EU greenhouse emissions fall - because it's warmer

Alister Doyle, Reuters 17 Apr 09;

OSLO (Reuters) - European Union emissions of greenhouse gases blamed for stoking global warming fell by 1.2 percent in 2007, paradoxically aided by a mild winter that cut heating demand, EU data showed on Friday.

Emissions by the 27-nation bloc in 2007, before the current global economic downturn, dipped to 9.2 percent below a 1990 benchmark year under the U.N.'s Kyoto Protocol for fighting climate change.

EU governments have promised to cut emissions by 20 percent below 1990 levels by 2020 to slow global warming, and by 30 percent if other developed nations set comparable goals.

"For the EU, there was a significant decline in the use of oil and gas, particularly in households," according to a report about 2007 data prepared for the EU Commission by the Copenhagen-based European Environment Agency.

It said that a warmer winter was the main reason for a fall in demand for oil, gas and coal -- the biggest source of greenhouse gases from human activity -- for heating in households and offices. Energy prices also rose sharply in 2007.

Emissions by manufacturing industries also fell, led by declines in Italy, Britain and Spain. But emissions rose from fossil fuel power plants, led by countries such as Germany, Spain, Greece and the Netherlands, it said.

More than 190 nations have agreed to work out a new U.N. climate treaty by the end of 2009 to fight warming that the U.N. Climate Panel says will bring more droughts, floods, extinctions of species and rising sea levels.

Overall emissions in the EU fell by 59 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2007 from 2006 to 5.56 billion tons, or 1.2 percent, it said. Germany and Britain, the top emitters, had falls of 2.4 and 1.7 percent respectively.

KYOTO GOALS

In the 15 nations that were EU members before expansion mainly to eastern Europe in 2004, emissions fell by 64 million tons, or 1.6 percent, to 4.23 billion tons in 2007.

The EU-15 emissions were 5.0 percent below 1990 levels in 2007, compared to a goal under the U.N.'s Kyoto Protocol of an average cut in emissions of 8.0 percent below 1990 levels in the 2008-12 period.

The EU says it is leading an international fight against climate change. U.S. President Barack Obama wants to cut U.S. emissions back to 1990 levels by 2020 -- U.S. emissions were about 17 percent above 1990 levels in 2007.

The United States is the only developed nation outside the Kyoto Protocol -- former President George W. Bush dismissed the pact as an economic straitjacket that unfairly omitted targets for developing nations such as China and India.

The EU data showed huge differences in emissions trends by member states since 1990. In the biggest fall, Latvia's emissions were 54.7 percent below 1990 in 2007 while Spain had the biggest rise, 53.5 percent above 1990.

(Editing by Angus MacSwan)

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Best of our wild blogs: 17 Apr 09

Odonata (Dragonflies): Lecture and workshop
on the Raffles Museum News blog

Banana, barbet and oriole
on the Bird Ecology Study Group blog

Reclamation at Pulau Tekong: marine soil investigation
on the wild shores of singapore blog

Tracking the Oriental Pied Hornbill in Pulau Ubin
on the Bird Ecology Study Group blog

My kind of nature park
'tidy, green, organised and safe' on the Straits Times Blogs

Protecting the world’s least-known bear
on the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation blog

Tears for the Turtles
on the Lost in the Jungle blog

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US official: Sabah a model for conservation

Jaswinder Kaur, New Straits Times 17 Apr 09;

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah which is rich in wildlife, plants and marine diversity, can serve as a model for other states in Malaysia and countries in the region for its conservation projects, a US government official said.

Impressed with what she has seen during three visits, Kuala Lumpur-based US State Department environment, science, technology and health officer Alice Chu noted that Sabah was carrying out conservation projects with non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders to preserve its biodiversity.

"The US government is trying to partner with the local state governments of Sabah and Sarawak and their partners such as NGOs to preserve biodiversity in a sustainable manner.

"Malaysia is a leader in this and Sabah is a great model for other states in the country and other nations in the region to follow.

"The local government and NGOs know what the pressing issues are," said Chu, who will soon leave Malaysia to take up another posting, after spending half a day at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park here yesterday.

Chu and her successor Phillip Loosli were briefed by Sabah Wildlife Department officers and representatives from NGOs such as WWF Malaysia and Hutan, on types of collaborative projects implemented in the state.

