U.S. lifestyle won't have to change in CO2 cut: report

Timothy Gardner, Reuters 29 Nov 07;

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. citizens will not have to drive less or read in the dark to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, but they will have to buy more efficient cars and appliances, a report from two business groups said on Thursday.

"You may have different lightbulbs, and your car may be made of different materials, but basically we've assumed that consumer lifestyles stay constant," Jack Stephenson, a director at McKinsey & Company, a business consultant group told reporters on a teleconference call from Washington.

McKinsey published the report called "Reducing U.S. Greenhouse Emissions: How Much at What Cost?" with The Conference Board, a research group.

The United States could reduce projected 2030 emissions of greenhouse gases by between one-third to one-half at manageable costs to the economy, the report found. Its mid-range case found that cutting 3 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent from the United States by 2030 would cost an average about $50 billion annually, or a total of $1.1 trillion.

That would represent 1.5 percent of the $77 trillion in real investment the U.S. economy is expected to make over the period, it said.

The effect on the economy of cutting greenhouse gas emissions is being mulled in the U.S. Congress where a Senate committee is considering the top bill that would regulate the gases blamed for global warming.

About 80 percent of the reductions could be made using technologies already proven in the United States or elsewhere in the world, the report said.

POWER SECTOR TO BEAR BRUNT OF COSTS

The cheapest way to cut emissions would be making appliances and buildings more energy efficient, through methods like better heating and air-conditioning and more insulation, which could save 710 to 870 million metric tons of the gases.

The next cheapest way could come from more efficient cars and from biofuels, the report said, which could cut emissions by 340 to 660 million metric tons.

The priciest sector to change would be power plants through technologies such as capturing and entombing carbon dioxide from coal-fired power stations, which could save 800 million to 1.57 billon metric tons of emissions.

"We recognize that the costs will be distributed unevenly," Ken Ostrowski, a McKinsey director, said in the teleconference.

He said the power sector may need to make investments representing about 90 percent of its current market capitalization. The costs, however, could eventually be offset by harnessing fuels that are low-cost or free after initial investments, such as wind and solar power.

The report did not consider how any increased power rates resulting from the changes could be balanced so they would not hit poor consumers unfairly.

Policy support and private sector innovation would be necessary to jump-start the changes, it warned.

"The winners will be the folks that don't resist change, but look at ways to apply innovation and ingenuity to capitalize on the migration toward a lower carbon economy," Ostrowski said.

(Editing by Marguerita Choy)

Read more!

Green Incentives "Would Cut Household Fuel Bills"

Jennifer Hill, PlanetArk 30 Nov 07

LONDON - Household fuel bills could be cut by up to 500 pounds per year if consumers were given financial incentives to become more environmentally friendly, according to a report.

The average household could cut energy bills by at least two-thirds -- equivalent to a 475 pound annual saving at today's prices -- research by Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute says.

By 2050, UK-wide savings could hit 12.3 billion pounds per year.

The "Home Truths" report, commissioned by Friends of the Earth and the Co-operative Bank, said a range of incentives to becoming greener would lead to the savings.

They would also cut carbon emissions from UK homes by 80 percent by 2050.

The range would include grants, low interest loans, green mortgages, stamp duty rebates and a reduction in VAT on energy efficiency measures.

The report also called for homeowners with low or zero carbon technology who sell electricity back to the grid to receive a guaranteed premium price.

Report author Brenda Boardman said it was a "win-win scenario".

"It shows that we can make huge cuts in emissions from UK housing and that we can do this in a way which cuts household bills, wipes out fuel poverty and ensures everyone has a warm, comfortable, low-carbon home."

(Editing by Steve Addison)

Read more!

New Singapore nature publication: A Passion for Birds

The story of the first lady of bird photography in South-east Asia and her subjects: Ong Kiem Sian

available at Nature's Niche from 15 December at S$48.15

The most beautiful bird book ever to come out of South-east Asia. 262 species from 50 families are featured in stunning habitat photographs by the best bird photographer in the region. Photos are arranged in taxonomic order and presented by veteran bird book author Morten Strange. A bonus 36 minutes DVD showing 74 mainly nesting bird species are included. Proceeds will be generously donated by the author to two nature charities. 19 x 25 cm.

