ASEAN leaders urge rich nation over climate change

Yahoo News 22 Oct 09;

HUA HIN, Thailand (AFP) – Southeast Asian leaders are to urge developed nations to make deeper cuts in carbon emissions, underscoring the rift between rich and poor countries on climate measures, it emerged Thursday.

In a draft joint statement seen by AFP, heads of state from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said rich countries had a "historical responsibility" to act as well as the economic power to do so.

The document, to be endorsed at a summit that begins Friday in the Thai resort of Hua Hin, pledges support for a December meeting in Copenhagen at which 192 countries will attempt to hammer out a new global climate treaty.

The ASEAN statement urges industrialised countries "to take the lead" in emissions and make "deeper and early cuts on their greenhouse gas emissions to enhance implementation of their commitments".

It also says rich nations should "not negatively affect the sustainable economic and social development of developing countries" through their unilateral policies and "market-based mechanisms" to address climate change.

Recent negotiations in Bangkok to thrash out a draft of the global pact exposed the huge divide between rich and poor nations.

Developed economies have acknowledged a historical responsibility for global warming and most have put numbers on the table for slashing their carbon pollution by 2020 and by 2050.

But they say developing nations should also pledge to curb their output of greenhouse gases.

Poor and emerging economies have largely refused to set their own hard targets and many call for rich nations to make deeper cuts.

The ASEAN statement also calls for support for developing nations in dealing with the impact of climate change, which is high on the agenda after a recent spate of deadly natural disasters in the region.

Hundreds of people were killed and millions affected when Typhoon Ketsana tore through the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, causing massive flooding.

ASEAN groups Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Brunei, Cambodia, Myanmar and Malaysia.

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Q+A: Stances of China and the U.S. on climate change

Reuters 22 Oct 09;

BEIJING (Reuters) - Climate change officials and advocates from the United States and China have gathered this week in Beijing to try to reach a common understanding before high-profile negotiations later this year.

The meeting of the world's top two greenhouse gas emitters precedes President Barack Obama's visit to China in November, and a key international conference in Copenhagen at the end of the year that aims to agree on a new pact to fight global warming.

WHY ARE CHINA AND THE U.S. IMPORTANT TO CLIMATE CHANGE?

Fast-growing China recently became the world's top emitter of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas from human activities. The United States, now the number two emitter, is the biggest source of accumulated greenhouse gases from human activity collected in the atmosphere since the Industrial Revolution.

China and the United States together account for about 40 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2008, China's emissions of carbon dioxide reached 6.8 billion tons, an increase of 178 percent over levels in 1990, according to the IWR, a German renewable energy institute. U.S. emissions rose 17 percent to 6.4 billion tons.

The average American is responsible for greenhouse gas emissions equal to 25.0 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year, compared to 5.8 tons for the average Chinese, according to figures compiled by the World Resources Institute.

China belongs to the Kyoto Protocol and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which now govern global efforts to fight global warming. Those treaties do not oblige developing countries to accept binding limits on emissions.

The United States belongs to the UN Framework Convention but never ratified the Kyoto Protocol, which sets targets for industrialized nations through 2012.

WHAT STEPS IS THE U.S. PROPOSING?

Obama has said he wants to cut U.S. emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020 and 80 percent further by 2050. The U.S. House of Representatives has approved legislation that would cut U.S. emissions by about 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2010 and 83 percent by 2050. A proposed Senate bill lays out emissions cuts by 2020 of 20 percent below 2005 levels.

U.S. officials have disagreed over whether it will be possible for Congress to pass climate change legislation for Obama to sign into law by the end of the year.

WHAT HAS CHINA DONE?

China's current five-year plan calls for a 20 percent cut in energy intensity -- the amount of energy used to produce each unit of economic worth -- from 2006 to the end of 2010. Officials have said that step has averted large amounts of emissions.

President Hu Jintao vowed last month that China would cut carbon intensity, or carbon dioxide emissions per unit of economic output, by a "notable margin" by 2020 compared to 2005.

China has also committed to raise the share of non-fossil fuels in primary energy consumption to 15 percent by 2020.

WHERE DO THEY AGREE AND DISAGREE?

The U.S. and China signed a memorandum of understanding in July encouraging cooperation on climate change and cleaner energy, and Obama and Hu are likely to unveil more clean energy initiatives when Obama visits next month.

China and other poorer countries have said the emissions cuts proposed by rich countries, including the United States, fall far short of what is needed.

China is resisting pressure from the United States and other developed countries to agree to a specific emissions target or peak in Copenhagen. It says wealthy countries must lead the way with big emissions cuts, while poor countries are given time to develop and receive climate-change aid.

China and the United States also disagree on what elements of China's emissions control efforts should be incorporated as a binding element in any new international agreement.

(Sources: Reuters; World Resources Institute, "China, the United States, and the Climate Change Challenge"; IWR)

(Reporting by Chris Buckley)

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Poor may need to curb CO2 by 15 percent: U.N.

Krittivas Mukherjee, Reuters 22 Oct 09;

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Developing nations may need to slow projected growth in their carbon emissions by 15 percent by 2020 if rich countries agree to reduce theirs by up to 40 percent for a new global deal, a top U.N. official said on Thursday.

Negotiations for a global deal to fight climate change, to be agreed in Copenhagen in December, have stumbled on the question of levels of emission cuts to be taken by rich states and developing nations.

A U.N. climate panel report in 2007 said that cuts would have to total 25-40 percent to avert the worst of climate change such as more wildfires, sandstorms, extinctions, rising ocean levels and more powerful cyclones.

At the same time, all but the poorest among developing nations would have to make a "substantial deviation" from baseline by 2020.

"If industrialized countries are reducing by 25-40 percent by 2020, then I think you would also by 2020 perhaps need to see something in the order of a 15 percent deviation below business as usual in developing countries," Yvo de Boer, head of the U.N. Climate Change Secretariat, told a news conference.

So far, 2020 offers of greenhouse gas cuts from developed nations total between 11 and 15 percent below 1990 levels. And most offers are conditional on what others do.

The European Union, for instance, has said it will cut unilaterally by 20 percent and by 30 if other nations join in. Australia's 2020 offer ranges from 3 to 23 percent from 1990.

