Sustainable Asia

We're back partnering again with the Break Free From Plastic movement to feature NGO advocates in Asia. In this episode. we are going to hone in on one of the big open questions at the April 2024 INC4 talks. How should the treaty deal with problematic plastics and chemicals of concern? The US EPA recently banned certain PFAS chemicals in drinking water. And Switzerland called for an initial list of problematic plastics to be worked out by year end 2024. With short time left to negotiate the plastics treaty there is a forward movement to finally regulate toxic chemicals in plastics. But we want to take a step back and give more background to what are chemicals of concern in plastic for consumers and advocates alike. Then, at the end of this episode, we'll circle back to how these problematic plastics can be regulated both in and out of the treaty. Guests: 1. Madhuvanthi Rajkumar, Researcher in environment and climate action and solid waste management at Citizen Consumer and Civic Action Group, or CAG, in India. She represents consumer consituency at the Global Plastics Treaty meetings. 2. Jam Lorenzo, Policy development and research head, Ban Toxics in the Philippines. 3. Jorge Emmanuel, Adjunct professor of environmental science and of engineering at Silliman University in the Philippines. He's also an official member of the Philippine Philippine Treaty Delegation Production credits: Host: Marcy Trent Long Producer: Carol Mang Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Sign up to find out when new Sustainable Asia seasons are launched! We have partnered with Break Free From Plastic (BFFP), headquartered in Asia, to produce this series. BFFP has numerous resources on their website about the Global Plastics Treaty: You can also refer to: GAIA's treaty page and GAIA’s Asia Pacific treaty page And check out CIEL's paper on UN procedural tools used to block plastic treaty progress.

We have a great new episode discussing the United Nations Global Plastics Treaty from the view of Break Free from Plastic advocates here in Asia. Our guests today have been working for decades to reduce plastic pollution at its source. Just a brief tip though… if you haven’t tuned into previous episodes in this SEASON you might want to … it will catch you up on where we are at with the plastic treaty negotiations! Well, the third meeting of the Global Plastics Treaty - otherwise called INC3 - ended last November and the Revised Zero Draft of the treaty is out… But there wasn’t a lot of progress during those INC3 meetings. For this episode, we are partnering with Break Free from Plastic (or BFFP) to get their members' views as we gear up for the next treaty negotiations at INC-4 in April. BFFP has more than 12,000 organizations and individuals around the world working together to demand reductions in single use plastics and advocate for lasting solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. Guests: 1. Arpita Bhagat - Plastic Policy Officer, GAIA Asia Pacific - based in India. GAIA is a network of more than 1000 organizations from 92 countries, whose vision is a just, zero waste world free from the burden of toxic pollution, where resources are sustainably conserved, not burned or dumped. 2. Semee Rhee - Global Policy Advisor with BFFP in Korea. Semee represents BFFP in the plastics treaty process. 3. Mage-swari Sanga-ra-lingam is the Honorary Secretary at Sahabat Alam Malaysia based in Penang and is a research officer with the Consumers' Association of Penang for the past 32 years. She represented Sahabat Alam Malaysia - or Friends of the Earth Malaysia - at the INC-3 plastics treaty meeting. Production credits: Host: Marcy Trent Long Producer: Carol Mang Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Sign up to find out when new Sustainable Asia seasons are launched! We have partnered with Break Free From Plastic (BFFP), headquartered in Asia, to produce this series. BFFP has numerous resources on their website about the Global Plastics Treaty: You can also refer to: GAIA's treaty page and GAIA’s Asia Pacific treaty page And check out CIEL's paper on UN procedural tools used to block plastic treaty progres.

