IndiaDownload The Asia Plastic Atlas from the Heinrich Boell FoundationSubscribe for Sustainable Asia latest episodes and review us

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 waste principles to solve their plastic waste dilemma?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:Akira Sakano, Zero Waste Japan, JapanLinda Ding, INOW Kamikatsu, JapanTerumi Azuma, INOW Kamikatsu, JapanMiko Alino, GAIA Asia Pacific, PhilippinesDownload The Asia Plastic Atlas from the Heinrich Boell FoundationSubscribe for Sustainable Asia latest episodes and review us on listennotes!Join the movement at Break Free From Plastic Production credits:Hosts: Marcy Trent Long and Bonnie AuAssociate prod

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 The Asia Plastic Atlas from the Heinrich Boell Foundation with support from Break Free From Plastic Asia Pacific.Guests:Helen Panangung, Lembeh Scuba Resort, IndonesiaVon Hernandez, Break Free From Plastic, PhilippinesMiko Alino, GAIA Asia Pacific, PhilippinesAshwin Subramaniam, GA Circular, SingaporeDownload The Asia Plastic Atlas from the Heinrich Boell FoundationSubscribe for Sustainable Asia latest episodes and review us on listennotes!Join the movement at Break Free From Plastic Production credits:Hosts: Marcy Trent Long and Bonnie AuAssociate producer: Jiaxing LiIntro/outro music: Alex MauboussinMusic

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 Foundation with support from Break Free From Plastic Asia Pacific.Guests:Melati Wijsen, Bye Bye Plastic Bags, IndonesiaMr. PremaKumara, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, JapanVon Hernandez, Break Free From Plastic, PhilippinesSatyarupa Shekhar, Break Free From Plastic, IndiaDownload The Asia Plastic Atlas from the Heinrich Boell FoundationSubscribe for Sustainable Asia latest episodes and review us on listennotes!Join the movement at Break Free From Plastic Production credits:Hosts: Marcy Trent Long and Bonnie AuAssociate producer: Jiaxing LiIntro/outro music: Alex MauboussinMusic from Blue Dot Sessi

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 Boell Foundation, BerlinKevin Li, Heinrich Boell Foundation, Hong KongDownload The Asia Plastic Atlas from the Heinrich Boell FoundationJoin the movement at Break Free From Plastic Subscribe for Sustainable Asia latest episodes and review us on listennotes!Production credits:Hosts: Marcy Trent Long and Bonnie AuAssociate producer: Jiaxing LiIntro/outro music: Alex MauboussinMusic from Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue):Low Call, RamblingVideo credits:https://www.aljazeera.com/videos/2019/6/24/the-philippiness-problem-with-plastic-that-wont-go-awayhttps://www.trtworld.com/video/featured/pollution-crisis-india-

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, and Singapore’s innovative floating solar farm. Production credits:Hosts: Chermaine Lee and Bonnie AuAssociate producer:  Jiaxing LiExecutive producer: Marcy Trent LongIntro/outro music: Alex MauboussinFollow us on Twitter@SustainableAsia and Facebook@sustainableasiaco.  Sign up for email updates on our website. 

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 AuAssociate producer: Jiaxing LiExecutive producer: Marcy Trent LongIntro/outro music: Alex MauboussinFollow us on Twitter@SustainableAsia and Facebook@sustainableasiaco. Sign up for email updates on our website. 

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:Hosts: Chermaine Lee and Bonnie AuAssociate producer:  Jiaxing LiExecutive producer: Marcy Trent LongIntro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin

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 get a bite of this week’s green news!Production credits:Hosts: Chermaine Lee and Bonnie AuAssociate producer:  Jiaxing LiExecutive producer: Marcy Trent LongIntro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Follow us on Twitter@SustainableAsia and Facebook@sustainableasiaco.  Sign up for email updates on our website.

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. Production credits:Hosts: Chermaine Lee and Bonnie AuAssociate producer:  Jiaxing LiExecutive producer: Marcy Trent LongIntro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Follow us on Twitter@SustainableAsia and Facebook@sustainableasiaco.  Sign up for email updates on our website. 

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 AuAssociate producer:  Jiaxing LiExecutive producer: Marcy Trent LongIntro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Follow us on Twitter@SustainableAsia and Facebook@sustainableasiaco.  Sign up for email updates on our website. 

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 this week!Production credits:Hosts: Chermaine Lee and Bonnie AuAssociate producer:  Jiaxing LiExecutive producer: Marcy Trent LongIntro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Follow us on Twitter@SustainableAsia and Facebook@sustainableasiaco.  Sign up for email updates on our website. 

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:Hosts: Chermaine Lee and Bonnie AuAssociate producer:  Jiaxing LiExecutive producer: Marcy Trent LongIntro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Follow us on Twitter@SustainableAsia and Facebook@sustainableasiaco.  Sign up for email updates on our website. 

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 roundup!Production credits:Hosts: Chermaine Lee and Bonnie AuAssociate producer: Jiaxing LiExecutive Producer: Marcy Trent LongIntro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Follow us on Twitter@SustainableAsia and Facebook@sustainableasiaco. Sign up for email updates on our website. 

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 credits:Hosts: Chermaine Lee and Bonnie AuAssociate producer: Jiaxing LiIntro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Follow us on Twitter@SustainableAsia and Facebook@sustainableasiaco. Sign up for email updates on our website.