NATIONS WANT WASHINGTON TO SIGN UP

Many other nations are reluctant to step up their ambitions in Copenhagen unless the United States signs up. Washington is the biggest emitter behind China and the only developed nation outside the Kyoto Protocol for limiting emissions to 2012.

Many worry an agreement might not be reached because of a gap in trust between poor countries and the rich, industrialized states they accuse of causing climate change in the first place.

"The reason is, first of all, that the action that the developing countries have taken is not generally recognized and understood," de Boer, in India to attend a conference, later told Reuters.

"Secondly, many commitments from the past (by rich nations) in terms of finance, technology, transfer, capacity building, many of those commitments have not been met.

"That's where the mistrust and the suspicion comes from and that has to be addressed through a balanced agreement in Copenhagen."

Developing nations have no obligation to commit themselves to binding economy-wide emission cuts under existing U.N. treaties.

But rich countries say developing nations should also agree cuts because their emissions are growing at a faster pace, and open up their domestic action to international scrutiny and accountability, a demand so far rejected by poorer states.

(Editing by Ron Popeski)

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UK Government launches map to highlight global warming threat

Michael McCarthy, The Independent 22 Oct 09;

A nightmare in the not-very-distant future: the map below shows the enormous temperature rises which British scientists believe the planet may be experiencing in as a little as 50 years from now if global warming remains unchecked.

Released by the Government today, it illustrates a rise in global average temperature of four degrees Centigrade by 2060, and as such represents a dramatic acceleration of previous forecasts made as recently as 2007 by the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).

The point of the map, launched by the Foreign Secretary David Miliband and the Energy and Climate Change Secretary, his brother Ed, is to show that a four-degree average temperature rise over the whole globe (which takes into account the seas as well as the land surface) equates to very much greater rises over the land alone, especially at higher latitudes – as one goes north or south towards the poles. The darker the colour, the higher the heat increase.

Thus, although Britain may see an average rise of three degrees – which itself would have very damaging consequences in terms of drought and extreme heatwaves – Siberia and northern Canada may experience an immense rise of 12 degrees or even more. Scientists believe this may trigger a climate “tipping point” – the melting of the permafrost under the northern tundras which, if it happened, would release large amounts of trapped methane gas, which in turn would boost global warming yet further.

Over the Arctic Ocean in the far north, the rise might be a colossal 15 or even 16 degrees, which would mean the complete disappearance of all the Arctic ice in summer and spell extinction for ice-dependent wildlife such as polar bears and walruses.

But wildlife is the least of it. The map shows rises of five degrees in Asia, seven degrees in Africa and parts of the US and eight degrees in the Amazon rainforest, all of which will have devastating consequences for some of the world’s poorest people. Rises like this are likely to lead to maize and wheat yields falling by 40 per cent across the world, and rice yields in China, India, Banglasdesh and Indonesia falling by 30 per cent – all at a time when world population is expected to grow from 6.9 billion today to more than 9 billion people.

Water resources are likely to be severely affected by a 70 per cent reduction in run-off around the Mediterranean, southern Africa and large areas of South America, forest fires are likely to be much more dangerous everywhere and warming-induced sea-level rise will affect millions more people in low-lying nations such as Bangladesh.

The IPCC’s latest forecast, issued in 2007, suggested an average rise of 1.8 to four degrees by 2100, but recently Hadley Centre scientists have revised both the extent and the timescale, suggesting that if global warming remains unchecked, a four-degree rise is now possible as early as 2060 – very much in the lifetime of people born today. This is because emissions of carbon dioxide are rising around the world far faster than was anticipated even a few years ago.

In essence, the map represents what researchers now think likely to happen if emissions are not controlled by the world community, which is meeting at Copenhagen in December to try to construct a new global climate treaty.

Speaking at the Science Museum, where the map was launched, the Foreign Secretary warned of a “high pressure” future of water and food shortages, mass migration and conflict if the world failed to tackle the problem. “The reason for publishing this map is that for many people, not only in our own country but around the world, the penny hasn’t yet dropped that this climate change challenge is real, it's happening now,” David Miliband said. The effects were not in “some far flung future” but 4C rises could happen in his children’s lifetime, he said, adding: “And the penny hasn’t dropped that Copenhagen is the chance to address the challenge – on a global scale.”

'Day after tomorrow' map shows consequences of climate change
Britain faces rising sea levels, floods and drought unless more is done to stop global warming, according to a new map produced by the Government.
Louise Gray, The Telegraph 22 Oct 09;

The apocalyptic map was launched by Government ministers at the opening of a new exhibition at the Science Museum.

'Prove it – everything you need to know to believe in climate change' is aimed at educating the public about the dangers of uncontrollable global warming.

The 'Day After Tomorrow' map shows what the world will look like if temperatures rise beyond four degrees C (7 degrees F). It was produced by the Met Office, that predicts temperature rises may reach the dangerous tipping point by 2060 unless more is done to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

The map is designed to get the public behind a global deal on climate change to be agreed in Copenhagen this December. It will also be used by the Foreign Office to persuade other countries to sign up to a deal that will see all major economies forced to cut their emissions.

It shows the threat of global warming around the world. In the UK temperatures could rise above 40 degrees C (104 degrees F) in the summer, droughts will threaten crops in the South East, sea levels rises will affect coastal areas and floods will be commonplace in the winter.

The Government has recently been criticised for "scaremongering" the public in a £6 million advertising campaign that warns man-made climate change will risk the future of our children unless action is taken.

But Ed Miliband, the Environment and Climate Change Secretary, said it would be irresponsible for the Government not to be warning people of the consequences of climate change.

He said the UK had a "historic responsibility" to reduce emissions at home as well as campaign for a global deal and provide money to help poorer countries to adapt.

"From what the scientists are telling us, it would be irresponsible for ministers not to tell people about the dangers of climate change. If Government campaigns can persuade people to make changes in their own lives, become part of the campaign and be more knowledgeable about the problem we will have served our purpose."

David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, said climate change was not just an environmental issue, but a "human emergency" which would affect economics, culture, technology and foreign policy.

He warned of dangers of water shortages, drought and desertification which would reduce the available food for a rising population, increased migration with a further 200 million people on the move and increases in conflict as people fight for scarcer resources - such as water in the Middle East.