Stressing that Borneo itself is unique, Chu said the US government is supporting the tri-national Heart of Borneo (HoB) and the Coral Triangle Initiative that involves six nations.

She said the US Agency for International Development has pledged US$40 million (RM144 million) and the US State Department has given US$750,000 for the Coral Triangle Initiative.

A different sum which Chu was unable to disclose, has also gone into supporting the HoB.

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Stop live animal sales, urge activists

Straits Times Forum 17 Apr 09;

I REFER to last Saturday's article, 'Supermarkets go live', which describes how the sale of live animals like razor clams, soft-shell turtles and eels is becoming increasingly common in Singapore.

This is a disheartening trend; such practices have serious environmental, ecological and ethical disadvantages. We would like to draw the attention of retailers and consumers to these issues.

The humane slaughter of animals is a carefully regulated process, but with the widespread sale of live animals in supermarkets, it becomes increasingly difficult to monitor and enforce these regulations.

While regulatory efforts are in place, there is no guarantee of humane killing of these animals.

Even where slaughtering practices abide by the guidelines, the conditions these animals are kept in are often overcrowded and unclean. Hence, the SPCA has appealed to the authorities since 2001 to stop unregulated slaughter, and relies on public feedback to aid its efforts.

Increased sales of exotic animals such as soft-shell turtles and razor clams also increase the total volume of live animals imported into Singapore.

While the animals currently imported are not endangered or threatened species, the growth in international trade of animals certainly paves the path for more 'exotic' and possibly endangered types of animals to be brought in. According to WWF-World Wide Fund for Nature, this would encourage the illegal wildlife trade, threatening more species with extinction.

Demand for and sale of live animals are also environmentally and economically unsustainable. Exotic seafood is flown in from numerous countries, including Myanmar, Norway, Australia and Canada. The ecological footprint of these exotic foods is therefore high. Consuming such food regularly has a negative environmental impact in the long run. Local businesses like wet markets are also suffering due to rising demand for imported exotic seafood.

Sale and consumption of live seafood pose ethical, environmental and economic problems beyond the initial impression of having a convenient source of fresh seafood. It is important to teach values of conservation and respect for nature in future generations.

If this worrying trend continues, it is likely that society will become increasingly desensitised to practices such as exploitation of exotic animal species, and cruelty to animals.

With this letter, we wish to stress the importance of shopping responsibly to minimise the negative impact of our choices.

Howard Shaw
on behalf of Singapore Environment Council, Animal Concerns Research and Education Society, WWF-World Wide Fund for Nature (Singapore) and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Stop the live slaughter at supermarkets
Straits Times Forum 17 Apr 09;

I REFER to last Saturday's report, 'Supermarkets go live'.

It goes against reason that some supermarkets are allowed to keep live produce that is slaughtered on site for sale.

More than a decade has passed since live slaughtering was prohibited in wet markets. I believe the reasoning then was that blood and offal residue discharged into sewerage systems could lead to severe clogging and the threat of disease. Abattoirs with specialised facilities to handle the waste were developed at considerable cost.

The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority and the National Environment Agency should curtail this trend of supermarket slaughter.

Errol Goodenough

Related article
Live animals sold in supermarkets: It's unhygienic and cruel, says SPCA
Teh Jen Lee, The New Paper 16 Apr 09;

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Keep it beautiful and natural on Admiral Hill

Straits Times Forum 17 Apr 09;

I READ with interest reports about Admiral Hill, 'Admiral plan still seeking sea legs' (March 26) and 'Illegal dorm on Admiral Hill ordered to shut down' (April 3).

While both articles reflected some negative aspects of the development - such as lack of attractions or facilities, complaints of slow business from business tenants, and the illegal dorm - I would like to highlight the other side of Admiral Hill: its natural beauty in the midst of buzzing Sembawang town.

There is now a preschool farther up the hill, just next to the 'grand dame', the old Admiralty House. I teach there. I chanced on this beautiful place when I was doing my diploma in preschool education leadership on the module Leading The Integrated Curriculum, while searching for a centre with the right approach to early childhood teaching.

It was 'love at first sight' with the environment - a dream location for a preschool - and what is more, the curriculum is very much Reggio Emilia's inspired project-based approach. This focuses on bringing the outdoor environment into the classroom.

