Pattern tales that took the heart beat of the second, what’s recent and talked about within the sustainability sector, had Eco-Enterprise readers abuzz within the yr 2023. Characteristic tales and podcasts that targeted on amplifying the voices of susceptible communities, with their tales typically untold or under-reported, additionally created an affect. Listed here are the ten most learn tales this yr:
1. Will ChatGPT write our future ESG reviews?
A smartphone displaying an open chat with OpenAI’s widespread chatbot ChatGPT, with the ChatGPT log in display additionally displayed within the background. Picture: Ascannio/Shutterstock
The arrival of ChatGPT launched one million think-pieces – from hypothesis that this new daybreak of synthetic intelligence (AI) would free the workforce of probably the most menial and tedious duties to fear-mongering claims that the algorithm is out to get everybody’s jobs and shake up whole industries.
Relating to ESG reporting, nevertheless, sustainability specialists have rejected the notion that the chatbots can now exchange professionals in the case of analytical thought and nuanced judgment. As a substitute, they see instruments like ChatGPT extra as a helpful ‘marketing consultant’ that may kind by information.
With everybody from Elon Musk to Pope Francis calling on governments to put down bylaws to manage AI, it stays to be seen how the expertise will develop and whether or not if it’s going to proceed to create buzz and make waves within the sustainability sector.
2. Singapore sustainability sector wage survey: who’s paid most?
“Sustainability salaries will proceed to develop in Singapore however the stage of wage increment won’t be as substantial, as a result of the expertise pool is maturing,” stated Gabriel Nam, accomplice, ESG, technique and transformation, Michael Web page Worldwide. Picture: Robin Hicks/Eco-Enterprise
The instances are a-changin! Platforms like Glassdoor are empowering staff to dish on their former employers and The Nice Resignation introduced on by the pandemic has seen younger professionals hop from one firm to a different to leverage their job {qualifications} towards a better tax bracket.
Pay transparency has additionally turn into the norm, with a 2023 survey plotting what wage grades recent graduates and upstarts alike can anticipate as they enter and navigate the sustainability sector. Unsurprisingly, the chief sustainability officers of Singapore’s largest coffers raked in probably the most dough – their salaries are as much as sevenfold of their junior government counterparts within the civic society area.
3. ‘Our personal narratives instructed’: By means of the lenses of younger Orang Asli girls filmmakers
Younger indigineous girls in Malaysia are being educated as filmmakers within the Freedom Movie Community’s Amplifying the Voices of Younger Orang Asli Girls programme. Yaliyanna Lenab (far proper) spoke to Eco-Enterprise about her experiences in a bilingual podcast. Picture: Freedom Movie Community
Indigenous peoples – particularly girls – are not often afforded the platform to share their narratives and speak concerning the struggles they face defending their susceptible lands and customs handed on from one technology to a different.
On this award-winning bilingual podcast, Eco-Enterprise spoke to Orang Asli girls filmmakers native to Peninsular Malaysia about their journey towards documenting the tales of their communities and their organised motion for human rights and equality.
The primary of its variety recorded in each English and Bahasa Melayu, this podcast has gone on to win gold on the Asian Digital Media Awards.
4. Indonesia’s Cirebon 1 coal energy challenge highlights gaps in ADB’s ‘coal-to-clean’ ETM scheme
The 600-megawatt Cirebon 1 coal energy plant in West Java, Indonesia. The Asian Growth Financial institution is main efforts to shut this unit 10 to fifteen years early. Progress on early coal retirement has been gradual, because of the problem of placing collectively possible financing packages. Picture: ResponsiBank Indonesia.
Regardless of aiming to finance the decarbonisation and renewable vitality uptake of goal nations like Indonesia and Vietnam, Simply Vitality Transition Partnerships (JETP) the world over have come below scrutiny for purple flags which have ranged from human rights issues to contentious captive coal vegetation that see no instant indicators of being shelved or decommissioned.
Within the fishing city of Kanci in Indonesia’s West Java, considered one of these coal initiatives has taken a human toll: the Cirebon 1 coal energy challenge has allegedly wrought devastating impacts on the livelihoods and well being of the communities that reside alongside the Cipaluh and Kanci rivers adjoining to the power, in accordance with this report.
5. Singapore among the many first in Asia to suggest necessary local weather reporting for non-listed firms
The Accounting and Company Regulatory Authority (ACRA) and Singapore Alternate Regulation (SGX RegCo) launched a public session on necessary local weather reporting for listed and huge non-listed firms in July. Picture: Jessica Cheam/Eco-Enterprise
Singapore regulators are poised to implement necessary climate-related disclosures on listed firms as quickly because the monetary yr 2025, with the mandate seen to increase to massive non-listed firms by 2027.
If applied, Singapore might turn into the primary Asian jurisdiction to require Worldwide Sustainability Requirements Board-aligned local weather reporting for non-listed entities.
