Green Plus Issu 14
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IPERBADANAN TE KNOLOGI H<br />
JAU<br />
M E L A K A<br />
WORLD AT<br />
THEIR FEET<br />
Melaka a shining example not only for<br />
Malaysia but also in ASEAN<br />
No more<br />
plastic bags<br />
Hypermarkets can’t just<br />
ignore calls to use<br />
paper bags<br />
All<br />
in need<br />
Enhancing green<br />
practices for special<br />
needs children<br />
100 <strong>Green</strong><br />
hotels by 2018<br />
Malaysia’s sustainable<br />
tourism set to impact<br />
hotel industry<br />
ISSN 2298-6049<br />
9 772298 604000<br />
03<br />
IN THIS<br />
ISSUE<br />
Embracing a <strong>Green</strong> and Sustainable Future<br />
Effective learning and networking experience for all<br />
for participated in Expo<br />
A Success Story<br />
Asia’s premier energy-saving<br />
innovation show<br />
Indian Trend-setter<br />
<br />
completely operate on solar power<br />
PP 18355/12/2013 (033744) Vol 3 <strong>Issu</strong>e <strong>14</strong> RM12.00 MARCH, 2016
Menara Sarawak Energy : First <strong>Green</strong> Building in East Malaysia, awarded with Final <strong>Green</strong>
Hypermarkets can’t just<br />
ignore calls to use<br />
paper bags<br />
Embracing a <strong>Green</strong> and Sustainable Future<br />
Effective learning and networking experience for all<br />
for participated in Expo<br />
Enhancing green<br />
practices for special<br />
needs children<br />
M E L A K A<br />
Malaysia’s sustainable<br />
tourism set to impact<br />
hotel industry<br />
A Success Story<br />
Asia’s premier energy-saving<br />
innovation show<br />
IPERBADANAN TE KNOLOGI H<br />
ISSN 2298-6049<br />
9 772298 604000<br />
Indian Trend-setter<br />
<br />
completely operate on solar power<br />
03<br />
E<br />
D<br />
I<br />
T<br />
O<br />
R<br />
S<br />
N<br />
O<br />
T<br />
E<br />
Driven by<br />
political<br />
will<br />
CM Datuk Seri Ir Idris Haron<br />
puts shoulder to wheel to<br />
ensure Melaka achieves <strong>Green</strong><br />
city status by 2020<br />
WORLD AT<br />
THEIR FEET<br />
IN THIS<br />
ISSUE<br />
No more<br />
plastic bags<br />
All<br />
in need<br />
100 <strong>Green</strong><br />
hotels by 2018<br />
PP 18355/12/2013 (033744) Vol 3 <strong>Issu</strong>e <strong>14</strong> RM12.00 MARCH, 2016<br />
Publisher/ Managing Editor<br />
Johnson Fernandez<br />
johnson@theplus.my<br />
Chief Executive Officer<br />
Wong Tze Cheen<br />
tcwong@theplus.my<br />
Contributors<br />
Neera Khandpuri<br />
Aniz Adura Ab. Majid<br />
Sheila Kumar<br />
JAU<br />
Melaka a shining example not only for<br />
Malaysia but also in ASEAN<br />
2<br />
IT IS often said anything at all is as good<br />
as the person who holds the reins.<br />
If that person decides that<br />
something should be done, or needs<br />
to be done, because he had seen the<br />
larger picture of the good that it can<br />
bring, then there can be no one better to lead<br />
the charge.<br />
Meet Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ir<br />
Idris Haron.<br />
Under his watch, Melaka has made several<br />
strides towards realizing the goals of the Prime<br />
Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Najib Razak.<br />
Melaka is the only State in the Malaysia that<br />
has a “no plastic bags” policy, among other<br />
things, while the rest of Malaysia has not<br />
progressed from the “Saturday only” stance.<br />
For the delegates at this Resilient Cities Asia-<br />
Pacific 2016 in Melaka, a trip down history lane<br />
is compelling.<br />
It will help understand why Melaka has stolen<br />
a march on the rest of the country in advancing<br />
green technology and sustainability and an ecofriendly<br />
environment.<br />
Because this is where even Malayan<br />
civilization begun, in <strong>14</strong>00.<br />
History has it that an Indian prince,<br />
Parameswara, who was fleeing from Sumatra,<br />
arrived on Melaka’s shores in the late <strong>14</strong>th<br />
century. While resting under a tree during<br />
a hunt, one of Parameswara’s dogs cornered<br />
a mousedeer. The defensive instinct of<br />
themousedeer saw it pushing the dog into the<br />
river.<br />
All this had not passed Parameswara, who<br />
was amazed by the mousedeer’s tenacity and<br />
will to survive. Parameswara decided then and<br />
there, that he would reside at that place, naming<br />
it Melaka after the Melaka tree in the shades of<br />
which he sought rest.<br />
There began Malayan civilization, and<br />
Parameswara eventually embraced Islam and<br />
became known as Iskandar Shah.<br />
Under Sultan Mansur Shah, Melaka became a<br />
protectorate of China, and the relationship was<br />
cemented by Sultan Mansur Shah’s marriage to<br />
Hang Li Po, whose attendants also married locals<br />
to breed the people we today know as Babas.<br />
Melaka fell under the Portuguese empire in<br />
1511, the Dutch in 1641 and eventually Britain<br />
in 1824.<br />
Melaka strategic position along the popular<br />
Straits of Malacca made it a popular stop for<br />
seafarers.<br />
Melaka was declared a UNESCO World<br />
Heritage site in 2008.<br />
Efforts to preserve Melaka have been ongoing<br />
Datuk Seri Ir Idris who has been pushing the<br />
no-holds-barred “green” agenda to maximum<br />
capacity. It is Melaka’s intention to be declared<br />
a <strong>Green</strong> Technology City by 2020.<br />
Melaka <strong>Green</strong>Tech Corporation, under the<br />
stewardship of Chief Executive Officer Datuk<br />
Kamaruddin Mohd Shah, has been co-ordinating<br />
the State’s efforts to ensure timelines and<br />
benchmarks are strictly adhered to.<br />
The future has arrived, right here in Melaka,<br />
right now.<br />
Opinions expressed by writers, columnists and advertisers are not necessarily those of the publisher<br />
and editor. While every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the articles, the publisher assumes no<br />
<br />
Columnists<br />
Lim Gene-Harn<br />
Zaini Abdul Wahab<br />
Kenny Hoo<br />
Kevin Hor<br />
R. Jeganathan<br />
Seema Nanoo<br />
K. Phubalan<br />
Ravindran Raman Kutty<br />
Kavickumar Muruganathan<br />
Editorial Coordinator<br />
Sarah Zain<br />
sarah@theplus.my<br />
Design<br />
<strong>Plus</strong> Creative<br />
Published by:<br />
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<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
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CONTENTS<br />
GREEN<strong>Plus</strong> TM<br />
» p.24-25<br />
» p.8-11<br />
» p.18<br />
P8-11 COVER STORY — In overdrive<br />
Melaka <strong>Green</strong>Tech Corp oversees and monitors State’s green<br />
agenda efforts<br />
P12 What is sustainable city?<br />
Integrates economic, environmental, and social objectives<br />
P<strong>14</strong>-15 SAMB in tandem with the rest<br />
Water authority ensures citizens not exposed to hazardous<br />
environment<br />
P16-17 Melaka joins Earth Hour City Challenge 2015<br />
EHCC winner to be announced in June<br />
P18 KMB Solar Farm & Rooftop<br />
<strong>Green</strong> activities such as Solar Projects, <strong>Green</strong> Tourism and <strong>Green</strong><br />
Mobile<br />
P22-23 <strong>Green</strong>ing the community<br />
Alor Gajah are multi awards winner<br />
P24-25 First Electric Bus in Melaka<br />
Unique feature of these buses is the battery swapping technology<br />
P26 Empowering Techno Business<br />
In Sustainable Development<br />
4<br />
P27<br />
Melaka host IMT-GT meeting<br />
GCAP being implemented in Melaka and Songkhla, and soon in<br />
Medan and Batam<br />
P28 No more plastic bags<br />
Hypermarkets can’t just ignore call to use paper bags<br />
P30-31 Studying Legal Implications<br />
Committee formed after meeting on law enforcement coordination<br />
P32 ‘Kurinka’ (Clinker) method<br />
Material can absorb and retain 50 per cent of water<br />
P34-35 Deep in Energy Saving<br />
Danish company working on nine State buildings<br />
P36-37 All in need<br />
Enhancing green practices for special needs children<br />
P38-39 100 <strong>Green</strong> hotels by 2018<br />
Malaysia’s sustainable tourism set to impact hotel industry<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
» p.46-48<br />
» p.71<br />
» p.44<br />
» p.72-73<br />
P40-42 Stepping into Asia<br />
Eco<strong>Green</strong> widening distribution footprint in Asia via Malaysia<br />
P44<br />
Urban regeneration<br />
A vital approach towards competitiveness, vitality and sustainability<br />
P46-48 Hidden costs<br />
<br />
productively<br />
P50-52 Lessons learnt<br />
<br />
P54-55 Malaysia v Romania v Belarus<br />
<br />
Malaysia stand? Are European countries far fetched comparisons<br />
for us?<br />
P56-57 Learn, Unlearn and Relearn<br />
Malaysians must change habits to bring about future for our children<br />
P58-60 Capitalism v Climate Change<br />
How free market fundamentalism helped overheat the planet and<br />
how we should react against the invisible hand<br />
P62-64 Going <strong>Green</strong> in the blue sea<br />
In the wake of the landmark COP21 agreement, the shipping<br />
<br />
P66-67 Sustainable Palm Oil For All Possibility<br />
Companies representing about 60 per cent of global palm oil<br />
production have pledged to eliminate palm oil-related deforestation<br />
from supply chains<br />
P68-69 Embracing a <strong>Green</strong> and Sustainable Future<br />
Effective learning and networking experience for all for participated<br />
in Expo<br />
P70<br />
UNESCO and Panasonic Partnership<br />
Educational support programmes for next operation launched in offgrid<br />
communities in Myanmar<br />
P71<br />
Environment Day at Pulau Aman<br />
Contest to run for three months starting on Dec 12<br />
P72-73 A Success Story<br />
Asia’s premier energy-saving innovation show<br />
P74-76 Ahead of Schedule<br />
Wyndham Worldwide reaches carbon emissions goal six years<br />
earlier<br />
P78-79 Indian Trend-setter<br />
<br />
power<br />
P80<br />
Events<br />
6<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
Resilient Cities Asia — Pacific 2016 Congress<br />
By MOHD HAFIZAM MUSTAFFA<br />
OPERATION MANAGER<br />
MELAKA GREEN TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION<br />
In overdrive<br />
M E L A K A<br />
IPERBADANAN TE KNOLOGI H<br />
JAU<br />
Melaka <strong>Green</strong>Tech Corp oversees and monitors State’s green agenda efforts<br />
SINCE 2010, Melaka established<br />
a vision to become a green<br />
technology city State. It was<br />
inspired by the announcement<br />
by Prime Minister Dato’<br />
Seri Najib Abdul Razak, who<br />
pledged during the United Nation Framework<br />
for Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference<br />
of Parties (COP) 15 in Copenhagen, Denmark<br />
in 2009 to reduce Malaysia’s carbon intensity<br />
per Growth Domestic Product (GDP) at 40<br />
per cent by year 2020.<br />
Then in 2011, Melaka produced the<br />
<strong>Green</strong> Technology City State Blueprint. The<br />
indicators listed were recommended by the<br />
Urban Environmental Accords (UEA) to guide<br />
the way we build and maintain our city streets,<br />
sewers, building infrastructure, parks and green<br />
spaces.<br />
Melaka established the <strong>Green</strong> Technology<br />
Council in 2010 and the Melaka <strong>Green</strong><br />
Technology Corporation in 2013 to oversees<br />
<br />
Datuk Kamarudin Md Shah,<br />
CEO Melaka <strong>Green</strong> Technology Corporation<br />
green vision.<br />
In the Melaka <strong>Green</strong> City State Blueprint,<br />
the third objective is to upgrade its sustainable<br />
State status through the application of green<br />
technology and green approaches. Based<br />
on the Urban Environmental Accords, 121<br />
indicators from 21 specific actions or subsectors<br />
are embedded in policies and strategies<br />
of the State government to ensure the objective<br />
to become a green city State can be achieved<br />
in the areas of energy, water, waste reduction,<br />
environmental health, urban design, urban<br />
nature and transportation.<br />
Apart of that, In April 2013, Melaka was<br />
chosen as a model city for Malaysia, Songhkla<br />
for Thailand and Medan for Indonesia, to<br />
be under the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand<br />
Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) <strong>Green</strong> City<br />
Initiatives. This would be the green catalyst<br />
before all the 32 states and provinces cities<br />
duplicated the action which will cover almost<br />
80 million population.<br />
GREEN CITY ACTION PLAN (GCAP)<br />
The Melaka <strong>Green</strong> City Action Plan<br />
<br />
city initiatives to educate public about climate<br />
change, global warming, green technology<br />
and green practices. With the collaboration of<br />
centre for IMT-GT Sub-regional Cooperation<br />
and Asian Development Bank, the <strong>Green</strong> City<br />
Action Plan (GCAP) was established.<br />
There are six main areas in GCAP, such as:<br />
i. Water management<br />
ii. Energy efficiency and renewable<br />
iii. <strong>Green</strong> transportation<br />
iv. Zero waste<br />
v. Cultural heritage and tourism<br />
vi. And finally, urban forestry and<br />
agriculture<br />
The GCAP provides a clear path towards<br />
<br />
a comprehensive approach that brings together<br />
individual actions that have already started, and<br />
provides clear direction on what needed to be<br />
done in the future.<br />
8<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
Resilient Cities Asia — Pacific 2016 Congress<br />
MELAKA CARBON INVENTORY<br />
Melaka is the first amongst the <strong>14</strong> States<br />
in Malaysia to prepare its <strong>Green</strong>house Gas<br />
(GHG) Emission Inventory and has become<br />
a shining example, not only in Malaysia<br />
but within the ASEAN region as well. The<br />
report gives a clear picture of the total carbon<br />
emissions and will help plan and implement<br />
appropriate mitigation programs to reduce<br />
Melaka’s GHG emissions.<br />
The GHG Inventory has been prepared<br />
in accordance with the approved principles<br />
and standards of the Global Protocol for<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016<br />
Community-Scale <strong>Green</strong>house Gas Emissions<br />
(GPC). This protocol provides internationally<br />
based methodologies and guidelines to<br />
assist local governments in quantifying the<br />
GHG emissions from the whole community<br />
(residential, commercial, transport, industrial<br />
and agricultural sectors) within the geographical<br />
boundaries of cities and regions. Based on the<br />
International Local Government <strong>Green</strong>house<br />
Gas Emissions Analysis Protocol (IEAP)<br />
(developed by ICLEI in 2009) and other<br />
recognised protocols, the World Resources<br />
Institute (WRI), ICLEI, and the C40 Cities<br />
Climate Leadership Group (C40) - supported<br />
by the World Bank Group, UN-Habitat and<br />
UNEP – have jointly developed the GPC.<br />
The GPC is an international protocol, being<br />
formalised for international standard reporting<br />
for sub-national governments across the world.<br />
The total carbon emission for Melaka has<br />
been calculated at 1.96 million tonnes of carbon<br />
dioxide equivalent (TCO2E) for 2013. The per<br />
capita GHG emission for Melaka is about 2.33<br />
tonnes of CO2 equivalent (TCO2E), based on<br />
our population of 842,500 as of 2013.<br />
The major contributors of carbon emission<br />
are on-road transportation (59.2%) and<br />
9
Resilient Cities Asia — Pacific 2016 Congress<br />
industrial sector (23.1%), followed by the<br />
commercial & institutional sector (9.0%).<br />
Residential sector contributes to 3.9% and<br />
waste contributes to 0.8% of Melaka’s GHG<br />
emission.<br />
The preparation of the baseline greenhouse<br />
gas (GHG) emission inventory for Melaka will<br />
help to streamline and strengthen the green<br />
city action plan (GCAP) by incorporating<br />
climate change, which is a crucial issue for our<br />
country and the world at this moment and in<br />
the future.<br />
NATIONAL SMART COMMUNITY<br />
PROGRAM – TO DELIVER GCAP<br />
Melaka is also part of the special program under<br />
the smart community program at national level<br />
to implement the GCAP.<br />
The Melaka government through the<br />
Melaka <strong>Green</strong> Technology Corporation,<br />
with assistance from Malaysian Industry-<br />
Government Group for High Technology<br />
(MIGHT), Prime Minister’s Department<br />
forwarded a ‘Sustainable Cities’ <strong>Green</strong> Project<br />
Proposal in Melaka to the Global Environment<br />
Facility (GEF) through the Ministry for<br />
Natural Resources and Environment and<br />
the United Nations Industrial Development<br />
Organisation (UNIDO).<br />
Melaka is the first ideal town under the<br />
National ‘Smart Communities’ Programme<br />
which was selected in the Global Innovation<br />
and Science Council Meeting, chaired by the<br />
Prime Minister, where all council resolutions<br />
would be carried out by MIGHT as the working<br />
committee. By being the ideal town, Melaka<br />
will be a source of reference for MIGHT to set<br />
development in other towns in Malaysia in the<br />
11th Malaysia Plan (RMK-11).<br />
The Sustainable Cities Programme allocated<br />
<br />
year period at the initial stage involving 23<br />
towns in 11 developing countries namely Brazil,<br />
China, Ivory Coast, India, Malaysia, Mexico,<br />
Paraguay, Peru, Senegal, South Africa and<br />
Vietnam. Melaka is among the towns chosen<br />
for the implementation of the green initiative.<br />
This programme is expected to establish strong<br />
networking between the towns which will act<br />
as sustainable town planning ambassadors with<br />
<br />
GREEN HIGHLIGHTS<br />
Some other ongoing green projects already<br />
started and implemented in Melaka such as:<br />
a. Melaka river rehabilitation and beautification<br />
project – we are transforming from a smelly river<br />
to tourist destination, it is going to be the San<br />
Antonio, Texas waterway in Asia.<br />
b. The Hang Tuah Jaya <strong>Green</strong> City – a new<br />
township that focuses on green development norms.<br />
c. Melaka World Solar Valley – a new township<br />
that focuses on green and solar technology<br />
development<br />
d. We also have 2 massive solar farms in Melaka<br />
with the total capacity of 13 Megawatt.<br />
e. Electric buses – we are planning to convert<br />
our diesel buses to electric buses in our city and<br />
targeting 40 electric buses to be running in our<br />
neighborhood this year.<br />