"The reason for publishing this map is that for many people, not only in our own country but around the world, the penny hasn't yet dropped that this climate change challenge is real, it's happening now," he said.

John Beddington, the Government's chief scientists, who was at the launch, said the map illustrates the urgency of keeping temperature rise below 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F) through a global agreement.

"This is disastrous if it happens. We have to meet that two degrees C target, it will not be easy but we have to do it."

The exhibition will include a tonne of coal that represents the "trillionth tonne" of carbon that will push the world into certain global warming if it is released into the atmosphere. The display will be maintained by the museum as a symbol of the success of limiting emissions for future generations or burned as a symbol of defeat if the world goes beyond such a tipping point.

Professor Chris Rapley, Director of the Science Museum, said the museum has a duty to inform the public.

"Climate change is real, driven by humans and potentially threatening – to our food and water supplies, to our health and to world security. We base this on scientific evidence. The underlying issue is the reliance of the modern, globalised world on ever-increasing quantities of energy, produced mainly by burning hydrocarbon-based fuels. The greenhouse gases released accumulate in the atmosphere, setting a limit on how much we can burn – a limit which is much less than the readily accessible reserves – so discipline is required, worldwide," he said.

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Number of Americans who believe in climate change drops, survey shows

Only 57% of Americans feel that the planet's atmosphere is warming, a fall from 77% two years ago
Suzanne Goldenberg guardian.co.uk 22 Oct 09;

The number of Americans who believe in global warming has plummeted, falling 20% in two years, a survey said today.

Only 57% of Americans believe there is solid scientific evidence that the Earth's atmosphere is warming, said the poll of 1,500 people by the Pew Research Centre for the People & the Press.

That is a fall of 77% from 2007. The number of people who believe that human activity is causing global warming also fell to just 36%.

The public uncertainty about the evidence behind global warming comes as the Senate prepares to begin debate next week on climate change legislation. Yesterday, 18 scientific organisations wrote Congress to reaffirm the consensus behind global warming.

Michael Dimock, the associate director of the Pew Centre, said the economic crisis and the struggles over healthcare reform had squeezed out climate change and the environment as issues of concern. "The public is just not as focused on global warming and environmental [issues] as they have been in the past."

But James Hoggan, a PR executive and author of Climate Cover-Up, blamed an intense lobbying campaign against global warming legislation now before the Senate. "I would say a big part of this problem is this campaign to mislead Americans about climate science," he said. "This is a very sophisticated group of people who know how to create doubt and confusion and they have done a very good job of it."

The decline was sharpest among independent voters and Republicans. Republicans in Congress have almost uniformly lined up against climate change legislation. There were also regional differences, with people in the mid-west and Rocky mountain states less inclined to see climate change as a serious problem.

But the perceived lack of concrete evidence for global warming did not necessarily hurt the prospects of voting on climate change legislation, Dimock said. Half of Americans polled remain in favour of putting limits and carbon emissions and making companies pay for their emissions -- the basics of the cap and trade bill now before the Senate.

A majority, 56%, also want America to join other countries in a global agreement on climate change.

Poll: US belief in global warming is cooling
Dina Cappiello, Associated Press Yahoo News 23 Oct 09;

WASHINGTON – Americans seem to be cooling toward global warming.

Just 57 percent think there is solid evidence the world is getting warmer, down 20 points in just three years, a new poll says. And the share of people who believe pollution caused by humans is causing temperatures to rise has also taken a dip, even as the U.S. and world forums gear up for possible action against climate change.

In a poll of 1,500 adults by the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press, released Thursday, the number of people saying there is strong scientific evidence that the Earth has gotten warmer over the past few decades is down from 71 percent in April of last year and from 77 percent when Pew started asking the question in 2006. The number of people who see the situation as a serious problem also has declined.

The steepest drop has occurred during the past year, as Congress and the Obama administration have taken steps to control heat-trapping emissions for the first time and international negotiations for a new treaty to slow global warming have been under way. At the same time, there has been mounting scientific evidence of climate change — from melting ice caps to the world's oceans hitting the highest monthly recorded temperatures this summer.

The poll was released a day after 18 scientific organizations wrote Congress to reaffirm the consensus behind global warming. A federal government report Thursday found that global warming is upsetting the Arctic's thermostat.

Only about a third, or 36 percent of the respondents, feel that human activities — such as pollution from power plants, factories and automobiles — are behind a temperature increase. That's down from 47 percent from 2006 through last year's poll.

"The priority that people give to pollution and environmental concerns and a whole host of other issues is down because of the economy and because of the focus on other things," suggested Andrew Kohut, the director of the research center, which conducted the poll from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4. "When the focus is on other things, people forget and see these issues as less grave."

Andrew Weaver, a professor of climate analysis at the University of Victoria in British Columbia, said politics could be drowning out scientific awareness.

"It's a combination of poor communication by scientists, a lousy summer in the Eastern United States, people mixing up weather and climate and a full-court press by public relations firms and lobby groups trying to instill a sense of uncertainty and confusion in the public," he said.

Political breakdowns in the survey underscore how tough it could be to enact a law limiting pollution emissions blamed for warming. While three-quarters of Democrats believe the evidence of a warming planet is solid, and nearly half believe the problem is serious, far fewer conservative and moderate Democrats see the problem as grave. Fifty-seven percent of Republicans say there is no solid evidence of global warming, up from 31 percent in early 2007.

Though there are exceptions, the vast majority of scientists agree that global warming is occurring and that the primary cause is a buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels, such as oil and coal.

Jane Lubchenco, head the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told a business group meeting at the White House Thursday: "The science is pretty clear that the climate challenge before us is very real. We're already seeing impacts of climate change in our own backyards."

Despite misgivings about the science, half the respondents still say they support limits on greenhouse gases, even if they could lead to higher energy prices. And a majority — 56 percent — feel the United States should join other countries in setting standards to address global climate change.

But many of the supporters of reducing pollution have heard little to nothing about cap-and-trade, the main mechanism for reducing greenhouse gases favored by the White House and central to legislation passed by the House and a bill the Senate will take up next week.

Under cap-and-trade, a price is put on each ton of pollution, and businesses can buy and sell permits to meet emissions limits.