The perfect 'among nature' environment where the school is located provides so many teaching resources and naturally brings learning alive for preschoolers. There is so much outdoor space for children to ride tricycles, walk in the rain or simply take a stroll to explore what Mother Nature provides. All in a very secure setting, being within country club premises. With the swimming pool next door, swimming is naturally part of the curriculum.

The country club has just brought in two horses. The children are excited about them and walk to the ranch or the stable to look at them. Soon there will be ponies.

It seems that, besides learning from Mother Nature, there is now more to learning and playing - for instance, learning part of Singapore history in the 1930s. This was where the preschool is now - the two-storey Old Admiralty House was where the British navy was based in 1939. The site is now gazetted as a national monument.

Such natural beauty needs to be preserved. Should development be required, why not convert the place into an ecologically friendly place with a mini orchard or vegetable garden, or even a mini farm (with farm stay)? Some greenery would be a nice and definitely welcome contrast to the current busy Sembawang neighbourhood.

Joyce Aw (Ms)

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Two years to clear 'dengue' dump

Resident's quest for action tied up in red tape
The New Paper 17 Apr 09;

WHO is responsible for the vacant plot of land at Circuit Link? Why is no one doing anything about the 'mini-jungle' that has sprouted there?

Mr Yau Sow Loon, 76, wanted answers to his questions but ran into a brick wall for the past two years.

As recently as 26 Mar, when The New Paper visited the vacant plot next to MacPherson Secondary School, parts of it was overgrown with waist-high vegetation.

The grass on the other side of a footpath, however, was neatly trimmed and well-maintained.

The unkempt area was strewn with garbage, such as plastic cups, food wrappers and even large sheets of plastic.

Said Mr Yau: 'The area looked like a rubbish dump.'

He added that people used to play soccer there, but now 'no one ever does.'

Mr Yau, who believes that the place has been overgrown for about three years, said that he used to pass the area every morning as part of his daily walk.

But he stopped when his doctor advised him to avoid the area after he was diagnosed with dengue fever on 30 Aug 2007.

Mr Yau believes that he was bitten by a mosquito while walking past the area.

He told The New Paper that over the past two years he had approached several organisations to try to find out who was responsible for the upkeep of the land.

But his inquiries led to a dead end, he said.

The New Paper also faced similar difficulties, having to call several agencies before finding out who was in charge.

Not in charge

When we contacted the Land Management and Maintenance Unit of the Housing and Development Board (HDB), a technical officer said the unit was not in charge of the plot of land.

'The unit has received numerous complaints about the land, including a complaint from the National Environment Agency (NEA), but we are not responsible for the upkeep of the land,' he said.

He said the unit is responsible only for the upkeep of state land and this piece of land is not state land.

The NEA confirmed it had lodged a complaint with HDB's land management unit but had been told that it was not responsible for the upkeep.

After checks, NEA found out that the land is under the care of HDB's housing administration department and alerted it about the land.

Ms Chu Pei Yee, a senior executive public relations officer at HDB, said: 'The land was being used as a temporary site office for a Land Transport Authority contractor for the past six years.

'HDB is in the process of handing over the land to Marine Parade Town Council.'

She added that HDB has responded to NEA's complaint about the overgrown vegetation and was sprucing up the area.

When The New Paper visited the area on Tuesday, the overgrown vegetation had been cleared and workers were laying out new grass.

The litter had also been removed.

According to the workers, work began on 6 Apr and will be completed by the end of this week.

A NEA spokesman said that checks conducted this January did not reveal any evidence of mosquito breeding in the area.

Mr Yau said: 'The land needs to be maintained for the safety of those who have to pass by on their daily commute, especially the students of MacPherson Secondary School.'

Thanking The New Paper for helping him resolve the matter, he added: 'Now that the land is cleared, I am happy. I finally have peace of mind.'

Naveen Kanagalingam, newsroom intern

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World Heritage Site status for Botanic Gardens: Parks interested

Straits Times Forum 17 Apr 09;

I REFER to Mr Tan Wee Cheng's letter, 'Botanic Gardens should be made World Heritage Site' (April 9).

The Singapore Botanic Gardens has come a long way since its beginnings as an experimental garden in 1859. Today, the gardens is a leading centre for botanical research and conservation, a much-loved civic space and one of Singapore's top attractions.

