Butterfly of the Month - September 2018
Butterflies of Singapore
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Mynahs trapped in Potong Pasir tagged and released as part of noise control measures: AVA
Toh Ting Wei Straits Times 8 Sep 18;
SINGAPORE - A large population of around 2,800 mynahs in Potong Pasir had caused complaints about noise from residents, prompting authorities to carry out measures to address the issue.
Among these measures include pruning trees near residences and tagging mynahs in the area to study their movement patterns, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA) said on Saturday (Sept 8) in response to queries from The Straits Times.
The mynahs are caught in traps that contain food and water, and are released back into the wild after they are tagged.
The traps are also closely monitored to ensure that non-target bird species are not caught, said AVA.
Pictures posted online in the Nature Society (Singapore) Facebook group by Janan Nai on Wednesday show mynahs trapped in cages on a grass patch along Potong Pasir Avenue 1.
Mr Janan said that a big flock of parakeets, rather than mynahs, were responsible for the noise in the area, but AVA clarified that mynahs were the actual culprits.
An AVA spokesman said that since January, the authority has received about 10 complaints relating to noise caused by the mynah population in the area.
It said that noise levels in the early morning and late evening periods were affecting nearby residents.
The spokesman said: "The Javan mynah is a non-native bird that is found in urban areas and often roosts in large numbers, leading to noise and hygiene issues.
"In such numbers, they can compete with native bird species for nesting and food resources."
It is working with the National Parks Board (NParks) to address the issue in Potong Pasir. As an immediate measure to relieve residents of the noise, NParks has pruned the trees near residences to prevent mynahs from roosting in the trees.
Tagging of the mynahs enable authorities to study the mynahs' dispersal after the trees are pruned, and also provides information on the mynahs' movement patterns from roosting sites to feeding sites.
AVA said this information will provide insights into possible measures to "mitigate nuisance caused by mynahs", such as food waste management. The data will also help authorities understand which trees or sites the mynahs prefer to roost at.
Members of the public are advised not to feed mynahs and to dispose of food scraps properly, so as to mitigate the population growth of mynahs.
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Malaysia: Sabah looking to end conflict between humans and elephants
The Star 9 Sep 18;
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah wants to resolve the conflicts between humans and pygmy elephants once and for all.
An unprecedented 26 Borneo pygmy elephants were killed in the first eight months of this year, said Deputy Chief Minister Christina Liew.
She said a task force headed by the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Rosmadi Datu Sulai was set up to tackle the matter.
“The Sabah Wildlife Department has done everything within its capacity in trying to resolve the human-elephant conflict.
“But there are no takers until now. I am very sure the workers know who killed the animals,” she said after attending the state-level Women’s Day celebration here on Friday.
“Right now, we want all plantation owners to cooperate with the state government to help stop the elephant deaths,” she said.
Liew, who is also the state Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, said she was not accusing anybody of killing the elephants.
“What I am stressing here is that if an elephant dies on someone’s land, the onus is on the landowner to inform the Sabah Wildlife Department and provide an explanation,” she said.
Under Section 39 (1) of the Wildlife Conservation Enactment 1997, Liew said a landowner could take reasonable steps to protect his land, crops and other property from entry and damage by protected animals.
“Put up fencing to protect your land or plantation. Do not kill the elephants which may be roaming around or destroying fruit crops,” she said.
She advised plantation owners to inform the Wildlife Department of the presence of the elephants or deaths, personal injury or damage to their properties caused by the protected animal.
On the statement by Primary Industries Minister Teresa Kok that there was no evidence of plantations being involved in the elephant deaths, Liew asked for Kok’s help to get the landowners and plantation owners to cooperate with the state government, including asking them to remove traps.
Jumbo death task force comes up with proposals
The Star 8 Sep 18;
KOTA KINABALU: A task force set up to oversee the worsening situation of elephant deaths in Sabah has come up with several recommendations.
Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC), which is part of the task force, said these efforts would include reanalysing past cases and post-mortems as far as 10 years ago to ascertain the major cause of the deaths.
He said all cases should be mapped to identify hotspots on human-elephant conflict, poaching, snaring and poisoning, said DGFC director Dr Benoit Goossens (pic).
