Earth Matters
Episodes
Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020 - Was the Wrong Plan Gazetted?
18 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There was a lot of dismay, to put it mildly, that the Kuala Lumpur City Plan (KLCP) 2020 was gazetted last year on Oct 30th, without first getting the...
The Problems of Palm Oil
04 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Palm oil is the most widely used vegetable oil in the world, and this ubiquitous ingredient is found in almost everything, from ice cream and toothpas...
The Living Planet Report 2018
28 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The Living Planet Report, WWF’s flagship publication released every two years, is a comprehensive study of trends in global biodiversity and the...
Wildlife Warrior: Subaraj Rajathurai
14 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
For over 30 years, Subaraj Rajathurai has been championing for the preservation and improved protection of Singapore's natural resources and environme...
Community Composting
07 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
SS20 Central Zone in Damansara Utama was the first neighbourhood in Petaling Jaya to implement a community-wide composting initiative. We speak to som...
Water Conservation with SPAN
07 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Water, water everywhere, but is there enough to drink? Fresh water is necessary for the survival of all living organisms on Earth, and even though Mal...
Best of Earth Matters 2018 - Part 2: Wildlife Warriors
24 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Description: We revisit some of the best interviews from Earth Matters, from 2018. On this episode, we look-back at stories of those who are dedicated...
Best of Earth Matters 2018 - Part 1: People Power
17 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We revisit some of the best interviews from Earth Matters, from 2018. On this episode, we look-back at inspiring stories of concerned citizens who ban...
Confusion over the Conversion of Pulau Kukup's Status
10 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Pulau Kukup National Park is one of the largest uninhabited mangrove forests in the world, and the island was declared a “Wetland of Internation...
Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve to be Degazetted?
03 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Parts of the Bukit Lagong Forest Reserve might be degazetted for a proposed housing development project. We speak to Tan Sri Dr Salleh Mohd Nor, the s...
TTDI vs DBKL: A Problematic Plan
26 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The fight to save Taman Rimba Kiara from development is far from over. The recently gazetted Kuala Lumpur City Plan 2020 - which was made public on th...
Can Katowice Deliver The Paris Agreement Rulebook?
26 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of the United Nations climate talks next week, Ambassador Artur Lorkowski is in town to discuss Poland’s preparation as host of the event ...
The Central Forest Spine Master Plan
19 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Central Forest Spine (CFS) Master Plan for Ecological Linkages is arguably the most important conservation initiative in Malaysia. It was created ...
Budget 2019 - What’s In Store for Malaysia’s Natural Resources & Environment
05 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Budget 2018 was said to not have effectively addressed Malaysia's core environmental issues, so has Budget 2019 filled those gaps, especially in terms...
Let's Try Something New
29 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A book that educates children on the current plight of the Sumatran Rhinoceros, Let's Try Something New is the second book by authors Abyan Junus-Nish...
Malaysia's Renewable Energy Game Plan
29 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Pakatan Harapan government in its election manifesto previously pledged to increase renewable energy from the current two per cent, to 20 per cent...
The 11th Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival 2018: Forest, Water and Climate Change
22 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia’s first and longest-running environmental film festival, the Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival, returns for it's 11th installment this yea...
The Costs of Coal
15 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Last month, Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad made a call to utilise coal in Sabah to address Malaysia’s energy needs, and Sabah Chief Min...
Dead Donkeys Fear No Hyenas
08 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Though her lands are fertile and rich in biodiversity, Ethiopia grapples with famine and poverty, and relies on food aid to feed its starving populati...
Trash-free Seas
01 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A nationwide beach clean-up happened on the 22nd of September, in conjunction with the International Coastal Clean-up (ICC) Day. This was part of Reef...
World Rivers Day: The Rehabilitation of Sg Bunus
24 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Sungai Bunus Action Group was formed in 2015 under Local Agenda 21 of DBKL, to improve the river quality of Sungai Bunus, and to create more river...
Decolonising Conservation
03 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
June Rubis is a Political Ecologist and a doctoral candidate with the Environmental Change Institute at the University of Oxford, in the U.K., and a t...
Nurturing Native Flora - Challenges For Malaysian Botanical Research and Conservation
27 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
When asked why he ventured into botanical research, world-renowned architect and urban designer Datuk Seri Lim Chong Keat simply responded that &ldquo...
A 101 on Hornbills
27 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Hornbills are called the farmers of the forest, thanks to their ability to commute over long distances and disperse seeds for plant reproduction. Howe...