"Perhaps the most interesting finding in this poll ... is that the more Americans learn about cap-and-trade, the more they oppose cap-and-trade," said Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., who opposes the Senate bill and has questioned global warming science.

Regional as well as political differences were detected in the polling.

People living in the Midwest and mountainous areas of the West are far less likely to view global warming as a serious problem and to support limits on greenhouse gases than those in the Northeast and on the West Coast. Both the House and Senate bills have been drafted by Democratic lawmakers from Massachusetts and California.

One of those lawmakers, Sen. Barbara Boxer of California, told reporters Thursday that she was happy with the results, given the interests and industry groups fighting the bill.

"Today, to get 57 percent saying that the climate is warming is good, because today everybody is grumpy about everything," Boxer said. "Science will win the day in America. Science always wins the day."

Earlier polls, from different organizations, have not detected a growing skepticism about the science behind global warming.

Since 1997, the percentage of Americans that believe the Earth is heating up has remained constant — at around 80 percent — in polling done by Jon Krosnick of Stanford University. Krosnick, who has been conducting surveys on attitudes about global warming since 1993, was surprised by the Pew results.

He described the decline in the Pew results as "implausible," saying there is nothing that could have caused it.

The poll's margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

___

Associated Press writers Seth Borenstein and Kevin Freking contributed to this report.

___

On the Net:

The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press: http://www.people-press.org

(This version adds corrected graphic.)

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Best of our wild blogs: 22 Oct 09

Mammal sightings in Singapore
from Habitatnews

Job opportunity: Monitoring freshwater invertebrates
from The Biodiversity crew @ NUS

Sand mining near Kusu Island Oct 09 to Feb 10
from wild shores of singapore

Changi - Anemones on seagrass
from Singapore Nature and wild shores of singapore

A day out with Terry Gosliner
from Pulau Hantu and video clip Razorfish on Pulau Hantu’s reef

Strange insect with face on its back
from The Lazy Lizard's Tales

Wild Fact Sheets updated – Dugong, Sea Turtles and Indo-Pacific hump-backed dolphin! from News from the International Coastal Cleanup Singapore

Rufescent Prinia and its insect prey
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Tiger on a tree
from The annotated budak

HILLTRIBE ORGANIC TEA (H.O.T)
from The Green Volunteers

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Timor Sea oil spill is now 'one of Australia's worst'

Andrea Hayward WA Today 22 Oct 09;

The amount of oil leaking from a wellhead in the Timor Sea could be more than five times higher than its operators estimate, and is now the third-worst spill in Australian history, environmental groups say.

Oil has been leaking from the Montara wellhead, more than 200km north-west of West Australia’s Kimberley coastline, since August 21.

The Thailand-based company which operates the oilfield, PTTEP Australasia, put the initial rate of flow of oil at the site at 400 barrels a day and says the flow has diminished.

Based on the company’s estimates, the spill could have leaked up to 3.7 million litres of oil since it began.

But the Greens say the actual figure is between 10 and 20 million litres.

Greens Senator Rachel Siewert said officials from the federal resources, energy and tourism departments had revealed the discrepancy during questioning at a Senate estimates hearing on Wednesday.

PTTEP had failed to give the officials any basis for its calculations on the rate of the oil flow, Senator Siewert said.

Based on data from Geoscience Australia the flow could be about 2000 barrels a day, plus condensate, she said.

Based on PTTEP’s own documents and data from similar wellheads nearby, an independent analysis sourced by the Greens calculated the Montara wellhead could be leaking as much as 3000 barrels of oil a day.

"It is clear that we have no confidence in the estimates by the company and I must ask why the government chose to support the company’s estimates rather than the department’s estimates," Senator Siewert said.

"It is a clear that a thorough and comprehensive inquiry is needed into this spill," she said.

"If the oil had continued to leak at this rate over the two months since the accident on August 21, this would suggest that up to 20 million litres of oil could have leaked into the Timor Sea.

"However, given the drop-off in the observed rate of oil leakage in the first weeks of the spill reported by AMSA, we might expect that the total amount of oil spilled could be lower, perhaps around 10 million litres."

The West Triton drilling rig, which reached the site five weeks ago after being towed from Singapore, is being used in attempts to intercept the leaking well, 2.6km under the seabed, and pump in heavy mud to block the leak.

It has to intersect a 25cm-diameter casing, which is detected by sophisticated electro-magnetic ranging tools, before the plugging operation can proceed.

Three failed attempts have been made to plug the leaking well. Another attempt is expected on Friday.

Conservation groups have been critical of the response to the oil spill.

John Carey of Pew Environmental Group, an environmental advocacy organisation, said the spill was now Australia’s third worst oil spill, based on the Geoscience Australia data.

"The oil spill has fluctuated since it began but the revelations overnight indicate that the amount of oil polluting the sea off the Kimberley coast is likely to be almost three times more than what was previously thought," Mr Carey said.

"Halting this spill is the first priority, the second priority is to make sure that there are safeguards put in place to protect the marine environment from future spills and create large sanctuary areas as a safe haven for marine life."

AAP

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ASEAN member countries to jointly tackle the challenges of biodiversity conservation

Speech by Ms Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Education, at the Opening of the ASEAN Conference on Biodiversity 2009 on Wednesday, 21 October 2009 at 10.45 am, Republic Polytechnic
Ministry of National Development, Media release 21 Oct 09;

Your Excellency Dato’ Misran Karmain
Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN

Your Excellency Ambassador Holger Standertskjöld
Head of Delegation of
the European Commission to Singapore

Your Excellency Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf
Executive Secretary of
the Convention on Biological Diversity

Mr Rodrigo Fuentes
Executive Director of
the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my pleasure to join you this morning at the opening of the inaugural ASEAN Conference on Biodiversity. I would like to extend a warm welcome to our colleagues from ASEAN and beyond.