f. Melaka <strong>Green</strong> Seal – we also embarking<br />
on our own green rating tools for residential and<br />
non-residential buildings. The provisions of the<br />
Melaka <strong>Green</strong> Seal are in embedded in our local<br />
council processes, starting from build permission<br />
10<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
Resilient Cities Asia — Pacific 2016 Congress<br />
to certification of completion and compliance, thus<br />
enable us to pass the green knowledge to developers<br />
and contractors.<br />
g. There have been no plastic bags for Friday,<br />
Saturday And Sunday since early this year its<br />
already implemented everyday from first January<br />
2016. And no polystyrene usage in the State<br />
starting September 1, 2015. Melaka promoting<br />
bio-based biodegradable product to be the<br />
alternatives.<br />
INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH<br />
Melaka is a proud member of ICLEI. The<br />
membership was granted on November 11,<br />
<br />
by connecting the state with over 1000 cities<br />
all over the world in embarking Melaka on<br />
a journey to transform it into a resilient and<br />
sustainable city.<br />
ICLEI has brought Melaka into various<br />
international platforms to share and learn from<br />
other cities via various events such as the 1st<br />
<br />
in Bangkok, Resilient Cities 2015 in Bonn,<br />
2015 ICLEI World Congress in Seoul, Asia<br />
<br />
recently UNFCCC COP 21 Summit in Paris.<br />
After achieving great success from Resilient<br />
<br />
its second Asia-Pacific Forum on Urban<br />
Resilience and Adaptation – Resilient Cities<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016<br />
<br />
Equatorial, Melaka from March 1-5, 2016.<br />
The event will be hosted by Melaka<br />
government in collaboration with Melaka<br />
Historic City Council and IMT-GT. ICLEI<br />
South Asia will be organizing the event, with<br />
about 500 delegates from all over the world<br />
attending the conference.<br />
The main objective of the program is to create<br />
a space for local governments, institutions and<br />
communities where they can come together to<br />
discuss climate resilience in urban areas.<br />
The event had taken place in Bangkok last<br />
year and this time it is ready to land in World<br />
Heritage City, Melaka. This extraordinary<br />
conference will feature many expert speakers<br />
on urban resilience development.<br />
<br />
to bring more than 200 city representatives from<br />
all parts of the world; UN organizations such<br />
as UNEP, UNESCAP, UNHABITAT, UNDP,<br />
UNESCO, etc; and international organizations<br />
such as USAID, GIZ, Rockerfeller Foundation,<br />
<br />
ADB, World Bank, etc.<br />
This event is unique as the outcome will be<br />
highlighted in Habitat III Prepcom meeting<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
October 2016 in Quito, Equador.<br />
Meanwhile, Alor Gajah City Council, Melaka<br />
will be hosting the Urban Environmental<br />
Accords (UEA) Summit 2017.<br />
THE WAY FORWARD<br />
By the completion of Melaka GHG Emission<br />
Report 2013, it enables Melaka to indicate the<br />
main source of emission for the state of Melaka.<br />
Thus enable Melaka to prepare a very strategic<br />
approach to mitigate and to reduce the main<br />
contributor of the emission.<br />
Melaka has vast knowledge and experience<br />
the can be share nationally and extended<br />
throughout the region so the other cities could<br />
emulate Melaka’s experience in transforming<br />
the city to become more sustainable and<br />
resilient.<br />
Hopefully this approach will accelerate<br />
Melaka’s vision to become a <strong>Green</strong> Technology<br />
City State by the 2020. Perhaps when the time<br />
passes by; Melaka can foresight its vision to<br />
become the Carbon Neutral State by the year<br />
2030.<br />
11
ECONOMIC<br />
Competitive<br />
Cities<br />
Fostering<br />
economic growth<br />
through the<br />
density<br />
ENVIRONMENT<br />
<strong>Green</strong> &<br />
Resilient Cities<br />
Protecting natural<br />
resources and<br />
ensuring<br />
investments as well<br />
as pro-active risk<br />
reduction and<br />
management<br />
SOCIAL<br />
Liveable &<br />
Inclusive Cities<br />
Ensuring access<br />
services for<br />
Rakyat<br />
1<br />
National & State policies<br />
and strategic direction for<br />
development of sustainable<br />
cities in Malaysia.<br />
Awareness & Institutional<br />
capacity building to related<br />
stakeholders at the national,<br />
SCOPE<br />
Smart<br />
Grid<br />
Demo<br />
Project<br />
in<br />
Melaka<br />
state and local levels.<br />
2 3<br />
Smart Cities<br />
(High adoption of ICT to make cities smarter)<br />
Email: smartcommunities@might.org.my Tel: +603-83157888<br />
Email : smartcommunities@might.org.my Tel : +603-83157888
Resilient Cities Asia — Pacific 2016 Congress<br />
Melaka joins Earth Hour<br />
City Challenge 2015<br />
MELAKA was one of the<br />
Malaysian cities which<br />
participated in The Earth<br />
Hour City Challenge<br />
( EHCC ). The other s<br />
were Penang, Petaling<br />
Jaya and Kuching North<br />
The Earth Hour City Challenge is a year longcompetition<br />
among cities to promote renewable<br />
energy and prepare for climate change. EHCC is<br />
an initiative designed by WWF to mobilize action<br />
and support from cities in the global transition<br />
towards a climate friendly, one-planet future and<br />
to stimulate the development and dissemination<br />
of best practises for climate change mitigation and<br />
adaptation.<br />
It will be run as a recurrent and increasingly<br />
global challenge for cities to present ambitious,<br />
holistic, inspiring and credible plans for low<br />
carbon development and for dramatically increasing<br />
the use of sustainable and efficient renewable<br />
energy solutions in the next few decades.<br />
The program is supported by documentation<br />
EHCC winner to be announced in June<br />
reporting by agencies / local authorities on<br />
climate data. MBMB has committed to participate<br />
in EHCC and reported all the green initiatives<br />
that have been implemented to meet the aspirations<br />
of Melaka state government to create the<br />
city of Melaka as a low-carbon and green technology<br />
state.<br />
Clean air for smaller cities<br />
A few actions that have been reported for<br />
Melaka Historic City Council are the Clean<br />
Air for Smallest Cities Project, Melaka River<br />
Rehabilitation Project, green mobility, tree planting,<br />
renewable energy, waste management and a<br />
few more.<br />
MBMB held a two-day Workshop & Data<br />
THE Project “Clean Air for Smaller<br />
Cities in the ASEAN Region” ( CASC<br />
) is funded by the German Federal<br />
Ministry for Economic Cooperation<br />
and Development ( BMZ ) and implemented<br />
by German International<br />
Cooperation ( GIZ ) in cooperation<br />
with ASEAN Secretariat. It aims to<br />
empower local governments of smaller<br />
cities to develop and implement Clean<br />
Air Plan ( CAP ) in order to improve<br />
living conditions.<br />
The city of Melaka is the CASC participant<br />
city in Malaysia. Under CASC<br />
, an Emissions Inventory ( EI ) was<br />
conducted for Melaka City in collaboration<br />
with MBMB, JAS and partner<br />
university UTeM .<br />
Emission inventory covers the area<br />
of Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah<br />
( MBMB ) municipality, covering<br />
the approximated area of 273 km2 .<br />
The aims of Emission Inventory are<br />
to evaluate the air quality status and<br />
to evaluate the effectiveness of the<br />
policy. Besides, purpose of Emission<br />
Inventory is to identify emission<br />
sources, determine the level of compliance<br />
with the quality standard limits<br />
emissions and determine ambient air<br />
monitoring sites.<br />
MBMB had organised Clean Air<br />
Plan Prioritization Workshop on 2<br />
September 2015 and attended by<br />
16<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
Resilient Cities Asia — Pacific 2016 Congress<br />
Planning for Resilient Cities seminar and<br />
<br />
on Urban Resilience And Adaptation in<br />
conjunction with the 16TH International<br />
Convention on Melaka Twin Cities<br />
Collection for Earth Hour City Challenge<br />
Program and were attended by Department of<br />
Environment, JKR, SW Corporation, UTEM,<br />
Melaka <strong>Green</strong> Technology Corporation,<br />
Indah Water Konsortium and MBMB internal<br />
department.<br />
This workshop aimed to gather all the information<br />
needed to fulfill the criteria in the EHCC registration<br />
form. In December 2015, the evaluation<br />
process began to identify the finalist and on June<br />
2016 the Global Earth Hour Capital and We Love<br />
Cities winner will be announced.<br />
Datuk Zainal Hussin , mayor of Melaka, gave his closing<br />
speech and give fully support to the Clean Air for<br />
Smaller Cities Project.<br />
related agencies; Department of Environment,<br />
Melaka <strong>Green</strong> Tech Corporation, JPJ, SPAD,<br />
UPEN, UTeM and also MBMB internal department.<br />
This workshop is focused on discussion<br />
the findings from Emission Inventory and presentation<br />
of CASC project and achievements by<br />
Junior Advisor of GIZ, Julia Nagel.<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016<br />
ON 29th October 2015, Melaka Historic City<br />
Council organised Special Meeting and Soft Launch<br />
of the 2nd Asia Pacific Forum On Urban Resilience<br />
and Adaptation in conjunction with the 16th<br />
International Convention on Melaka Twin Cities<br />
2016 at Equatorial Hotel, Melaka.<br />
During the Special Meeting session, Datuk Zainal<br />
Hussin , mayor of Melaka Historic City Council had<br />
present the preparation and also program planning<br />
before and during the event. Melaka is expecting<br />
full support and cooperation in all forms of financial,<br />
speakers, exhibitions and other forms of support.<br />
Emani Kumar, the Regional Director of ICLEI<br />
South East Asia Secretariat presents about ICLEI and<br />
Programs during the event on 2nd to 4th March 2016.<br />
This event will attract more than 100 mayors from all<br />
of South East Asia region. Melaka is expecting thousands<br />
of participants during the event. There will be<br />
few parallel sessions conducted by various agencies<br />
and the topic will be focusing on urban resilience.<br />
The Resilient City Seminar & Soft Launch of<br />
the 2nd Asia-Pacific Forum on Urban Resilience<br />
and Adaptation in conjunction with the 16th<br />
International Convention on Melaka Twin Cities<br />
officiated by the Chief Minister of Melaka, Datuk<br />
Seri Ir. Idris Haron.<br />
He said that this special occasion on 2016 as the<br />
State of Melaka and ICLEI have agreed that The<br />
International Twin Cities Convention is going to be a<br />
platform for information sharing and mutual support<br />
between city governments towards promoting cooperation,<br />
smart partnership and mutual prosperity.<br />
The events will be inaugurated by the Prime<br />
Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak.<br />
The Congress supports the vision of the Hon. Prime<br />
Minister to ensure the development of a climate resilient<br />
Malaysia.<br />
17
RESILIENT CITIES ASIA—PACIFIC CONGRESS<br />
KMB Solar<br />
Farm &<br />
Rooftop<br />
AS investments arm for State<br />
Government of Melaka,<br />
Kumpulan Melaka Berhad<br />
(KMB) is committed to<br />
accelerate and generate economic<br />
development in and<br />
out of Malacca. This has been proven by KMB<br />
with implementation a lot of green activities<br />
such as two Solar Projects, <strong>Green</strong> Tourism<br />
and <strong>Green</strong> Mobile.<br />
A) Project has been completed on 09 June<br />
2011 with Net Metering System. Efforts are<br />
underway to get the 'Feed In Tariff '.<br />
B) Project consists of 3 phases that have<br />
received FITCD from SEDA on:<br />
— Phase 1 (1.30MWp) - 21 April 2013<br />
— Phase 2 (1.22MWp) - May 24, 2013<br />
— Phase 3 (2.48MWp) - August 9, 2013<br />
KMB solar<br />
aircond<br />
Ir. KHAIRULEZUAN HARUN<br />
Comos Ecoride &<br />
Electric Scooter<br />
Ecm-11 (Eclimo)<br />
These 2 green mobile has become Melaka’s<br />
famous green tourism product since 20<strong>14</strong>.<br />
Operation is based at the prominent Melaka<br />
Taming Sari. Tourists may rent with a good rate.<br />
KMB <strong>Green</strong> Tourism<br />
KMB’s reserve and recreational forests offers activities such as hiking, outdoor extreme<br />
park, raptor watch, team building and training centre.<br />
Ayer Keroh Botanical Forest<br />
Batu Lebah Reserve Forest<br />
KMB now involve with new technology<br />
for air cond that called Solar Air Cond.<br />
This new technology will carter half of the<br />
air-conditioning system electricity supply.<br />
Sungai Udang Reserve Forest<br />
Tanjung Tuan Lighthouse, Port Dickson<br />
18<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
Resilient Cities Asia - Pacific 2016 Congress<br />
A<br />
FEW years ago Melaka embarked<br />
on a journey to become a “<strong>Green</strong><br />
City State”. Now, the State is busy<br />
setting up an example of how<br />
efforts from local governments<br />
can ensure environmentally sustainable<br />
economic development.<br />
Melaka’s alliance with the global association of<br />
local authorities, regions and sub-national authorities<br />
ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability,<br />
datesback to 20<strong>14</strong>, when the State became a member<br />
city of the association.<br />
Soon after, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ir. Idris<br />
Haron decided to develop a <strong>Green</strong>house Gas<br />
Emission Inventory Report for Melaka and its cities,<br />
in order to track the baseline and to further assess the<br />
impact of implementing the GCAP. The report, prepared<br />
in collaboration with ICLEI South Asia and<br />
ICLEI Southeast Asia, was released at COP 21 in<br />
Paris in December 2015. The report has defined the<br />
baseline for the State and paved the way for the next<br />
step of the project – preparation of GHG emission<br />
inventories forthe four urban local governments in<br />
three districts of Melaka (Melaka, Alor Gajah and<br />
Jasin District).<br />
Smallest of <strong>14</strong> States in Malaysia, Melaka aspires to<br />
become <strong>Green</strong> Technology City State by 2020. With<br />
an objective of translating this vision into reality, last<br />
year, Melaka decided to host the Second Resilient<br />
Cities Asia Pacific Congress and invited over 600 dignitaries<br />
from across the region and the globe to deliberate<br />
on multiple aspects of urban climate resilience.<br />
SYNERGY FOR ENERGY<br />
Melaka’s quest to ensure sustainable economic<br />
growth started with the adoption of <strong>Green</strong><br />
Technology Blueprint in 2011. The State also defined<br />
a target of 20 per cent renewable energy contribution<br />
to its total energy consumption by 2020. In addition,<br />
Melaka established the Melaka <strong>Green</strong> Technology<br />
Corporation for the purpose of overseeing efforts<br />
to achieve the vision and also adopted the United<br />
Nations Urban Environmental Accords to assess its<br />
green city performance. Later, in September 2012, the<br />
State was chosen as a model city in Malaysia, under<br />
the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle<br />
(IMT-GT) <strong>Green</strong> City Initiatives, along with Medan<br />
<strong>Green</strong> dream<br />
for Melaka and ICLEI<br />
Melaka aspires to become <strong>Green</strong> Technology City State by 2020<br />
6th Global Forum on Urban Resilience & Adaptation IN BONN, GERMANY<br />
in Indonesia and Songkhla in Thailand among the<br />
pilot cities.<br />
The 2013 report for an inventory prepared with<br />
the approved principles and standards of the Global<br />
Protocol for Community-Scale <strong>Green</strong>house Gas<br />
Emissions (GPC) gives a picture of Melaka’s total<br />
carbon emissions and forms the basis to plan and<br />
develop mitigation programmes to reduce emissions.<br />
For the purpose of preparing the inventory,<br />
Harmonized Emission Analysis Tool <strong>Plus</strong> (HEAT+),<br />
an emissions accounting software developed by<br />
ICLEI, has been used andthe GHGs considered in<br />
the GHG emission inventory are carbon dioxide<br />
(CO2), methane (CH4) and nitrogen oxide (N2O).<br />
“The report captures fundamental information<br />
on energy profile and emissions. It can help us take<br />
informed decisions to undertake mitigation and<br />
adaptation measures to reduce the carbon emissions<br />
of Melaka,” said Datuk Kamarudin Md Shah,<br />
Chief Executive Officer of Melaka <strong>Green</strong> Technology<br />
Corporation, only department of its kind in Malaysia,<br />
during the release.<br />
Much of Melaka’s inspiration also comes from<br />
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s declaration<br />
in 2009 “that Malaysia is adopting a commitment of<br />
a voluntary reduction of up to 40 per cent in terms<br />
of emissions intensity of GDP by the year 2020 compared<br />
to 2005 levels”.<br />
Now, the Eleventh Malaysian Plan, the national<br />
government’s flagship development strategy for the<br />
years 2015-2020, also seeks to attain high income<br />
status for Malaysia while recognizing the need<br />
to be inclusive and environmentally sustainable.<br />
Formulation of Melaka’s <strong>Green</strong> City Action Plan, with<br />
support from Asian Development Bank, is another<br />
leap ahead for the state.<br />
THE ROAD AHEAD<br />
Melaka’s commitment to sustainability and its association<br />
with ICLEI is progressively and systematically<br />
developing over the years. With financial support<br />
from ADB and technical support from ICLEI, Melaka<br />
state is currently developing a <strong>Green</strong> City Indicator<br />
and Benchmark System and a “PINTAR” tool, which<br />
will be used to monitor implementation of the GCAP.<br />
The “PINTAR” tool is modelled after ICLEI’s flagship<br />
ecoBUDGET tool. In June 2015, Datuk Seri<br />
Idris enlightened the audience at the Resilient Cities<br />
Congress in Bonn, Germany, where he spoke about<br />
how some local and regional governments are leading<br />
actions to build resilience in cities. Besides, Melaka<br />
mayors were present at the ICLEI World Congress<br />
2015, in Seoul, South Korea along with the Melaka<br />