“We need to identify the potential poisons that could lead to a slow death of elephants and revise the use of herbicides and pesticides in oil palm plantations while increasing anti-poaching patrols in all protected and unprotected areas with the presence of elephants,” he said.
Dr Goossens said the authorities could create an intelligence unit that would gather all information, then analyse it and give feedback to the enforcement team on the ground.
He said the authorities should enforce a zero-snaring policy in Sabah’s protected areas, forest reserves, forest plantations and oil palm plantations.
“We need to also find newer and friendlier strategies for pest control and do research on the impact of agrochemicals and heavy metals in the forests,” he said.
Authorities as well as plantations could consider adopting an integrated electric fencing (mobile fencing) strategy so that elephant movements were not compromised, Dr Goossens said.
“We can continue monitoring the movements of elephants in all ranges by using satellite collars where the information provided will help design corridors and monitor potential risk of human-elephant conflicts,” he said.
As for the death of elephants this year, he said: “It is difficult to identify the main factor. Some deaths are due to poaching, some due to conflicts, poisoning, and several other deaths caused by injuries from snares.”
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Indonesia: Three songbirds removed from new protected list
The Jakarta Post 8 Sep 18;
The Environment and Forestry Ministry has removed three popular songbirds from the newly revised protected species lists following protests from bird owners.
The birds are the kucica hutan (white-rumped shama), cucak rawa (straw-headed bulbul) and jalak suren (Javan pied starling) — the latter two of which are listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as endangered and critically endangered species, respectively.
The newest revision has been signed recently by Minister Siti Nurbaya Bakar, said ministry spokesman Djati Witjaksono Hadi.
“It has been signed. We are now waiting for approval [and promulgation] from the Law and Human Rights Ministry,” Djati told The Jakarta Post on Friday.
The list of protected species was first revised in mid-July, 19 years after its enactment in 1999.
Activists have lauded the July list, which aimed at promoting sustainability and the proper treatment of protected animals and plants.
Yet, the policy has since stirred opposition from bird lovers who feared prosecution.
Under the 1990 law on natural resources and ecosystem conservation, those who trade or keep protected flora or fauna face up to five years in prison or a fine of Rp 100 million (US$6,734).
The ministry’s biodiversity conservation director, Indra Exploitasia, said earlier that her office had conducted a social and economic study on the issue following protests from bird lovers, Antara reported.
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Indonesia: Forest fire destroys part of Mount Lawu areas
Antara 8 Sep 18;
Ngawi, E Java, (ANTARA News) - A forest fire on Mount Lawu, located on the border of Central and East Java, has destroyed 25-30 hectares of land, but the extent of damage has likely increased, a government official stated.
Joint efforts to extinguish the forest fire have been made over the past few days, but the prolonged drought and strong winds had hindered the fire fighters` endeavors, Djohan Surjoputro, Mount Lawu`s administrative authority, stated here on Saturday.
Several hundreds of people, including local volunteers and personnel of state-owned forestry company Perhutani, military, police, and environment agency, participated in the joint efforts, he said.
Moreover, the fire fighting task force also deployed its personnel in the hotspot-affected areas, Surjoputro said.
"We have not yet calculated the total width of the affected areas, as we still focus on extinguishing the fire," he stated, adding that five patches of protected forest in Ngawi District, East Java Province, were also engulfed by the fire.
However, the forest fire engulfing the patches of protected forest Number 30, 39, and 19 could have been put out while those of Number 15 and 17 remain under threat, he stated.
Owing to its scenic view, beautiful Edelweiss flowers, and crater, Mt Lawu has become one of the mountains in the Indonesian island of Java, which is frequently scaled by mountaineers.
Reporting by Louis Rika Stevani
Editing by Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Climbers trapped on Mount Lawu amid threats of forest fire
Antara 11 Sep 18;
Climbing path of Mount Lawu, Magetan Regency, East Java. (ANTARA PHOTO/Fikri Yusuf)
Magetan, E Java (ANTARA News) - Around 100 mountaineers remained trapped on the peak of Mount Lawu in Magetan District, East Java Province, amid threats from a forest fire engulfing part of the mountain, a disaster mitigation agency`s official said.
