Green Shift is a sustainability podcast exploring the real-world challenges and breakthroughs in the transition to a sustainable economy.
Through candid conversations with business leaders, policymakers, and innovators, we unpack sustainability—from climate action and clean energy to sustainable finance and corporate strategy.
Based in Singapore, this podcast brings forward sustainability stories from across Asia that are often missing from the global conversation. Each episode offers thoughtful sustainability storytelling, practical insights, and honest perspectives on what it takes to build a more sustainable future.
If you’re interested in sustainability conversations, sustainable development, and how the transition to sustainability is unfolding on the ground, Green Shift is your inside look.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Ep. 20: Unlocking Green Finance in Southeast Asia with Nikki Kemp
Southeast Asia faces a $1.1 trillion annual climate funding gap — and the world is falling short by $800 billion every year. So what's actually blocking the flow of green capital into the region?
David Austin and James Balzer sit down with Nikki Kemp, Executive Director of the Singapore Green Finance Centre at SMU, to break down the real structural barriers to sustainable finance in Southeast Asia — and what's being done to overcome them.
They cover regulatory fragmentation across ASEAN, why blended finance hasn't scaled, Singapore's FAST-P structure, the struggles of the JETP and ETM coal transition programs, a new corporate finance model being developed for Indonesia's PLN and Vietnam's EVN, the "race to the bottom" problem with sustainability-linked loans, the region's growing insurance and adaptation finance gap, and why the GEMS default database needs to be opened up to the private sector.
If you work in sustainable finance, climate policy, banking, or impact investing — or just want to understand how Southeast Asia is navigating the energy transition — this episode is essential listening.
Green Finance Academy — a two-day in-person program covering energy transition financing, blended finance, carbon markets, AI and green finance, and more. Taking place 28-29 October 2026. Details and registration: https://www.singaporegreenfinance.com/sgfc-course/green-finance-academy/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
29 May 2026
Singapore’s Nuclear Turning Point?
⚛️ Singapore has taken a major step toward a possible nuclear future.
The country is beginning the IAEA’s Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) process — a critical milestone used by countries considering nuclear energy for the first time.
But what does that actually mean?
And why are Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) suddenly becoming part of Southeast Asia’s energy conversation?
In this episode of Green Shift, David Austin speaks with Dr. Victor Nian about:
⚡ Singapore’s nuclear readiness process
⚡ The IAEA milestone approach explained simply
⚡ Why SMRs are NOT a shortcut around regulation
⚡ The 19 infrastructure requirements needed for nuclear energy
⚡ Energy security after the Ukraine War and Strait of Hormuz crisis
⚡ Why philanthropic organizations are beginning to support nuclear energy
⚡ How AI and hyperscaler data centers are changing future electricity demand
⚡ Why public engagement matters in the transition to sustainability
🎧 If you're interested in:
sustainability conversations
clean energy policy
the future of nuclear power
energy security
Southeast Asia’s energy transition
sustainability storytelling from Asia
…this episode is for you.
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 Singapore begins the INIR process
02:26 What the IAEA milestone approach actually means
04:54 Are SMRs treated differently from traditional nuclear plants?
07:25 The 19 nuclear infrastructure requirements explained
11:18 When could Singapore reach milestone one?
12:04 The three key organizations needed for a nuclear programme
14:23 Why nuclear philanthropy is emerging globally
19:59 How foundations could shape the future of nuclear energy
20:12 AI, data centers, and rising electricity demand
22:26 Why informed public discussion matters
📩 Subscribe to Green Shift for more sustainability podcast episodes exploring clean energy, climate policy, and the transition to a sustainable economy in Asia.
💬 What do you think?
Should Singapore seriously pursue nuclear energy?
#sustainability #sustainabilitypodcast #nuclearenergy #SMR #energytransition #cleanenergy #singapore #southeastasia #climatechange #energypolicy
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
7 May 2026
Oil Shock: Can Sustainability Survive?
The Strait of Hormuz crisis is exposing a hard truth about the global energy transition: the world is still deeply dependent on fossil fuels.
In this episode of Green Shift, sustainability conversations collide with geopolitical reality as Rajiv Biswas, CEO of Asia-Pacific Economics (https://asiapacificeconomics.com/) and Dr. Victor Nian, Founding Co-chair of the Centre for Strategic Energy and Resources (CSER) (https://cser.energy/) examine how the US-Iran conflict and disruption to Middle East oil and gas supplies are reshaping Asia’s energy future.
Find Asia-Pacific Economics online 🔗https://asiapacificeconomics.com/ (https://asiapacificeconomics.com/)
From rising oil prices and electricity shortages to renewed coal use, nuclear energy, and the long-term future of renewables, this sustainable podcast explores the difficult trade-offs governments and businesses now face between energy security, affordability, and environmental sustainability.
Topics discussed include:
⚡ The impact of the Strait of Hormuz crisis on Asia-Pacific economies
⚡ Why countries are turning back to coal despite climate goals
⚡ The growing role of nuclear power in the transition to sustainability
⚡ Whether solar imports from Australia or India make economic sense
⚡ How AI data centres are increasing electricity demand
⚡ Why energy security is now a corporate boardroom issue
⚡ The future of fossil fuels in a sustainable economy
Read the CSER Policy Brief: "From Shock to Transformation: Rethinking Asia’s Energy Security PostHormuz Crisis" (https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/ca134fed-3c95-42d1-bf19-decdd72df6d1/CSER_PB10_rom%20Energy%20Crisis%20to%20System%20-7adabac.pdf)
If you’re interested in sustainability storytelling, global energy markets, climate policy, or the realities of sustainable development, this episode is for you.
Green Shift is a sustainability podcast exploring the struggles and successes of the global transition to sustainability, with a special focus on Asia.
Subscribe for more sustainability conversations and expert analysis on energy, climate, economics, and the future of sustainable growth.
#Sustainability #EnergyTransition #GreenShiftPodcast #ClimateChange #EnergySecurity #NuclearEnergy #OilCrisis #StraitOfHormuz #RenewableEnergy #Asia
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
Who has been a guest on Green Shift
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Antonio García Rebollar
Daniel Yáñez
Dr Shreekant Gupta
Assaad Razzouk
Dr Victor Nian
Podcast Authority Score: 15 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
29
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
Host of Green Shift?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