state Executive Council member (Exco) for State education,<br />
higher education, science & technology, green<br />
technology and innovation). The Seoul Declaration –<br />
a document that sets out a clear path to global urban<br />
sustainability – was then officially adopted by ICLEI<br />
World Congress participants, ICLEI members, partners,<br />
and other local governments.<br />
In the post COP 21 and Sustainable Development<br />
Goals (SDGs) world, Melaka’s zeal for climate resilience<br />
and its collaboration with partners or organizations<br />
that share and enable this vision, is an inspiration<br />
for many.<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016 19
Alor Gajah<br />
Jasin<br />
Hang Tuah Jaya<br />
Melaka Tengah
Resilient Cities Asia — Pacific 2016 Congress<br />
Melaka host<br />
IMT-GT meeting<br />
GCAP being implemented in Melaka and Songkhla, and soon in Medan and Batam<br />
THE Indonesia-Malaysia-<br />
Thailand Growth Triangle<br />
is a sub-regional economic<br />
cooperation program<br />
aimed at spurring economic<br />
development in<br />
participating provinces and States in the three<br />
countries.<br />
The IMT-GT focuses on enhancing trade and<br />
investment opportunities, tourism, strengthening<br />
infra¬structure links and institutional<br />
arrangements, amongst others, to achieve a<br />
vision of “a seamless, progressive, prosperous<br />
and peaceful subregion with improved quality<br />
of life.”<br />
The 9thIMT-GT Chief Ministers and<br />
Governors Forum (CMGF) held in early<br />
September 2012 proposed to pursue a new<br />
initiative for <strong>Green</strong> Cities in IMT-GT. The<br />
proposal was deliberated and supported by<br />
IMT-GT Ministers during the 18th IMT-GT,<br />
Ministerial Meeting held at Port Dickson on<br />
Sept 27, 2012.<br />
The IMT-GT requested the ADB to further<br />
elaborate on the proposed concept of urban<br />
sustainable urban development, which could<br />
be applied in the subregion and potentially to<br />
other Member States of ASEAN, linking with<br />
ASEAN’s larger effort in developing sustainable<br />
cities.<br />
In this regard, the ADB agreed to assist the<br />
cities of Melaka (in Malaysia), Songkhla (in<br />
Thailand), Medan and Batam (in Indonesia) to<br />
develop a comprehensive green city action plan<br />
(GCAP). The action plan takes into account<br />
existing <strong>Green</strong> City frameworks, development<br />
master plans, and planned anchor projects to<br />
identify potential actions and projects that will<br />
support these communities to become models<br />
of urban sustainability.<br />
Melaka has prepared the first GCAP as part<br />
of this initiative and will set an example that<br />
will be emulated by other cities within the<br />
subregion.<br />
The IMT-GT <strong>Green</strong> Cities Initiatives was<br />
formally endorsed by the 7th IMT-GT Summit<br />
on April 25, 2013 in Brunei, where the leaders<br />
also welcomed the designation of Melaka,<br />
Songkhla and Medan, as the first three priority<br />
cities participating in this initiative.<br />
The 9thIMT-GT Summit on April 28, 2015<br />
in Langkawi applauded the initiative on the<br />
<strong>Green</strong> Cities Action Plan (GCAP) being<br />
implemented in Melaka and Songkhla, and<br />
soon to be implemented in Medan and Batam.<br />
The leaders have emphasised the need for<br />
continued individual and collective actions to<br />
mitigate environmental impacts, including the<br />
increasing risks posed by climate change.<br />
The leaders have directed IMT-GT to scale<br />
up successful GCAP models, and work towards<br />
developing a Sustainable Urban Development<br />
Framework for IMT-GT cities. The implementation<br />
of the action plans under this subregional<br />
framework could open new investment<br />
opportunities, with the private sector to bring<br />
in financing, technical knowledge and innovation<br />
to this process.<br />
Further to the Summit directive the<br />
12thChief Ministers and Governors Forum<br />
(CMGF) in Alor Setar have endorsed the Joint<br />
proposal by CIMT, ICLEI and ADB to establish<br />
the IMT-GT <strong>Green</strong> Council to oversee<br />
the establishment and the implementation<br />
of SUD. CMGF also agreed with the suggestion<br />
by Melaka to host the 1st IMT-GT <strong>Green</strong><br />
Council Meeting on Mar 1, 2015 back to back<br />
with 2nd Resilient City Asia Pacific Congress<br />
(RCAP).
ARCHITECTURE<br />
100 <strong>Green</strong> hotels by 2018<br />
Malaysia’s sustainable tourism set to impact hotel industry<br />
WITH the slowing<br />
down of the global<br />
economy, greater<br />
efforts are being<br />
undertaken by<br />
various stakeholders<br />
to increase tourist arrivals to Malaysia.<br />
The hotel industry is actively looking at ways<br />
to boost arrivals as well as spending, mainly<br />
by improving key components of the tourist<br />
industry especially in terms of services and<br />
resources.<br />
In line with global trend and in view of<br />
increasingly discerning consumers both<br />
locally and globally, Malaysia is actively<br />
embarking on greening the hotel industry to<br />
maintain its competitiveness. Cheah Swee<br />
Hee, President of Malaysian Association of<br />
Hotels said: “We are targeting 100 green<br />
hotels to be certified over the next<br />
2 to 3 years. Over the span of two<br />
years, we have seen more and more<br />
hotels working towards it, and as of<br />
November 2015, there are approximately<br />
<strong>14</strong> green hotels certified.”<br />
On the slow adoption of green<br />
hotels, Cheah elaborated: “The<br />
common barriers to the greening<br />
of industrial sector include a lack of<br />
awareness on the investment outlay<br />
and payback period. However, the<br />
eventual operational cost savings<br />
should suffice making hotel owners<br />
decide on greening their properties.<br />
We hope to see more adoption, as the<br />
world is constantly looking at sustainable<br />
ways to protect Mother Earth.”<br />
Malaysia’s leading total coating<br />
solutions provider, Nippon Paint<br />
Malaysia Group (“Nippon Paint”)<br />
together with the Malaysian<br />
Association of Hotels (MAH) and<br />
Malaysia <strong>Green</strong> Building Confederation<br />
(MGBC) recently organised the 3rd MAH-<br />
Nippon Paint <strong>Green</strong> Hotel Seminar 2015,<br />
aimed at educating and engaging both hotel<br />
owners as well as various industry stakeholders<br />
from across Malaysia.<br />
The seminar included case studies and lectures<br />
on regulatory standards pertinent to<br />
sustainable hotel properties. Notable speakers<br />
include veterans in the green agenda<br />
38<br />
such as Ar. Sarly Adre Sarkum, President<br />
of Malaysia <strong>Green</strong> Building Confederation<br />
(MGBC), Cheah, Anthony Wong, Group<br />
Managing Director of Asian Overland<br />
Services Tour & Travels and Ir. Chen Thiam<br />
Leong, Co-Chairman of <strong>Green</strong> Building Index<br />
Advisory Panel (GBIAP).<br />
“The adoption of the ‘green movement’<br />
We are targeting 100 green hotels to be<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
— Cheah Swee Hee, President of<br />
Malaysian Association of Hotels<br />
has become a cross-industry<br />
phenomenon, and now has been extended<br />
to hotels as they consume a huge amount of<br />
resources. Indeed, there is an urgent and critical<br />
need to adopt sustainable measures for the<br />
hotel industry in Malaysia. The establishment<br />
of the <strong>Green</strong> Building Index (GBI) rating for<br />
new hotels, existing hotels, new resorts and<br />
existing resorts has had a catalytic effect on<br />
the industry and has motivated more industry<br />
players to look into various ways to green their<br />
properties,” said Sarly.<br />
The <strong>Green</strong> Building Index (GBI) is<br />
Malaysia’s green rating tools for buildings<br />
and townships, created to promote sustainability<br />
in the built-environment. GBI is developed<br />
specifically to suit the Malaysian tropical<br />
climate, environmental and developmental<br />
context, cultural and social needs. GBI<br />
launched The GBI Hotels & Resorts Tool in<br />
February 20<strong>14</strong> which covers six key criteria<br />
- Energy Efficiency, Indoor Environmental<br />
Quality, Sustainable Site Planning and<br />
Management, Materials and Resources, Water<br />
Efficiency and Innovation.<br />
Currently, over approximately 150 million<br />
square feet of building gross floor area have<br />
been officially certified by GBI in Malaysia,<br />
encompassing<br />
industrial, commercial as well as residential<br />
buildings. Since 20<strong>14</strong>, 46 hotel projects<br />
in Malaysia have applied for <strong>Green</strong> Hotel &<br />
Resorts certifications, of which <strong>14</strong> have been<br />
successfully certified to date. Recent certifications<br />
include Alila Bangsar Hotel and St. Regis<br />
in Kuala Lumpur.<br />
According to Chen, most progressive hotels<br />
or resorts are already practicing part of ‘green<br />
practices’ without realising it. These would<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
ARCHITECTURE<br />
include efficient energy control in terms of<br />
lighting, rainwater harvesting, waste recycling,<br />
or even greeneries around the establishment.<br />
“Hence, to merely push the boundary<br />
of their efforts slightly, these premises will<br />
qualify for green certification through a few<br />
additional green features – the implementation<br />
would generally be low in cost but with<br />
excellent return on investment. Well informed<br />
hotel owners will appreciate the resource<br />
savings, in addition to an improved image of<br />
their brand for its initiative to reduce carbon<br />
footprints,” said Chen.<br />
While some key criteria’s like Water<br />
Efficiency and Sustainable Site Planning<br />
may require additional resources, according<br />
to Daniel Yong, General Manager of<br />
Nippon Paint Sabah, criteria such as Indoor<br />
Environmental Quality can<br />
easily be achieved through<br />
selecting the right coatings,<br />
and not just having green<br />
structures or architecture.<br />
“Most are unaware of the<br />
functional value of paint. In<br />
addition to creating a certain<br />
ambience, paint also has<br />
functional elements such as<br />
the ability to absorb formaldehyde<br />
or reducing external<br />
building surface temperature,<br />
thus improving indoor air<br />
quality. These form some of<br />
the requirements within the<br />
GBI rating,” said Yong.<br />
“The hotel industry being<br />
at the forefront of international<br />
exposure, are in the<br />
position to take on a leadership<br />
role in driving the sustainable<br />
agenda. By adopting<br />
green and sustainable practices<br />
into our operations, not<br />
only are we raising the benchmark of the<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
— Ar. Sarly Adre Sarkum, President<br />
of Malaysia <strong>Green</strong> Building<br />
Confederation (MGBC)<br />
industry, we are also influencing and educating<br />
the public on the importance<br />
of green practices as well.”<br />
Nippon Paint recently underwent a corporate<br />
and brand repositioning, turning from<br />
“The Paint Expert” to “The Coatings Expert”,<br />
with the ability to serve multi-segments in<br />
the coatings industry such as Architectural,<br />
Protective, Industrial, Automotive and Marine<br />
as well as the capabilities to coat multi-surfaces<br />
from metal to wood, tiles, cement, slate, glass<br />
and even plastic. Be it decorative, protective<br />
or functional coatings, Nippon Paint continuously<br />
stays at the forefront of delivering innovative,<br />
‘industry-first’ coating solutions.<br />
Yong added: “Leveraging on our leadership<br />
position as Malaysia’s leading total coating<br />
solutions provider, Nippon Paint has been and<br />
is always driven by our Total <strong>Green</strong> Solution<br />
philosophy — pioneering innovative<br />
and effective coating solutions.<br />
Over the years, Nippon<br />
Paint has spearheaded a series<br />
of industry-first innovations in<br />
the market.<br />
“Innovations that has benefited<br />
hoteliers in search of coatings<br />
that are not only aesthetically<br />
pleasing but functionally<br />
proven to increase inhabitant<br />
comfort as well. We were the<br />
first to launch Nippon Odourless<br />
AirCare, which can improve<br />
indoor air quality by absorbing<br />
harmful formaldehyde.<br />
“On the exterior side,<br />
Nippon Paint’s Weatherbond<br />
Solareflect reduces external<br />
surface temperature by up to<br />
five degrees Celsius for better<br />
indoor comfort.”<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
— Daniel Yong, General Manager of<br />
Nippon Paint Sabah<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016<br />
39
ENVIRONMENT<br />
Stepping into Asia<br />
Eco<strong>Green</strong> widening distribution footprint in Asia via Malaysia<br />
In 2011, Environmental Technologies<br />
Group Pty Ltd ( ETG ) invested in<br />
a new bottling facility in Malaysia to<br />
supply products to customers in a<br />
cost-competitive manner.<br />
The company is on the lookout for<br />
partners in Malaysia to distribute into a variety of<br />
markets as well as export to other countries in the<br />
region. ETG will be manufacturing some products<br />
in Malaysia within the next 24 months and will look<br />
to export to markets, including Japan and the USA.<br />
ETG is constantly developing new products for<br />
a variety of markets and has this year developed<br />
12 new products. A number of these products are<br />
high quality commercial hand soaps that have low<br />
carbon footprint and are now supplied in large<br />
quantities in Australia; a range which the company<br />
is now looking to bring to Malaysia and neighbouring<br />
countries.<br />
In an interview with GREENplus, ETG<br />
Managing Director David Campbell speaks about<br />
his hopes and aspirations and especially why<br />
Malaysia is the stepping stone.<br />
Could you share with me a little about the background<br />
of the company? How ETG came to be<br />
and company milestones?<br />
A: ETG was formed in Western Australia in<br />
1999. The company originally focused on the<br />
development of bacterial applications to broad<br />
acre horticulture. Whilst we developed an excellent<br />
product it was not economical for farmers as<br />
it was cheaper to apply more cheap fertilizer. The<br />
exposure gained in working with primary industry<br />
allowed us to explore the treatment of waste<br />
water with bacterial solutions. This original development<br />
led to the eventual development of our<br />
unique formula for the suspension of live bacterial<br />
strains in pre treated water.<br />
How is your product different? What is your<br />
USP?<br />
A: In 2004 the company developed a process<br />
allowing us to add various bacterial strains to pretreated<br />
water enabling us to keep the bacteria<br />
alive in a container for a lengthy period of time, a<br />
minimum of 18 months, and in greater concentrations<br />
than available in other formats.<br />
David<br />
Campbell<br />
The suspension of the bacteria in a liquid form<br />
meant that our product could incorporate various<br />
bacterial strains meaning that our products would<br />
be more dependable in a variety of waste environments.<br />
Most bacterial solutions are sourced from<br />
the application of freeze dried bacteria which is then<br />
later added to water, the freeze drying process eliminate<br />
bacterial strains other than the bacillus strain<br />
as well as a vastly reduced concentration of bacteria.<br />
The bacteria packaged in this manner also<br />
has a much smaller shelf life. Our unique selling<br />
point is, more available strains of bacteria, many<br />
times more concentrated and a much longer shelf<br />
life of the product. We are also able to package<br />
ing<br />
options enabling it to be used for a variety of<br />
commercial applications. This has brought easily<br />
managed product to a variety of industries that<br />
could not access bacterial solutions for their day<br />
to day problems.<br />
How exactly does the product work?<br />
A: <br />
released at the source of the problem and consume<br />
the available food source, waste in this case and<br />
degrade it. The concentration of bacterial strains<br />
introduced greatly outnumber the bad bacteria that<br />
would normally feed on the waste and outcompete<br />
them for the available food source.<br />
A process called competitive inhibition. All of<br />
our bacterial strains are non-pathogenic, meaning<br />
they will not cause disease or illness to animal life.<br />
The variety of strains incorporated also mean the<br />
in harsh and varying environments where one bacterial<br />
strain may not be suited, it is not a problem<br />
for our product as there are others available that<br />
will survive and attack the source of the problem.<br />
<br />
is that it remedies the source of the problem and<br />
not the symptoms.<br />
Aren’t environmentally friendly products costly<br />
to produce?<br />
A: Some environmentally friendly products are<br />
expensive to produce and are not competitive on a<br />
commercial basis due to the high cost. Our particular<br />
range of products was very expensive to develop<br />
but now that this has been done we can manufacture<br />
at a competitive cost.<br />
Given the cost pressure on the supply of products<br />
to the commercial market this means that it<br />
will take a bit longer than normal to recoup our<br />
<br />
that the eventual volume of product achieved will<br />
justify the research undertaken and development<br />
costs expended.<br />
There are a lot of customers looking for environmentally<br />
friendly solutions but have been put<br />
<br />
performance that have been associated with products<br />
of this type in the past. Now that we have over-<br />
<br />
that customers will embrace the products and the<br />
<br />
How is having a factory in Subang Jaya, Malaysia<br />
working out for you cost wise?<br />
A: One of our primary reasons for investing in<br />
Malaysia was the available cost savings. The high<br />
cost of manufacture in Australia did not allow us to<br />
compete in the Asian market. The product made in<br />
Malaysia is also sent back to Australia for our customers<br />
there as well, not just as exports into the<br />
40<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
ENVIRONMENT<br />
Building of aeration system<br />
Asian market. The reduced manufacturing cost is<br />
<br />
ETG is looking for local partners / distributors<br />
to expand your network in Malaysia and regionally.<br />
How and when did ETG begin penetrating<br />
the Asian market?<br />
A: ETG have had an ongoing presence in the<br />
Asian market in some form since 2005. Originally<br />
a lot of our research and development was undertaken<br />
in China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Thailand<br />
where we could access the commercial aquaculture<br />
market.<br />
We made the commitment to our current facility<br />
in 2011 when it became obvious to us that we<br />
needed to establish a presence in the region. From<br />
this facility we have been supplying products to 11<br />
countries in the region working particularly closely<br />
with one large customer as they use our product and<br />
<br />
own very competitive market.<br />
We are looking to add more distributors/partners<br />
that have exposure to some of our target<br />
markets and can help us grow business in these<br />
markets throughout the region. We have a unique<br />
<br />
for a variety of industries, we also recognize that our<br />
best skills lie in the development and manufacturing<br />
of solutions.<br />
We want to work closely with distributors who<br />
have access to our target markets and have a deep<br />
understanding of the market as well as the customers<br />
and what their need are. We are prepared to<br />
continue to develop products to suit particular customer<br />
needs wherever they may be.<br />
Why pick Malaysia as a hub to expand to the rest<br />
of Asia and beyond?<br />
A: There were a number of reasons why Malaysia<br />
was the ideal location for us to expand our business<br />
into Asia. Whilst it was not the lowest cost alternative<br />
it was very economical compared to manufac-<br />
<br />
<br />
Malaysia is not only centrally located in the<br />
region allowing us to export with a fair degree of<br />
ease to other countries but English is commonly<br />
spoken so it is easier to do business there than a lot<br />
<br />
Trade Agreement with Australia, this allows us to<br />
transport stock in and out of Malaysia without the<br />
additional cost of import duties.<br />
The Malaysian Government is also very supportive<br />
of science based businesses and see this as good<br />
growth potential for investment. There are also a<br />
number of markets in Malaysia itself that we are<br />
<br />
a number of unique advantages and will be well<br />
received.<br />
When compared to other countries in the region<br />
ment<br />
for us to develop and grow a strong export<br />
business.<br />
Whilst we also have the option to employ expats<br />
in the business we have only employed local candidates<br />
to date and intend to stick with this practice<br />
for the future, there is a strong focus in Malaysia on<br />
the quality of education and we believe, and have<br />
experienced to date, that there are many well educated<br />
hard working people in Malaysia that will help<br />
<br />
What are your plans for Malaysia and the rest<br />
of Asia?<br />
A: Our long term vision is to continue to develop<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016 41
ENVIRONMENT<br />
Algae prevention treatment of holding pond<br />
in the region and eventually even relocate our head<br />
<br />
markets that we want to get close to and work in<br />
a variety of innovative partnerships both with customers<br />
and distributors.<br />
This is best practiced with a strong presence and<br />
basing yourself closer to your customers. As the<br />
business continues to grow we will look to expand<br />
our science base beyond Australia and move that<br />
into the region as well, it is our intention wo build<br />
relationships with educational facilities and other<br />
science based businesses to increase the depth and<br />
credibility of the product range.<br />
Could you share with us your current range of<br />
products?<br />
A: We currently have over 25 products in the<br />
range targeting four main areas of use, Cleaning<br />
Products, Sanitisers, Odour Control and Waste<br />
Water Remediation are where our products are<br />
currently used. We have products such as General<br />
Purpose Cleaners, Bathroom Cleaners and Floor<br />
Cleaners that are used by the Hotel and Cleaning<br />
industries.<br />
<br />
of waste water of all types. Odour control products<br />
that can be used from domestic to large commercial<br />
applications. A unique range of sanitisers including<br />
two patented products, a long lasting surface<br />
sanitiser that will continue to kill germs on a hard<br />
42<br />
surface for up to 30 days and air sanitiser that will<br />
kill airborne bacteria and mould. Even our Hand<br />
sanitiser is Alcohol Free contains skin moisturis-<br />
<br />
Which type of product / market segment would<br />
you say is the bulk of your revenue coming from?<br />
A: The washroom and hygiene service industry<br />
is currently one of our largest areas of supply.<br />
Our bacterial products are currently used in over<br />
200,000 public and commercial washrooms every<br />
day to control the waste and odour emanating from<br />
the toilet and urinal systems.<br />
Our sanitisers are used to control harmful bacteria<br />
in the air and on the hard surfaces throughout<br />
the washroom environment. Health acre and<br />
educational facilities are building within our business<br />
as is the hospitality market through the provision<br />
of goods to hotels for cleaning and sanitizing<br />
purposes.<br />
Treatment of commercial waste in grease traps<br />
is something that we are also working on developing<br />
in the region as we have been doing this for a<br />
number of years in Australia.<br />
Any plans to explore other industries which may<br />
provide avenues for revenue?<br />
A: Yes, we spent many years researching the<br />
Aquaculture market and waste water remediation.<br />
We have a range of products that can be applied to<br />
these industries and we see this as one our larger<br />
potential markets given the enormity of the issues<br />
surrounding waste water. Commercial waste from<br />
manufacturing, healthcare, education and primary<br />
industry are key targets for us.<br />
What is your outlook for the industry in the<br />
current economic climate?<br />
A: Very positive. People are looking for environmentally<br />
responsible solutions to their everyday<br />
problems and we can provide that. There is<br />
the common misconception that an environmentally<br />
solution will either cost more or not work as<br />
well as a chemical solution.<br />
<br />
products will outperform harsh or toxic chemical<br />
alternatives and do so at a more than competitive<br />
<br />
we still have to win business on a price basis as our<br />
<br />
businesses and this will continue to put pressure on<br />
our selling margins.<br />
ers<br />
will start to pay more attention to the environment<br />
and their impact on it. More and more companies<br />
are becoming accredited to ISO <strong>14</strong>001, the<br />
Environmental Management Standard and we<br />
can help them with this while saving them money<br />
and providing them with solutions they never had<br />
before.<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
ARCHITECTURE<br />
Urban regeneration<br />
A vital approach towards competitiveness, vitality and sustainability<br />
OVER 500 participants<br />
gathered for the 7th<br />
International Conference<br />
on World Class<br />
Sustainable Cities 2015<br />
(WCSC 2015) in Kuala<br />
Lumpur on Sept 29 to listen to, learn from, and<br />
engage with one another on issues of better city<br />
planning.<br />
World class speakers Stephen Luoni (Director<br />
of the University of Arkansas Community<br />
Design Center, Arkansas), Dyan Currie<br />
(Director of Planning & Environment, Gold<br />
Coast, Australia), Sascha Haselmayer (CEO<br />
of CityMart, Barcelona Spain) and Catarina<br />
Rolfsdotter-Jansson (Journalist, Moderator<br />
and Innovator from Malmo, Sweden), globally<br />
renowned for their innovative ideas and excellent<br />
achievements in urban regeneration, shared<br />
with an audience consisting of professionals<br />
(architects & planners), developers, city managers<br />
and members of the public that included<br />
representatives of Residents Associations from<br />
Kuala Lumpur.<br />
This annual conference is co-organised by the<br />
Real Estate & Housing Developers Association<br />
Malaysia Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur<br />
(REHDA KL), the Malaysian Institute of<br />
Planners (MIP), and the Malaysian Institute<br />
of Architects (PAM), and is supported and<br />
endorsed by City Hall Kuala Lumpur (DBKL).<br />
<br />
now in its seventh year. It is organised to bring<br />
together ideas and best practices on what makes<br />
cities sustainable places to live and work in, as<br />
well as to increases the awareness of our city<br />
dwellers and other stakeholders on what makes<br />
a city great.<br />
“We are also happy to note that WCSC’s<br />
impact has gone beyond the boundaries of<br />
Kuala Lumpur. Each year, more and more local<br />
councils from across Malaysia have sent representatives<br />
to this conference. This year, we had<br />
over 20 federal ministries and local councils<br />
from across Malaysia,” said Datuk N.K. Tong,<br />
Organising Chairman of WCSC 2015 from<br />
REHDA KL.<br />
Previous WCSCs have focused on various<br />
topics, including the transformation of<br />
Cheongyecheon River in Seoul, Korea, the city<br />
Exhibit photos<br />
and master plan<br />
VVIPs walking<br />
through the entrance<br />
transportation solutions for Curitiba, Brazil, the<br />
metamorphosis of Kaohsiung, Taiwan from an<br />
industrial polluter to an ecological tourist hub<br />
and demonstrating that liveable cities are creative<br />
and competitive.<br />
This year, WCSC 2015 focused on the<br />
theme of “Urban Regeneration Through Smart<br />
Partnerships”.<br />
“We have searched across the globe for world<br />
class ideas and speakers to share an impactful<br />
day with us. There are also Master Classes that<br />
will be conducted in smaller groups on a separate<br />
day, led by our esteemed speakers, to delve<br />
into greater details on the opportunities for the<br />
future urban regeneration of Kuala Lumpur,”<br />
added Khairiah Talha from MIP.<br />
In previous years, WCSC conference speakers<br />
<br />
perceptions to the Kuala Lumpur project that<br />
followed. The Cheongyecheon River restoration<br />
was a great prelude to the Kuala Lumpur River<br />
of Life project, the Curitiba experience in transforming<br />
the city’s buses and MRT, and pedestrianisation<br />
projects that include covered walkway<br />
systems to make cities for the people.<br />
“We are especially excited this year, as WCSC<br />
<br />
Mayors/Governor’s Meeting (MGM). It is a<br />
great opportunity for Kuala Lumpur to showcase<br />
and lead the way in urban regeneration within<br />
<br />
from PAM.<br />
In conjuction with WCSC 2015, the winners of<br />
the “Photography Competition” themed “Urban<br />
Regeneration Through Smart Partnership” were<br />
also announced and prizes were given out by<br />
Datuk Loga Bala Mohan Jaganathan, Deputy<br />
Minister in Ministry of Federal Territories, who<br />
<br />
44<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
An interior design competition for a new integrated mall<br />
America Europe Asia<br />
This is so that each floor becomes a slice of the world, a representative continent encapsulating<br />
the essence, the characteristics and identities of its capital cities, to bring extraordinary<br />
experiences to visitors.<br />
designers the world over to make this vision a reality.<br />
INTERNATIONAL<br />
JURY PANEL<br />
Elim Chew<br />
Singapore<br />
Thomas Chung<br />
Hong Kong<br />
Martin Duplantier<br />
France<br />
Rodrigo Marcondes Ferraz<br />
Brazil<br />
Craig Menzies<br />
South Africa<br />
Kuldej Sinthawanarong<br />
Thailand<br />
Organised by<br />
for
COLUMN<br />
Hidden costs<br />
<br />
<br />
Looking at a recent study conducted by the<br />
World Bank, we explore the hidden personal<br />
and societal costs of traffic congestion in<br />
Kuala Lumpur and explore the advantages<br />
of greener and healthier transport choices<br />
like bicycling.<br />
the tailpipe exhaust fumes from wasted fuel.<br />
‘TIME IS MONEY’<br />
Time spent stuck in traffic could have been<br />
used more productively. This is what economists<br />
call “opportunity cost”. For example,<br />
instead of wasting time in traffic you could<br />
have put another productive hour at work. The<br />
World Bank has estimated that the annual cost<br />
of delays due to congestion, taking into account<br />
the monetary value of a person’s time in Kuala<br />
Lumpur, is RM10-20 billion. This is the value<br />
of the total time lost due to people sitting in<br />
traffic doing nothing productive. Notably, this<br />
also amounts to 1 million wasted hours per day!<br />
Other direct costs include the amount of<br />
fuel wasted in traffic. This is calculated with the<br />
extra running-time, which can be translated to<br />
extra petrol used in stop-go traffic. This figure<br />
annually for KL translates to approximately<br />
RM1-2 billion worth of extra petrol wasted<br />
because of congestion.<br />
This extra petrol burnt obviously means<br />
greater environmental/social damage. From a<br />
recent International Monetary Fund study, the<br />
environmental cost to society, primarily due to<br />
air pollution, from using one litre of petrol is<br />
RM2.20. This adds another RM1.0-2.5 billion<br />
to the cost of congestion in Kuala Lumpur per<br />
year.<br />
SLOW TRAFFIC, FASTER DEATH<br />
Apart from direct hidden costs, what about<br />
indirect hidden costs? These include degradation<br />
of public health by inducing physically inactive<br />
lifestyles and stress from traffic congestion.<br />
The morning and afternoon<br />
commute, the hours spent<br />
driving those dreaded<br />
kilometers to and from<br />
work, have you ever wondered<br />
how much sitting<br />
in a traffic jam really costs you and Malaysia?<br />
Many developing Asian cities are finding it<br />
difficult to cope with the growth of urbanization<br />
and increased car ownership. How is the<br />
resulting traffic congestion adversely affecting<br />
our development? Studies this year by economists<br />
at the World Bank have shown that in<br />
20<strong>14</strong>, economic losses due to traffic congestion<br />
in Greater Kuala Lumpur was estimated at<br />
around RM20 billion per year or RM54 million<br />
every day! The majority of this cost is associated<br />
with lost productivity, followed by wasted<br />
fuel costs and environmental damage caused by<br />
46<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
COLUMN<br />
A city built around the car means less space for<br />
pedestrians and cyclists. According to a report<br />
from the World Health Organization (WHO),<br />
Malaysia has one of the most physically inactive<br />
populations in the world, with more than 50%<br />
of the population classified as being “inactive”,<br />
while the global average is only at about 20%.<br />
Being “inactive” is classified as having less than<br />
150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per<br />
week, such as a brisk walk. Compared to countries<br />
with a strong cycling culture, Malaysia is<br />
more than three times inactive than<br />
for example the Netherlands (The<br />
Economist). The UK Department of<br />
Health has termed inactivity as the<br />
“silent killer” or “the new smoking”.<br />
This should come as no surprise as<br />
the lack of physical exercise is known<br />
to lead to various dangerous health<br />
conditions such as obesity, diabetes,<br />
heart disease and various forms of<br />
cancer (WHO).<br />
Long congested morning and<br />
afternoon commutes are also associated<br />
with higher stress levels. In<br />
Malaysia, a report by the renowned<br />
market analysis consultants, Frost &<br />
Sullivan, discovered that over 40% of<br />
Malaysians found road congestion as<br />
their number one frustration. In the<br />
long run, excessive stress can have<br />
health consequences, which will be<br />
costly to treat. On the whole, commuting<br />
seems to lead to a general<br />
decrease in happiness and individual<br />
well-being.<br />
CAUSES OF CONGESTION:<br />
OWNERSHIP OR USAGE?<br />
The key cause of congestion is the lack of<br />
public transportation options, coupled with<br />
increased car ownership as a result of urbanization.<br />
Over 70% of Malaysia’s population now<br />
live in urban centres, compared to 40% in 1985.<br />
As income increases, the desire/ability to own<br />
a car also increases. Increased car ownership<br />
does not necessarily lead to road congestion on<br />
its own, it only becomes a problem if everyone<br />
uses their car on a daily basis. For example, you<br />
can use your car on weekends, but commute<br />
daily using public transport. The lack of comprehensive<br />
public transport options, the long<br />
connecting/waiting times, and the problem of<br />
getting to and from key public transportation<br />
lines (the first and last mile problem), means<br />
at times it can take people up to three times<br />
longer to commute with public transport than<br />
by car (World Bank, 2015). This has led to 80%<br />
of inhabitants in KL using their private car for<br />
their daily commute. However, where public<br />
transport options are available, e.g. in Hong<br />
Kong and Singapore, private car use for commuting<br />
is only 10% and 40%, respectively.<br />
HIGH PRIVATE COSTS<br />
Moreover, the lack of a comprehensive<br />
public transportation network further marginalizes<br />
the poorest in the urban population.<br />
Owning a car or a motorcycle further adds pressure<br />
to their weak finances. Given the limited<br />
alternate transport choices, there is almost no<br />
way around owning a motorized vehicle. As a<br />
proportion of an average household’s income,<br />
Malaysians spend 50% more on transport compared<br />
to households in cities with<br />
effective public transportation, e.g.<br />
Hong Kong or Tokyo (World Bank,<br />
2015).<br />
JAKARTA OR SINGAPORE?<br />
Even with new roads and expressways,<br />
congestion is still a growing<br />
problem. Should Malaysia move<br />
backwards and become as infamous<br />
for its congestion as Jakarta? Or<br />