A rescue team had been deployed to evacuate the trapped climbers, Head of the Magetan Disaster Mitigation Agency`s Emergency and Logistics Unit Fery Yoga Saputra said here on Monday evening.
"The rescue team members comprising local volunteers, and personnel of the Magetan Disaster Mitigation Agency and National Search and Rescue Agency have started climbing on Monday afternoon," he said.
The trapped climbers were part of 200 mountaineers, who climbed Mount Lawu on Sunday. Around 100 of them had gone down while the remaining 100 might still be on the mountain`s peak area, he said.
Due to the forest fire, which again engulfs certain parts of the mountain`s northern and southern slopes, the local authorities notified that the Mount Lawu`s climbing trails have temporarily been closed since Monday.
The fire-fighting efforts have been made since Sunday evening, he added.
The forest fire on the mountain, located on the border of Central and East Java, had reportedly destroyed at least 25-30 hectares of land.
Owing to its scenic view, beautiful Edelweiss flowers, and crater, Mt Lawu has become one of the mountains in the Indonesian island of Java, which is frequently scaled by mountaineers.
Meanwhile, a forest fire also engulfed certain parts of Mount Sindoro in Temanggung District, Central Java Province, though, according to a spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, it could have been extinguished.
The forest fire destroyed around 156 hectares of land, and the local authorities still closed the mountain`s climbing trails, BNPB Spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.
Local residents and visitors, who want to perform an annual ritual to commemorate the Javanese New Year, or commonly known as 1 Suro, are not allowed to climb the mountain for safety reasons, he noted.
The fire could likely engulf the affected areas due to the drought and strong winds, he explained, adding that the climbing trails had been closed to prevent people from climbing.
Reporting by Louis Rika/Siswowidodo
Editing by Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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Green Mark scheme to now recognise firms which encourage healthier living for employees
Aw Cheng Wei Straits Times 7 Sep 18;
SINGAPORE - Firms that design green offices and encourage their employees to quit smoking, exercise more and eat healthily will be recognised under a new government scheme.
Called the Green Mark for Healthier Workplaces, the scheme is an expansion of an eponymous benchmarking programme that the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) currently has to acknowledge energy-saving buildings.
The regulator is working with the Health Promotion Board (HPB) on this latest addition.
The scheme was announced by Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Minister of State for National Development and Manpower, on Friday (Sept 7) at an industry event that more than 300 business leaders attended.
Mr Zaqy said that office designs, such as ventilation and lighting systems, have an impact on energy use and their occupants' health and well-being.
So "it makes sense to dovetail the two objectives, to create environmentally friendly and healthy office spaces... This was the impetus behind this new scheme", he added.
Ten companies took part in the four-month pilot programme that started in May (2018), and six were certified last month.
The rest are working on their certification, according to a BCA statement.
Facility Link, a firm which builds offices, hosts health screenings and workout sessions such as zumba classes for its 140 employees. On Fridays, employees who smoke are encouraged not to light up.
The firm also recycles leftover materials from its renovation processes to use as furniture and decor.
Both the BCA and the HPB have incentive schemes to help more small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) follow Facility Link's example, said Mr Zaqy.
For example, the BCA will co-fund SMEs up to $40,000 for the firms to be certified under this new scheme, as part of its current Green Mark Incentive Scheme for Existing Buildings and Premises.
Similarly, the HPB has the SME Health+ and Workplace Alliance for Health schemes.
At the same event, Mr Zaqy also revealed results of a two-year pilot programme that aims to get building occupants to save energy.
Currently, six organisations are participating in the pilot that started in September last year (2017). "Several have already achieved significant energy savings," Mr Zaqy said.
For example, Swissotel Merchant Court in Clarke Quay saved more than 100 MW-hours after adopting energy-saving measures.
Now, the laundry department operates machines at full load, instead of half load as it used to. Employees have also been encouraged to use the stairs.
Mr Zaqy said that the BCA will work with the Singapore Green Building Council to develop standardised toolkits for firms which want similar results.
He added: "We wish to see more following in their paths, and will do our part to support."
