Ep89 India's Net Zero: Commercial Reality or Clever PR? with Arun Kumar, Asia Research and Engagement

Ep89 India's Net Zero: Commercial Reality or Clever PR? with Arun Kumar, Asia Research and Engagement

Comments/ideas: ACFpod@outlook.com [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1951932/fan_mail/new] Is India's net zero push real, or just clever PR? Arun Kumar of Asia Research and Engagement joins the podcast to explain why the greenwashing era is ending and why decarbonisation now wins on cost, not sentiment. We dig into the hard-to-abate sectors, green steel and cement, alongside power, coal, renewables, carbon markets, corporate PPAs and how Indian banks are pricing climate transition risk. Essential listening for anyone in climate finance, energy transition and sustainable investment across India and the wider Asia Pacific. Ref.: Asia Research and Engagement Group [https://asiareengage.com/], ARE's Asia Transition Platform [https://asiareengage.com/energy-transition/] ABOUT ARUN: Arun Kumar is a Strategic Advisor at Asia Research and Engagement (ARE), a Singapore-headquartered organisation whose collaborative platform connects institutional investors with large listed companies to accelerate the energy transition. His focus spans the highest market-cap companies in hard-to-abate sectors, Power, Cement, Steel and Automobiles, plus Banks and financial institutions. A recognised expert in India's power sector with over 30 years of experience, Arun brings deep expertise across power trading, management consulting and equity research. He has held senior positions at PTC India, HSBC, KPMG and CRISIL, advising investors, policymakers, regulators and corporates on critical aspects of the energy sector. His work spans Asia, the US, Europe and India. Arun holds a Master's in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics and an MBA from IMI Delhi, plus an advanced certification in Cloud Computing, Data Analytics and Blockchain from IIT Madras. Recommendations: * Climate Capitalism by Akshat Rathi: A Bloomberg journalist's ground-level account of how clean technologies, from China's electric cars and batteries to solar, wind and green steel, are becoming commercially viable and profitable.  https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/akshat-rathi/climate-capitalism/9781529329957/ [https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/akshat-rathi/climate-capitalism/9781529329957/]  * Value(s): Building a Better World for All by Mark Carney: The former Bank of England governor and current Canadian Prime Minister argues that finance and markets must be steered by human values rather than price alone.  https://books.google.com/books/about/Value_s.html?id=Jz6XzQEACAAJ [https://books.google.com/books/about/Value_s.html?id=Jz6XzQEACAAJ] HOST, PRODUCTION, ARTWORK: Joseph Jacobelli [https://asiacleantechenergy.com/founder/]  |  MUSIC: Ep76 onward excerpts from Vivaldi’s La Follia, played by Luca Jacobelli.

Ep88 Why Car Makers Are Oil Companies in Disguise with Ben Scott, Carbon Tracker

Comments/ideas: ACFpod@outlook.com [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1951932/fan_mail/new] Global carmakers are currently hiding a massive 33% carbon gap, effectively operating as oil companies in disguise. Ben Scott from Carbon Tracker joins us to reveal why legacy auto giants face a "Kodak moment" as they lag behind the electric vehicle transition. We explore how China’s EV dominance empowers the Global South to leapfrog fossil fuel dependency for strategic industrial survival. This conversation is essential for those interested in tracking how capital markets will soon reprice these hidden emissions as high-risk energy liabilities. Reference: Oil Companies in Disguise [https://carbontracker.org/reports/oil-companies-in-disguise/] ABOUT BEN: Ben Scott is Head of Energy Demand and leads the automotive research at Carbon Tracker, a financial think-tank working to align capital markets with climate reality. Prior to Carbon Tracker, Ben worked at MUFG Bank in London, where he provided financial and industry analysis on the automotive sector to help manage the bank’s credit exposure and risk appetite. He has also worked directly within the automotive industry at Aston Martin Lagonda. Ben began his career at IHS Markit, where he led the E-Mobility research service, focusing on decarbonisation and emissions legislation. Ben holds a degree in Physics from the University of Leeds. Recommendations: 1. Cleaning Up: A podcast hosted by Michael Liebreich that features insights into the energy transition through interviews with CEOs, politicians, and climate finance experts. Link [https://www.cleaningup.live/] 2. Capital in Transition: A podcast series produced by Carbon Tracker that focuses on the financial research and analysis surrounding the global energy transition. Link [https://open.spotify.com/show/033juu9FHR5aQSoXfvZrY2?si=0444fe10c0634f47] (Spotify) Link [https://open.spotify.com/show/033juu9FHR5aQSoXfvZrY2?si=0444fe10c0634f47] (Apple) 3. There Will Be Blood: A film starring Daniel Day-Lewis that depicts an oil tycoon’s ruthless pursuit of wealth and power. Link [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0469494/] HOST, PRODUCTION, ARTWORK: Joseph Jacobelli [https://asiacleantechenergy.com/founder/]  |  MUSIC: Ep76 onward excerpts from Vivaldi’s La Follia, played by Luca Jacobelli.