should it adopt a different approach,<br />
as is done in modern Asian cities<br />
such as Singapore, Hong Kong or<br />
Tokyo? One of the obvious solutions<br />
is to build more public transportation<br />
networks, for example with<br />
the new MRT lines. The second step,<br />
according to the World Bank, is to<br />
create effective incentives to influence<br />
behavior, i.e. to implement<br />
effective taxation policies. Such policies<br />
would include taxes on petrol,<br />
congestion charges, increased toll<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016<br />
47
COLUMN<br />
by keeping you physically active and reduces<br />
your environmental footprint. Building an<br />
infrastructure for such a mode of mobility may<br />
include more bicycle lanes and green areas.<br />
By moving in this direction, the city will also<br />
become more “livable”, more outdoor green<br />
which not only allows for greater social interaction,<br />
but also improves public safety through<br />
the “safety in numbers” principle. Research has<br />
shown that social interaction gives the highest<br />
levels of human satisfaction. At the other end<br />
of the scale is private car commuting as the least<br />
desirable. Some European cities have gone as<br />
is the case for Oslo, which plans to re-focus<br />
the city centre around people by 2019. Oslo is<br />
not alone; Madrid plans to achieve a car-free<br />
many: greater mental and physical well-being,<br />
reduced environmental impact, and reduced<br />
-<br />
ular, however if a viable alternative to private<br />
transport existed, opting to move away from<br />
the car could actually save each household<br />
money on transportation costs. In addition,<br />
taxes collected can be used to further fund<br />
public transportation projects.<br />
THE FUTURE: DRIVERLESS CARS<br />
AND BICYCLES?<br />
-<br />
sultants McKinsey, commissioned by the<br />
European Union, discussed the use of driverless<br />
cars and comprehensive carpooling to enhance<br />
urban mobility and reduce congestion. Such<br />
ideas may be decades out in the future, but<br />
reduce environmental damage, and improve<br />
road safety.<br />
Although driverless cars may seem farfetched,<br />
the increased use of bicycles is not.<br />
mile” problem could be worth pursuing.<br />
-<br />
ate perspiration problems in the hot and humid<br />
tropics. Imagine if you can simply cycle to the<br />
MRT station from your home, take your bike<br />
with you onto the MRT, and cycle a few kilometers<br />
from the MRT station to your work place.<br />
Such a model is already practiced in European<br />
cities such as Copenhagen.<br />
“LIVABLE CITIES”<br />
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS<br />
Our car-centric society has many unwanted<br />
consequences. As income increases in Malaysia,<br />
the emergence of more and more cars on the<br />
Malaysian road has outstripped our ability to<br />
-<br />
ally causes billions of Ringgits worth of “hidden<br />
costs” through time-wastage, and damages to<br />
the environment from overuse of petrol. Other<br />
subtler costs include adverse health effects<br />
from physical inactivity and a reduced mental<br />
well-being. Something needs to be done, be it<br />
building a more comprehensive public transportation<br />
network or encouraging people to<br />
take to a more active lifestyle, for example<br />
cycling more. Perhaps it is time for city plansocial<br />
space with human interaction that they<br />
used to be? Where cars and their associated air<br />
and noise pollution are not part of the solution,<br />
but perceived as part of the problem?<br />
REFERENCES<br />
Cartoon, infographics and photo by Bjorn Bull Hansen<br />
and Chew Pui Cheng, IEN Consultants, www.ien.com.my<br />
CO2 Emissions Per Type of Transport: http://<br />
shrinkthatfootprint.com/shrink-your-travel-footprint,<br />
http://blogs.worldbank.org/publicsphere/<br />
global-cyclists-say-no-carbon-opt-cdm<br />
EU & the Circular Economy by McKinsey: http://<br />
www.mckinsey.com/client_service/sustainability/<br />
latest_thinking/growth_within_-_a_circular_economy_<br />
vision_for_a_competitive_europe<br />
Levels of Satisfaction: Kahneman, D., Krueger, A. B.,<br />
Schkade, D., Schwarz, N., & Stone, A. A. (2004). A<br />
survey method for characterizing daily life experience:<br />
The Day Reconstruction Method (DRM). Science, 306,<br />
1776-1780.<br />
NHS: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2015/01january/<br />
pages/inactivity-twice-as-deadly-as-obesity.aspx<br />
The Economist: published on September 5th 2015,<br />
p59-60. http://www.economist.com/news/international/21663218-sedentary-living-has-reached-epidemicproportions-you-have-waked-me-too-soon<br />
WHO: http://www.euro.who.int/en/health-topics/<br />
disease-prevention/physical-activity/data-and-statistics<br />
World Bank Study: “Malaysian Economic Monitor,<br />
Transforming Urban Transport (June 2015)”: http://<br />
www.worldbank.org/en/country/malaysia/publication/<br />
malaysia-economic-monitor-june-2015<br />
48<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
CLIMATE<br />
QUEK YEW AUN is currently reading Biodiversity, Conservation and Management at the University of Oxford. Unfazed<br />
by concrete jungles that surrounded his hometown of Petaling Jaya, his passion for the environment and wildlife<br />
was ignited by a constant diet of Sir David Attenborough documentaries.<br />
Lessons<br />
learnt<br />
How cycling<br />
London-Paris<br />
can be applied to<br />
climate change<br />
Me at the<br />
starting<br />
line<br />
IT is undeniable that climate change<br />
is one of the most, if not the most<br />
challenging problem faced by the<br />
world today. Just a peek at the statistics<br />
would be enough to scare<br />
you. The National Aeronautics and<br />
Space Administration (NASA) reports that<br />
global temperatures have risen by 0.8 degrees<br />
Celcius since 1880; causing sea levels to rise by<br />
3.24 milimetres per year. If this is to continue,<br />
many low lying island nations like Maldives<br />
and Kiribati will simply be consumed by the<br />
sea as early as next century. Malaysia too will be<br />
affected by this global phenomenon. Already<br />
we are seeing more extreme floods and spells<br />
of severe droughts.<br />
Hence as the world leaders congregated<br />
in Paris for the challenging task of agreeing<br />
to a climate deal at the 21stUnited Nations<br />
Framework Convention on Climate Change<br />
(UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP),<br />
I decided take up a challenge of my own.<br />
Together with a classmate, we joined the<br />
climate kilometre movement. As part of the<br />
event, we were to cycle from London to Paris<br />
in three days covering a total of 385.1km. To<br />
put things into perspective, that is the exact<br />
distance from Kuala Lumpur to Sungai Petani.<br />
Sounds crazy? Well, what doesn’t kill you<br />
make you stronger. Along the way, I’ve learnt<br />
many life lessons that could be applied to our<br />
efforts in slowing down climate change:<br />
GEAR UP<br />
To cycle that far in that short amount of time,<br />
it is important to have the right tools so first<br />
I swapped by 5 gear bike to a <strong>14</strong> gear one. A<br />
normal bike just wouldn’t take you as far or<br />
as high as a road/touring bike would. Besides<br />
the ride, other accessories that I had to prepare<br />
for included a reflective vest, bright lights, and<br />
padded shorts. In case of emergency, I brought<br />
spare inner tubes and a pair of chain links. One<br />
thing that I’m guilty of not doing is buying bike<br />
insurance and was lucky that my two wheels<br />
were very well-behaved throughout the entire<br />
journey.<br />
In our efforts to slow down climate change,<br />
we need the right tools as well. At the moment,<br />
most of the electricity we generate comes from<br />
fossil fuel (coal, petrol, gas). This releases huge<br />
amounts of carbon dioxide of which a Form 1<br />
student will tell you causes global warming,<br />
50<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
CLIMATE<br />
hence leading to climate change. It is indeed<br />
sobering to discover that Malaysia generates<br />
83.5% of its energy from fossil fuel sources.<br />
We need to the structural capacity and political<br />
will to transition to more sustainable forms<br />
like wind and solar energy.<br />
START EARLY IS YOU’RE SLOW<br />
Being the beginner long distance cyclist in<br />
the group, it was only natural that I would be<br />
placed with Group 4 (the riders that followed<br />
the slowest pace). On rides that would take<br />
6 hours for normal cyclists, it would take us<br />
(mostly dragged down by me) at least 2 hours<br />
longer. Since we were approaching the winter<br />
solstice at this point, limited daylight would<br />
also prolong our ride from constantly stopping<br />
to navigate. Thus on Day 2 and 3 of the ride,<br />
the group made it a point to leave as early as<br />
possible.<br />
Here, I could liken this to developing countries.<br />
Yes, we might not be as financially or technically<br />
as advanced at the other major economies.<br />
But we have to start this battle early on<br />
or we’ll lose out in the long term as the green<br />
technological zone advances. If we’re lucky, we<br />
might even be the first to arrive!<br />
JUST KEEP CYCLING; THERE IS NO<br />
HILL TOO HARD TO CLIME<br />
One thing true<br />
about cycling is that<br />
being on two wheels<br />
at whatever pace will<br />
get you there faster<br />
than walking at<br />
your fastest pace. So<br />
you’ll eventually get<br />
there as long as you<br />
keep pedaling. As<br />
far as hills are concerned,<br />
there were<br />
numerous occasions<br />
where I looked at the<br />
incline and thought<br />
to myself, ‘There’s<br />
no way I’m going up<br />
that. Well, here again I<br />
proved myself wrong.<br />
All I had to do is just<br />
drop down to my lowest available gear, try to<br />
put on a brave face and pushed through.<br />
Climate change is challenging, no doubt.<br />
There will be times where people, even nations<br />
feel like giving up. However, I urge them not to<br />
give up hope. It may sound naiive but we can<br />
definitely save the world together, as long as<br />
the stakeholders persevere and keep fighting<br />
this good fight.<br />
Tough times don’t last, tough people do<br />
*cue Miley Cyrus’ The Climb*<br />
…yet there is no shame in getting down<br />
to push your bike<br />
Bikes are such fickle creatures; sometimes,<br />
they don’t do what they are told. For example,<br />
climb at 45 degree hill. This is me being the bad<br />
workman that blames his tools. On a serious<br />
note, when things got a little unbearable for<br />
my thighs I got down and pushed the bike<br />
uphill, praying that the next turn would take<br />
me downhill. Luckily my pride was salvaged<br />
by fellow bike pushers; though they probably<br />
had more valid excuses. Hanna had a 10 gear<br />
bike while Antonia had a 12. I’vedigressed;<br />
my point is that pushing your bike will get you<br />
there nonetheless.<br />
Climate change will be more challenging<br />
for some countries as compared to others. The<br />
argument that developed countries will find it<br />
easier to manage their targets is a sound one.<br />
After all, these countries have already reached<br />
a certain level of development. For the developing<br />
countries, we need to reach our climate<br />
goals even if it means going at it at a slower<br />
pace.<br />
SAVOUR THE WINS<br />
Amazing scenery<br />
Throughout the entire route, cycling wins<br />
would definitely be exhilarating downhill rides.<br />
They made the uphill climbs so worth it. Other<br />
than offering rest for tired legs, most of the<br />
downhill had such mesmerizing views of both<br />
the English or French countryside.<br />
The agreement reached at COP 21 had<br />
mixed views from climate activists. Ignoring<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016<br />
51
CLIMATE<br />
the detractors, I would like to think of the<br />
agreement as a representation of world solidarity<br />
on climate change and should be celebrated<br />
as a step in the right direction. Yes,<br />
it might not be fair for everyone but it does<br />
give us something to work on in the coming<br />
years. What is clear is that much more work<br />
is needed to fulfill the commitments.<br />
…but, there’s always another hill to<br />
climb<br />
No matter how many hillsconquered<br />
there was always another that stood<br />
between me and Paris. That fact didn’t<br />
change until the Eiffel tower was in sight.<br />
I’ll never forget the first time we<br />
glimpsed it<br />
The Paris Agreement is no doubt a<br />
momentous occasion. The challenge now<br />
is to make sure every party fulfills their<br />
promise and that such future climate talks<br />
Serves as a bike stand too!<br />
would always put the collective needs.<br />
HAVING A BUDDY OR BETTER YET A<br />
GROUP, HELPS<br />
Humans are social creatures. I’m not<br />
ashamed to admit that I would not have<br />
been able to do this cycle without my buddy,<br />
Marcel or the awesome groupmates. Dave<br />
(our Brompton riding leader), Hanna (the<br />
vegan chick on a bike from the 80s), with<br />
the 3 other couples- Jack (the happy go<br />
lucky dude with a ponytail) and Jessie (the<br />
ever bubbly optimist), David (our handyman<br />
extraordinaire) and Rebecca (the caring<br />
one with a small bladder), Aidan (the caring<br />
boyfriend) and Antonia (girl with the Harry<br />
Potter glasses). We supported<br />
each other by giving words of encouragement<br />
and waiting if either one of us were lagging<br />
behind (this was mostly me).<br />
One would think that with 193 countries<br />
in the UNFCCC COP, a consensus would<br />
be almost impossible to reach. Some would<br />
want to dictate future movements while<br />
others vote in groups. However, I feel that<br />
this immense number should be seen as an<br />
advantage. As a country, there are 192 others<br />
in the same boat. The knowledge that all of us<br />
are in this together has to spur parties to work<br />
harder and support each other to combat<br />
climate change. After all, there is only one<br />
Planet Earth.<br />
WHEN THE TIMES GET TOUGH,<br />
IMPROVISE!<br />
This one is not from me, but from the<br />
resourcefulness of David. We met David and<br />
Rebecca on the first day. Both of them were<br />
cycling to Paris despite not being part of Climate<br />
Kilometre. Since they didn’t know the existence<br />
of a transport van, David was carrying a cabin<br />
sized trolley bag on his bike. When he eventually<br />
found it was too heavy to cycle up the hills with a<br />
bag in tow, he improvised by cable tying the bag<br />
to the back of his bike at a 45 degree angle! This<br />
simulated a person dragging a bag and reduced<br />
the weight he had to carry tremendously! Along<br />
the way, he improvised with an inner tube dampener<br />
to reduce the stiffness.<br />
To combat climate change, human innovation<br />
can be our single most potent weapon. By the<br />
Malthusian principle, the human race couldn’t<br />
have increase exponentially while food production<br />
only increased linearly. And yet here we<br />
are. I believe the intensive farming driven by<br />
the advances in machinery and development of<br />
Ostwald process to produce nitrogenous fertilizer<br />
saved the world from mass starvation. Now,<br />
we are at this critical juncture where a paradigm<br />
shifting innovation is once again needed. Who<br />
knows? We might already have an answer in the<br />
works.<br />
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, IT IS ALL IN<br />
THE MIND<br />
To be honest, there was not one moment<br />
throughout the ride that I thought about giving<br />
up and taking a train to Paris. After all, what would<br />
I have gained if I completed the ride? I wouldn’t<br />
have made any difference in the decisions made<br />
in COP. Nevertheless, I decided to complete what<br />
I started, to make a pointthat anything is possible<br />
as long as you put your mind to it.<br />
The same could be said about climate change.<br />
A good friend once told me that ‘Nothing worth<br />
doing/having comes easy’. For a better world, we<br />
need better policies, better cooperation among<br />
countries and political leaders willing to do what<br />
is necessary. It might be difficult at first, but the<br />
mind has a way of turning impossible feats into<br />
reality.<br />
On a concluding note, I urge all of you to take<br />
into consideration your individual actions to<br />
combat climate change. Just simple gestures, if<br />
practised by the masses will make a difference.<br />
Eat up all your food, bike to work, use public<br />
transport, recycle your waste, install solar panels.<br />
Remember, climate change will affect everyone<br />
including our children and their children’s<br />
children.<br />
52<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
Who is DHES?<br />
DRB-Hicom Environmental Services Sdn<br />
Bhd (938781-W) or “DHES” is a fully owned<br />
subsidiary of Alam Flora Sdn Bhd and is<br />
under the DRB-HICOM BERHAD Group.<br />
We offer diverse quality services related<br />
to the environment including consultancy,<br />
systems analyses and technical inspection.<br />
We have more than 100* staff in the<br />
management and technical areas and<br />
over 400* support staff stationed all over<br />
Malaysia. Established in the 1990s**, and<br />
we have more than 18 years experience in<br />
this industry and we assure our customers<br />
quality service.<br />
Why us?<br />
Quality Service<br />
Reliability<br />
<br />
Group Synergy<br />
Strategy Driven<br />
Value For Money<br />
* Data until September 20<strong>14</strong> ** Alam Flora Sdn Bhd<br />
LEADING<br />
AGGRESIVE<br />
3R &<br />
Industrial Scrap<br />
Our main Recycling Centre is located in Precint 9, Putrajaya.<br />
By our “Buy Back Programme”, you can earn some income<br />
while helping the domestic economy and conserving the<br />
environment.<br />
Besides 3R activities, DHES is also involved in providing a<br />
comprehensive service for the large scale industry. On an<br />
average we manage 110 tonnes of scrap per day, equivalent<br />
to 40,000 tonnes yearly. Our industrial scrap waste consists<br />
of various types of iron and metal, wood, aluminium and<br />
other hard materials. Hence DHES has become the largest<br />
Bumiputera company in Malaysia in managing industrial scrap.<br />