Rich Biodiversity in ASEAN Region

2 The ASEAN region is home to rich and unique biodiversity. Though occupying only 3% of the Earth’s surface, Southeast Asia houses over 20% of all known flora and fauna. It is also regarded as the global centre for tropical marine biodiversity as it has around a third of the world’s coral reefs by area. Three of the world’s seventeen mega-diverse countries characterised by species richness and endemism are located in Southeast Asia, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

3 The rich biodiversity in Southeast Asia is an important source of food, livelihood and shelter to over 500 million people in the region. The multitude of ecological services provided by healthy and bio-diverse ecosystems are essential for human well-being. Rainforests purify our air and water, provide food and fuel, and are a rich source of plants and herbs with medicinal value. Mangroves play an important role in protecting our shorelines and buffer coastal settlements from the effects of hazards like tsunamis. Beyond delivering such environmental benefits, biodiversity also contributes significantly to the economy, supporting industries like agriculture, pharmaceuticals, eco-tourism and recreation.

Threats to ASEAN’s Biodiversity

4 The value of biodiversity is tangible and real. We, in Southeast Asia, are fortunate to be blessed with such rich natural heritage. However, our biodiversity is increasingly threatened by urban developments and pressures from a growing population. Out of 64,800 known species in the region, it is estimated that around 2% or about 1,300 species are now endangered due to deforestation, wildlife hunting, climate change, pollution and other causes.

5 To ensure that the benefits of biodiversity can continue to be enjoyed by all of us, and our future generations, we need to act responsibly and respond urgently to the challenges of biodiversity conservation.

Local Action, Global Collaboration

Holistic Biodiversity Plans at Local Level
6 Within the ASEAN community, there is much that member countries can do to conserve the region’s rich biodiversity. Individually, ASEAN member countries have formulated their own National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans as part of their commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Such action plans lie at the heart of our biodiversity conservation efforts. The successful implementation of these plans at the local level is critical to reversing the rate of biodiversity loss in the region.

7 In formulating and implementing biodiversity conservation plans, countries need to adopt a holistic approach that balances the needs of nature conservation with other competing demands on their resources. It is therefore important that agencies responsible for biodiversity conservation work closely with agencies in charge of areas such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, urban development, trade, industry and tourism. This would ensure that biodiversity considerations are factored into the work of the other sectors.

8 As a small city-state of just 700 square kilometres, Singapore faces the challenges of managing the trade-offs between conservation and development very acutely. Recognising our constraints, we have adopted a long-term and integrated approach towards land use planning and nature conservation. Through legislation protecting nature reserves, judicious land use, careful urban planning and sensitive development, we have been able to retain rich biodiversity in Singapore despite rapid urbanisation over the past four decades.

9 In addition, our dedicated greening efforts have yielded almost half of our small island under a green cover today. Singapore is home to some 2,300 species of plants, 360 species of birds, 280 species of butterflies and a large variety of animals. In addition, we have a third of the world’s hard coral species and half the number of seagrass species in the Indo-Pacific region.

Regional Collaborations in ASEAN
10 Effective local strategies and action, while important, are not enough. I encourage ASEAN member countries to come together and pool their resources, expertise and experience to jointly tackle the challenges of biodiversity conservation. Just as the value of biodiversity transcends national boundaries, the threats to regional biodiversity and impact of biodiversity loss are shared across the entire ASEAN community.

11 Conferences such as this serve as important platforms for ASEAN member countries to deepen their networks for the sharing of knowledge and collaboration on joint projects. I am told that this morning’s gathering is the largest that the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity has organised to-date, and involves government officials, scientists and non-governmental participants. I hope that this inaugural conference will present you with opportunities to forge new partnerships, reaffirm old ties, engage in meaningful dialogue and collectively develop bold action plans to address the biodiversity challenges in this region.

Global Partnerships Beyond ASEAN
12 The ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity has not only been actively facilitating cooperation amongst ASEAN member countries, but also played a significant role in establishing partnerships between ASEAN and other international organisations and governments at the global level. In this regard, I am pleased to see many of our partners from beyond ASEAN here with us today. This is a testament to the strong ties that have been established between ASEAN and the broader international community.

13 With our rich biodiversity in the region, there is much that ASEAN can contribute to the international effort in terms of expertise and experience. At the same time, there is also much that we can learn from others.

14 Singapore is committed to playing its part in the international arena. With more than half of the world’s population living in cities today, urban areas around the world are experiencing unprecedented rates of biodiversity loss. As the trend of urbanisation continues, the conservation of biodiversity in cities is emerging as an important challenge that demands critical attention.

15 Leveraging on our experience as a Garden City, Singapore is now working with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and other partner cities to develop the Singapore Index on Cities’ Biodiversity. This will be a self-assessment tool for cities to evaluate their own biodiversity conservation efforts. Such a measure would be useful to help cities benchmark the success of their efforts over time, and hopefully, enhance urban biodiversity in the longer term. The draft Singapore Index is currently being tested by various cities including Brussels, Curitiba, Edmonton, Joondalup, Montreal, Nagoya and Singapore. We welcome cities who are interested to join us in fine-tuning the index for endorsement at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity in October next year.

Conclusion

16 The other day, my youngest son asked me, "Mummy, will Planet Earth be destroyed by global warming?" I looked at him, and his eyes showed a sense of anxiety, fear and discomfort. As a mother, I replied to him, I said, "Son, I believe that we human beings will have the intelligence and the creativity to do something before that happens to us." He went on, he's quite a persistent fellow, and asked, "What happens if we don't act fast enough?" I said that well, we will have to do something about it. We have some time and I hope that we can do something quick to reverse the trend. He was assured for the time being. But I think as a mother, as a law maker, as a leader, many of you probably would have been asked the same questions by your children, by your fellow countrymen. I hope that all of us will have the intelligence, the creativity, and the foresight to do something as leaders, as parents, as spouses, as scientists, to do your part to give the assurance to our children that this world will be there for them, and they deserve the national environment that they need to grow up in.

17 Next year will be significant as it marks the International Year of Biodiversity. In 2002, the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity had set a target to achieve a significant reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional and national levels by 2010. I encourage all ASEAN member countries to further your biodiversity conservation efforts at the local level, and to leverage on your partnerships to actively seek opportunities for collaboration within and beyond ASEAN.

18 On this note, I wish all of you a fruitful conference; and to our foreign guests, I hope that you will have an enjoyable experience in Singapore.