Read more!

A fiscal fight with global warming; CO2 taxes

Abhijit Ghosh and Killian Pattwell, Business Times 30 Nov 07;

Governments are taking up cudgels and imposing a raft of swingeing taxes on carbon dioxide emissions

Singapore as a small island nation with little natural energy resources is vulnerable to the impact of a volatile energy market. Rather than adding to the cost of the traditional energy sources, our focus should instead be on improving energy efficiency islandwide and encouraging investment in clean energy.

To do so, Singapore may consider offering fiscal incentives and not penalties, for reducing CO2 emissions. It can also consider channelling investment into research and development of energy-efficient products and processes.

IN EARLY February 2007, a United Nations-sponsored panel, consisting of hundreds of scientists from all over the world, declared that average global temperatures would probably rise 4°C over the next century. If so, catastrophic flooding, famine and water shortages could follow, along with the extinction of up to half of existing animal species.

Malaria and other tropical diseases may spread. Some of the leading coastal cities may be threatened by the higher ocean levels caused by melting ice caps. These extrapolations in climate change and the disastrous impact they may have on the environment are a growing cause for serious concern.

Despite being a small city state, the Singapore government has been proactive in promoting energy efficiency. Last year, Singapore acceded to the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Under the Kyoto Protocol, Singapore can participate in Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects. Apart from this milestone, the Singapore government also introduced a plethora of non-fiscal initiatives this month to encourage heavier investment in energy efficiency.

More recently, the Agency for Science, Technology and Research's announcement of a $38.5 million investment in the Republic's inaugural R&D capabilities for clean energy solutions - Sinergy (Singapore Initiatives in New Energy Technologies) - is further testament that the environment is gaining due attention at both national and corporate levels.

Notably, environmental problems were also featured prominently at the 13th Asean summit this month and one expects this subject to be high on the agenda in the 2008 Budget Speech.

The threat of global warming is now compelling governments of some developed economies such as Finland, Sweden and the United Kingdom to take up cudgels and impose a raft of swingeing taxes on carbon dioxide emissions. These are commonly known as carbon taxes. Carbon tax is payable whenever a molecule of carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels.

For example, power plants will pay it based on their smokestack emissions and pass the cost to consumers in their monthly electricity bill. Individuals will pay it when they buy petrol, based on the content of fossil carbon in the fuel.

While a carbon tax system may discourage the use of energy-guzzling gadgets and spur R&D projects that encourage the efficient use of fossil fuel in all sectors of society, it is likely to lead to an increase in our cost of living.

Recognising this effect, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, when announcing what he termed France's 'green revolution', indicated a desire to avoid an increase in the tax burden in France. Although the French have not completely ruled out carbon tax as yet, they seem to be favouring direct funding of R&D in alternative energy sources and investment in energy efficiency.

With today's world dependent on carbon emitting fuels, carbon tax has the potential to become a massive source of revenue for governments. However, there is a danger that over the course of time, this revenue source will be relied upon for general public expenditure like any other tax, and not ring-fenced for environmentally friendly projects.

Furthermore, in view of the current inflationary trend and soaring oil prices, countries such as Singapore can ill-afford to introduce such a tax system to fight global warming. The challenge is, therefore, to introduce fiscal and non-fiscal policies to directly promote and support long-term environmentally friendly initiatives to combat global warming.

Playing our part - what it means to go green

Singapore as a small island nation with little natural energy resources is vulnerable to the impact of a volatile energy market. Rather than adding to the cost of the traditional energy sources, our focus should instead be on improving energy efficiency islandwide and encouraging investment in clean energy.

To do so, Singapore may consider offering fiscal incentives and not penalties, for reducing CO2 emissions. It can also consider channelling investment into research and development of energy-efficient products and processes.