Waste Management Facility<br />
& Services<br />
DHES has started its business in waste management in<br />
Malaysia since 1990s. Our vast experience in this industry has<br />
widen our range of services into;<br />
• Management of Transfer Station<br />
<br />
• Industrial, Commercial & Institutional (ICI) Waste<br />
• Renovation & Construction Waste (RCW)<br />
Integrated Facilities<br />
Management (IFM)<br />
Our focus is to ensure quality that our customers demand and<br />
<br />
• Mechanical and Electrical Systems<br />
• Civil and Structural Systems<br />
• Environment Management<br />
• Parking Management<br />
• Security Management<br />
• Computerised Maintenance Management System<br />
• Utilities Management<br />
• Landscaping and Grounds Services<br />
• Cleaning and Housekeeping Services<br />
• Fire Fighthing Systems<br />
• Vertical Transportation<br />
• Pest Control
COLUMN<br />
By KEVIN HOR<br />
(Project Manager and Component 3 Consultant)<br />
kevin.hor@jkr.gov.my<br />
Malaysia v Romania<br />
and Belarus<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
NO matter what the situation<br />
of our economy is,<br />
Malaysia is still a developing<br />
country, at least in the<br />
region, with the GDP of<br />
roughly USD700 billion<br />
— according to The World Book Data.<br />
Based on population and geographical size,<br />
it’s fair enough when we say Singapore has<br />
moved triple the speed we are currently accelerated,<br />
in any field including energy efficiency<br />
in buildings. Its cliché to compare Malaysia<br />
and Singapore, we are close competitors in<br />
the ASEAN region.<br />
But, where do we stand among the EU<br />
countries when it comes to energy efficiency<br />
in buildings? Let’s not be intimidated<br />
by Germany but focus on countries that are<br />
nearly similar to Malaysia in geographical size<br />
and population such as Romania and Belarus.<br />
Looking at initiatives for energy efficiency<br />
in buildings, Malaysia is 10 years behind compared<br />
to Belarus that kick-started its EE initiative<br />
in the 90s with their Social Infrastructure<br />
Retrofitting Project (SIRP). The country realized<br />
the energy wasted in heating and lighting<br />
poorly designed and maintained facilities and<br />
requested support from the World Bank to retrofit<br />
their public buildings and it was approved<br />
in 2001.<br />
This project that ended in 2010, has retrofitted<br />
745 social sector buildings to improve its<br />
efficiency and 300 educational facilities have<br />
received lighting improvements, resulting 15%<br />
of reduction in electricity consumption and<br />
40,000 tons/year of CO2 reduction. The data<br />
collected from this project itself could be a<br />
good reference to Belarus to develop a successful<br />
energy efficiency framework in the future.<br />
Belarus took a smart step by approaching<br />
the World Bank as this project paved the way<br />
for the next World Bank operations in Belarus,<br />
including Post Chernobyl Recovery Project<br />
and Energy Efficiency Project, and contributed<br />
to the dialogue on broader energy sector<br />
reforms.<br />
Support from the World Bank influence<br />
the confidence in local bank for energy efficiency<br />
investments. Most banks in Belarus<br />
support energy efficiency projects compared<br />
to Malaysia, where loans provided for energy<br />
efficiency are still not their main priority,<br />
even it is proven that it is one of the lowest<br />
risk investments.<br />
Belarus government gives full support to<br />
energy efficiency programs, proven by their<br />
investments in energy efficiency that reached<br />
about US$ 3.86 billion over the past 15 years<br />
which has made a significant progress in<br />
improving energy efficiency in their country.<br />
What about Romania? Based on GDP, even<br />
with the current economy situation, Malaysia’s<br />
economy is performing nearly 700 per cent<br />
A photo-electric station in Belarus<br />
higher than Romania, with the rapid growth<br />
in the construction industrythat could easily<br />
convince investor in energy efficiency projects.<br />
This could be a strong reason why we should<br />
have a higher goal in energy efficiency and<br />
sustainability.<br />
However, Romania is more daring and ambitious<br />
to reduce 80 per cent of CO2 emissions<br />
from the building sector alone by the year<br />
2050.Some might think it’s an unrealistic goal<br />
especially when your country has a legacy of<br />
many buildings from the communist era that<br />
are no longer fit for purpose. But looking at the<br />
brighter side, higher goal means higher effort<br />
from the government that has prepared for a<br />
very organized framework to achieve it.<br />
The government introduced Renovating<br />
Romania that is divided into three phases. For<br />
the first phase, the priority is to establish the<br />
conditions whereby deep renovations, saving<br />
at least 60%, become the norm within five<br />
54<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
COLUMN<br />
National Library of Belarus<br />
SkyTower, the tallest building in Romania<br />
years followed by technological development<br />
that will then provide the means of achieving<br />
80-100 per cent energy savings in a highly cost<br />
effective manner as standard in renovations<br />
within around10 years.<br />
Thereafter in Phase 3, with a proper policy<br />
implemented, achieving positive energy building<br />
renovation will be realistic, practical and<br />
cost effective within 20 years, just in time to<br />
reach their goal in 2050. Not just having a<br />
well-planned strategy, Romania has a clearer<br />
direction that has been set under EU roadmap<br />
in moving into a competitive low carbon<br />
economy in 2050 which identifies the need<br />
of reducing carbon emissions in residential<br />
and services sectors, collectively, the building<br />
sector by 88%-91% by 2050 compared to 1990<br />
levels. This, again, drives the support from the<br />
government in energy efficiency projects.<br />
Romania and Belarus are better in improving<br />
their energy efficiency in buildings as both<br />
Worldwide leading mobile phone maker Nokia has<br />
announced today that its Jucu Factory in Romania has<br />
been chosen as one of the leading green buildings in the<br />
<br />
countries are under European Commission<br />
that provides multiple choices of grants for<br />
energy efficiency projects. EU EBRD Energy<br />
Efficiency Finance Facility (EERD EEFF), for<br />
instance, funds reconstruction and development<br />
to help private sector energy efficiency<br />
investments.<br />
Private sector industrial companies may<br />
borrow up to 2.5 million euros from a participating<br />
bank for energy efficiency investments,<br />
with free technical consultancy and receive a<br />
15% grant that is up to 375,000euro direct from<br />
EBRD EEFFwhen the investment is completed<br />
and operational. Funding is also available for<br />
a range of different energy saving investments,<br />
including building renovation.<br />
Malaysia is still far behind when it comes<br />
to funding, which discouraged the interest in<br />
energy efficiency project especially among the<br />
public.<br />
Looking at the surface, Malaysia’s residential<br />
buildings are more urbanized compared to<br />
Romania and Belarus that are dominated by<br />
old residential buildings with poor thermal<br />
performance, which deserve attention from<br />
United Nations Development Programme<br />
and Global Environment Fund in improving<br />
energy efficiency in residential buildings for<br />
both countries. It is much easier to retrofit our<br />
residential buildings to be energy efficient.<br />
However, that is not the scenario in Malaysia.<br />
We do have effort like low-carbon-city campaign<br />
done by Majlis Perbandaran Petaling Jaya<br />
(MBPJ) that is not widely acknowledged by<br />
the residents. Lack of awareness among public<br />
resulted in hesitation in investing for energy<br />
efficiency features for their homes.<br />
Based on these comparisons, economy alone<br />
is not the measure of the success of energy efficiency<br />
projects in any country. Government<br />
support could make a huge difference.<br />
Collaboration with international consultants<br />
to develop an appropriate policy landscape that<br />
is parallel to the local market is essential component<br />
for a successful delivery in any energy<br />
efficiency project.<br />
This will be followed by confidence from the<br />
bankers which will encourage investments in<br />
energy efficiency. Assistance from international<br />
consultants could give a clearer direction<br />
for our country to reach our sustainability<br />
goals.<br />
Collaboration between multiple government<br />
agencies will lead to a better execution<br />
for the strategy in the energy efficiency framework.<br />
All these may contribute to the reduction<br />
of our total of energy consumption from the<br />
building sector that can place us on the same<br />
par with the other EU countries.<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016<br />
55
COLUMN<br />
CAPTAIN PLANET<br />
RAVINDRAN RAMAN KUTTY,<br />
also known as Captain Planet,<br />
who had radio programs in Traxx<br />
FM, Minnal FM, Radio Ibukota, AI<br />
FM and regular TV shows. He was<br />
also responsible in developing the<br />
<br />
school students in English,<br />
<br />
Tamil. He also developed a pre-<br />
<br />
ran environment columns in all the<br />
leading newspapers in English,<br />
<br />
Tamil. He also worked with the<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
writing contest on environment<br />
<br />
Tamil school students. He also<br />
has started waste education<br />
programs in the Middle East,<br />
<br />
<br />
environmental journalist award<br />
<br />
Learn, unlearn<br />
and relearn<br />
Malaysians must change habits to bring<br />
about better future for our children<br />
THE recent Selangor government<br />
direction on the possibility<br />
of implementing a<br />
state-wide ban on the usage<br />
of plastics bags, Styrofoam<br />
and other biodegradable<br />
materials is a laudable move in creating a safe,<br />
sound and secure society in facing the surmounting<br />
problems caused by the usage of<br />
such products.<br />
The best way to educate Malaysians on the<br />
perils of plastics is to substitute plastics with<br />
environment-friendly materials like paper and<br />
water soluble materials which degrade much<br />
faster at our landfills.<br />
I must say Malaysians are taking it very easy<br />
when it comes to our environment. Ignoring its<br />
value, we throw our recyclables such as plastics,<br />
metals, papers alongside with all the materials<br />
which soil valuable recyclable wastes.<br />
We cannot deny that plastics are light and<br />
durable; their practical and hygienic standpoint<br />
unarguable, but they are good as well<br />
as dangerous. Society must take the effort<br />
to ensure that all the plastics bags used must<br />
end up in recycling centres rather than landfills.<br />
Residents of Kuala Lumpur alone discard<br />
127,000 kg of plastics, equivalent to RM50<br />
million a year. Plastics left in the landfill take<br />
more than 10,000 years to degrade. Out of the<br />
2,700 tonnes of waste collected from the city,<br />
13% comprises plastics. If these plastics are left<br />
to rest in the landfills, we will not see any solution<br />
to our environmental woes.<br />
I admire the courage of the Selangor government.<br />
However, I urge them to ensure that<br />
they think thoroughly before implementing<br />
the policy. Decreasing the use of plastic bags<br />
and substituting them with paper bags is a good<br />
step, but the effects on the environment must<br />
not be overlooked. The increase in paper bag<br />
usage will also result in an increase in the harvesting<br />
of trees. It must be sternly advised that<br />
the paper bags used are mainly derived from<br />
recyclable material. Hence, this would create<br />
more value and meaning to the replacement<br />
as well as further boost the preservation of our<br />
greenery. It is not the fault of the material, but<br />
that of society who have chosen to ignore the<br />
environment.<br />
The lack of research, proper environmental<br />
awareness and poor enforcement are the main<br />
causes of the increasing wastage going to the<br />
landfills. It is heartening to note that UKM’s<br />
Fuel Cell Institute is seriously looking into converting<br />
plastics into petroleum. This technology,<br />
popular in Japan though founded in the<br />
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Illinois Sustainable Technology Centre, can<br />
covert one kilogram of plastics into one litre<br />
of petrol, but the production costs is still high.<br />
Approximately one trillion plastic bags used<br />
worldwide in 20<strong>14</strong> is equivalent to 120 million<br />
barrels of oil. We Malaysians use over 8 billion<br />
plastics bags annually or one million bags per<br />
minute, thus consuming up to one million<br />
barrels of oil that can be produced.<br />
The ill-effects of plastics are not only limited<br />
to landfills. It is evident even in the mini plastic<br />
bags that are used to fill our hot “teh-tarik” and<br />
coffee. Common chemicals in plastic include<br />
Bisphenol A (BPA),a chemical used in large<br />
quantities in the production of polycarbonate<br />
plastics and epoxy resins phthalates, ink, and<br />
glue that will leach from the plastic into our<br />
favourite drinks. Many Malaysians are ignorant<br />
of this; it is a pity that no agency has come up in<br />
the open to stop these dangerous plastic bags in<br />
circulation especially at the “warongs”, mamak<br />
stalls and coffee shops. Can the Coffee Shop<br />
association or the Ministry of Health immediately<br />
stop these plastics bags from being used<br />
to pack hot and cold drinks.<br />
The Expandable Polystyrene Foam (EPS) is<br />
neither a good alternative for the packaging of<br />
hot drinks. They too bring out their toxic properties<br />
when hot food and drinks are stored in<br />
them. Several thousands of animals especially<br />
fishes, turtles, cattle and birds are also suffering<br />
from these plastic and EPS hazards.<br />
While we could argue continuously on the<br />
good or bad of plastics, the point remains that<br />
it is not the plastics but the attitude of the<br />
users. Plastics too have their role to play. We<br />
can avoid using them for hot food and drink<br />
preparation and servings. We need to look at<br />
the ATTITUDE of mankind. We use the plastics<br />
but throw them back to the co-mingled<br />
waste bin. We must stop throwing plastics anywhere<br />
we like. Instead, gather and send them<br />
for recycling. This attitudinal change will bring<br />
about a significant change to the environment.<br />
Every restaurant operator who renews his<br />
annual licence must undergo a simple training<br />
program to ensure that he/she understands<br />
the ill-effects of plastics so that they<br />
will then look into alternatives. All wedding<br />
and party organisers must also be trained<br />
to think beyond plastic cups and plates; use<br />
alternatives such as glass containers, aluminium<br />
foil, stainless steel containers and cloth<br />
and paper bags. We must emulate McDonalds,<br />
Dunkin Donuts, and Subway in their best practices<br />
with regards to the environment. It is my<br />
dream to hear from the Nasi Kandar Kayu and<br />
Pelita and all our Kopitiam outlets coming out<br />
strongly and making announcements saying<br />
that they will go green by moving away from<br />
plastic cups and plates.<br />
Malaysians must quickly learn and change<br />
for the better, as written byThe New York<br />
Times columnist Tom Friedman, ‘Everyone<br />
has to bring something extra; being average<br />
is no longer enough. Everyone is looking for<br />
employees who critical thinking and problem<br />
solving can do … just to get an interview. What<br />
they are really looking for are people who can<br />
invent, re-invent and re-engineer their jobs<br />
while doing them.’<br />
People who find opportunities in a changing<br />
environment are those who are actively looking<br />
for them. The choice is simple: act or be acted<br />
upon. Since change is the only constant you<br />
can truly rely upon, learning to navigate and<br />
adapt to it is not just important to your survival,<br />
it is essential for you to thrive in the<br />
bigger game of life.<br />
As futurist and philosopher Alvin Toffler<br />
once wrote: “The illiterate of the 21st century<br />
will not be those who cannot read and write,<br />
but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and<br />
relearn.”<br />
Alvin Toffle is right - in order to save the<br />
future, we must quickly learn, unlearn and<br />
relearn, in making sure that we adopt new ways<br />
in waste management and bring about a better<br />
and greater environment for our children.<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016<br />
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<br />
of sustainable urban design and <strong>Green</strong> buildings towards the aspect of social, environment and economy for a<br />
better world.<br />
Capitalism<br />
v Climate<br />
change<br />
How free market fundamentalism helped overheat the planet and how we<br />
should react against the invisible hand<br />
There were indeed, important<br />
and interesting signs<br />
ahead of this upcoming<br />
UNFCCC COP 21 in Paris.<br />
With the recent key events<br />
that Obama has rejected<br />
Keystone XL pipeline project after 6 years of<br />
review and Vatican leaders have released Pope<br />
Francis’s 192 pages encyclical on the environment<br />
this year, it is ambivalent to ride on the<br />
optimism that COP 21 will deliver what COP<br />
15 in Copenhagen has failed, a legal binding<br />
agreement for countries to stay below the 2<br />
degree Celsius increase in global temperature.<br />
However, the treaty is not a bargain for the<br />
African and other vulnerable countries, as they<br />
were pushing for 1.5 degree Celsius instead<br />
because 2 degrees Celsius spells genocide<br />
for their countries. I am uncertain, as hope is<br />
embarking scarcity this time. The world’s governments<br />
have been negotiating about their’<br />
carbon’ for my entire life, literally, from the mid-<br />
1990s, and the only thing rising faster than our<br />
emissions is the amount of pledges to lower<br />