TTDI vs DBKL: Taman Rimba Kiara - Not Out Of The Woods Yet
20 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Taman Tun residents’ battle to protect Taman Rimba Kiara from development is not yet over, even with a new government in place. We catch up ...
World Elephant Day 2018: Coexistence for Conservation
13 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The concept of “human-wildlife conflict” is becoming central to conservation work, but the mitigation of these conflicts are also said to ...
Why Mangroves Matter
06 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Called the “rainforests by the sea,” coastal mangroves are among the most threatened ecosystems on earth. Current estimates indicate that ...
Global Tiger Day 2018
30 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Since the beginning of the 20th century, we have lost over 95% of the world's wild tiger population. Celebrated on the 29th of July, Global Tig...
Damming the Tapanuli Apes to Death
23 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Last year, the world was amazed by the news that a new species of orangutan - the Tapanuli orangutan - was found in Batang Toru, Sumatra. Unfortunatel...
IYOR 2018 - Coastal Cleanup and Coral Reef Care
16 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
2018 has been declared as the third International Year of the Reef, to increase awareness and understanding of coral reefs, and to further conserve an...
Go Vegan - Save the Planet?
16 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Giving up meat and dairy in your diet could be the “single biggest way” to reduce your environmental impact on earth, a new study suggests...
Green Finance
09 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The KWAP Inspire: Environmental Conference 2018 is a two-day conference, themed “Inspiring Action for a Better Tomorrow”, hosted by KWAP t...
Caring for Our Oceans & Cetaceans
09 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
MareCet is Malaysia's first and only non-profit, non-governmental organization solely dedicated to the research and conservation of marine mammals in ...
Feed The Hungry, Not The Landfill
02 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), up to one third of all food is spoiled or squandered before it is cons...
Terrer Terrapins
25 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As is often the case, humans are causing trouble for other species, in this case, turtles. Dr. Chen Pelf Nyok, a turtle researcher and conservationist...
Don't Lose It, Reuse It
18 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Kaki Repair is a movement to encourage people to repair their spoilt belongings, rather than throw them away and get a new one. Mind you, it's not a r...
Seeking Solutions from Nature
11 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Scientists at the University of Nottingham Malaysia are busy working on a range of research projects, from using papaya leaves to cure dengue, to work...
Gibbon A Chance
04 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Gibbons are often considered the forgotten ape, swaying in the shadow of their great cousins, the orangutans, gorillas, bonobos and chimpanzees. They ...
World Environment Day Special 2018: Connect with Nature
28 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
World Environment Day, commemorated worldwide on the 5th of June, was established by the UN to specifically advance its own environmental efforts. &ld...
Post GE14: What About the Natural Environment?
21 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In many developing countries, environmental action and protection is seen as a burden to development, and presented as unaffordable. As the new Pakata...
The Nonhuman Rights Project
14 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) is a civil rights organization based in the United States, working to secure legally recognized fundamental rights ...
A Dedicated Ministry for the Environment in the Government of Malaysia
14 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
As our new government gets cracking on rebuilding the nation, a group of concerned conservationists are reminding the Prime Minister and Pakatan Harap...
The Bats of Batu Caves
07 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Bats have a bad reputation, mainly due to misinformation and misconceptions. In reality, they provide important functions for the environment, among t...
The National River Care Fund
30 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Initiated by the Global Environment Centre, the National River Care Foundation aims to support efforts by interested groups to protect and enhance riv...
The Rimba Project
23 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Rimba Project is an education/outreach programme based at the Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden, at the University of Malaya. Founded in 2014, the Rimba P...
Sussing Out Sustainable Development
16 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Sustainable development is the term for the dual imperative—economic growth and environmental sustainability. But often there is confusion over ...
Trash Hero Kuala Lumpur
09 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Trash Hero is a grassroots organisation whose mission it is to bring communities together to clean and reduce waste. The Kuala Lumpur chapter of this ...
Plastic, Plastic Everywhere!
09 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Back in early March, a massive clean-up of Malaysian beaches was organised, in conjunction with the International year of the Reef 2018 (IYOR 20...
Plastic, Plastic Everywhere!
09 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Many developed countries exported their recyclable plastic in large amounts to other countries to process, Malaysia being one of them. Though we have ...
Get ‘Em Young Part 2: The WildCRU Game: Global Carnivore Conservation
02 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In the second part of this week’s episode, we speak to Dr. Cedric Tan, from the University of Oxford Department of Zoology’s Wildlife Cons...