19 Thank you.

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“Building Sustainable Cities: The Singapore Experience”

KEYNOTE SPEECH BY MR MAH BOW TAN, MINISTER FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AT THE ISOCARP CONGRESS IN PORTO, PORTUGAL
ON 20 OCTOBER 2009 AT 11.30 AM (SINGAPORE TIME 6.30PM)
Ministry of National Development media release 20 Oct 09;

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

Introduction

Good afternoon. It is my pleasure to join you at this session of the ISOCARP Congress.

2 The Congress this year focuses on Planning for Low Carbon Cities. This afternoon, I would like to discuss the broader issue of planning for sustainable cities, and share with you Singapore’s experience in this area. Let me begin by setting the context of what I intend to say.

3 First, some facts about Singapore for those who may be unfamiliar. Singapore is a small city-state, with close to 5 million people packed into our island of just 700 sq km. We are ranked the second most densely populated country in the world, after Monaco. As a comparison, our population density is about 8 times higher than the Lisbon metropolitan area, which is more than four times larger than Singapore, but with a population of less than 3 million. Singapore’s economy is export-oriented because of our small domestic market. Our port is one of the busiest in the world, and we are also an international air hub.

4 Singapore has historical links with Portugal. In the 16th century, Portuguese explorers sailed to South-east Asia, where Singapore is located, to trade and later colonized some areas. Today, traces of Portuguese influence and culture can still be seen in former colonies like Malacca and Macau, in the same way as the British have in Singapore and Hong Kong, and the Dutch in Indonesia. But while the Portuguese ships took many months to sail from Lisbon to our part of the world via the Cape of Good Hope and through the Straits of Malacca, today it takes less than a day to fly from Singapore to Porto, and a few seconds to send an email or make a phone call. This is what technology has done to shrink the world and globalise world trade. But technology has also created new challenges for man, challenges which confront countries across the globe.

Cities and Sustainable Development
5 Today, the key challenges that confront countries across the globe are climate change and sustainable development. And the key to global environmental sustainability lies in building sustainable cities. Why?

6 Firstly, the majority of the world’s population will reside in urban centres going forward. For the first time last year, more people on this planet live in cities than rural areas. By 2050, the world’s population in urban areas will almost double from 3.3 billion to 6.4 billion.

7 Second, the rapid population growth and industrialization happening within cities pose critical challenges both for their own development as well as for the sustainability of the global environment. Without proper urban planning, rapid population growth and industrialization within cities will result in severe congestion and pollution, and the quality of life for city dwellers will decline as a result. Cities are also a major consumer of the world’s resources. According to the UN, cities currently consume about 75% of the world’s energy and emit about 80% of the world’s green house gases1. Hence, how far we progress in sustainable development and managing global climate change will depend very much on how effectively we tackle the urban challenges in cities.

8 Third, cities hold the key to new solutions for a more sustainable future. Cities are centers of innovation where new ideas and technologies are generated to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution from industries. Because of their high density and critical mass, cities offer opportunities to implement major initiatives, such as sustainable transportation and waste management systems, which can bring about a substantial reduction in our environmental footprint.

Sustainable Singapore
9 Sustainable development is a multifaceted and complex challenge. It requires cities to make tough trade-offs – between current and future growth, between current and future consumption and between material wellbeing and the quality of our living environment.

10 In Singapore, sustainable development is as old as our nation because we were forced, by sheer necessity, to deal with these tough trade-offs right from the start of Independence. As a small city-state with no hinterland and natural resources, we have to be very judicious about the use of resources, especially our land resources. With just 700 sq km of land, we have to locate all uses – housing, recreation, industry and so on – in close proximity to one another. We cannot afford an approach of “grow first and clean up later”.

11 Therefore, we take a long-term view to development, and this is reflected in the way we plan our urban development. We have evolved a long term, integrated planning system whereby various technical agencies in Singapore get together to plan our land use and infrastructure needs over the horizon of a few decades. Our land use planning process is a platform whereby we translate sustainable development objectives into concrete land use plans. We set aside land resources and plan for infrastructure expansions to support our growth, but also ensure that we set aside areas for greenery and to preserve our urban biodiversity.

12 As a resource scarce city-state, it is imperative that we industrialise and plug into the global network of trade to make a living. However, we are conscious not to pursue growth at all costs. Even as we industrialize, we put in place stringent environmental regulations to safeguard our environmental quality. As we grow and economic growth generates more resource, we commit to consistent re-investment of these resources into infrastructure and programmes to improve environmental sustainability.

13 Over the past 5 decades, we have consistently invested in two areas to achieve sustainable development.

14 First, we have invested to improve our resource efficiency. For instance, Singapore has made consistent efforts to achieve a diversified, adequate and sustainable supply of water. As we do not have enough land to set aside as water catchments, we developed membrane filtration technologies and invested in NEWater plants to “recycle water” from waste-water, and desalination plants to turn seawater into drinking water. Today, we have a diversified water supply from “Four National Taps”, that is, water from local catchment, imported water, recycled water and desalinated water.

15 We have similarly invested in effective waste management. As we do not have enough land for landfills, we recycle more than half of our waste and incinerate almost all of the rest. Only 3% of our waste generated is land filled, and we have developed a new landfill offshore, which, when filled up, adds to our land stock. And because we have taken special efforts to minimize the impact of the landfill on the environment, it is today a landfill thriving with biodiversity and affectionately called the “Garbage of Eden”.

16 Secondly, we have consistently invested in maintaining a high environmental quality. In planning our land-use, we deliberately locate heavy industries away from residential and commercial areas. We have put in place strict pollution controls to ensure that our air and water are of good quality.

17 We have also invested in a comprehensive public transport system to improve connectivity and invested in cleaning and beautifying our waterways to serve as additional blue spaces for leisure. We have also invested aggressively in new technology that can help us achieve even higher sustainability in the future. Almost $700 million has been set aside by the Government to develop Clean Energy and Water technologies in Singapore.

18 As a result of these efforts, Singapore is recognized as a liveable city today. The high quality of our living environment further reinforces our city’s attractiveness as a magnet for investments and talents. Hence, by seeking to achieve both economic growth and a quality living environment in tandem right from the start of our urban development, we have managed to achieve a virtuous cycle of good growth and good standard of living.

The 3 “P”s to Building a Low Carbon City
19 While we have been successful in safeguarding a liveable environment in the face of economic and population growth, going forward, minimizing the environmental footprint of our development will be another key area of focus for Singapore.