Ep87 Surviving the Two Valleys of Death in APAC Cleantech with Summer Bae, Cleantech Group

Comments/ideas: ACFpod@outlook.com [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1951932/fan_mail/new] Summer Bae from Cleantech Group joins us to reveal how the Asia Pacific cleantech market is finally moving from hype to solid business proof. We dive into the "two valleys of death" for hardware startups and the urgent need for catalytic capital to bridge the regional funding gap. We explore how AI accelerates hardware breakthroughs and why the global focus has shifted from net-zero targets to energy security and resilience. Professionals in climate finance and business will gain vital insights into navigating institutional roadblocks and scaling frontier innovation across APAC. Ref.: Cleantech Group [https://cleantech.com/], Global Cleantech 100 Report [https://cleantech.com/the-global-cleantech-100/], APAC Cleantech 25 Report [https://cleantech.com/apac-cleantech-25/],  ABOUT SUMMER. Summer Bae is the Managing Director, APAC at Cleantech Group and is based in Singapore. Prior to Cleantech Group, Summer spent over 10 years at BloombergNEF, where she built partnerships with financial institutions, governments, and corporations to advance sustainable finance and clean technology adoption across the region. She focused on developing strategic relationships with C-suite leaders, particularly in Korea, Japan, and ASEAN. Earlier in her career, Summer held regional sales and planning roles at Datum Alloys, covering markets across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. She began her career at Sumitomo Chemical, where she managed chemical production line operations and was involved in business planning. Summer holds a Bachelor's degree in Asia-Pacific Sociology from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan and earned the Sustainable Investing Certificate from the CFA Institute in 2025. Recommendations:  * Nat Bullard Annual Presentation [https://www.nathanielbullard.com/presentations]: A data-rich and accessible slide deck that provides a comprehensive summary of global developments in climate, energy, and technology. * 2026 Cleantech Forum Asia [https://cleantech.com/event/cleantech-forum-asia/], 2026 Cleantech Forum Europe [https://cleantech.com/event/cleantech-forum-europe/], 2027 Cleantech Forum North America [https://cleantech.com/event/cleantech-forum-na/]: Professional networking platforms and international conferences held in three continents to support the commercialisation of new technologies. Company list: #Bloomberg Finance L.P. (BloombergNEF), #Cleantech Group LLC, #Fervo Energy, Inc., #Halcyon (Halcyon Group Holdings LLC), #Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd. HOST, PRODUCTION, ARTWORK: Joseph Jacobelli [https://asiacleantechenergy.com/founder/]  |  MUSIC: Ep76 onward excerpts from Vivaldi’s La Follia, played by Luca Jacobelli.