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Malaysia: Villager trampled to death by wild elephant in Kedah
g.c. tan The Star 7 Sep 18;
ALOR SETAR: A wild elephant is believed to have trampled a villager to death near a forest reserve in Padang Sanai near here on Friday afternoon (Sept 7).
The incident occurred at about 4pm but the exact location is still unconfirmed.
The body of the man, whose ethnicity is unknown, was found by his relatives who rushed him to Kuala Nerang Hospital, some 50km from Alor Setar, where he was pronounced dead.
His family members lodged a police report at the Padang Terap district police headquarters.
It is believed that human encroachment into the forest reserve by illegal plantation had provoked the elephants roaming within.
A police source confirmed the report.
Wild jumbos spotted where man was trampled to death
g.c. tan The Star 9 Sep 18;
ALOR SETAR: At least three wild elephants were seen roaming the forest reserve in Padang Sanai, where a rubber tapper was trampled to death.
However, only one animal was involved in the death of Mat Juhid Osman (pic), 49, who died at the scene about 50km from here.
The victim’s brother Husin Osman, 53, they were about leave their fruit orchard when the elephant suddenly dashed out and attacked them.
“I managed to hide behind a tree, but my brother was a little late and was trampled by the elephant, the size of a Pajero four-wheel drive.
He said the incident happened at about 6.30pm on Friday, when he and his brother were tending to fruit trees in their orchard, about 5km from their house in Kampung Ulu, Padang Sanai.
Husin said they had planted some fruit tree saplings earlier in the morning and left for Friday prayers before returning to the orchard at about 3pm.
He said he had lodged numerous reports in the past about wild elephants in the area with the state Wildlife Department.
“But the officers merely came to see and left. Now, I have lost my brother,” he said.
Padang Terap district police chief Deputy Supt Noh Idris said the hospital alerted the police after the brother of the deceased sent him to the Kuala Nerang Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.
“The deceased sustained head injuries and fractured one of his hand.
“His body will be sent to the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital in Alor Setar for post-mortem,” he said.
There have been wild elephant sightings at the Padang Sanai forest reserve near Ahning Dam in the Padang Terap district recently.
Villagers had lodged reports with the Wildlife Department.
It is believed that human encroachment could have provoked the elephants there.
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Indonesia: Public participation can prevent peatland fires - Bappenas
Antara 8 Sep 18;
Pontianak, W. Kalimantan (ANTARA News) - The head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas), Bambang Brodjonegoro, said public participation has played a key role in preventing peatland fires and increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
"Firstly, we have to educate people on how to utilize peatlands and reduce the risk of land fires," Brodjonegoro said at the closing of the kick-off meeting and expose of ICCTF program here on Friday.
The National Development Planning Minister applauded the cooperation of the Indonesian Climate Change Trust Fund (ICCTF) and the Tanjungpura University, on the public-based peatland management and protection program in West Kalimantan.
"This program would encourage public participation and economic activities," he added.
The government, he said, has continued efforts to stop land and forest fires, and seek the root of the problem.
"Peatlands often become the source of fires, maybe because of the lack of public awareness that burning the land could spark fire not only in the area, but could spread to other locations in the peatland area as well," he said.
Hence, public education is important to encourage people to utilize the peatlands for their livelihoods.
He expressed hope that the program in West Kalimantan could be imitated by other regions.
The program involved 11 villages in the province namely Simpang Kasturi, Mandor, Kayu Ara, Sum Sum, Kayu Tanam, Sungai Segak, Retok, Kubu Padi, Peniti Besar, Peniti Dalam I, Peniti Dalam II.
Reporting by Desi Purnamawati
Editing by Sri Hariyati
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
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How vulnerable is Singapore to climate change?
Country is exposed to hazardous impacts such as rising sea levels, higher temperatures
Winston Chow Straits Times 6 Sep 18;
Prolonged heatwaves in North America and in Europe; massive wildfires in California and in Athens, Greece; debilitating droughts seen over New South Wales in Australia; and the extreme rainfall causing massive floods in Kerala, India. This summer has seen a spate of destructive extreme weather worldwide and has led some to consider if climate change is a factor for these events happening.