20 In particular, climate change is a key challenge facing the global community. Today, few would doubt that climate change is real and that it is at least partly caused by human activities. By the end of the century, global temperatures and sea levels can rise quite significantly. Every country, including Singapore, must act to reduce the emission of green house gases and fight climate change.

21 On its part, Singapore has sought to achieve a lower carbon footprint for our city in a holistic manner. I would summarize our approach as the 3 “P” approach.

22 The first “P” is “Planning”. We have incorporated low carbon considerations within the urban planning of our city. Firstly, we have sought to preserve and intensify greenery within our city, which serve as critical carbon sinks. We have safeguarded more than 3,000 ha of land as nature reserves and consistently greened our city. Since 1986, our population has grown by close to 70%, but the green cover in Singapore has also increased to almost 50% as more parks and recreation areas were built. Going forward, we will expand our park land by another 900ha and intensify greenery vertically.

23 Secondly, we have planned for a $40 bil comprehensive plan to expand our public transport network by 2020, so that at least 70% of all peak hour trips in the city will be made on public transport, which is the most fuel-efficient mode of transport. To complement this, we have planned for high-density residential developments and commercial activities at public transport nodes, to encourage the use of public transport. We have also planned for new cycling infrastructure and pedestrian connectivity in both our housing towns and downtown, to encourage cleaner forms of transport such as cycling and walking.

24 Thirdly, low carbon considerations are also factored into our district and town planning as well as urban planning regulations. For instance, passive design principles are incorporated in the design of our public housing developments to reduce energy needed for air-conditioning and lighting, while our new down town at Marina Bay is planned with a comprehensive public transport and pedestrian network and serviced by a District Cooling System that is more energy efficient. In the development of new growth areas, we have required developers to achieve a minimum energy efficiency performance for new buildings erected in these growth areas, as well as to make up for the greenery displaced by their developments in the first and upper floors of their new developments.

25 The second “P” is “Policies”. Singapore is an alternative energy disadvantaged city-state. Many forms of alternative energy, such as wind and hydro power, are not available to us, while solar energy is still very much more costly as compared to electricity generated from fossil fuels. Hence, Singapore’s key response is to cut down on energy usage. Our goal is to improve our energy intensity, or energy consumption per $GDP, by 35% from 2005 levels by 2030.

26 We have therefore aligned and put in place aggressive policies to achieve energy efficiency. A key fundamental policy is zero subsidies for energy. We will continue to price energy according to sound market principles to make sure there is no waste and to encourage conservation.

27 We have also restructured and liberalized our energy market. This, together with our policy of no subsidy for energy, encourages power generation companies to choose the most efficient technology. The proportion of electricity generated by gas grew from about 20% in 2000 to almost 80% in 2007. This led to a significant reduction in CO2 emissions as natural gas emits 40% less CO2 than fuel oil.

28 Policies are also put in place to achieve a lower energy footprint in every aspect of city life – in the way we live, work and commute. Singapore has established the Green Mark framework, which is a green building rating system to evaluate a building for its environmental impact, including energy efficiency. Singapore is one of the few countries in the world that legislate for new buildings to achieve a Green Mark certification. Going forward, the government has put in place $100 mil to co-fund retrofits with building owners to help 80% of our existing buildings achieve at least a Green Mark certification rating by 2030. We also seek to improve the energy efficiency of public housing estates by between 20 to 30% by introducing energy-saving devices.

29 We are also encouraging our industries to adopt energy efficient designs, processes and technologies. We provide financial incentives to encourage industries to conduct energy audits and put in place good energy management systems to enhance their efficiency, as well as to incorporate energy efficiency in the design of new industrial facilities and to invest in energy efficient industrial equipment.

30 In addition, we empower consumers with information so that energy efficiency considerations can be factored into the market for consumer goods. We have made energy labeling mandatory for household appliances such as refrigerators and air conditioners. We have also put in place a Fuel Economy Labelling Scheme to provide buyers of passenger cars with fuel economy information at the point of sale, as well as special tax incentives to encourage motorists to switch to green vehicles such as CNG vehicles. We have also set aside $20 mil to test bed electric vehicles.

31 In tropical Singapore, solar energy is now the most promising renewable energy source. While we do not subsidize any form of energy usage, we have invested in an island-wide $30 mil solar test-bedding project within our housing estates to study the application of solar to our local climatic conditions. This will prepare our city to use this on a larger scale when the cost of solar energy falls closer to that of conventional energy.

32 The third “P” is “Promotion” – promotion of a low carbon lifestyle. We can only build a low carbon city if leaders and activists in the people, private and public sectors work together to adopt a less carbon intensive lifestyle. The public sector has partnered NGOs in Singapore to launch a Climate Change Awareness Programme to raise awareness among households and motorists on energy saving habits.

33 We have similarly worked with local community organizations to engage community leaders to promote energy conservation among households. In schools, environmental issues have been included in our curriculum to educate our youths on the importance of sustainable development, as well as the environmental impact of the choices they make.

Partnership Across Borders
34 Given its size, Singapore’s efforts to plan for and build a low carbon city will not make a substantive quantitative difference to global emissions. However, we believe that we can play a bigger role by facilitating the exchange of ideas and knowledge among cities on sustainable development. In this way, we can hopefully catalyze new innovations in both technology and methods of governance, as well as facilitate the adoption of best practices in urban development.

35 Hence, I would also like to take this opportunity to highlight that Singapore has launched a new Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize in June this year. This Prize seeks to recognize individuals and organizations responsible for urban initiatives that display foresight, good governance or innovation in tackling the many urban challenges faced by cities. Emphasis will be placed on practical and cost effective solutions and ideas that can be easily replicated across cities. Nominations for the prize are now open until 30 November this year. The inaugural Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize will be presented at the World Cities Summit held in June next year. Through the Prize, we hope to facilitate the sharing of best practices in urban solutions and spur further innovation in the area of sustainable urban development and city excellence.

Conclusion
36 To conclude, I believe that cities hold the key in our global quest to achieve an environmentally sustainable future. By working together and sharing ideas, we can harness the full potential of cities to tackle the urban challenges of today. This Congress is a good platform to foster dialogue and co-operation as we embark on this journey together to build the sustainable cities of tomorrow.

