Can Wealthy Donors Help Save Asia’s Climate Future? 🌏

The world is becoming an increasingly risky place as the impacts of climate change and nature loss worsen. And there’s a growing need for more funding to limit the damage and improve the livelihoods of communities. 

But the problem is, funding from governments, especially aid money, is drying up in some places. The funding gap is huge but philanthropy is helping fill some of the void. Family offices, international foundations, wealthy individuals and more are stepping in and their money is vital in helping de-risk climate and nature investments to make them more palatable for private and government funders. 

Every dollar of philanthropic capital can mobilise $9 of additional funding. Together, the money can be directed towards vital areas, such as ocean health and coastal protection, sustainable land use, nature restoration and climate adaptation and much more. 

The end game is not band aid solutions, Shaun Seow, CEO of Philanthropy Asia Alliance, tells Audrey Tan and David Fogarty in this latest episode of Green Pulse. The end game is to de-risk and allow private capital to “work its magic”.

Have a listen, and let us know what you think!

This episode was first published on Jul 15, 2025.

Highlights of conversation (click/tap above):
0:00 Intro
1:20 How are philanthropies responding to the different environmental agendas, and funding gaps, of governments?
6:14 To what extent are philanthropies in Asia focusing on climate and catalytic funding?
12:42 How is PAA bringing together different funders?
18:54 What other areas can be a focus for philanthropies interested in Asia?
21:20 For catalytic capital, what are the key concerns for philanthropists in Asia?
25:15 As climate risks grow, are more foundations and wealthy individuals knocking on PAA’s door?

Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/848W
Read her articles: https://str.sg/JLM2
Follow David Fogarty on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/jcvy
Read his articles: https://str.sg/JLMu

Hosts: Audrey Tan (audreyt@sph.com.sg (mailto:audreyt@sph.com.sg) ) & David Fogarty (dfogarty@sph.com.sg (mailto:dfogarty@sph.com.sg) )
Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim
Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong

Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops:
Channel: https://str.sg/JWaf
Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWaY
Spotify: https://str.sg/JWag

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg (mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg)
SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

---

Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7
Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

---

Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB
Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX