Order in the Court of Public Opinion

A record number of countries are considering Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanisms (CBAMs) – which tax carbon-intensive imports like steel, cement and hydrogen – as a means to engage in climate action while also protecting domestic industry, improving security and advancing economic goals. 

The spread of these regulations will provide opportunities and risks for companies operating in carbon-intensive sectors and the businesses in their value chain. Small regulatory choices can have outsized commercial impacts, affecting everything from future cash flows to asset valuations. The coming months present a critical window for these companies to engage with the regulatory details and protect their commercial interests. 

FGS Global’s Climate experts outline key policy debates to engage with across several major economies: 

• European Union: The EU CBAM is in a transition phase, set to take full effect in 2026. Current debates include expanding downstream products while introducing export exemptions, opening up new opportunities for industry input on CBAM 2.0.

• United Kingdom: The UK’s CBAM will launch in 2027. Draft legislation has been published, and public consultation is open for input until July 3, 2025. Meanwhile, greater alignment of the UK and EU CBAMs is under active diplomatic discussion.

• Canada: Under new Prime Minister Mark Carney, Canada is preparing its own CBAM. Carney is likely to champion interoperability with allies and leverage the policy to support low-carbon trade diversification.

• United States: Despite broader resistance to climate policy, a CBAM is gaining traction in Washington as a pro-manufacturing, anti-China tool. Two Republican senators have reintroduced legislation, indicating potential bipartisan momentum.

Learn more about FGS Global’s work in the climate sector.

Amidst rising tariffs, stubborn inflation and global policy uncertainty, the International Monetary Fund slashed its 2025 world GDP growth forecast last month to 2.8% – down from 3.3% in January. The U.S. outlook was hit hardest, with forecasted growth down from 2.7% to 1.8%, while China and Europe also saw notable downgrades. Yet while the global economy is slowing, Asia’s economies continue to power ahead.

China, despite historic tariffs, is still expected to grow 4% this year. India is poised for growth above 6% and the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and Malaysia are all posting growth rates north of 4%. Powered by strong domestic demand, tighter regional ties and smarter economic management, Asia remains the world’s fastest-growing region – and its role in anchoring global growth is only getting stronger.

Capital flows are shifting, too. As the U.S.-China rivalry intensifies and global supply chains splinter, Gulf nations like the UAE are doubling down on economic partnerships with Southeast Asia, particularly in renewable energy. Recent investments in Indonesia and the Philippines to advance solar, wind and energy storage projects exemplify a larger trend: an emerging economic corridor that links the Gulf’s energy transition strategy with Southeast Asia’s green growth ambitions. 

For more like this, subscribe to FGS Global’s Asia In Context newsletter.

Video podcasting is rapidly gaining traction as audiences increasingly seek out visual content alongside traditional audio. New data from NPR and Sounds Profitable reveals that news podcast listeners are at the forefront of this trend, with 87% watching video versions of their favorite shows, compared to 81% of non-news listeners. 

Video podcasts – which supplement typical audio content with visual elements such as in-studio footage or on-screen graphics – have become increasingly popular on video-based social platforms. For news podcast listeners, YouTube is the clear leader, with 44% naming it as their preferred platform – outpacing competitors like Spotify and Apple Podcasts. News podcast audiences are over-indexing on TikTok and Instagram, where short-form video clips are increasingly used for content discovery and engagement.

This surge in video consumption is more than a shift in format – it’s changing the way audiences connect with content and how creators and publishers think about distribution and monetization. As the boundaries between podcasting, streaming and social media continue to blur, businesses will need to continue adapting media strategies to ensure growth, reach and relevance.

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