Recent international accolades such as Time magazine's choice of the gardens as 'Asia's Best Urban Jungle' and a three Michelin star rating by the Michelin Green Guide bear testimony to the gardens' enduring charm.

We thank Mr Tan for his continued support, and are glad to inform him that we are indeed interested in exploring Singapore Botanic Gardens' nomination as a World Heritage Site.

We hope that Mr Tan, and our visitors who come from around the world, will continue to enjoy the gardens and activities planned in the year ahead to mark its 150th anniversary.

Dr Chin See Chung
Director, Singapore Botanic Gardens
National Parks Board

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NRF seeks ideas for urban living in the future

Applicants are to submit white paper by May 22
Business Times 17 Apr 09;

THE National Research Foundation (NRF) is launching a competitive research grant call for proposals that will address the challenges of high-density urban living.

With funding of up to $10 million over three to five years, the programme aims to draw projects that will have high potential impact, if successfully developed. Proposals will have to be based on a specific future scenario.

For this particular grant call, the NRF has painted a setting of a mega city, with a population exceeding 10 million people.

The high intensity urban living will impose strains on infrastructure and systems that sustain the functioning and growth of societies.

The scarcity of vital resources and mounting pressures on productivity will present opportunities for new technologies that could dramatically improve the way mega cities operate and thrive.

The NRF wants to draw projects that are relevant to Singapore and other densely populated cities.

'Such projects are expected to be multi-disciplinary in nature, and have a strong science base,' it said.

'The intent is for Singapore to become a world- class originator of innovative technologies, products and devices.'

A list of 14 broad research areas related to the scenario were listed. They include technologies for an efficient transport system, sustainable energy, better food production yields, low land-intensive infrastructure for utilities delivery, and solutions to mitigate the warming trend.

Applicants are to submit a white paper of up to five pages to the NRF by May 22.

This will be assessed by both a local panel and an international one chaired by Rita Colwell, former director of the US National Science Foundation.

Shortlisted applicants will be required to develop full proposals which will then be put through an international peer review process.

For more information, go to https://rita.nrf.gov. sg/.

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Jurong Rock Cavern ready by 2013

Work on underground oil storage facility to start by year's end; phase 1 to cost $890m
By Jessica Cheam, Straits Times 17 Apr 09;

PHASE 1 of Jurong Rock Cavern, the first underground oil storage facility to be built in South-east Asia, will finally begin construction by year's end and cost about $890 million.

The first storage caverns will be ready by the first half of 2013, said JTC Corporation during a briefing yesterday.

JTC has awarded the building contract to South Korea's Hyundai Engineering and Construction - over the only other bidder, fellow South Korean firm SK Engineering and Construction.

The tender was called in late 2007 but the complexity and design of the project led to delays, said a JTC spokesman.

Its cost has also risen, above the $700 million expected earlier.

This is what an underground rock cave 132m below the ground looks like, except that this will be used to store Singapore's petrochemicals in future. JTC Corp yesterday said it had awarded an $890 million contract to South Korean firm Hyundai Engineering and Construction to begin construction of the first phase of the Jurong Rock Cavern. The project, which broke ground in early 2007, has completed its initial phase, which consists of two access shafts and start-up galleries for the storage caverns. When completed, the first phase will have 8km of tunnels and five caverns, and will contain nine storage galleries, each about nine storeys high and big enough to take in water from more than 64 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Japanese firm Sato-Kogyo has already built two access shafts and start-up galleries in the initial phase for the storage caverns, work that has cost about $50 million.

The media yesterday visited part of the rock cavern under the seabed of the Banyan Basin via an access shaft that went as deep as 132m below ground level.

Workers will use a technique that drills and blasts sedimentary rock to build the cavern, which will be used to store liquid hydrocarbons such as crude oil, condensate, naphtha and gas oil.

The first phase consists of 8km of tunnels and five caverns.

Together, they will contain nine storage galleries, each about nine storeys high and big enough to accommodate the water from more than 64 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

The Jurong Rock Cavern will free up about 60ha of usable land above ground, which is highly sought after by investors on Jurong Island.

This land can now be used for higher value-added manufacturing activities, said JTC's spokesman.

The Government is also considering building offshore sites to cater to Jurong Island's storage needs.

'The cavern will provide strategic storage for better fuel security and it also gives Singapore a competitive advantage to attract more investors,' said the spokesman.