Ep86 How China is Building a Global Carbon Market with Jeff Huang, AEX Holdings

Comments/ideas: ACFpod@outlook.com [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1951932/fan_mail/new] China's carbon market is already the world's largest, and it's about to get far more complex. Leading market expert Jeff Huang has a front-row seat to what's coming: absolute emissions caps replacing the old intensity targets, carbon auctioning arriving in steel, cement and aluminium, and Hong Kong quietly positioning itself as the trading hub that connects all of it to global markets. If you're watching how carbon pricing shapes capital flows and CBAM compliance, this episode is worth your time. Reference: AEX Holdings [http://www.aexmarkets.com/]. Op-ed sample - Beyond critical mass [https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202601/16/WS69697cfba310d6866eb34083.html] (China Daily, 16 January 2026) ABOUT JEFF: Jeff Huang is founder & CEO of AEX Markets based in Hong Kong. He is former Managing Director Greater China of the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), VP Asia for Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), and was appointed Chief Advisor for Chongqing Gas Exchange. He’s also founder of AsiaREC Limited, a non-profit carbon standard in Hong Kong. Jeff has more than 10 years of experience in cross-border M&A, Joint Ventures and futures markets in the United States, covering spaces including exchanges, futures companies, financial software infrastructure, etc. Prominent deals he has led include the creation of the Tianjin Climate Exchange (a joint venture between CCX and CNPC/PetroChina), forming a JV for futures brokerage between Citic and Calyon (SocGen) and a fintech acquisition for SunGard. Recommendation: The Great Game by Peter Hopkirk [https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/peter-hopkirk/the-great-game/9781848544772/]: A gripping historical account of the 19th-century imperial rivalry between the British and Russian empires as they vied for supremacy in Central Asia. HOST, PRODUCTION, ARTWORK: Joseph Jacobelli [https://asiacleantechenergy.com/founder/]  |  MUSIC: Ep76 onward excerpts from Vivaldi’s La Follia, played by Luca Jacobelli.

Ep85 Sustainable Aviation Fuel’s Supply Chain Gap with Tan Chong Yee, Flyoro

Comments/ideas: ACFpod@outlook.com [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1951932/fan_mail/new] In this episode, Tan Chong Yee, Chief Financial Officer of FlyORO Technologies, joins us to unpack the critical logistics and funding mechanisms needed to scale sustainable aviation fuel across the Asia-Pacific region. We explore how innovative distributed blending infrastructure solves last-mile supply chain bottlenecks and helps bend the jet fuel cost curve. Climate finance and business professionals will gain valuable insights into derisking capital execution, navigating fragmented regional policies, and structuring bankable corporate offtake agreements. Tune in to discover how the aviation industry is transforming high-risk climate bets into essential, scalable energy infrastructure.   Ref: FlyORO Technologies Pte Ltd [https://flyoro.co/] ABOUT CHONG YEE: Tan Chong Yee is the Chief Financial Officer at FlyORO Technologies, bringing over 15 years of corporate finance and leadership experience to high-growth environments. He has a track record of rolling up his sleeves across fundraising, financial planning, and operational scaling, using data to drive real decisions rather than just reports. Chong Yee holds a BEng in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and an MSc in Technopreneurship and Innovation, both from NTU. He is also a Six Sigma Green Belt certified by ASME and an Associate Chartered Valuer and Appraiser under IVAS. RECOMENDATIONS * Making Net-Zero Aviation Possible [https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/aerospace-and-defense/our-insights/decarbonizing-the-aviation-sector-making-net-zero-aviation-possible]: A McKinsey & Company report that analyses the nature, timing, cost, and commercial scale of actions required to deliver net-zero emissions within the global aviation sector by 2050. * The SAF Roadmap [https://www.mckinsey.com/~/media/mckinsey/industries/travel%20transport%20and%20logistics/our%20insights/scaling%20sustainable%20aviation%20fuel%20today%20for%20clean%20skies%20tomorrow/clean-skies-for-tomorrow.pdf]: A World Economic Forum and McKinsey & Company publication that outlines cross-sector frameworks and investment pathways needed to break the commercial impasse and scale sustainable aviation fuel adoption by 2030. HOST, PRODUCTION, ARTWORK: Joseph Jacobelli [https://asiacleantechenergy.com/founder/]  |  MUSIC: Ep76 onward excerpts from Vivaldi’s La Follia, played by Luca Jacobelli.