Singapore may therefore consider and introduce innovative fiscal incentives to tackle climate change issues. Such incentive schemes may comprise features such as:

# a National Fund to promote and finance 'green' initiatives;

# single or double tax deduction for taxpayers' donation to the National Fund;

# aid or incentives for R&D/manufacturing/service companies involved in energy efficiency;

# government grants and/or National Fund money to support R&D of energy-efficient products and processes, and test bedding of alternative clean energy sources, as well as tax rebates to consumers with lower carbon consumption;

# partial or full tax holiday for taxpayers involved in manufacturing and/or distribution of energy-efficient products;

# funding or incentives for entities engaged in environmentally friendly waste management initiatives;

# exempting rebates/grants received for energy conservation measures;

# encouraging businesses to adopt energy-efficient practices;

# capital allowance claims for taxpayers acquiring energy-efficient equipment for their business;

# accelerated capital allowances for certified energy-efficient vehicles;

# incentives to encourage companies to adopt ISO 14000 environment management standards;

# zero rating of GST on installation of energy-saving devices;

# encouraging individuals to adopt energy-efficient practices;

# reduced tariffs for the importation of fuel-efficient vehicles, in order to make a clear price distinction from traditionally powered vehicles;

# extension of the Green Vehicle Rebate scheme (this allows for a rebate of up to 40 per cent of the Additional Registration Fee for hybrid, electric and compressed natural gas vehicles) beyond Dec 31, 2009);

# tax deduction for donations to approved carbon offsetting programmes (increasingly becoming available to jet-setting individuals);

# tax credits for home improvements designed to make homes more energy-efficient (such as new windows, more efficient heating/ cooling systems, or for the installation of solar power/fuel cell systems, etc) and allowing any excess tax credits to be carried forward and offset against future year's tax liabilities.

Admittedly, these suggested measures need to be carefully evaluated from an economic standpoint before introducing them as part of long-term fiscal measures to combat global warming issues.

However, it is evident that to tackle a borderless issue such as global warming, the national policies need to be geared towards encouraging international cooperation with other governments by collaborating with non-profit organisations and government agencies from around the world.

Interestingly, while any announcement of possible tax policies to combat global warming can only be expected as part of the 2008 Budget Speech early next year, the Singapore government has already pushed ahead with its non-fiscal initiatives.

At the launch of the National Energy Policy on Nov 12, the government unveiled six key non-fiscal strategies to deal with the efficient use of energy, increased consumer choice in the energy market and more investment in energy efficiency.

It is evident that Singapore is getting ready to fight climate change issues. With proper planning and innovative policies, it will play its part to contribute to the global cause. However, individual taxpayers should not shy away from accepting certain responsibilities and must do whatever they can to help reduce carbon emission by at least 20 per cent.

As individuals, we can adopt relatively simple and moderate changes to our lifestyle which does not require us to sell our SUVs or turn off our air conditioners. For example, we as taxpayers should make a habit of using less hot water, recycling more aluminium and paper, and turning down (or up depending on the season) our thermostat.

The next time we shop around for a new car, we could consider buying a more fuel-efficient one. In a more competitive domestic energy market, taxpayers can enjoy the flexibility of choosing an electricity company that generates energy from renewable (CO2-reduced) sources. Alternatively, one may even consider installing solar panels. The financial initiatives will merely serve as a catalyst to promote positive, permanent changes in our daily lives.

In the spirit of the 'whole-of-government' approach embedded in the National Energy Policy Framework, the minister of finance may be planning to put the issue of global warming high on his agenda come Budget Day 2008. Encouraging and implementing 'green' strategies need not be regressive nor put economic growth in jeopardy.

In fact, Singapore could seize the opportunity to position itself as the leader in the development of alternative energy solutions and the provision of world-class R&D in this sector.

Abhijit Ghosh is a tax partner and Killian Pattwell is a tax manager with PricewaterhouseCoopers Singapore.

Read more!

Malaysia's emissions up 221% since 1990

Straits Times 30 Nov 07;

CARBON emissions in Malaysia have increased by 221 per cent since 1990, the highest growth rate among the world's top polluters, the United Nations said yesterday, as it urged the government to control climate-changing gases more vigorously.

Malaysia, which has transformed from an agricultural economy into an industrialised one in the past four decades, is now ranked the 26th largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, said Mr Richard Leete, the regional representative for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

'Clearly, there is a case for the government to consider a new policy on climate change issues,' Mr Leete said at the Malaysian launch of the UNDP's annual report on the state of the world.

The report was first released in Brazil earlier this week.

'Malaysia has made a positive start in reducing its carbon footprint...but Malaysia must do more,' he said.

