This week’s readings/links include a conversation with Sir Ronald Cohen on impact investing, a survey of consumer perceptions of plant-based and clean meat, James Hay on palm oil, a National Geographic feature on the search for life beyond Earth, and George Magnus on the sober message from China’s National People’s Congress.

• Impact investing: Conversation with Sir Ronald Cohen.
• Plant-based and clean meat: A survey of consumer perceptions in the US, India and China.
• Palm oil: Interview with James Hay of the Pangolin Fund.
• Life probably exists beyond Earth: So how do we find it?
• A sober message from China’s National People’s Congress: There is no denying it has been a difficult 12 months for Beijing.