Get 'Em Young Part 1: Anak Rimba Books
02 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We often hear the phrase “protecting the environment for our future generation” and many other iterations of this with the same meaning. T...
World Water Day 2018 Special: Nature for Water
26 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Water is Life, as they say, and fresh water is necessary for the survival of all living organisms on Earth, but it’s also a resource under threa...
Cut the Greed, not the Green
19 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
With the theme Cut the Greed, not the Green, the Save our Rainforest Race 2018 returns this month, organised by Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam or ...
Sampah, Menyampah and Friends' EARTH Weekend
19 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A year ago, Sampah-Menyampah was launched, with the aim of raising awareness among Malaysians about setting our consumption habits right, and also to ...
Selamatkan Kuala Lumpur
12 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Comprising a coalition of residents’ associations from Kuala Lumpur, Selamatkan Kuala Lumpur or Save Kuala Lumpur (SKL) are advocating for impro...
A Noble Environmentalist
26 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
A chartered biologist with a keen interest in environmental studies, zoology and a long standing voluntary commitment to environmental issues and muse...
The Governance of Global Environmental Problems
19 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In recent years, environmental politics and policymaking have expanded and grown increasingly multifaceted. Prof. Philippe Le Prestre, a professor of ...
International Year of the Reef 2018 - a make or break year for the world’s coral reefs?
05 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Erik Solheim, the Head of UN Environment, said this is a make or break year for the world’s coral reefs. 2018 has been declared as the third Int...
Stewards of the World's Forests
29 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international not for-profit, multi-stakeholder organisation, established to promote responsible management...
Make Haste - Go Zero-Waste!
08 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Since 2008, Bea Johnson and her family of four have only been producing one jar of waste, per year. Author of the book Zero Waste Home, Bea is acknowl...
Best of Earth Matters 2017
18 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Today we look back at some of our popular Earth Matters episodes for Year 2017. We revisit President Trump’s decision to pull U.S. out from the ...
Human Rights Day Special: Saving Rivers and Lives
11 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
SAVE Rivers is a group of concerned citizens building broad-based support to mobilise the public to speak-up against plans to build more new dams that...
Funding Climate Actions
04 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is beginning its first readiness funding to Malaysia in partnership with Carbon Trust. Minister of Natural Resources and ...
Unlocking Forest Financing
04 Dec 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia has one of the world's fastest deforestation rates. To conserve forests, Cleantech21's Nick Beglinger believes that distributed ledger techno...
Powering Past Coal
27 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Led by Canada and Britain, more than a dozen countries have formed an international alliance to phase out coal by 2030. Which countries are in, and wh...
Trump’s Coal Push
27 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We speak to the Obama Administration’s lead climate negotiator about his thoughts on Trump’s Paris Agreement withdrawal and coal support, ...
Universal Children's Day 2017 Special: Zero Waste
20 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In conjunction with Universal Children's Day this year, we speak to Claire Sancelot, a zero-waste advocate and the director of The Hive, and her 7-yea...
Maintaining Peopled Forests
13 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Researchers at the World Resources Institute have found that tenure-secure indigenous forestlands provided significant global carbon benefits. In Boli...
Deforestation and Diets
06 Nov 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Just last month, international advisory company Climate Focus released three reports, which laid out how emissions from land use sector — with a...
The Simple Life of Self-Reliance
30 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Pun Pun, which translates from Thai to mean "a thousand varieties" is an organic farm cum learning center for sustainable living in Chiang Mai, Thaila...
Breaking Free From Plastic
23 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In 1999, Von Hernandez, a former literature professor from the Philippines, successfully led the campaign in making the Philippines the first nation i...
The 10th International Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival 2017
23 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Conceptualized and organized by not-for-profit environmental organization, EcoKnights, the Kuala Lumpur Eco Film Festival is a platform to facilitate ...
Securing Malaysia's Sustainable Future
16 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The International Community has designated “Sustainable Development” as a central issue for the future of humanity. Here in Malaysia, the ...
The Role of Flying Foxes in Durian Pollination Ecology
02 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
With over 1,300 species, bats illustrate many key issues in ecology and evolution, from the beauty of their unique biology to their importance for eco...
Climate change, Range Shifts, and the Global Distribution of Resilience
25 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Many studies in recent years have investigated the effects of climate change on the future of biodiversity. Ongoing future climate change will likely ...
Nurturing the Future Guardians of Gunung Palung National Park
18 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Gunung Palung National Park is a diverse ecosystem of mangroves, swamp and montane forests southeast of Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. Sadly, ...