The United Nations development report said carbon dioxide emissions increased by 221 per cent from 1990 to 2004 in Malaysia, the highest growth rate among the world's top 30 carbon dioxide emitters. with 0.4 per cent of the world's population, Malaysia's 27 million people accounted for 0.6 per cent of global emissions.

Associated Press

Read more!

Indonesia's vanishing islands

Today Online 30 Nov 07;

Indonesia has lost 24 of its more than 17,500 islands due to natural disasters and environmental damage, a minister yesterday said, according to Antara news agency.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi said four islands disappeared when the massive tsunami devastated Aceh on Dec 26, 2004, while 20 other islands in Sumatra's Riau province and the Seribu island group in Jakarta Bay have also vanished due to environmental damage and exploitation.

"Scientists have even predicted that Indonesia could lose at least 2,000 islands by 2030 if the government fails to take preventive measures," he said. — AFP

Minister says 24 Indonesian islands disappeared: report
Yahoo News 24 Nov 07;

Indonesia has lost 24 of its more than 17,500 islands due to natural disasters and environmental damage, a minister said Thursday according to the Antara news agency.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Freddy Numberi said four islands disappeared when the massive tsunami devastated Aceh on December 26, 2004, the state-run agency reported.

Twenty other islands in Sumatra's Riau province and in the Seribu island group in Jakarta Bay had also vanished due to exploitation and environmental damage, Numberi said.

Consequently, Indonesia's total tally of islands has fallen from 17,504 to 17,480 and the new figure reported to the United Nations, he said.

"Scientists have even predicted that Indonesia could lose at least 2,000 islands by 2030 if the government fails to anticipate it and take preventive measures," the minister was quoted as saying.

The new figures come as Indonesia is set to host a major UN climate change conference on the resort island of Bali next week.

The meeting will see nations attempt to lay the groundwork for an agreement on reducing greenhouse gas emissions after the current phase of the Kyoto protocol expires in 2012.

A report from WWF released this week warned that Indonesia would be one of the nations hardest hit by climate change.

Read more!

Asia cool on climate change fight

Wealth concerns main factor at Bali meet: Economists
Today Online 30 Nov 07;

BEIJING — Climate change has become one of the hottest topics across the Asia-Pacific, but national and personal wealth remain the overwhelmingly dominant concerns, economists and environmentalists say.

"In Asia, people are becoming more aware about global warming, but economic development is still by far the top priority," said Mr Andy Xie, a Shanghai-based economist and former head of Morgan Stanley's Asia Pacific division.

On a macro level, the roaring economies of the world's two most populous nations, China and India, are using increasing amounts of coal and other fossil fuels that emit the greenhouse gases blamed for climate change.

Smaller nations such as Vietnam, which is particularly vulnerable to climate change due to its long swathe of low-lying coastline and sensitive wetlands, is similarly developing a ferocious appetite for fossil fuels.

"If countries like China and India keep going like this, the consequences will be enormous," said Greenpeace's China climate and energy campaign manager Yang Ailun.

Meanwhile, Indonesia — host of the United Nations conference that starts on Monday with the aim of launching a global roadmap for action on climate change — remains the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world.

Its emissions largely stem from a different source: The massive destruction of its carbon-storing rainforests and peatlands to make way for farm plantations and quench the global thirst for timber.

Rainforests elsewhere in South-east Asia, such as Malaysia and Myanmar, are similarly being destroyed.

Even in Japan — Asia's richest country that has taken a global lead in curbing greenhouse gas emissions under the Kyoto Protocol that expires in 2012 — there are concerns that not enough is being done.

Ms Kimiko Hirata, director of Japanese environmental group Kiko Network, said: "The government has discussed a lot but it has not taken effective measures to cut actual greenhouse gas emissions."

Ms Hirata praised a law under which companies are required to produce more energy-efficient home appliances. "But it is pointless if you use two or three efficient air-conditioners at the same time," she qualified.

At the UN climate change conference in Bali next week, developing countries will continue to push the onus onto rich nations for the fight against global warming — quite rightly, according to Mr Xie and many green campaigners.

Countries in Asia are being urged to find a development model that does not mimic the West, with some looking to China as a potential role model as it seeks to build up its renewable energy industries.