As recently as five years ago, attributing a link between climate change and extreme weather was a difficult task. However, this method is now significantly more robust. Several extreme weather types can be attributed directly to climate change arising from human activities through carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
For instance, the Northern European heatwave this summer was two times more likely to occur with present-day climate, compared with a scenario in which humans did not alter the global climate.
When considering costly damages arising from extreme weather elsewhere, one common view is that Singapore is "lucky" to not experience these impacts directly. While we should acknowledge our fortunate geography (for example, our equatorial location means typhoons are very unlikely to happen here), we still are exposed to several hazardous climate impacts.
As global GHG emissions continue to rise despite political pledges from the 2015 Paris Agreement, it would be timely to reconsider how vulnerable Singapore is to present and future climate change impacts. There are three of note.
HIGHER TEMPERATURES
In the short term, we will feel the heat of climate change from increases in average temperatures. Thirteen out of the past 15 years have been the warmest in Singapore's historical record since 1929.
Water use in Singapore is still high relative to other cities, and several of my colleagues from the National University of Singapore point out that individual and commercial water demand can be lowered to reduce drought vulnerability.
In recent years, days when maximum temperatures exceed 34 deg C and nights when minimum temperatures exceed 26 deg C have been more frequent.
Depending on future global GHG emission levels, climate modelling by the Meteorological Service Singapore projects further average temperature increases of between 1.4 deg C and 4.6 deg C, as well as more frequent warmer days and nights by 2100.
These temperature changes are due to larger-scale GHG emissions and the local "heat island" effect directly resulting from Singapore's urbanisation. Replacing Singapore's natural forests and mangroves with buildings and other infrastructure results in built-up surfaces retaining or producing considerable amounts of heat. At night, the difference between downtown Singapore and forests in Lim Chu Kang can exceed 7 deg C.
Warmer temperatures have several direct impacts, such as outdoor thermal discomfort and increased likelihood of heat stress injuries, and indirect impacts from increased use of air-conditioning that are largely powered by non-renewable energy sources in Singapore, thus increasing local GHG emissions.
How can we reduce our vulnerability to heat? We cannot depend on natural variations in climate, such as the odd cold spell that happened in January, to regularly solve this problem.
Instead, integrated climate-sensitive urban design involving multiple stakeholders is one way forward to reduce our heat vulnerability.
To this end, the Cooling Singapore initiative has an illustrative guide of heat island adaptation methods, such as maximising shade, enhancing natural wind flow and increasing urban green spaces.
CHANGING RAINFALL PATTERNS
Unlike the temperature, Singapore's average total annual rainfall of about 2.4m has not changed substantially in the long-term record since 1869.
In future, climate change is not expected to alter total annual rainfall for Singapore. However, in the medium term of the next 30 years, changes to rainfall patterns, both in the excess and lack thereof, will be an issue.
First, intensities and frequencies of local rainfall events have significantly increased over the past 30 years. Second, periods of meteorological drought, in which monthly rainfall is consistently below average, have recently been more intense for Singapore and Johor.
These prolonged dry periods often coincide with strong El Nino events which make South-east Asian weather hotter and drier. Worryingly, recent studies also indicate stronger El Nino episodes are more likely to occur due to climate change.
Periodic local flash floods aside, national water agency PUB has been immensely successful in reducing Singapore's vulnerability to rainfall extremes, especially given extreme flooding occurring elsewhere recently. Enforced water rationing from drought has not occurred in Singapore for more than 50 years, thanks to effective PUB policies.
Singapore, however, still imports about half of its daily water supply from Johor. A prolonged El Nino episode, potentially strengthened by climate change, could lead to a repeat of low water levels in the critical Linggiu Reservoir such as in 2016.
While the Republic can adapt to drought by ramping up Newater and desalination production, these technological approaches are economically and environmentally costly. Water produced by these methods is considerably more expensive than imported water, and also energy intensive.
While there is justified confidence that technological advancements in desalination and Newater will lead to cost decreases, a more prudent and immediate drought adaptation approach is to reduce water use through changing consumption behaviour.
Water use in Singapore is still high relative to other cities, and several of my colleagues from the National University of Singapore point out that individual and commercial water demand can be lowered to reduce drought vulnerability.
This demand-side approach can be effected through consumer awareness of these water costs or with reasonable and judicious increases in water tariffs.