Hyundai Engineering won the contract due to its experience in building similar projects in South Korea and Taiwan, said JTC.

The contractor is also working on other projects here, such as phases 3 and 4 of the Pasir Panjang Terminal and the One Shenton Way residential development.

Hyundai clinches $890m Jurong Rock Cavern contract
It will design and build the first phase, with work starting at year-end
Ronnie Lim, Business Times 17 Apr 09;

CONSTRUCTION proper of Singapore's underground oil storage project is finally set to start with South Korea's Hyundai Engineering & Construction clinching the main $890 million 'design and build' contract this week from JTC Corporation.

Actual building under this contract, for the first phase of Jurong Rock Cavern (JRC), begins at year- end, with the first two caverns providing 480,000 cubic metres of oil storage when ready in the first half of 2013.

The entire phase one, comprising five caverns, will offer a total of 1.47 million cu m when completed by 2014.

This will make the JRC slightly larger than the $470 million, 1.24 million cu m tankfarm of Horizon Terminals, but about two- thirds that of Hin Leong Trading's $750 million, 2.3 million cu m Universal Terminal - Asia's largest commercial storage.

The project had earlier run into some delays, although Senior Minister of State for Trade & Industry S Iswaran last month gave the assurance that Singapore was committed to the JRC which would help alleviate the land shortage on Jurong Island.

Investors have not been able to get land there to build more above-ground oil terminals needed by oil refiners and traders to store their oil and petrochemical products.

So despite being behind schedule and slightly above cost, the JRC will provide necessary infrastructure for Singapore's oil hub, especially once the rebound comes.

The cost for phase one of JRC - being built under Banyan Basin - has run up by about one-third to $940 million from an earlier estimate of $700 million.

This includes the $50 million for two access shafts and start-up galleries - which are almost completed - to facilitate construction.

The chosen operator of the JRC - earlier expected to be announced at the same time as the main construction award - will, however, only be made known by mid-year, JTC officials indicated yesterday.

Existing terminal operators here such as Royal Vopak of Holland and Emirates National Oil Company are known to be vying for this.

The main construction award came 11/2 years after the tender was first called by JTC in late-2007.

Asked why it took that long, given that there were only two bidders (the other being South Korea's SK Engineering), the spokesman explained that 'it's a huge tender which involved a lot of detailed work and is very complex'.

The work is being done 130m below the seabed, and Hyundai - which has experience with such projects in Taiwan and Korea - has to carry out 'drill and blast' excavation using explosives, he added.

The entire phase one will involve eight kilometres of tunnels, with five caverns made up of two storage galleries, with each gallery being 340m long, 20m wide and 27m high. (About nine-storeys high, each gallery is large enough to contain water from over 64 Olympic-sized pools).

'The water pressure will keep the oil contained within the generally unlined rock caves,' the spokesman said.

The higher project cost arose due to improvements made to the cavern designs to enhance operational flexibility, he explained.

A planned phase two of the JRC could add a further 1.3 million cu m of storage, doubling its capacity.

Asked if this could cost more than phase one, the spokesman said that 'the complexity is similar, so it depends on the timing (of when the project is done)'.

JTC contracts Hyundai Engineering to build underground oil storage
Valarie Tan, Channel NewsAsia 16 Apr 09;

SINGAPORE: Work on Singapore's first underground oil storage facility finally gets underway after an eight-month delay.

Developer JTC has appointed Hyundai Engineering, which has experience in constructing similar projects in Taiwan and Korea, to build the first phase of tunnels and caves under Jurong Island in a project worth S$890 million.

Choosing a constructor for the Jurong Rock Cavern was delayed twice as JTC needed more time to look at the proposals in detail. Work is now expected to start by year-end, with the first two caves targeted to be operational by 2013.

When completed, the tunnels will connect five massive oil storage caverns, big enough to store 1.47 million cubic metres of liquid hydrocarbons like crude oil – equivalent to 580 Olympic-sized pools.

JTC said the cavern has been strategically constructed under the seabed on Jurong Island to be near potential customers who are already storing similar products above ground.

It was initially reported to have cost S$700 million. But the bill went up following design changes to allow each storage cave to operate independently and be adaptable to different users.

Going under to store strategic items like oil and ammunition have become a growing trend in Asia after increased security following the September 11 incident in the United States, back in 2001.

JTC said the Jurong Rock Cavern can help firms cut costs and make Singapore more attractive to investors.