"If China can develop in a sustainable way, it will be a great example for developing countries," said Mr Yang. — AFP

Read more!

Best of our wild blogs: 30 Nov 07

Killer driftnets removed from Berlayar Creek, Labrador
on the wildfilms blog

Singapore Government Green Report card:
"Has shown improvement but can do better" on the AsiaIsGreen blog

Wildlife Trade in Singapore
A charity guiding event at the Raffles Museum on the leafmonkey blog

Global Warming Guy video
"We hope that online viewership of this video will lead people to explore the information and links on the website" on hugg

Flock on Longtails
on the bird ecology blog

Daily Green Actions: 28 Nov
succumbing to driving? on the leafmonkey blog

Read more!

Punggol plans capitalise on site characteristics

Reply from URA,
Straits Times Forum 30 Nov 07;

I REFER to the letter, 'Preserve natural features of areas to be developed' (ST, Nov 23), by Mr Tan Jiaqi. Mr Tan was responding to the recent announcement of plans for Punggol Point and asked that the unique natural features of the area be preserved.

Punggol Point has been identified as one of the coastal areas with rustic charm in the Urban Redevelopment Authority's Parks & Waterbodies and Identity Plans. Indeed, in designing the Punggol waterfront promenade, we have taken into consideration the rustic beauty of the site while aiming to provide more convenient access and recreational amenities to allow visitors to enjoy the delightful coastline.

Proposals were drawn up to capitalise on the site characteristics and enhance its natural features. For instance, the beautiful rock boulders along the shoreline will be retained. A boardwalk will be constructed to allow visitors to get closer to the water edge.

Along the coastline between the beachfront at Punggol Point and Sungei Serangoon, existing trees and vegetation will be kept. Other more coastal-loving and commonly-found plant species of the area will also be added to create a nature haven which visitors can enjoy.

Another highlight of the proposal is an elevated viewing deck which will offer visitors panoramic views towards the sea. The beachfronts will be made more accessible with pedestrian ramps, making barrier-free walking onto the beach possible.

We thank Mr Tan for his interest and feedback.

Ler Seng Ann
Director (Conservation & Development Services)
Urban Redevelopment Authority

RELATED ARTICLES

Punggol's 'vibrant' coast: Green groups concerned about impact
$13m waterfront plan to jazz up its rustic charms
Zul Othman, Today Online 19 Nov 07;

Punggol waterfront promenade to be ready by 2010
Channel NewsAsia 18 Nov 07

Read more!

Green and bare it: interviews with NEA and SEC leads

Straits Times 30 Nov 07;

With the launch of the new Clean and Green Singapore campaign this month and the United Nations-sponsored meeting on climate change in Bali next week, it is turning out to be a very busy time for Singapore's environment champions. Two of them speak to Jeremy Au Yong about how environmental awareness has grown beyond just a week-long campaign.

Two 'green' champions have witnessed this transformation personally and up close. They are: Mr Tan Wee Hock, director at the National Environment Agency (NEA), and Mr Howard Shaw, executive director of the Singapore Environment Council (SEC). Both are encouraged by what they see.


WHEN Mr Goh Chok Tong launched the first Clean and Green Week, he urged Singaporeans to keep the country clean - but not because they feared getting fined.

That call by Senior Minister Goh, who was then deputy prime minister, was made in 1990, a time when protecting the environment largely meant keeping it litter-free.

Today, although the $150 fine for first-time litterbugs still stands, the campaign has undergone a complete transformation - its success notwithstanding.

For one, it is much longer now.

No more is it the 'Clean and Green Week'. From this year, it is 'Clean and Green Singapore', an event that is a year-round effort.

Also gone is the focus on a single but different theme each year. Likewise, domestic issues like littering.

The approach now aims for a broad goal in promoting an environmentally friendly lifestyle, spotlighting such issues as energy efficiency and resource conservation.

Two 'green' champions have witnessed this transformation personally and up close. They are: Mr Tan Wee Hock, director at the National Environment Agency (NEA), and Mr Howard Shaw, executive director of the Singapore Environment Council (SEC).

Both are encouraged by what they see.

One of the biggest differences the duo noticed is how ordinary Singaporeans have enthusiastically embraced the initiative, turning what was once a government-run campaign into an active movement on the ground.