Hey Sustainable Asia Listeners! We have some upcoming episodes discussing the United Nations Global Plastics Treaty negotiations that I think you are really going to find interesting. This bonus episode is from one of my favorite podcasts called Plastisphere. It’s run by Anja Krieger in Berlin. Over three episodes, Anja Krieger and Magnus Løvold shed light on how politics can influence the negotiations of a UN Global Plastics Treaty..I am replaying the first episode here…but if you want to hear more just head over to the Plastisphere Podcast. We’ve covered many of the issues that advocates in Asia want embedded in the plastics treaty. However, given that the treaty needs to be supported by nations globally…it inherently is a political document. And INC-3 proved that. Some countries basically did all that they could to block the progress of the plastics treaty by using procedural games to keep the treaty from ever being signed. So here is episode one of this three part series from Plastisphere Podcast. From Plastisphere: A podcast on plastic pollution in the environment What happened at the INC-1 in Uruguay? Recap 1/3. This year, 2024, is the crucial year for the plastics treaty negotiations. If you haven’t heard about them, the United Nations are working on an international, legally binding agreement to end plastic pollution. It’s been called the most important environmental deal since the Paris climate accord. Many countries want it to be an ambitious agreement that covers the full lifecycle of plastics, from production to disposal. But some countries are not so keen on this, and they have held up the development of the treaty. How and why exactly did they do this, and is there still hope for a strong and effective international agreement? To explore this, Anja connected with Magnus Løvold, an expert in Peace and Conflict Studies, and advisor with Lex International and NAIL, the Norwegian Academy of International Law. In his blog „Points of Order“, Magnus describes his observations at the diplomatic meetings he attends. This is the first of three parts of the conversation. Magnus and Anja will take you back into each meeting of the treaty negotiations - INC-1 in Uruguay, INC-2 in France and INC-3 in Kenya. We’ll talk diplomacy and give you a better understanding of what’s going on on the international stage. Read our guest's blog: "Points of Order" - independent reporting on multilateral processes, treaty-making and diplomacy" by Magnus Løvold and Torbjørn Graff Hugo: https://medium.com/points-of-order Episode transcript: https://anjakrieger.com/plastisphere/2024/03/08/transcript-plastic-treaty-making-part1/ Music: Dorian Roy Cover: Maren von Stockhausen If you like this show, support the production! Go to https://anjakrieger.com/plastisphere/support/

The second meeting of the International Negotiations Committee (INC-2) had lofty ambitions. But the first three days of these Plastics Treaty negotiations were mired in political antics…making many representatives from Asia feel as though they were back to square one of just talk and no action on dealing with the plastic crisis. And it seems that two camps have surfaced in these negotiations: Those that want the treaty to be voluntary commitments like the climate change Paris agreement, and those who want a treaty with more teeth and regulations. Any commitments under the global plastic treaty will eventually be adopted as national targets by the signatory countries, and then translated into National Action Plans to implement programs and strategies for meeting these targets. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) is planning on finalizing the treaty by 2024 over the next few INC meetings…and committed at INC-2 to make the first draft treaty to discuss at INC-3. So to continue our focus on how reuse, reduce and refill will be highlighted in the treaty negotiations…. we wanted to bring back Marian Ledesma Zero Waste Campaigner with/ Greenpeace Southeast Asia in Manila. Marian attended the INC-22 meetings in Paris, and we wanted to get her thoughts on how that went. We also invited Christina Dixon, Oceans Campaign Leader from the Environmental Investigation Agency to talk in more detail about the action steps and types of language needed to get the treaty moving in the reuse, refill and repair direction. To wrap up we talk about what you listeners can do to support their efforts at the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations…. Production credits: Host: Marcy Trent Long Producer: Carol Mang Contributing Editor: Jill Baxter Intro outro music: Alex Mauboussin Sign up to find out when new Sustainable Asia seasons are launched! We have partnered with Break Free From Plastic (BFFP), headquartered in Asia, to produce this series. BFFP has numerous resources on their website about the Global Plastics Treaty and the Reuse | Refill | Repair initiative: https: www.breakfreefromplastic.org plastics-treaty https: www.breakfreefromplastic.org 2023 04 28 youth-summit-2023-global-plastics-treaty Video Credits: UNEP: "A once in a planet opportunity" Inger Andersen, INC-2 | Paris, France