6. Philippines luxurious property impressed by Banaue Rice Terraces poses threat to setting, say city planners
An artist’s perspective of the Monterrazas de Cebu residential growth. Picture: Monterrazas de Cebu Fb web page
City planners warning in opposition to potential environmental dangers in a Cebu actual property challenge – “The Rise at Monterrazas,” a 200-hectare luxurious condominium on a mountainside overlooking the metropolitan metropolis within the Philippines’ Visayas area. Issues about landslides and flooding throughout building have additionally prompted requires mitigation measures.
Regardless of zoning board approval, environmental clearance from the Division of Setting and Pure Assets, nevertheless, remains to be pending. The terraced design, impressed by the Philippines’ Banaue Rice Terraces, is the vainness challenge of Filipino content material creator and civil engineer Slater Younger and his 8990 Housing Growth Company.
7. Vietnam, as soon as regional renewables beacon, loses shine to neighbours
A wind turbine challenge by Singapore-based The Blue Circle in Southern Vietnam. Picture: The Blue Circle.
Vietnam – regardless of being Southeast Asia’s renewables chief with 70 per cent of the area’s put in photo voltaic and wind energy capability – faces uncertainty because of governance limbo and a clampdown on corruption. Vietnam’s “Energy Growth Plan 8” has been delayed by two years, inflicting a scarcity of readability on renewable vitality targets.
Inside investigations into pricing offers for earlier renewable initiatives additional stall progress. As different Southeast Asian nations advance their inexperienced transitions, analysts warn that Vietnam’s coverage void might deter traders, impacting future developments and making the market difficult for brand spanking new entrants.
8. Dimsum from microbes, anybody?: How different proteins are cheaper, tastier and going native
What are the most recent traits within the different proteins business at the moment? The Eco-Enterprise podcast discusses new hybrid merchandise, extra localised choices and cheaper costs because of economies of scale. Picture: Flickr/ RosieTulips
The choice proteins business is ripe with artistic improvements that span from cell-based kangaroo meat to vegan filet mignon and even dairy from micro-organisms.
Regardless of a worldwide financial slowdown and slowing gross sales, companies are investing a whole bunch of tens of millions in analysis and growth. On this podcast, Eco-Enterprise interviews business insiders, Mindy Leveille and Jennifer Morton from vitamin and style agency Kerry and Good Meals Institute APAC respectively, to discover upcoming traits, challenges and alternatives within the different protein meals sector.
The podcast is a part of the ‘Way forward for Meals’ collection commissioned by Kerry which received the highest prize on the WAN-IFRA Asian Digital Media Awards this yr.
9. Singapore watchdog bans aircon advert claiming it might ‘save the Earth’ after greenwash grievance, in first ruling of its variety in Asia
An promoting marketing campaign for Prism+ airconditioners that includes Singaporean influencer Xiaxue. The marketing campaign has been eliminated after Singapore’s advert watchdog dominated that it misled customers. Photographs: Prism+
In a landmark determination, an commercial for Prism+ Zero Sensible Aircon models in Singapore claiming customers can “save Earth” by shopping for its energy-efficient airconditioners has been referred to as out by the Promoting Requirements Authority of Singapore for outright greenwashing.
The video advert options an influencer setting her air conditioner to 23°C to “save Earth and electrical energy” – a seemingly ridiculous declare as airconditioners account for almost a quarter of the vitality consumption of a typical family in Singapore.
The ruling marks the primary time that an promoting marketing campaign in Singapore, or anyplace in Asia, has been banned for greenwashing.
10. Particular person motion makes little distinction to the local weather disaster – we have to go after Huge Oil, says writer
“We should always fly with out guilt, not as a result of flying just isn’t dangerous, however as a result of the accountability to repair it [the climate impact of aviation] just isn’t ours,” stated Assaad Razzouk, writer of recent local weather ebook Saving the Planet With out the Bullshit. Picture: jANgsg/Flickr
Particular person actions like going vegan or flying much less have minimal affect on local weather change, says Assaad Razzouk, writer of Saving the Planet With out the Bullshit. Razzouk argues that governments should take systemic actions, akin to ending fossil gas subsidies, to deal with the local weather disaster successfully. He contends that blaming people for his or her carbon footprints deflects accountability from fossil gas companies, highlighting the necessity for a clearer deal with main local weather culprits.
It’s well-documented that even the idea of ‘carbon footprint’ was popularised by Ogilvy and fossil gas firm BP to shift the emissions burden onto the patron. As Razzouk colourfully places it: “We’re scraping collectively mere pennies decreasing, reusing and recycling, whereas oil firms burn hundred-dollar payments”.
Did you take pleasure in these tales? Tell us what we ought to be writing about in 2024 by sending your feedback to information@eco-business.com. This story is a part of our Yr in Evaluate collection.