An additional, and unwelcomed, El Nino-related regional climate impact is that it enhances conditions in which South-east Asia wildfires can occur and rapidly spread.
The local devastation from fires within Sumatra and Borneo in 2015 was catastrophic. Given the right wind direction, smoke particulates from wildfires in Borneo and Sumatra can reach Singapore as transboundary haze.
While commendable cross-border preventive action within Asean has arguably lowered wildfire and haze risks since 2015, such efforts have occurred in the absence of El Nino conditions.
The effectiveness of these adaptation measures will be tested when El Nino events occur again.
RISING SEAS AND MELTING ICE
The last and most severe climate impact Singapore faces in the next 50 years and beyond is sea level rise. This is caused by thermal expansion of sea water volume and from melting land ice.
The average sea level around Singapore's coasts has risen steadily at a rate of between 1.2mm and 1.7mm per year, and is projected to increase to about 1m by 2100.
Even though the magnitude of these increases may appear to be minute, sea level rise is the most severe climate impact for two reasons.
First, future projections have considerable uncertainties about the melt rates of land ice in regions such as Greenland. We are certain that if the massive Greenland ice sheets completely melt, global sea level would rise about 7m.
What we are uncertain about is the rate of glacial melt. Current measurements in Greenland strongly suggest that melt rates are vastly underestimated, and ongoing research there suggests that accelerated sea level rise, perhaps more than 1m by 2100, could happen. Indeed, the rate of global sea level rise since 2012 has jumped to 4.5mm per year.
Second, while Singapore has pre-emptively effected coastal policies for adapting to rising sea levels such as by raising minimum land reclamation height from 3m to 4m above mean sea level, neighbouring areas that Singapore depends on for its survival are significantly more vulnerable to rising waters.
Low-lying rice fields in Thailand and Indonesia are important regions for Singapore's food supply, and the capacity to adapt to sea level rise in these countries is either inefficient or lacking.
Furthermore, numerous people living in neighbouring coastal settlements could be permanently displaced by rising waters. The socio-political effect and consequences of these climate refugees in this region are as yet unknown.
MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION
Clearly, Singapore's present climate change adaptation has been successful in staving off the worst impacts we have seen elsewhere. Yet, it is increasingly clear that adaptation by itself has a limit in reducing Singapore's vulnerability to climate change, especially with sea level rise.
So what can be done?
Mitigation of GHG emissions is sorely needed, in keeping with the Paris pledges, in Singapore and elsewhere.
While this current year of climate action has led to undoubted and important increases in local awareness, it has also seen the belated announcement of a Singapore carbon tax of $5 per tonne of GHG emissions, to be implemented next year. This tariff will eventually triple by 2030, and is aimed at encouraging more efficient use of non-renewable energy.
Encouragingly, initial carbon tax revenues will primarily be used for renewable energy innovations and transformation of emission-intensive local industries.
Time will tell if the efficacy of Singapore's mitigation efforts will work, and more can and should be done given the urgency of climate change and its impacts. But it is undoubtedly a solid start towards reducing local carbon intensity and total emissions per Paris.
•Dr Winston Chow is an assistant professor at the Department of Geography, National University of Singapore. He is also affiliated with the Institute of Water Policy, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS. His research examines how cities affect weather and climate, and how weather and climate affect cities. He is a principal investigator in the coolingsingapore.sg initiative, and will be a lead author in the chapter on Cities, Settlements And Key Infrastructure for the forthcoming Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Dr Chow tweets sporadically on science and geography topics unrelated to climate change, and can be reached on Twitter @winstontlchow.
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New accreditation scheme and framework for professionals working on green buildings
Hariz Baharudin Straits Times 6 Sep 18;
SINGAPORE - A new accreditation scheme and developmental framework is to be launched for professionals involved in creating environmentally friendly buildings.
The Singapore Green Building Council's (SGBC) Green Professionals Accreditation Scheme will consolidate the 820 professionals - such as engineers, architects and facility managers - currently on the Certified Green Mark Managers and Professionals register that is maintained by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA).
A developmental framework will be drawn up to advance their expertise and ensure their professional development, through the deepening of their technical knowledge and skills.