Phase 1 of the project is expected to save some 60 hectares of surface land which can be used for other higher value-added activities.

Phase 2 will mirror Phase 1, and the second half of the cavern could add a further 1.3 million cubic metres of storage, doubling total capacity.

JTC said it has studied similar projects in Norway, France, Japan and Korea before working on the design for Jurong Rock Cavern.
- CNA/so

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Singapore's largest water reclamation plant to open in June

Pearl Forss, Channel NewsAsia 16 Apr 09;

SINGAPORE: Singapore's largest water reclamation plant in Changi will open on June 22 during the International Water Week.

The project, which costs S$3.65 billion, will be a showcase of Singapore's water technologies to over 8,000 delegates who are expected to attend the event.

Once the water reclamation plant is fully functional, it will process 800,000 cubic metres of the 1.3 million cubic metres of water flowing through Singapore's underground pipes every day.

That is equivalent to the volume of water in 4,617 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

Treated water will be discharged into the ocean or channelled to the NEWater factory, which is on the rooftop of the reclamation plant.

The NEWater factory turns sewage into potable water and 30 per cent of Singapore's water needs will be met by NEWater next year.

There are currently four NEWater plants in Singapore and five water reclamation plants. There are plans to build another major water reclamation plant in Tuas in southwest Singapore.

Michael Toh, deputy director, Industry Development, PUB & MD of Singapore International Water Week, said: "The Changi water reclamation plant is also a showcase of Singapore's water industry. The numerous companies that are involved in the construction, development and completion of the project have now used it as their reference project in their bid to move overseas."

The Singapore International Water Week will see ministers from 19 countries discuss water management strategies. It will also be a platform for water technology trade – a market that has been resilient to the global economic slowdown.

Ninety per cent of the exhibition space at the International Water Week has already been sold.

Last year, over 8,500 participants from 79 countries attended the event and inked about S$370 million worth of deals. Organisers expect an even bigger turnout this year.

By 2015, Singapore's water sector is expected to be worth S$1.7 billion, employing some 11,000 people.
- CNA/so

Water Week to draw 10,000 delegates
Amresh Gunasingham, Straits Times 17 Apr 09;

CLOSE to 10,000 delegates from 20 countries such as Australia, China and the United Arab Emirates will meet here in June to seek solutions to the world's water needs.

This is the second year that the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW), a global showcase for policymakers, industry leaders and experts, is being staged.

More than 140 companies have taken up 90per cent of the exhibition space at Suntec Singapore for the five-day event, which starts on June 22.

Of these, more than 50 home-grown companies will display their latest water innovations and solutions. Half will be participating for the first time.

PUB chief executive Khoo Teng Chye said: 'With the current economic climate, the search for sustainable and cost-effective water management solutions is ever more urgent.

'The Water Week will enable policymakers, industry players and experts to tap on a global reservoir of perspectives and economically viable solutions.'

This comes as the new administration in the United States turns its focus to environmental technologies as one of the drivers of growth in the future.

The meeting will also showcase Singapore's infrastructure and technology development. One highlight will be the official opening of Singapore's biggest water reclamation plant in Changi by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on June 23.

The $3.65 billion project, sitting on 32ha of reclaimed land, will treat 800,000 cu m of used water daily, either to be discharged into the sea or used to produce purified Newater, in a plant on the same location.

Mr Yong Wei Hin, assistant director of Water Reclamation Plants at PUB, said the facility could be expanded to three times its present capacity to meet Singapore's water needs.

Newater is projected to meet 30 per cent of Singapore's water demands - which currently stand at 300 million gallons consumed per day - by next year.

At present, it meets 15 per cent of the country's water needs.

Visiting delegates will also get to tour the Marina Barrage - Singapore's largest water catchment area located in the heart of the city - an urban solution the state has adopted to address challenges to its water supply.

Mr Michael Toh, managing director of the SIWW, said: 'The search for water solutions remains paramount, particularly with the growth of populations in the Asia-Pacific region.

'Technology can be replicated, and our water companies are able to export their expertise and knowledge to countries looking for water solutions.'

Last year, governments, utility providers and water companies inked over $367 million in deals during the inaugural Water Week, which saw more than 8,500 delegates from 79 countries taking part.

