An explainer sequence that seeks to interrupt down rising ideas resembling “transition credit” and sustainability-linked bonds in Asia’s quickly rising sustainable finance house gained Eco-Enterprise the highest accolade for explanatory reporting at this yr’s Society of Publishers Asia (SOPA) awards.
Decoding Sustainable Finance, a sequence launched in 2023 and curated by finance correspondent Gabrielle See, gained the regional award for Excellence in Explanatory Reporting on the annual journalism awards held final Thursday.
SOPA is a Hong Kong-based non-profit organisation devoted to pursuing excellence in information reporting. Its awards, open to entry nominations from world and regional shops, recognise excellent works of journalism over the previous yr in Asia-Pacific. Of their feedback, judges stated that by means of the sequence, See tackles an ever-changing and more and more advanced topic in a transparent and concise method, bringing much-needed readability to the Asian sustainable investing house.
“The pressing wants round delivering on local weather and transition-related targets within the area is exactly why explanatory items like these are so vital. [They] neatly break down the stakes and challenges concerned, who the varied actions are, and the potential options, in a manner that may be simply understood by the general public.”
An ongoing sequence, Decoding Sustainable Finance additionally appears into matters resembling blended finance and renewable power REITs, to tell vital discussions for Asia’s companies, financiers and sustainability practitioners. Its newest explainer appears at whether or not debt-for-nature swaps and different progressive financing devices promising non-public cash flows into biodiversity causes are efficient.
See is presently working with Philippines chief correspondent Hannah Alcoseba Fernandez on a particular report that takes a deep dive into how transition credit are used for early retirement of coal-fired energy within the area.
The Decoding Sustainable Finance explainer sequence was launched by Eco-Enterprise final yr. Picture: Ng Wai Mun / Eco-Enterprise
On the win, See stated: “Each few months, a brand new sustainable finance instrument will get pushed out with a lot fanfare within the title of mobilising extra non-public investments into local weather motion, the power transition or nature conservation. At first blush, it looks like monetary establishments, traditionally pushed by short-term income and speculative buying and selling of all types of progressive derivatives that led to the 2007-2008 monetary disaster, are beginning to take the local weather and biodiversity disaster severely. However the jargon and sustainable finance phrases which can be being thrown round add one other layer of complexity for these making an attempt to comply with the cash and maintain these establishments accountable.”
See stated that she hopes to enhance sustainable finance literacy for the common reader “who in any other case would possibly care nothing for finance”, in order that they can also higher observe how the choices that monetary establishments make are impacting their lifes and livelihoods, for higher or for worse.
A complete of 104 awards got out on this yr’s awards. Weekly information journal Nikkei Asia gained the worldwide award for explanatory reporting for its report on how the problem of water and the presence of Chinese language dams have an effect on geopolitics in Asia.
This yr, Eco-Enterprise additionally bought an honourable point out for its 360-degree documentary brief Wasted: 360 which investigates the waste landscapes in Asia, beneath the Excellence in Video Reporting class for regional media shops on the SOPA awards.
Assistant Roy Ng filming in a landfill in India for the Wasted documentary. Picture: Eco-Enterprise
The movie was co-produced by Jessica Cheam, founder and managing director of Eco-Enterprise, and filmmaker Fraser Morton, and supported by assistant producer Roy Ng. Levaraging the interactive capabilities of the 360-degree video format, it permits viewers a behind-the-scenes take a look at the waste sector, and might be watched both with digital actuality (VR) glasses or on a 360-degree display.
SOPA judges stated that this type of immersive storytelling “permits a way of presence and [gives viewers] the power to discover and perceive the worldwide waste downside”. The manufacturing crew filmed in 4 key Asian international locations – Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam and India – and spoke to completely different stakeholders within the waste sector. The complete documentary premiered in Singapore in November final yr and will probably be proven in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 22 July.
Cheam stated that each the video format in addition to explanatory reporting are avenues for media publishers to seize viewers curiosity and hold readers and viewers engaged. “Eco-Enterprise needs to be a platform to carry collectively high-level choice makers in finance, enterprise, authorities and civic society to debate and decide to actionable initiatives that mobilise the capital markets for sustainable improvement.”
“By monitoring key points within the sustainable finance house and bringing readability to new ideas, we wish to assist our readers develop well-informed opinions, in addition to convey nuance and context in an simply digestible manner,” she stated.
Fraser Morton interviewing key stakeholders within the waste sector on a filming journey to India. Picture: Eco-Enterprise
On Wasted, Cheam stated that waste is a big contributor to world carbon emissions, and the movie provokes questions round why the world continues to be squandering the alternatives to repair the apparent systemic issues surrounding the problem. “We want Asia’s regulators to enact prolonged producer legal guidelines instantly to resolve this disaster.”
The regional winner for excellence in video reporting at this yr’s SOPA awards is an investigative brief that can be environmentally-focused. The movie, produced by Narasi Newsroom, tracks greenwashing and anti-deforestation claims by huge corporations.
Different environmental items that gained recognition on the SOPA 2024 Awards embody Beneath the sands, an investigative information sequence produced by the Environmental Reporting Collective with newsrooms and journalists throughout 12 international locations and two continents, to look into the worldwide sand mining enterprise, and a New York Occasions’ knowledge story Methods to calm down a metropolis.
Eco-Enterprise’s particular report that explores and scrutinises whether or not Asia’s shipowners are doing sufficient to chop greenhouse fuel emissions landed a finalist spot within the Excellence in Infographics class this yr.
Final yr, the media publication was the winner within the Excellence in Audio Reporting class for its podcast on secrecy surrounding sand extraction in Singapore.
Eco-Enterprise is devoted to reporting on Asia’s most vital sustainable improvement points. We consider within the energy of impartial journalism and attempt to develop the breadth and depth of our protection. If you want to point out your assist, do take into account signing up as a subscriber.