'In the beginning, the whole thing was very top down. The Government organised all the activities,' says Mr Tan, who joined the Environment and Water Resources Ministry 22 years ago and now chairs the Clean and Green Singapore committee.

'Now, you see a lot of others such as the grassroots and the private sector getting involved.'

He points to programmes like Bring Your Own Bag Day, which was organised by NEA and SEC , in partnership with retailers, and the Clean and Green Ribbon project - an online pledge to go green - set up with a group of youth.

Adds Mr Shaw: 'If you look at non-school green groups, there were just a handful of them when I joined SEC in 1996. Today, there are 50 to 60.'

There is more.

Participation in the National Recycling Programme has quadrupled in five years from 15 per cent in 2001 to 59 per cent last year.

Singapore's energy intensity - a measure of the energy efficiency of a nation's economy - has also improved 15 per cent between 1990 and 2005.

In the first 10 months of this year, Singapore more than doubled the number of hybrid cars on the road. Around 516 have so far been sold this year, far exceeding the entire population of 379 hybrids found here at the end of last year.

Proof can be found even in something as simple as attendance at Clean and Green events. The Nov 3 and 4 launch event of the new Clean and Green Singapore drew around 20,000 people to Bishan Park - the biggest crowd in the campaign's 17-year history.

Though he acknowledges a groundswell of green culture, Mr Shaw is careful to separate the current wave from the 'fad' of the 1970s.

'Then, it was very fashionable being green. In the early 1980s, it petered out,' he says.

'Then we started to get very good data on climate change and on resources. We have also actually started seeing real changes in our environment. Those two together have created a new movement that I feel is not a fad.'

Mr Tan believes this growing sentiment will, however slightly, put Singapore in good stead at the United Nations-sponsored conference in Bali next week.

Two meetings there will set the agenda on combating global warming for years to come.

One is of countries that have signed the Kyoto Protocol, which requires its signatories to reduce their carbon emission by a stipulated target and by a specified deadline. The other is of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which is the parent treaty to the Kyoto Protocol.

He says: 'Bali will be a negotiating platform and when you negotiate, you will have to state your position and defend it.

'When you have an environmentally aware community, it strengthens your position.'

For a long time, the Kyoto Protocol, which gives only developed countries targets for carbon emissions, had been a contentious issue for Singapore. The Republic signed the document only last year.

Mr Tan defends the position: 'A lot of people ask, 'Why didn't you sign earlier?' But it doesn't matter when you sign, it's just a signal of your commitment.

'The bigger question is as a people and as a country, what are you prepared to do?'

Both Mr Shaw and Mr Tan say Singapore and its people are prepared to do a lot.

They point to policies like the early adoption of the tougher Euro IV emission standards, energy labelling on appliances, rebates for hybrid cars and also being among the first in the world to have an Environment Ministry.

And as more ordinary people catch the eco-friendly bug, both men are determined to lead by example.

Mr Shaw says he boils only as much water as he needs.

'If I'm going to make only one cup of tea, then I won't fill the kettle the whole way. If I fill it only one-quarter of the way, then I'm saving energy on the other three-quarters.'

He recycles regularly and even brings his own containers to pick up take-away food. The family now has two fuel-efficient hybrid cars.

His green-thinking has rubbed off on his two children, to the point that his younger daughter, Amber, seven, is known to scold people for leaving the door ajar when the air-conditioner is on, 'making the world hotter'.

Mr Tan has one car. He refuses to buy a second one. 'My wife will drop me off at work or sometimes, I take public transport.'

Despite the strides made in the green movement here, both admit there is still much to do.

When asked pointedly if Singaporeans are an eco-conscious people, both pause, before Mr Tan says with a laugh: 'That's the $64-million question'.

One problem is their scant exposure to real environmental issues. 'Other than when the haze comes, our air quality is very good,' says Mr Tan.

Another is that environmental problems tend to be seen in the long term, which makes it difficult to convince people of its urgency.

Says Mr Shaw: 'If I put X dollars into a charity, I know it will benefit a certain number of people. With environmental issues, it's not so clear.'

The two men agree that the drive forward will have to come both from the top and the bottom.