them. So why the paradox occurrence where<br />
our global emission is just getting off the charts?<br />
Naomi Klein latest anti-globalization trilogy<br />
book “This Changes Everything” might refresh<br />
your memory on the bigger picture of climate<br />
change isn’t about carbon, but capitalism.<br />
WE KNEW (KNOW) WHAT IS<br />
COMING<br />
Let us not fool ourselves that climate destabilization<br />
is a hoax, as surveys of the peer-reviewed<br />
scientific literature consistently show<br />
a 97-98% that humans are causing global<br />
Naomi Klein’s latest trilogy book on anti-capitalism<br />
“This Changes Everything”<br />
warming. In fact, the climate conversation<br />
began back in 1988 when Dr James Hansen,<br />
climatologist and director of NASA’s Institute<br />
for Space Studies, testified that climate change<br />
is an anthropogenic effect.<br />
While majority Malaysians are clouded with<br />
the current political drama and financial hardships,<br />
the conversation on climate change has<br />
gone into adaptation by building more dams<br />
and flood mitigation infrastructures, rather in<br />
depth public conversations on cutting down<br />
absolute carbon emissions (which our government<br />
opted for an absurd 40% carbon reduction<br />
as per GDP intensity in COP15). The<br />
ecology and economic damages of climate<br />
change is prevalent, as seen from the new norm,<br />
the annual dry spell and flood on the east and<br />
west coast respectively.<br />
The weatherman recorded an increase of<br />
0.7 degrees in average peninsula temperature<br />
since the 1969, while the mean Malaysian seas<br />
level has been rising at a rate of 1.42-4.08mm/<br />
year. Record breaking typhoons, floods and<br />
droughts are getting off the charts at various<br />
corners of the world, and scientists have also<br />
confirmed that we have entered the sixth<br />
mass extinction where animals are dying out<br />
100 times the normal rate. Clearly, we are no<br />
longer at the terms discussing about preventing<br />
climate change, but instead, avoiding catastrophic<br />
damages by transiting into a resilience<br />
economy.<br />
BUT WHAT IS STOPPING US?<br />
Many of us have already known this inconvenient<br />
truth well, but why aren’t many recognizing<br />
and taking the necessary action? Most<br />
Malaysians will conveniently browse through<br />
the disastrous scenes of typhoon Haiyan or<br />
Katrina in grief and anger but back to business<br />
as usual the next day. Many want the change but<br />
does not want to be the change. Why? Even if,<br />
only few that talk about going energy efficient,<br />
switching off the light bulbs, permaculture gardening,<br />
or green buildings.<br />
But what we need here is a radical transformation<br />
that will mobilize the mass movement.<br />
In which, Klein explicitly pointed out, those<br />
huge efforts we yearn to see fundamentally conflict<br />
with deregulated capitalism, the reigning<br />
ideology for the entire period we have been<br />
struggling to find a way out of this crisis.<br />
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The top 90 companies<br />
that are responsible for<br />
two thirds of our global<br />
carbon emissions<br />
(Source: The Guardian)<br />
We are trapped because the actions that<br />
would be the best chance of averting catastrophe<br />
and would benefit the vast majority – are<br />
extremely threatening to an elite minority<br />
that has a stranglehold over our economy (oil<br />
and gas particularly), political process (that is<br />
lobbied by rich corporations), and our media<br />
outlets. Interestingly from a socialism point of<br />
view, a research from Yales found that people<br />
with strong ‘communitarian’ (incline towards<br />
collective action and social justice) worldviews<br />
accept the scientific consensus on climate<br />
change.<br />
Conversely, those with strong ‘hierarchical’<br />
and ‘individualistic’ (strong support for industry)<br />
worldviews reject the scientific consensus.<br />
It is always easier to deny reality than to<br />
allow our worldview to be shattered. But what<br />
about ‘green technology’ attempts in saving<br />
the world? Ironically, finding new ways to privatize<br />
the commons and profit from disaster is<br />
also what our current system is built to do. The<br />
benefits goes to the ‘climate-ready’ crops producer<br />
such as Monsanto, and big contractors,<br />
insurance companies benefiting through disaster<br />
mitigation projects. What about big companies<br />
and Individuals such as Shell and Richard<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016<br />
Branson declaring that environmental conservation<br />
is in their agenda? It is nothing more than<br />
a public relations stunt, reflected in their tiny<br />
investment on environmental obligations.<br />
THE CLIMATE CHANGE AND<br />
CAPITALISM PARALLELISM<br />
The scenario is distinctively identical across<br />
the globe. The privatization of the public sphere,<br />
deregulation of the corporate sector, and lower<br />
corporate taxation, paid for with cuts to public<br />
spending. The occupy wall street movement<br />
echoes the real world costs of these policies, the<br />
instability of financial market, the ever widening<br />
rich poor gap, as well as the failing state of<br />
public infrastructure and services. Klein reinforced<br />
her past 15 years of experience by linking<br />
how capitalism has systematically sabotaged<br />
our collective response to climate change, a<br />
happening threat that came knocking just as<br />
this ideology was reaching its zenith.<br />
If one has to look back at the past quarter<br />
century of international negotiations, two<br />
defining process stand out. There will be the<br />
climate process, which struggles and failing<br />
utterly to achieve its goals, and there will be<br />
the corporate globalization process, hammering<br />
victorious milestones, from the first trade<br />
deal between Canada and the United States<br />
(which forms NAFTA) to the creation of World<br />
Trade Organization to the transformation of<br />
large parts of Asia into sprawling free trade<br />
zones, with the latest Trans-Pacific Partnership<br />
Agreement. Both, interestingly began in the<br />
1990s. In mid of 20<strong>14</strong>, the IPCC has also finally<br />
acknowledged the reality of growing share of<br />
total anthropogenic CO2 emissions is released<br />
in the manufacture of products that are traded<br />
across international borders.<br />
A MORAL ISSUE – SOLVING THIS<br />
SOLVING MORE<br />
Climate destabilization is a moral issue transcended<br />
through our current economic system.<br />
Between 1990 and 1998, more than 94 percent<br />
of the world’s biggest natural disasters occurred<br />
in developing world, places with weak and poor<br />
infrastructure, where people are not responsible<br />
for the majority of the carbon emissions.<br />
Instead, 80 percent of the world’s emissions<br />
lies with just 20 percent of the inhabitants of<br />
the world’s wealthiest nations. Research also<br />
suggests that the climate crisis is fuelled by 90<br />
companies (mostly oil and gas), which between<br />
them produced nearly two thirds of the greenhouse<br />
gas emissions since the dawning of industrial<br />
age.<br />
The culprits extend to huge industries such<br />
as aviation, automobile and even military,<br />
which are decided by consumers like us. We<br />
know that various social issues are caused and<br />
amplified by wealth inequality and injustice (at<br />
all scales, from individuals to countries) which<br />
directly contradicts humanity values and religious<br />
teachings. Fixing this moral issue we<br />
know, is not merely a chance to respond to the<br />
climate crisis but it restores hope and progress<br />
of the human race as a whole. As what James<br />
Martin has rightly pointed out in his book<br />
“The Meaning of the 21st Century”, we are at<br />
the junction of our civilization in determining<br />
our future.<br />
THE GREAT WAKE-UP CALL<br />
So how do we do it? Definitely not the next<br />
generation of ‘clean’ nuclear power plants that<br />
take another decade of research, not some giant<br />
carbon dioxide sucking machine, not slowly<br />
awaiting our “green companies” or “green<br />
Messiahs”. We simply do not have the time. But<br />
instead, people power.<br />
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Infographic shows comparison of carbon emissions per unit geographic area, where evidently south Africa being the smallest, yet most vulnerable to natural disasters.<br />
Cliché it may sound, but Klein underlines<br />
that we have the technological solutions for the<br />
problems we face, what we need urgently is to<br />
unite across the globe for a mass movement.<br />
It is the unification among society groups and<br />
widely exploited indigenous people to resist<br />
against the construction of pipelines and the<br />
slaughtering act of our green lungs, the large<br />
act of civil disobedience that puts a strong<br />
message across, the divestment movement that<br />
redirects money away from polluters to entities<br />
that have a clear vision for our planet healing<br />
process. Many have cited on Mark Jacobson’s<br />
team at Stanford that shows a global transition<br />
to 100 percent renewable energy is both technically<br />
and economically feasible by as early as<br />
2030, which essentially cancels the argument of<br />
several countries having a ‘transition’ fuel which<br />
is oil, gas or nuclear.<br />
Is it really possible? Various experiences<br />
across the globe and era have shown us the<br />
miraculous transition we are capable of in<br />
times of urgency. The Germans have shown us<br />
how political will accelerated the transition to<br />
renewables in a short amount of time. Last year<br />
about 27 per cent of its electricity came from<br />
renewables, where after the 2011 meltdown at<br />
Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant, which<br />
led Chancellor Angela Merkel to declare that<br />
Germany would shut all 17 of its own reactors<br />
by 2022.<br />
60<br />
The fear of meltdown is a much more powerful<br />
and immediate motive than the fear of<br />
slowly rising temperatures and seas. History<br />
has shown that we are willing to collectively<br />
sacrifice in the face of threats many times, most<br />
famously in the embrace of rationing, self-sufficient<br />
farming during World Wars I and II. To<br />
support fuel conservation during World War<br />
II, pleasure driving was virtually eliminated in<br />
the U.K between 1938 and 1944, use of public<br />
transit went up by 87 percent in the U.S and<br />
by 95 percent in Canada. Interestingly, all of<br />
these activities together dramatically reduce<br />
carbon emissions. Yes, the threat of war seemed<br />
immediate and substantial during then but why<br />
haven’t we seen climate change or capitalism<br />
the same way too?<br />
MAJORITY BOTTOM HAS TO ACT<br />
We need to shift from privatization to community<br />
ownership and control. We need large<br />
public sector investments for emissions reduction:<br />
shift to renewables, smart grids, free of<br />
charge public transport infrastructure, urban<br />
redesigns that obsolete car usages, preparation<br />
for storms and other emergencies. And<br />
of course, revenues should come from polluters,<br />
such as high royalties, or a steep carbon tax<br />
with redistribution to those who cannot afford<br />
higher prices.<br />
Paradox to this, it is immoral for some countries<br />
to even subsidize dirty fossil fuels using<br />
public funds. We need game-changing policies<br />
that don’t merely aim to change laws but change<br />
patterns of thought. We need to continue to<br />
preach across how we owe to one another based<br />
on our shared humanity on this common earth,<br />
and what it is that we collectively value more<br />
than economic growth and corporate profits.<br />
Imagine a powerful social movement with a<br />
coalition of trade unions, immigrants, students,<br />
environmentalists, and everyone else whose<br />
dreams were getting crushed by the crashing<br />
economic model.<br />
The real solutions to this climate crisis are<br />
also our best hope of building a much more<br />
stable and equitable economic system, one that<br />
strengthen and transforms the public sphere,<br />
generates plentiful, dignified work, and radically<br />
flushes off corporate greed. What we are<br />
really talking about, if we are honest with ourselves,<br />
is transforming everything about the<br />
way we live on this planet. And, it just requires<br />
breaking every rule in the ‘free market’ playbook,<br />
reining in corporate power, rebuilding<br />
local economies, and reclaiming our democracies.<br />
Solving this solving more than what<br />
climate change affects us alone but redefining<br />
our obsolete capitalism model that has<br />
robbed humanity’s dignity apart. This changes<br />
everything.<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
IN THIS<br />
ISSUE<br />
Dire need<br />
for industry to<br />
make sound<br />
decisions<br />
Malaysia<br />
charging up<br />
the electric<br />
mobility<br />
revolution<br />
Long arm of<br />
WWF-Malaysia<br />
Arquebuse<br />
Water, the<br />
heavenly<br />
water of life<br />
Hydro will power<br />
Sarawak into<br />
the future<br />
This clean and renewable<br />
source of energy offers<br />
Sarawakians tremendous<br />
<br />
Giving waste<br />
water a second<br />
chance<br />
Inside GE’s Water<br />
Technology Centre with<br />
Dr Adil Dhalla<br />
Nadzri: We’ll ‘lead<br />
by example’<br />
Will ensure all government<br />
<br />
and complies with existing<br />
regulations in order to be able<br />
to impose for the private<br />
sector to do the same<br />
in this issue<br />
Tea Team produces results<br />
Weaving hope for future<br />
Pomeroy unveils Newpark<br />
China’s land treatment<br />
success<br />
Waste2wealth<br />
Minister of Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local<br />
Government Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan says they<br />
are consistently thrusting forward the 3Rs programmes<br />
in order to achieve 22 per cent recycling rate by 2020<br />
NRE’s 11 goals<br />
towards a better<br />
environment<br />
Implementation of CAAP critical in<br />
reducing greenhouse emissions<br />
and combating global warming<br />
PP 18355/12/2013 (033744) Vol 2 <strong>Issu</strong>e 7 RM12.00 JUNE-JULY, 2015<br />
Technology<br />
Provider<br />
As a premier solution provider, President<br />
and CE Dato’ Dr Zainal Abidin Mohd Yusof<br />
is the driver behind SIRIM’s quality and<br />
technology innovations that help<br />
companies to compete better<br />
Nam Cheong<br />
launches new<br />
‘green’ AHTS vessel<br />
Not just cost-effective<br />
but also fuel efficient and<br />
environmentally-friendly
MARITIME<br />
Going <strong>Green</strong> in the<br />
blue sea<br />
In the wake of the landmark COP 21 agreement,<br />
Nazery Khalid<br />
climate change<br />
NAZERY KHALID is Honorary<br />
Secretary of Association of<br />
Marine Industries of Malaysia<br />
(AMIM). He can be contacted at<br />
nazerykhalid@gmail.com<br />
FEELING THE HEAT OF<br />
CLIMATE CHANGE<br />
The 21st Conference of Parties<br />
(COP 21) held in Paris from<br />
30 November to 11 December<br />
2015 - also known as the 2015<br />
Paris Climate Conference – organized by the<br />
United Nations Conference on Climate Change<br />
(UNFCC) concluded on a high note. Some<br />
observers were quick to use words like ‘unprecedented’<br />
and ‘historic’ in hailing the conclusion<br />
of the negotiations which saw nations agreeing<br />
to achieve the goal of preventing the temperature<br />
of planet earth from rising by less than two<br />
degree Celcius. This target is at the core of the<br />
Paris Agreement agreed upon by 196 countries<br />
at COP21in an attempt to reverse the ill effects of<br />
global warming and climate change.<br />
Sceptics may scoff at the commitment made<br />
at COP 21 by dismissing it as being yet another<br />
talk shop as industries and the masses continue to<br />
release harmful gasses and spew carbon into the<br />
atmosphere unabated. Cynics were quick to point<br />
out that while COP 21 was in progress, Beijing<br />
and New Delhi, the capitols of the world’s top two<br />
most populous nation which account for a fifth of<br />
the world population - were choked in smog and<br />
the United States has yet to ratify Kyoto Protocol.<br />
These three countries were among the world’s top<br />
four largest emitters of CO2 in 2013, according to<br />
a ranking by European Commission.<br />
However, the message from COP 21 was loud<br />
and clear: the status quo of global warming cannot<br />
be maintained if the world is serious about reversing<br />
the impacts of climate change and global<br />
warming. Evidences are aplenty that Mother<br />
Nature is under severe distress from rising temperature<br />
caused by CO2 emissions arising from<br />
human activities. If the spate of natural disasters<br />
and rising ocean levels generated by climate<br />
change are not enough to convince the sceptics,<br />
2015 was earmarked as the hottest year on record,<br />
exceeding the temperature in 20<strong>14</strong>. Governments,<br />
industries and individuals can no longer sit still<br />
and not make changes to their old ways that have<br />
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MARITIME<br />
contributed to climate change and global warming<br />
if the target of COP 21 is to be attained.<br />
SHIPPING AND EMISSIONS<br />
Perhaps unbeknownst to many, the shipping<br />
industry which facilitates the transportation of<br />
an estimated 90% of global trade has quietly but<br />
progressively done its bit to reduce its carbon<br />
footprint and green house gas (GHG) emissions.<br />
Through various efforts initiated by the<br />
International Maritime Organization (IMO), the<br />
special United Nations body responsible for safe,<br />
secure and clean shipping activities – the shipping<br />
industry has undertaken a series of measures to cut<br />
back carbon pollution from shipping activities.<br />
Ships are ubiquitous in the world’s oceans and<br />
seas, playing a critical role as global trade facilitator<br />
and as an enabler of a host of marine economic<br />
activities such as offshore oil and gas exploration<br />
and production, fishery and tourism. They use<br />
bunker fuel, considered as a ‘dirty fuel’, which is<br />
a tar-like sludge left over from petroleum refining<br />