A bonus episode about the Global Plastics Treaty from one of my favorite podcasts called Plastisphere. It’s run by Anja Krieger in Berlin, and like Sustainable Asia, Plastisphere really looks at the science behind this plastic waste crisis. I thought listeners would appreciate this episode, as it gives a great background to the Global Plastics Treaty. In the past months, Anja asked scientists and experts to send her their thoughts and demands. In this episode, you’ll get to hear messages from Richard Thompson, Bethany Carney Almroth, Sonia Dias, Tridibesh Dey, Martin Wagner, Trisia Farrelly, Rebecca Altman and Lesley Henderson. Plastisphere is a research and interview podcast by Anja Krieger, published in the spirit of the gift economy. Please rate and review the podcast and support the production costs via PayPal: plastisphere.earth support Transcript with links to music and sources: anjakrieger.com plastisphere 2023…13-plastictreaty Subscribe: www.plastisphere.earth Theme song: Dorian Roy Music: Blue Dot Sessions www.sessions.blue UNEP video 1: www.youtube.com watch?v=28mNomsFsFY UNEP video 2: www.youtube.com watch?v=N_GSIL0lLDs Thanks for kind permission, additional audio and images to Miranda Grant, Ahmed Yusuf and the UNEP press team. Cover art: Maren von Stockhausen Thanks to: Baldeep Kaur Follow regular updates on Mastodon: @plastisphere@podcasts.social Follow occasional posts on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram: @PlastispherePod

We need other solutions to the plastic waste crisis. Solutions that involve reduce, reuse, refill and repair here in Asia. And those types of solutions…need to be included in the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations. The Global Plastics Treaty agreement is not a mechanism to control plastic waste. It is a roadmap for the world to control the life cycle of plastics that have come to dominate our natural environment and impact our health in ways we still don’t fully understand. So that’s what we are going to talk about in this episode. Luckily, I had the opportunity to speak with two incredibly knowledgeable people about this. Marian Ledesma, Zero Waste Campaigner with Greenpeace Southeast Asia based in Manila, who will be attending the INC-2 meetings in Paris next week. Greenpeace Southeast Asia is a Break Free From Plastic member organization, and Marian has a deep knowledge of the plastic crisis here in Asia, as well as how to focus policies so that single use plastic…with all of its health and environmental impacts…can be eliminated from our lives. My other guest Darina Maulana, of Enviu Indonesia based in Jakarta, works with startups in the reuse and refill space in Indonesia. She has a hands-on view of what types of programs and regulations work in megacities in Asia…so that single use plastic consumption can be dramatically reduced…if not totally eliminated! To wrap up we talk about what you listeners can do to support their efforts at the Global Plastics Treaty negotiations…. Production credits: Host: Marcy Trent Long Producer: Carol Mang Contributing Editor: Jill Baxter Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Sign up to find out when new Sustainable Asia seasons are launched! Resources: We have partnered with Break Free From Plastic (BFFP), headquartered in Asia, to produce this series. BFFP has numerous resources on their website about the Global Plastics Treaty and the Reuse | Refill | Repair initiative: https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/plastics-treaty/ https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/2023/04/28/youth-summit-2023-global-plastics-treaty/ Video Credits: UN Agrees to Roadmap for global plastic pollution treaty, The World The Truth About Plastic Recycling..It’s Complicated, Undecided with Matt Ferrell

The Global Plastics Treaty negotiations kicked off! This is a historic moment for Asia, because after decades of plastic waste washing up on their shores…finally..there may be a path forward. Join us as we talk to BFFP members and other experts about each INC meeting, to find out what YOU can do to support their work at the treaty negotiations. Production credits: Host: Marcy Trent Long Producer: Carol Mang Contributing Editor: Jill Baxter Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Sign up to find out when new Sustainable Asia seasons are launched! Resources: We have partnered with Break Free From Plastic (BFFP), headquartered in Asia, to produce this series. BFFP has numerous resources on their website about the Global Plastics Treaty and the Reuse | Refill | Repair initiative: https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/plastics-treaty/ https://www.breakfreefromplastic.org/2023/04/28/youth-summit-2023-global-plastics-treaty/ Video Credits: We urgently need a Global Plastics Treaty. Here's why. By Greenpeace International