37 I look forward to a fruitful discussion this afternoon. Thank you.


*****

1 “Cities and Climate Change Initiative: Conference Report, Oslo, 17 March 2009", Opening Statement by Dr Anna Tibaijuka (Executive Director, UN Habitat)

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More going green; hygiene still lax: Poll

Straits Times 22 Oct 09;

LAST year, more Singaporeans adopted energy-saving habits, but hygiene standards in public spaces remained lax, a survey by the National Environment Agency (NEA) revealed.

Of the 1,546 respondents surveyed, 87.2 per cent said they would adopt more environmentally friendly practices, up from 85.5 per cent in the 2007 survey.

The survey, which tracks consumers' knowledge of environmental issues, registered a particularly sharp rise - 8.5 per cent - in people adopting energy-saving habits at home. For example, more than three in four respondents said they have switched to energy-efficient refrigerators and air-conditioners.

The awareness of breeding spots for dengue-carrying mosquitos also increased.

Said NEA chief executive Andrew Tan of the findings: 'The overall survey results do show more awareness of the environment and how that translates into practice.'

But hygiene standards in public toilets and littering were still a problem, he added.

The NEA is conducting a study to investigate the behaviour of litterbugs, which it will use to develop more targeted programmes in housing estates and some public areas, said its spokesman.

'There are still areas of high human traffic where littering remains a concern.'

Mr Jack Sim, founder of the World Toilet Organisation, noted that the perennial problem of dirty toilets at hawker centres continues to go against Singapore's push to be a liveable and sustainable city.

The survey results precede the start of the Clean and Green Campaign later this month, which will trace Singapore's environmental development over the last four decades.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will launch the campaign on Oct 30 at HortPark.

The NEA will also partner the National Parks Board, the 2010 Youth Olympic Games organising committee, and the five community development councils to organise activities related to the campaign.

AMRESH GUNASINGHAM

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Youths bag environmental award for green ideas

Malini Nathan, Straits Times 22 Oct 09;

HE WATCHED his secondary school teacher fill up a large bin with plastic bottles to show how much was being wasted, and wondered if he could also raise awareness about wastage of electronic items.

Lim Jing Kai, 17, from Republic Polytechnic (RP), said: 'Many people use electronic items and throw them away with no regard for what happens to them after that and how it affects the environment.'

It was this concern that prompted him to create greater awareness among the public about electronic waste.

Jing Kai will set up a waste collection point for unwanted electronic items at a flea market to be held at RP on Saturday. He is in talks with a few multinational companies to help recycle these items.

Fellow RP students Rachel Kek, 19, and Lester Tan, 20, are using the same event, organised by members of RP's Conservation Interest Group (CIG), to spread their own environmental messages.

Mr Tan is setting up booths for several games he developed based on environmental issues. He hopes to have the games made available to secondary schools and tertiary institutions.

Ms Kek is using more than 500 items donated in a charity drive organised by RP's CIG to drive home the message that unwanted items can benefit the needy.

Third-year Singapore Polytechnic student Sharilyn Lim, 18, is also doing her bit. She implemented a recycling campaign in two secondary schools this year.

These ideas won the four green enthusiasts the Bayer Young Environmental Envoy Award presented at the Hilton Hotel on Tuesday. They were among 50 participants, double last year's number, who took part in the global education initiative for youth, organised by Bayer South-east Asia and the United Nations Environment Programme.

Supported by the National Youth Achievement Award Council and National Environment Agency, the competition is in its ninth year and is awarded to tertiary students, aged 17 to 24, who develop unique environment-themed projects.

Dr Amy Khor, Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Environment and Water Resources), was the guest of honour at the award ceremony. She said: 'This competition is an excellent opportunity for youths to gain a greater understanding of environmental issues facing us. We hope this award will inspire and motivate other companies in Singapore to encourage others to spread the environmental message.'

The four winners will head to Bayer's headquarters in Germany next month, where they will represent Singapore and join green ambassadors from 18 countries to learn about environmental practices and sustainability issues.

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STB hopes to attract more high net worth individuals to Singapore

Wong Siew Ying, Channel NewsAsia 21 Oct 09;

SINGAPORE: The tourism stakes are high and Singapore is trying to woo more visitors. It is betting on the two integrated resorts due to open next year, and also spinning for a more diverse crowd.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) said that it is on track to meeting its target of attracting 9 to 9.5 million visitors to the city this year. Despite the economic downturn, 6.2 million tourists visited Singapore in the first 8 months of this year.

STB's strategy ahead is to woo more high net worth individuals, or those with at least a million US dollars to invest.

"Singapore is limited by its size and capacity and therefore, in that case, we need to make sure that we attract the right kind of audience," said Chew Tiong Heng, director, Destination Marketing, Singapore Tourism Board.

"While we will not neglect people with smaller budgets, we want to make sure there are options to attract people in the high net worth category," Mr Chew added.

STB told a media conference that Singapore can no longer compete on price, as operating cost is higher here compared with its neighbours. What it can offer is more value and activities for visitors, on top of high profile events like the Youth Olympic Games, the F1 race and F1 Rocks concerts in 2010.

Mr Chew said: "2010 is going to be an exciting year. It is going to be a year where we are going to present a transformed Singapore to the world, so that if they find it a bit more costly to come to Singapore, they understand that there is a reason why that is so.

"So in terms of the value proposition that we are giving to consumers henceforth, it will be something of a very first world experience that they get in this part of the world."

Singapore is also working with its neighbours to boost the cruise industry and attract long-haul visitors to the region. The Pacific Asia Travel Association said that Asia Pacific is a top choice for over two-thirds of travellers from the UK and US.

STB is also looking at promoting Singapore more aggressively at emerging markets like the Middle East, and it expects to launch a branding campaign there over the next one to two years. However, STB noted that competition is heating up.

"Seoul is very aggressive in positioning itself as a convention city. Thailand is also very aggressively positioning itself as an exhibition city," said Jacqueline Ng, director, Industry Development Division, Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau.

STB hopes to build on 2008, a record year for Singapore's business travel industry with 3 million business visitors - garnering S$6 billion in tourism receipts.

- CNA/sc

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