'When everything is top down, you get results quickly, but it's not sustainable,' said Mr Tan. 'When you are top down, you can get an environmentally conscious country, but you don't get an environmentally conscious people. The difference is, if you are environmentally conscious, you will be environmentally conscious everywhere, not just in Singapore.'

Read more!

Good response to cash offer for used electronic stuff at Sitex

It's recycling time at Sitex
Good response to cash offer for used electronic stuff
Hedirman Supian, Today Online 30 Nov 07;

YOU can save the earth while shopping for the latest gadgets at the Singapore Expo until Sunday.

At the Sitex 2007 consumer and electronics fair, organisers Singapore infocomm Technology Federation and Singex Exhibitions have partnered first-time exhibitors Cash Converters and Clean Solutions to encourage consumers to adopt green habits when it comes to disposing of electronic waste.

Consumers can trade in unwanted electronic wares at the Cash Converters booth for cash or dispose of them using recycling bins situated at the entrances to the event.

Revenue from the extraction of precious metals from the electronic refuse collected from the bins will be donated to the Society of the Physically Disabled.

Ms Rosalynn Chua, deputy general manager of Singex Exhibitions, said: "Today's technology is advancing at breakneck speed and IT models become obsolete very quickly

"We hope this exercise will inculcate the habit of going green, and promote the spirit of giving during this holiday season."

Response from visitors has been encouraging. According to Mr Richard Loi, an operations manager from Cash Converters, up to 80 items had been traded by lunchtime yesterday.

Items ranged from computer monitors and printers to laptops and game consoles. According to Mr Loi, the highest amount of cash given to a consumer so far was $400 for a used Intel Core 2 Duo Hewlett-Packard laptop.

A check at the recycling bins revealed computer accessories, desktop computers and old laptops like a Compaq Armada 4110 and an IBM Thinkpad.

"It's better than chucking it at the void deck," said polytechnic student Reika Ng, who was shopping for a wireless router at the fair.

"And you can get cash this way. I'd rather trade my stuff or recycle it."

Last year's event drew 680,000 visitors in four days and over $18 million in sales. The organisers are hoping to exceed the sales figures this year and attract more than 700,000 visitors.

Read more!

Expanding EU forests may aid climate goals

Alister Doyle, Reuters 29 Nov 07;

OSLO (Reuters) - Forests in the European Union are expanding surprisingly fast and could be enlisted to help the EU achieve goals for fighting climate change, researchers said on Thursday.

Forests grew by a net 10 percent in western EU countries and by 15 percent in the east from 1990 to 2005, they said. The reasons included better conservation, migration to the cities, and increased productivity on farms that need less land.

"Forests in Europe have captured and stored very much carbon in the past 15 years -- we were surprised by the numbers," said Pekka Kauppi, who led the University of Helsinki study, published in the British journal Energy Policy.

Trees soak up carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, as they grow, and release it when they rot or are burnt.

The scientists estimated that the net expansion of forests in the 27 EU nations absorbed 126 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from 1990 to 2005 -- equivalent to 11 percent of EU emissions from human activities, led by burning fossil fuels.

Forests in Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, Slovenia, Bulgaria and Finland had the highest net absorption. At the other end of the scale were lightly forested countries such as Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Cyprus and Denmark.

The scientists urged the EU to award credits for forests, now outside the main accounting system for greenhouse gases under the U.N.'s Kyoto Protocol, the main pact for fighting climate change until 2012.

Beyond Kyoto, the EU has set a goal of cutting emissions to 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 as part of a drive to mitigate the consequences of climate change, which could mean more heatwaves, more disease, rising seas and droughts.

"Time is running short to reach such an ambitious goal," the researchers wrote.

"Therefore, in addition to addressing the fossil emissions, we encourage the national governments of Europe to focus on agricultural and forest policy and waste management."

The study adds a twist to calls by many developing nations for a system of credits to help them slow the rate of deforestation, such as in the Amazon basin.

Tropical nations are set to press that argument at a U.N. climate meeting in Bali next month.

Since 1990, EU forest growth has done twice as much to absorb greenhouse gases as EU measures to promote renewable energies such as wind or hydro power, the scientists said.

The study builds on a 2006 report saying that many of the world's forests seemed to be making a comeback. Some countries are more densely forested now than 200 years ago.

(Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Read more!