Our focus in this episode is livestock…specifically dairy products made from cows. It turns out enteric fermentation, the cow's digestive process of turning grass into food, contributes to over 40% of global emissions from the livestock supply chain. And the US is a major producer and consumer of beef and dairy products…with China slowly catching up. How are the two global food superpowers innovating ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from dairy cows? Guests (in order of appearance): Roberta Franco, California Department of Food and Agriculture Ermias Kebreab, University of California at Davis Meian Chen, Innovative Green Development Program in China Liu Ying, Former Director of the Biogas Institute of the Ministry of Agriculture Li Ying, The Nature Conservancy in China Matthew Harrison, California Air Resources Board Production credits: Executive Producer: Marcy Trent Long Co-Host and Producer: Chermaine Lee Sound Engineer: Estima Associate Producers: Sam LiXiaoYu, Zack Chiang, Lara-Nour Walton Music Composition: Cole Chiu Contributing Editor: Jill Baxter Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Sign up to find out when new Sustainable Asia seasons are launched Resources: This podcast series is part of a Wilson Center China Environment Forum and Ohio State University initiative called Cultivating U.S. and Chinese Climate Leadership on Food and Agriculture. The initiative explores the actions both these “food superpowers” are taking to rein in agri-food greenhouse gas emissions and identifies potential areas of mutual learning and collaboration. Blogs from the China Environment Forum: Soil’s Key Role in Fighting Climate Change in U.S. and Chinese Agriculture: The Wisdom of Dr. Rattan LalMilking the Dairy Industry for Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions in ChinaRice: A Recipe for Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the U. S. and China?The Forgotten Greenhouse Gas: Nitrous Oxide as an Issue for U.S. and Chinese AgricultureFarming Our Future China Environment Forum Webinars: Reining in the Methane Hoofprint of Cows in CaliforniaThe Blue Planet Turns Green: Algae Fouls Waters as the World Struggles to Grow More Food in a Changing ClimateOpportunities for Enhanced Near-term U.S.-China Climate Action: The Food SystemDigging into Soil for Food Security and Climate: A Green Tea Chat With Rattan Lal, 2020 World Food Prize WinnerMapping China’s Pathway to a Carbon-neutral Food SystemClimate Action Down on the Farm: Food and Climate Nexus Opportunities in China and the US LOGO images Created by Jennifer Nguyen and Ann Williams Cartoon tractor is from NatBasil/Shutterstock, farmer from Canva Video Clip of cow sounds: Cargill Backs Cow Masks to Trap Methane Burps by Bloomberg Quicktake

Over half of the world’s population eats rice as its staple food. But did you know that rice production also contributes to about 10% of the world's methane emissions? And that methane is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in warming the planet? Reining in rice methane is a sticky problem. Different rice types and growing strategies to limit methane often create other problems like lower farming yields. An innovative SRI method developed in Madagascar in the 1960s increases yields and has the promise of reducing greenhouse gas emissions And if that’s not good enough news…Scientists in China, the world's largest rice producer, are collaborating with U.S. researchers to cultivate a hybrid rice that will be a game changer for our ever-warming planet. Guests (in order of appearance): Dr. Uphoff, Cornell University Dr Niu Kunyu, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Kenneth Graves, Arkansas Rice Growers Association Dr Lu Shihua, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences Tim Crews, The Land Institute Dr Fengyi Hu, Yunnan University Production credits: Executive Producer: Marcy Trent Long Co-Host and Producer: Chermaine Lee Sound Engineer: Estima Associate Producers: Sam LiXiaoYu, Zack Chiang, Lara-Nour Walton Contributing Editor: Jill Baxter Music Composition: Cole Chiu Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Sign up to find out when new Sustainable Asia seasons are launched! Resources: This podcast series is part of a Wilson Center China Environment Forum and Ohio State University initiative called Cultivating U.S. and Chinese Climate Leadership on Food and Agriculture. The initiative explores the actions both these “food superpowers” are taking to rein in agri-food greenhouse gas emissions and identifies potential areas of mutual learning and collaboration. Blogs from the China Environment Forum: Soil’s Key Role in Fighting Climate Change in U.S. and Chinese Agriculture: The Wisdom of Dr. Rattan LalMilking the Dairy Industry for Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions in ChinaRice: A Recipe for Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the U. S. and China?The Forgotten Greenhouse Gas: Nitrous Oxide as an Issue for U.S. and Chinese AgricultureFarming Our Future China Environment Forum Webinars: Reining in the Methane Hoofprint of Cows in CaliforniaThe Blue Planet Turns Green: Algae Fouls Waters as the World Struggles to Grow More Food in a Changing ClimateOpportunities for Enhanced Near-term U.S.-China Climate Action: The Food SystemDigging into Soil for Food Security and Climate: A Green Tea Chat With Rattan Lal, 2020 World Food Prize WinnerMapping China’s Pathway to a Carbon-neutral Food SystemClimate Action Down on the Farm: Food and Climate Nexus Opportunities in China and the US LOGO images Created by Jennifer Nguyen and Ann Williams Cartoon tractor is from NatBasil/Shutterstock, farmer from Canva