Journey to Raya Padi
11 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
It’s been years since Ewok Perai last set foot in the Temiar village he once called home. The highland communities there made national headlines...
Growing a Green Economy in Malaysia
21 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
It has become increasingly obvious that issues of energy and environment cannot be ignored if development, economic fortitude, and societal well-being...
World Elephant Day 2017 Special: Ending the Exploitation of Elephants for Entertainment
14 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Thousands of elephants are being abused for entertainment around Asia, according to a new report by the international non-profit animal welfare organi...
Sustainable Consumption and Production Demystified
24 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
By 2050, the world population will reach 9.5 billion, 70 per cent of which will live in resource-intensive urban areas. As economic growth also accele...
Overcoming Over-Consumption
17 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The endless cycle of want and an unsustainable approach to growth and consumption has gotten the earth - and all of us in it - into a lot of trouble. ...
On a finite planet, nothing grows forever
10 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Richard Heinberg is an American journalist and educator specialized in energy, economic, and ecological issues. A Senior Fellow at the Post Carbon Ins...
Equal Rights & Opportunities for Women in Oil Palm
05 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Oil palm plantations and smallholdings are expanding massively and ongoing research by the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR), points ...
TTDI vs DBKL: Green Lung or Built Blocks?
29 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In June 2016, Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur (DBKL) issued a notice of a proposed development on a portion of land situated within Taman Rimba Kiara. Ta...
Paradise in Peril: The Greater Ulu Muda Forest Special
22 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Apart from being extremely important for its vital role in provisioning water and other ecosystem services, the Greater Ulu Muda Forest harbours impor...
Fighting For Fishes
08 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
It's estimated that each Malaysian consumes about 56.5 kg seafood per year - and that number rises annually. Driven by our insatiable demand for seafo...
Gods, Wasps and Stranglers: the Secret History and Redemptive Future of Fig Trees
10 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us think of figs as just something to eat, but according to Rainforest Ecologist Mike Shanahan, fig trees have influenced humanity and the wor...
The Borneo Atlas
03 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. David Gaveau combines satellites, drones and field investigations to study the impacts of humans on Earth’s land surface. He maps tropical d...
Sukau Bridge - a Path to Extinction?
27 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
This week on Earth Matters, we take a look at some news that's been brewing in Sabah - the proposal for the construction of a federal government road ...
Art For Grabs: 50 Shades of Green
20 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Recognising that there's more to saving the planet than just not using plastic bags, this edition of Art For Grabs will tackle Environmentalism, and s...
The Anthropocene - is this the age of humans?
13 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The ‘Anthropocene’ or the ‘age of humans’ is one which is defined by massive human impacts on the natural environment, to a po...
World Wildlife Day Special: Listen to the Young Voices
06 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
World Wildlife Day is celebrated globally on the 3rd of March, and this year's theme is "listen to the young voices." We speak to Jimmiel Mandima from...
Sumatran Rhinos - Point of No Return?
27 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Researchers estimate that fewer than 100 Sumatran Rhinos remain in the wild, distributed among three wild populations in Sumatra. Have we reached the ...
The Delicate Science of Communicating Science
20 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Aaron Shunk is a geologist/ biologist with a passion for nature and science. He co-founded PubliSci.com, a non-profit crowdfunding website which s...
The Impact of the MRT Construction on the Environment
06 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit project was launched in 2011, with the 51 kilometer Sungai Buloh - Kajang line the first phase to be completed in ...
Identifying Conservation Priorities in Malaysia
23 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
A recent paper published in the academic journal Cogent Environmental Science presented the results of a multi-stakeholder exercise aimed at identifyi...
The Role of Indigenous Peoples in Conservation
16 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
For indigenous peoples, the recent UN Biodiversity Convention was as crucial platform to highlight their role in the sustainable use of biodiversity. ...
The Role of Indigenous Peoples in Conservation
16 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
For indigenous peoples, the recent UN Biodiversity Convention was as crucial platform to highlight their role in the sustainable use of biodiversity. ...
Saving the World's Terrestrial Megafauna
09 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Back in June last year, a group of 40 scientists banded together and co-authored a scientific paper for the Oxford Journal, BioScience, which painted ...
Earth Matters Look-Back at 2016 Part 2
19 Dec 2016
Contributed by Lukas
In this second and final part of our look-back at the top environment stories of 2016 that we featured on Earth Matters, we revisit topics like Combat...