More details of the new scheme, such as when it will be launched, will be announced later.
SGBC president Tan Swee Yeow announced the developments at the council's gala dinner on Thursday (Sept 6), adding that they were in line with the aims of the Construction Industry Transformation Map announced last October.
He said: "We seek to uplift the profile of our green professionals and specialists, and to develop a dedicated continuing education and training framework to support the developmental needs of our green-collar workforce."
Mr Tan added that the council is working with BCA on the new scheme.
Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources and Health, Dr Amy Khor, who was the guest of honour, said: "With the building sector accounting for 17 per cent of our total greenhouse gas emissions, deepening green building expertise will help to mitigate our level of emissions.
" I am heartened that SGBC has demonstrated strong commitment to take the lead in climate action."
Mr Tan also announced that the BCA and SGBC will work together to transform workplaces into healthier spaces for employees and occupants, such as by developing resources, including a website.
Dr Khor said: "By conserving the use of resources, and adopting energy-efficient features or renewable energy, green buildings are not only environmentally friendly, but also help to lower costs.
"SGBC will step up efforts to encourage building tenants to achieve greener and healthier workplaces by having a good indoor environment, setting environmental performance targets, and enacting energy action plans."
During the gala dinner, which was attended by more than 650 industry representatives from Singapore and the region, the World Green Building Council Asia Pacific Leadership in Green Building Awards were also presented.
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Indonesia: Drought affects 22 districts, cities in West Java
Antara 6 Sep 18;
Drought has affected 22 districts and cities in West Java Province since August this year, causing water shortage.. (ANTARA /Dedhez Anggara)
Bandung, W Java (ANTARA News) - Drought has affected 22 districts and cities in West Java Province since August this year, causing water shortage.
"Based on data as of Sept 5, a total of 286,802 households face water shortage," Budi Budiman, an official of the local disaster mitigation office (BPBD), stated here, Wednesday.
The affected districts and municipalities are Bogor District, Bogor Municipality, Puwarkarta, Sukabumi District, Sukabumi Municipality, Bekasi District, Karawang, Cianjur, West Bandung, Bandung, Cimahi, Garut, Tasikmalaya, Sumedang, Indramayu, Tasikmalaya Municipality, Cirebon District, Cirebon Municipality, Kuningan, Banjar, Ciamis, and Pangandaran.
The prolonged dry season has also affected farming areas measuring 41,946 hectares.
The West Java provincial administration has declared a drought emergency alert from August to October 2018.
The local BPBD has, so far, distributed a total of 4,307,915 liters of clean water to those affected by the drought.
Meanwhile, Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Wiranto has urged all the parties to be aware of the possibility of a prolonged drought in 2018.
"Due to a change in the weather conditions, the drought can last longer, and we must be aware of this," Wiranto recently stated at the Jakarta Presidential Palace.
He said that the hot dry season had led to forest and land fires in Sumatra and Kalimantan.
"Yes, there are forest and land fires since this is the dry season," Wiranto noted.
The former Indonesian Armed Forces Commander remarked that the government had reminded all parties to be prepared in advance.
Wiranto said that the number of cases of forest and land fires (karhutla) until August 2018 was lower than that reported in the previous year.
"Compared with last year, the fires are now less, as we were seriously prepared and all of us are making `all-out` efforts," Wiranto, who is also the former chairperson of the People`s Conscience Party (Hanura), explained.
According to Wiranto, preparations have been made by the task force, which is incorporated in Manggala Agni, and other parties.
Preparations have also been made with the construction of embungs, water pumps, integrated patrols, and water bombers.
"It is more powerful and stronger than before. We have done it. If we still have it, we will finish it," he emphasized.
He noted that specifically in Palembang, South Sumatra, some time ago, weather modification had been conducted that ensured rain in the area.
"Weather modification was conducted, but not every day, as the BNPB along with the Indonesian Air Force conduct such operations," he revealed.
He noted that cloud seeding cannot be conducted at any time, but attention must be paid to the cloud conditions.
"Salt is sown if there are clouds. If salt is sprinkled but there are no clouds, then no rain will be received," he added.
Reporting by Asep Firmansyah
Editing by Fardah, Eliswan
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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