Are you aware of the critical role soil plays in the battle against climate change? But 75% of soil is already degraded from unsustainable farming practices...so earth's “living skin” is suffering from a “diet problem,” we are feeding it the wrong menu. In a world of growing political tensions, can the US and China work together to restore this balance? Guests (in order of appearance): Rattan Lal, Ohio State University Kevin Mo, iGDP China Jessica D’Ambrosio, The Nature Conservancy Fan Mingsheng, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Production credits: Executive Producer: Marcy Trent Long Co-Host and Producer: Chermaine Lee Associate Producers: Sam LiXiaoYu, Zack Chiang, Lara-Nour Walton Sound Engineer: Estima Music Composition: Cole Chiu Contributing Editor: Jill Baxter Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Sign up to find out when new Sustainable Asia seasons are launched Resources: This podcast series is part of a Wilson Center China Environment Forum and Ohio State University initiative called Cultivating U.S. and Chinese Climate Leadership on Food and Agriculture. The initiative explores the actions both these “food superpowers” are taking to rein in agri-food greenhouse gas emissions and identifies potential areas of mutual learning and collaboration. Blogs from the China Environment Forum: Soil’s Key Role in Fighting Climate Change in U.S. and Chinese Agriculture: The Wisdom of Dr. Rattan LalMilking the Dairy Industry for Lower Greenhouse Gas Emissions in ChinaRice: A Recipe for Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the U. S. and China?The Forgotten Greenhouse Gas: Nitrous Oxide as an Issue for U.S. and Chinese AgricultureFarming Our Future China Environment Forum Webinars: The Blue Planet Turns Green: Algae Fouls Waters as the World Struggles to Grow More Food in a Changing ClimateOpportunities for Enhanced Near-term U.S.-China Climate Action: The Food SystemDigging into Soil for Food Security and Climate: A Green Tea Chat With Rattan Lal, 2020 World Food Prize WinnerMapping China’s Pathway to a Carbon-neutral Food SystemClimate Action Down on the Farm: Food and Climate Nexus Opportunities in China and the US LOGO images Created by Jennifer Nguyen and Ann Williams Cartoon tractor is from NatBasil/Shutterstock, farmer from Canva

It turns out Seoul, Korea has the worst air pollution amongst all of the top 10 economies in the world. Why is air pollution still such a huge challenge in a country with abundant resources and advanced infrastructure? And does South Korea use any high-tech solutions to handle its dirty air that South or Southeast Asian megacities can learn from? Guests (in order of appearance): Jieon Lee, Korea Federation for Environmental Movements Gyuri Cho, Solutions for Our Climate Sign up to find out when new Sustainable Asia seasons are launched. Review us on listennotes! Check out the other research from the Heinrich Boell Foundation in Hong Kong, India, and Southeast Asia. Production credits: Producer and Co-Host: Chermaine Lee Co-Host: Khoa Tran Associate Producer: Jack Lee Executive Producer: Marcy Trent Long Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin

Chermaine and Khoa move southeast and talk to a leading advocate in New Delhi who has successfully engaged the government there. Delhi’s air pollution is still one of the worst in the world, and we find out that instead of blowing north to Lahore…the pollution travels towards the pristine Himalayan mountains of Nepal and settles in the city of Kathmandu. Luckily, there is a new mayor there that might finally make a difference. Guests (in order of appearance): Anumita Roychowdhury, Center for Science and Environment India Kunda Dixit, Nepali Times Bhupendra Das, Nepal Energy and Environmental Development Services Sign up to find out when new Sustainable Asia seasons are launched. Review us on listennotes! Check out the other research from the Heinrich Boell Foundation in Hong Kong, India, and Southeast Asia. Production credits: Producer and Co-Host: Khoa Tran Co-Host: Chermaine Lee Sound Engineer: Avery Choi Associate Producer: Jack Lee Lead Writer and Executive Producer: Marcy Trent Long Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Music and Soundscape Credits: Blue Dot Sessions: Taoudella Freesound: People Baleh Shah music compilation Economics Time India Nepal Health Emergency Nepali Times survey on bad air quality

The next stop on the Chermaine and Khoa’s tour of Asia’s megacities is Lahore. This episode goes in depth to explore the political and social causes of air pollution, sheds light on what people can do in their everyday lives to improve the air quality in Lahore, and calls upon the youth of Pakistan’s capital to raise awareness to protect their own future. Guests (in order of appearance): Rafay Alam, Environmental Lawyer and Yale World Fellow Abid Omar, Pakistan Air Quality Initiative Ayesha Nasir, Lahore ScarryAmmi Mothers Group Sign up to find out when new Sustainable Asia seasons are launched. Review us on listennotes! Check out the other research from the Heinrich Boell Foundation in Hong Kong, India, and Southeast Asia. Production credits: Producer and Co-Host: Chermaine Lee Co-Host: Khoa Tran Sound Engineer: Zoe Law Associate Producer: Jack Lee Executive Producer: Marcy Trent Long Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Music from Blue Dot Sessions: Harper’s Desk, Tionesta, Slow Dial, Bauxite, and The Zeppelin

Chermaine and Khoa’s journey continues onto Jakarta, Indonesia where they meet with environmentalists who shed light on the health concerns surrounding the heavy air pollution there. Lack of government response to the problem prompted advocates to sue the government for its failure to rein in the dirty air there. The landmark lawsuit was won, but will it force the government to take the steps necessary to bring back breathable air to the city? Guests: Yuyun Ismawati, Nexus3 Foundation Elisa Sutanudjaja, Rujak Center for Urban Studies Leonard Simanjuntak, Greenpeace Indonesia Jolene Lin, Asia-Pacific Center for Environmental Law Sign up to find out when new Sustainable Asia seasons are launched. Review us on listennotes! Check out the other research from the Heinrich Boell Foundation in Hong Kong, India, and Southeast Asia. Production credits: Producer and Co-Host: Chermaine Lee Co-Host: Khoa Tran Sound Engineer: Avery Choi Associate Producer: Jack Lee Executive Producer: Marcy Trent Long Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Music from Free Music Archive: Kai Engel Traffic, Motorcycle Bike Music from Pixabay: Cinematic Atmosphere Score 1

In their first stop across Asia’s megacities, environmental journalists Chermaine Lee and Khoa Tran head to Bangkok, Thailand. The government’s blind eye towards pollution has left Bangkok’s air quality in shambles. Will efforts by environmental advocates lead to changes in the environmental laws there or is the government’s lack of action taking Bangkok down a path of toxic air for the foreseeable future? Guests (in order of appearance): Weenarin Lulitanonda, Thailand Clean Air Network Dr. Surat Bualert, Kasetsart University Lynn Ocharoenchai, Youth Climate Activist Sign up to find out when new Sustainable Asia seasons are launched and review us on listennotes! Check out the research from the Heinrich Boell Foundation in Hong Kong, India, and Southeast Asia. Production credits: Producer and Co-Host: Khoa Tran Co-Host: Chermaine Lee Sound Engineer: Avery Choi Associate Producer: Jack Lee Executive Producer: Marcy Trent Long Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Music from Free Music Archive: Kai Engel, Mumbai Traffic, Ambiance, Children Playing, Children footsteps and laughter, Fire burning Other Sound Effects: Hong Kong Street Noise recorded by Wilson Lee, Grace Wong, Chun To Yeung

