16 August 2024
Climate Connections: Separating The Green From Greenwash - Nature Positive Transitions Must Build On Mitigation Hierarchy Applications
A new environmental movement is gathering pace: “Nature Positive”.
The concept of "Nature Positive" envisages a planet where the current rapid loss of biodiversity is halted and reversed, and nature is restored. Since the term was coined in 2020 amid negotiations for the Global Biodiversity Framework under the Convention on Biological Diversity, world leaders, businesses and civil society have rallied behind the ambition.
With calls for action growing stronger, there’s an increasing recognition that reversing biodiversity is critical for combating the global climate crisis, preventing future pandemics of zoonotic origin, addressing water and food insecurity, as well as supporting sustainable and equitable development. In December 2022, the goal of halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030 was codified in the mission of the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Its adoption under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity has been described as the ‘Paris moment’ for nature.
However, experts warn that vigilance is needed to prevent the concept of a Nature Positive world being threatened by greenwashing, with some pledges lacking the rigorous scientific framework needed to achieve real impacts.
On this episode of Climate Connections, Professor Lawrence Loh, Director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School shares his insights on nature positivity and what companies should consider in order to avoid falling into the greenwashing trap
Feature produced and edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)
Voiced by: Emaad Akhtar
Photo credits: Nature Positive Initiative
Music credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributors

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Listen To His Previous Podcasts:

8 May 2024
Morning Shot: What's lacking in ministerial-level dialogue frameworks on decarbonisation?
In line with the newly launched OECD ministerial-level dialogue on decarbonisation, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has called for all countries to work together on climate change.
But have you ever wondered what’s usually lacking in such high-level climate dialogues, and what needs to be put in place to get the gears oiled?
On this episode of Morning Shot, Lawrence Loh, Professor & Director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School shares his insights.
Presented by: Emaad Akhtar & Audrey Siek
Produced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)
Photo credits: Prime Minister's Office of Japan

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17 July 2023
Morning Shot: Will mandatory climate reporting nudge companies into telling the full story of their carbon footprint?
Professor Lawrence Loh, Director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School weighs in on the challenges behind climate reporting, as Singapore’s top regulators seek public feedback on their proposal to make such reporting mandatory for both listed and large non-listed firms.
Presented by: Lynlee Foo
This podcast is produced by Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)

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20 April 2023
Morning Shot: Is professionalising skilled trades a chicken and egg problem?'
Singapore is looking to professionalise skilled trades such as work by electricians and plumbers as part of its push to broaden the nation's concept of meritocracy.
In the same spirit, DPM Lawrence Wong says that our economic structures, remuneration, and career prospects in various professions must also be consistent with what we value.
Professor Lawrence Loh, Director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School shares his take on potential steps to achieve that.

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26 July 2022
Eco Money: ASEAN firms need to balance sustainability reporting with performance measurement
70% of the top 100 largest listed companies in six Southeast Asian nations – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – published climate-related disclosures in 2020/2021. BUT - they fall short when it comes to measuring performance and linking them to senior executive salaries. That's according to research conducted jointly by the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Centre for Governance and Sustainability, and non-profit independent standards organisation Global Reporting Initiative. The Afternoon Update's Rachel Kelly speaks to Prof Lawrence Loh, Director, Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School to find out more.

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9 February 2022
Eco Money: Business Sustainability wishlist for Budget 2022
The Singapore Budget is just over one week away, and a key theme this year is sustainability.
Industry leaders have said that the upcoming national Budget should offer businesses grants and other support to promote environmental, social, and governance issues.
In Eco Money, Prime Time's Rachel Kelly spoke to Associate Professor Lawrence Loh Director, Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School to find out what’s on the Budget wishlist of the business and investment community when it comes to ESG.

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1 September 2021
Eco Money: What investors need to look out for when it comes to Greenwashing
As the sustainability  gold rush continues, ESG funds accounted for 90 per cent of inflows in July  according to Calastone’s latest Fund Flow Index.
But as asset managers roll out an array of so-called green products, how do investors know whether the funds they are pumping their money into for profits with purpose are actually ESG focused and how can they avoid greenwashing?
In Eco Money, hosts Rachel Kelly and Timothy Go spoke to Associate Professor Lawrence Loh Director, Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School about what investors need to look out for when it comes to Greenwashing.

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19 May 2021
Eco Money: SGX listed firms step up Sustainability Reporting
Singapore listed companies are getting better at sustainability reporting.
That’s according to a joint review out today by Singapore Exchange Regulation and the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at the National University of Singapore Business School.
Interestingly, Catalist companies overlook the Mainboard's score. To find out why and other key highlights, Prime Time's Rachel Kelly spoke to Associate Professor Lawrence Loh, director of Centre for Governance and Sustainability at the National University of Singapore Business School.

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15 May 2020
ECO MONEY (Episode 9) Sustainability Reporting
In Eco Money, Rachel Kelly speaks to experts in the field of sustainability to get their insights into the latest trends. In this episode, she speaks to Professor Lawrence Loh, Director, Centre for Governance, Institutions and Organisations (CGIO), NUS Business School, National University of Singapore about sustainability reporting and listed companies and what investors need to know.

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