Water Week set to make a splash
Michelle Yeo, Business Times 17 Apr 09;

CLOSE to 90 per cent of the 12,000 sq m of the Water Expo exhibition space has been sold to date, to more than 140 companies from about 20 countries.

So, it's little wonder that the organisers of Singapore International Water Week 2009 (SIWW) expect to make a splash despite the economic downturn.

Coming up in June, the SIWW, which was inaugurated in 2008, has been expanded with a key focus on infrastructure and technologies.

In line with this theme, the 7th Ministers' Forum on Infrastructure Development in the Asia-Pacific Region, the International Water Association's 6th Leading-Edge Technology (LET) Conference, and the official opening of the Changi Water Reclamation Plant (CWRP) will be held during Water Week.

The key highlight is the opening of the CWRP, Singapore's largest and most advanced water reclamation plant that ensures the sustainability of NEWater with its state-of-the-art water treatment facility.

Infrastructure and water ministers from 19 member countries will be invited to the ministers' forum, including Canada, Australia, China and Thailand.

PUB CEO and executive director of the environment and water industry development council Khoo Teng Chye said: 'Infrastructure and technology development will be vital, not only to maximise engineering efficiency and investment returns, but also to create jobs.'

SIWW is the global platform for water solutions. It will bring together industry leaders and specialists to address challenges and discover opportunities in the water world.

As part of the strong take-up of exhibition space, the Singapore pavilion has been expanded four-fold to 800 sq m this year.

It will showcase the capabilities of over 50 local and Singapore-based water companies, half of which are first-time participants.

In addition, two new regions, North America and North Africa, will be added to the business forums.

Read more!

Singapore scientists say can turn CO2 into biofuel

Reuters 16 Apr 09;

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Scientists in Singapore say they have found a way to turn planet-warming carbon dioxide into clean-burning methanol using a process that uses less energy than previous attempts.

The scientists at the state-backed Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology said on Thursday they used non-toxic organocatalysts to make ethanol, a biofuel that is also used as an industrial feedstock.

In a statement, the institute said the team, led by Yugen Zhang, used N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs), an organocatalyst in the chemical reaction with carbon dioxide.

NHCs are stable and the reaction between NHCs and carbon dioxide can take place under mild conditions in dry air, the statement said, adding only a small amount of the catalyst was needed.

The process also used hydrosilane, a combination of silica and hydrogen.

"Hydrosilane provides hydrogen, which bonds with carbon dioxide in a reduction reaction. This carbon dioxide reduction is efficiently catalyzed by NHCs even at room temperature," Zhang said in the statement.

"Methanol can be easily obtained from the product of the carbon dioxide reaction," Zhang added.

Previous attempts to turn CO2 into more useful products have required more energy input and a much longer reaction time, the team said.

But they didn't say how the process could be scaled up to fight climate change by capturing and transforming some of the billions of tons of CO2 produced annually by burning fossil fuels.

(Reporting by David Fogarty; Editing by David Fox)

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New Episode of Extinction Sucks – “Dare for a bear”

The third episode of WWF's unique wildlife series Extinction Sucks goes online today (Friday 17.04.09) with Australians Aleisha Caruso and Ashleigh Young travelling to Vietnam on a mission to rehabilitate Asiatic Black Bears which have been freed from horrific captivity.

Throughout South East Asia bears are kept in cramped cages and “milked” for their bile which is in high demand for its supposed medicinal powers. The practice has recently been made illegal, which means the authorities have been able to free some bears – but they have have to be looked after since they cannot be released back into the wild.
Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus), India. (C) WWF-Canon / Martin HARVEY
Ash and Aleisha raise money for a new enclosure in Cat Tien National Park in Vietnam in their own unique way – by entering an Afro-Caribbean dance contest as a ‘dare-for-a-bear’ fundraiser.

The pair then travel to Cat Tien to hand over equipment and see for themselves the project to allow freed bile bears to live the rest of their lives as normally as possible.

Extinction Sucks is a unique co-production between WWF and Babelgum to bring high-quality conservation programming to web audiences. It's thought to be the first time that an online video channel has commissioned original, full-length wildlife shows specifically for the internet. The series is being broadcast over a six week run on www.panda.org and www.babelgum.com. Other programmes see Ash and Aleisha raise funds for WWF programmes protecting elephants in India and rhinos in Nepal threatened by poachers, and marine turtles in Queensland.

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