Why haven’t the governments in Asia’s larger cities done something about the decades old problem of air pollution? Our two young environmental journalists, based in Hong Kong, Khoa Tran and Chermaine Lee, try to find out why. As always in our podcast series, we’ll talk to experts and activists on the ground to bring out a fresh local perspective….We’ve called the series Clearing the Air to add an optimistic tone because the citizen movements that we uncovered while producing this series....were so inspiring. Sign up to find out when new Sustainable Asia seasons are launched. Review us on listennotes! Check out the Atlas publications and other research from the Heinrich Boell Foundation in Hong Kong, New Delhi, and Bangkok. Production credits: Sound Engineer: Crystal Wu Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin

Of the various challenges Asian countries face when tackling plastic waste…lack of funding is perhaps the one common thread. So how can more money get to needed programs here? Seeing the rising demand for PCR (post consumer recycled plastics), Doug Woodring and Maryam AlMansoori believe they have one solution: a global PCR commodity exchange. Meanwhile, Maggie Lee of VERRA talks about their expansion into plastic credits. Would this replica of carbon credits see similar results? Guests: Doug Woodring, Ocean Recovery Alliance, Hong Kong Maryam AlMansoori , Rebound Plastics Exchange, UAE Maggie Lee, VERRA, Washington DC Subscribe for Sustainable Asia latest episodes and review us on listennotes! Check out the Wilson Center’s plastic blogs and dialogues. Production credits: Executive Producer: Marcy Trent Long Associate Producer and Sound Engineer: WuYuFei Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Music from Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue): Trek VX

Rose-Liza Eisma-Osorio, Legal and Policy Director at the NGO Oceana, is taking on the Philippine government. A decades-old solid waste management law has not been enforced, contributing to massive piles of plastic….where waste pickers make their livelihood. Will the courts require the government to start banning single use plastic? And can a UN plastic treaty reinforce southeast nation's waste management and data collection laws… to finally make a dent in the plastic waste crisis in Asia? This new three episode season is co-produced by the China Environment Forum with support from The Japan Foundation’s Center for Global Partnership. Guests: Rose-Liza Eisma-Osorio, Legal and Policy Director, Oceana, The Philippines Dr. Simachaya, President, Thailand Environment Institute Subscribe for Sustainable Asia latest episodes and review us on listennotes! Check out the Wilson Center’s plastic blogs and dialogues. Also just published! Regional Research Inventory of marine plastics research in the seas of East Asia from National University of Singapore (NUS) Production credits: Executive Producer: Marcy Trent Long Associate Producer: WuYuFei Sound Engineer: Avery Choi Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Music from Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue): Dolly and Pad Music from Free Music Archive: scottholmesmusic.com, Blue Moon, Kai Engel -coelum Sounds from FreeSound: Suncord_Audiolab

Could it be true that countries from the UN Environment Assembly committed to negotiate a global plastic treaty over the next two years? And even if the treaty is signed…will it have enough teeth to make a difference to the plastic waste crisis that has persisted over the last decade here in Asia? In this episode, we speak with experts from Japan, New Zealand, and Indonesia about whether the UN can do for plastic what the Paris Agreement has done for climate change. This new three episode season is co-produced by the China Environment Forum with support from The Japan Foundation’s Center for Global Partnership. Guests: Trisia Farrelly, Massey University, New Zealand Linda Yanti Sulistiawati, National University of Singapore, Singapore and Indonesia Michikazu Kojima, Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, Japan Subscribe for Sustainable Asia latest episodes and review us on listennotes! Check out the Wilson Center’s plastic blogs and dialogues. Production credits: Executive Producer: Marcy Trent Long Associate Producer: WuYuFei Sound Engineer: Avery Choi Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin Music from Blue Dot Sessions (www.sessions.blue): VK Mendl, Dolly and Pad Music from Free Music Archive: Music by scottholmesmusic.com, Blue Moon, Kai Engel -coelum

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 DC And from Sustainable Asia: WuYuFei, Fujian, China Khoa Tran, Hong Kong, China Chermaine Lee, Hong Kong, China Marcy Trent Long, Hong Kong, China Subscribe 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 Choi Intro/outro music: Alex Mauboussin