that produces an especially noxious exhaust.<br />
International shipping emitted 624,000 kilo tons<br />
or 2.7 percent to the world CO2 emissions globally<br />
from transportation activities in 2013. This<br />
represents only a fraction of the total global CO2<br />
discharge from vehicles and pales in comparison<br />
to the emissions from land transportation which<br />
was 21 percent of the global total.<br />
However, studies have suggested that if no concrete<br />
actions are taken to reduce emissions from<br />
ships, the level of emissions from ships could<br />
increase nearly threefold by 2050 as seaborne<br />
transport increases and more ships enter into the<br />
fray. This is despite the fact that new generation<br />
of cargo carrying vessels and workboats / offshore<br />
support vessels (OSV) are equipped with environment<br />
friendly features such as aerodynamically<br />
design hulls and fitted with clean and fuel<br />
efficient engines.<br />
The prospect of shipping industry tripling its<br />
emissions level in the spotlight brightly on the<br />
shipping industryto take urgent measures to<br />
avoid this most undesirable situation. This is<br />
not only due to its high profile as a key enabler<br />
of global trade and offshore energy production<br />
but also owing to the fact that there is so much<br />
room for improvement for shipowners to reduce<br />
their carbon footprint. Given the borderless and<br />
mobile nature of the shipping industry, it is understandably<br />
difficult to assign emissions from international<br />
shipping to specific countries of national<br />
economies. In this regard, the shipping community<br />
has proposed that any CO2-reducing initiatives<br />
launched and measures adopted should be<br />
led by IMO, which also acts as a regulatory body,to<br />
ensure rules related to marine environment protection<br />
for shipping can be enforced worldwide.<br />
IMO has been given the mandate by the international<br />
community to spearhead initiatives to<br />
reduce emissions from shipping and promote<br />
greater custodianship of the environment among<br />
shipowners. This is quite unprecedented in<br />
the sense that this international organization<br />
specifically established to overseeshipping activities<br />
is also in charge of steering the shipping industry<br />
toward a low-carbon future. In this regard,<br />
IMO is the most suitable body to lead the shipping<br />
industry towards a low carbon future. It has<br />
to be lauded for its tireless work in developing a<br />
comprehensive regulatory regime aimed at protecting<br />
the marine environment.<br />
IMO, through its Marine Environment<br />
Protection Committee (MEPC), has gone into<br />
overdrive mode to introduce a slew of measures to<br />
scale back GHG emissions and minimize carbon<br />
footprint from ships. These encompass increasing<br />
energy efficiency of ships which has led to more<br />
fuel efficient operations of ships and the development<br />
of new generation of ships with impressive<br />
fuel efficient features despite their ever growing<br />
size and capacity. Through initiatives such as Ship<br />
Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP)<br />
andEnergy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), IMO<br />
has led shipowners down the path of improving<br />
the fuel efficiency of their vessels. SEEMP is a<br />
regulation to require all shipping companies to<br />
develop and maintain a plan to maximize the efficiency<br />
of ship operations.EEDI recommends<br />
energy efficiency measures, both in the design<br />
and the operation of vessels, requiring most new<br />
ships to be 10% more efficient beginning 2015,<br />
20% more efficient by 2020 and 30% more efficient<br />
from 2025. If implemented based on this<br />
time schedule, the International Council on Clean<br />
Transportation (ICCT) projects that the shipping<br />
industry will be able to reduce up to 263 million<br />
tonnes of CO2 annually by 2030.<br />
DATA-BASED DECISION MAKING TO<br />
REDUCE EMISSIONS<br />
To convince shipowners, operators and charterers<br />
of the benefits of adopting fuel-efficiency<br />
measures to reduce GHG emissions, they need to<br />
be convinced of the environmental and economic<br />
benefits of those measures. One sure-fire way of<br />
doing so is to provide them with accurate, reliable<br />
data related to emissions from shipping.<br />
There are earnest efforts undertaken by shipping<br />
stakeholders to collect and analyse such data<br />
and increase the data’s accuracy and transparency.<br />
The latest advancement made by IMO in protecting<br />
the marine environment is the development<br />
and refinement of guidelines backing the uniform<br />
implementation of the regulations on energy-efficiency<br />
for ships. These regulations entered<br />
into force on 1 January 2013 under Annex VI of<br />
MARPOL, or the International Convention for the<br />
Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)<br />
which is the main international convention covering<br />
prevention of pollution of the marine environment<br />
by ships from operational or accidental<br />
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MARITIME<br />
causes.This Annex deals with atmospheric pollution,<br />
focusing gradually lowering the emissions<br />
of sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrous oxides (NOx)<br />
and particulates from ships by enforcing higher<br />
quality standards on marine fuel. Collecting data<br />
and ensuring its accuracy and transparency are<br />
crucial in ensuring the success of these regulations.<br />
IMO is also pursuing initiativeson promoting<br />
technical cooperation and capacity building to<br />
ensure uniform worldwide implementation and<br />
enforcement of those new regulations. Among<br />
these is the promotion of technical cooperation<br />
and transfer of technology relating to the improvement<br />
of energy efficiency of ships. This is beneficial<br />
to especially developing countries which<br />
depend on seaborne transport for their economic<br />
development yet do not have funds or technical<br />
expertise needed to reduce emissions from shipping<br />
activities and port operations. Once again,<br />
the availability of data is fundamental to enable<br />
such initiatives to be carried out successfully.<br />
‘Going green’ in shipping not only makes sense<br />
from an environmental protection point of view<br />
but also makes economic sense to shipowners.<br />
Cleaner ships consume less fuel hence generate<br />
cost savings to the owners which can then<br />
be passed to the charterers. There is a growing<br />
demand for ships which are eco-friendly as environmentally<br />
conscious cargo owners seek to do<br />
business with like-minded shipowners.<br />
In this regard, data related to ships’ emissions<br />
is intensively used by cargo owners to make<br />
informed decisions on which environmentally<br />
conscious shipping companies to do business<br />
with. Shipowners are increasingly finding out that<br />
having environmentally friendly ships attract likeminded<br />
clientele who are concerned about the<br />
‘green credibility’ of the ships they want to charter<br />
to carry their cargo. Having the option to choose<br />
which shipping companies to do business with is<br />
further amplified by the fact that there is a glut in<br />
the shipping market in which cargo owners are<br />
spoilt for choice.<br />
There are now rating systems which provide<br />
cargo owners to evaluate the environmental<br />
friendliness and credentials of shipowners. One<br />
such system is the <strong>Green</strong>house Gas Emissions<br />
Ratings established by Rightship, a company providing<br />
marine risk management services by identifying<br />
and eliminating substandard ships from the<br />
supply chains of ship charterers. Big names such as<br />
Cargill, one of the world’s largest shippers of food<br />
and agriculture products, and Noble Chartering,<br />
which account for nearly a fifth of the world’s<br />
seaborne cargo, are using the ratings in evaluating<br />
which ships are ‘green’ enough to meet their<br />
expectations to carry their cargo. With such tools<br />
gaining popularity, the use of data related to ships’<br />
emissions will gain more prominence in the years<br />
ahead as shipping industry players place greater<br />
emphasis on minimizing their carbon footprint<br />
in the course of undertaking shipping activities.<br />
THE VOYAGE AHEAD<br />
Despite these advancements made in shipping<br />
to scale back its carbon footprint, much work lies<br />
ahead for the industry to meaningfully contribute<br />
to reversing the effects of climate change and<br />
attaining the target set in COP 21.<br />
Although shipping is, in most cases, more fuel<br />
efficient compared to other transport sectors, by<br />
virtue of the huge cargo ships can transport vis<br />
a vis the amount of fuel used, its emissions level<br />
cannot be ignored. As mentioned, CO2 footprint<br />
from shipping is set to grow substantially (5% by<br />
2050) as demand for ships increases in tandem<br />
with economic growth and growing seaborne<br />
transport and global population. The predicted<br />
increase of shipping’s contribution to global CO2<br />
emissions from transport activities is not compatiblewith<br />
the internationally agreed goal of capping<br />
global warming below 2 degree Celcius, whichrequires<br />
worldwide emissions level to be atleast<br />
halved from 1990 levels by 2050.<br />
There is huge potential to reduce emissions in<br />
the shipping industry through fuel saving techniques<br />
which could be achieved at littleor no<br />
cost. These include slow steaming (sailing at slow<br />
speed), upgrading/cleaning ships’ propellers and<br />
rudders, increasing waste heat recovery, tuning<br />
ships’ engines, optimizing ballast water system and<br />
weather routing. Such measures also make economic<br />
sense to shipowners as they lead to fuel<br />
savings and significant reduction of ship running<br />
costs. Nevertheless, not all of these solutions can<br />
be applied to all types of ships and individual<br />
fuel-saving measures cannot be simply added<br />
together, Still, various studies have demonstrated<br />
that there is potential to reduce fuel consumption<br />
in the shipping industry by up to 55% by adopting<br />
these operational and technical measures.<br />
Huge challenges await for the shipping industry<br />
to implement these solutions and continue<br />
improving on existing solutions to cut back its<br />
emissions. More promotional and educational<br />
engagements need to be carried out to convince<br />
more shipowners, operators and charterers to<br />
adopt existing fuel-efficient technologies and<br />
operational solutions and help overcome obstacles<br />
to their adoption. These include providing<br />
them with reliable, empirical-based information<br />
to increase their awareness of the potential that<br />
exists to be more fuel efficient, providing incentives<br />
to those benefiting from fuel efficiency to<br />
share the cost of reducing emissions from shipping,<br />
and making available financing for energy-efficient<br />
solutions.<br />
All eyes will be on the stakeholders of the shipping<br />
industry – namely shipowners, ship operators,<br />
ship charterers, NGOs and the IMO - to continue<br />
their collaboration in addressing GHG emissions<br />
from ships engaged in international trade and<br />
offshore activities. In doing so, it is important that<br />
international shipping regulations are applied to<br />
all ships in a non-discriminatory manner and the<br />
interests of developing countries are fully taken<br />
into account. The efforts of IMO to come up with<br />
a more gradual approach to reducing shipping’s<br />
carbon footprint through monitoring, reporting<br />
and verification of emissions should be given full<br />
support before more ambitious measures to boost<br />
efficiency measures for existing ships and market-based<br />
measures are introduced in the medium<br />
tolong term.<br />
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KAVICKUMAR MURUGANATHAN<br />
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Sustainable<br />
palm oil for all a possibility<br />
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<br />
PALM oil is cheap to produce<br />
and is a versatile ingredient<br />
in many household products.<br />
It’s in our chocolates,<br />
cosmetics and even in soaps.<br />
The growing demand for<br />
this ubiquitous ingredient is putting pressure<br />
on our tropical rainforests and contributing to<br />
climate change. The expansion of oil palm plantations<br />
has been the leading cause of deforestation<br />
in Indonesia and Malaysia, two of the top<br />
producers of palm oil in the world. Cutting and<br />
burning these forests result in the loss of wildlife<br />
habitats, and can affect the cultural identities<br />
of communities that have for decades,<br />
depended on the rainforests.<br />
The process also increases the severity of<br />
haze in the South East Asian region. However,<br />
palm oil as an agricultural commodity actually<br />
has the potential to be sustainable. This is<br />
because such plantations produce higher yields<br />
from less land and require far less fertilisers<br />
and pesticides, as compared to other vegetable<br />
oil sources. Consumers should, therefore,<br />
not boycott palm oil but demand for its sustainability,<br />
as replacing it means having to use more<br />
land, and compound the issue of deforestation.<br />
Companies will be the key drivers of a sustainable<br />
palm oil industry, and leadership from<br />
businesses is crucial. The sooner they take<br />
responsibility of the trust and goodwill that<br />
will be lost when customers express their distrust<br />
and scepticism, the sooner the picture<br />
of sustainability emerges. Retailers too, have<br />
a part to play in championing the sustainable<br />
palm oil agenda.<br />
Having said that, demand will also force<br />
brands to act. Many industry players are waiting<br />
to hear that their customers demand sustainable<br />
palm oil, which will be fuelled by non-governmental<br />
organisation (NGO) pressure. Over<br />
the past few years, we’ve seen a chain reaction<br />
of positive developments in the private sector.<br />
Companies representing about 60 per cent of<br />
the global palm oil production have pledged to<br />
eliminate palm oil-related deforestation from<br />
their supply chains. These companies range<br />
from major suppliers like Cargill to consumer<br />
goods companies like Unilever.<br />
As consumers, it is also paramount that<br />
we demand transparency from the whole<br />
supply chain. Supply chains remain opaque<br />
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and consumers often have little way of finding<br />
out the palm oil content in the products they<br />
purchase. Companies can build and improve<br />
their trustworthiness by being able to trace<br />
the palm oil they use, back to plantations that<br />
meet credible standards. Sharing best practices<br />
and developing innovative solutions would be<br />
extremely important to push forward the sustainable<br />
palm oil agenda. With smart collaborations,<br />
groups with different perspectives<br />
can find common ground and turn a rapidly<br />
growing industry into a successful model for<br />
sustainable development.<br />
Responsible sourcing will earn a brand the<br />
priceless but intangible trust and respect of its<br />
customers. Ensuring that social and economic<br />
development do not come at the expense of<br />
irreversible deforestation is one of the great<br />
challenges which businesses must be held<br />
accountable for. The risk of inaction may seem<br />
insignificant now, but if brands are to grow,<br />
they have to be proactive rather than reactive.<br />
The Asian markets will shape the global palm<br />
oil industry.When consumers in Asia demand<br />
certified sustainable palm oil products, the<br />
agenda will surge forward resulting in larger<br />
national and multinational brands to certify<br />
with the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil<br />
(RSPO). Smallholders manage a significant<br />
amount of palm oil land. In Malaysia, smallholder<br />
farms cover about 38% of the total area<br />
of oil palm cultivation, of which 24% are organised<br />
smallholders while <strong>14</strong>% are independent<br />
smallholders. With their average annual yield<br />
of 17 tonnes palm oil per hectare, including<br />
them as a key piece of the puzzle will help<br />
balance economic growth with healthy forests.<br />
In some producer countries where deforestation<br />
is not illegal, regulatory reform is<br />
required. Transforming the RSPO Principles<br />
and Criteria into law, can be a start to put a<br />
framework in place. Governments can work on<br />
developing scientific tools, financial incentives,<br />
and policy and regulatory measures to help<br />
shift palm oil production to already degraded<br />
lands. Companies would have to compensate<br />
for forest lands they have damaged and<br />
undertake efforts for the conservation and restoration<br />
of High Conservation Value (HCV)<br />
and High Carbon Stock (HCS) areas. The<br />
renouncement of peat clearance for new plantations<br />
and support for independent smallholders<br />
would be equally important.<br />
Countries can take a leaf out of the books<br />
of the European Union (EU) which has mandated<br />
that retailers identify specific vegetable<br />
oils on food labels. Palm oil has often been<br />
hidden as generic vegetable oil and other misleading<br />
synonyms on food labels.<br />
And while it is commendable to see a host<br />
of celebrities coming together to address palm<br />
oil-linked deforestation, the next crucial step<br />
would be for non-celebrities like you and I,<br />
to send a message to retailers, suppliers and<br />
organisations. Regardless of whether we manufacture,<br />
retail or consume, we are all standing<br />
on the same side. That is because we are<br />
all standing on the same planet.<br />
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ECO EXPO ASIA 2015<br />
Embracing a <strong>Green</strong><br />
and sustainable future<br />
Effective learning and networking experience for all for participated in Expo<br />
A record number of<br />
320 exhibitors from 18<br />
countries and regions<br />
A total of 12<br />
international<br />
pavilions and group<br />
participations including<br />
<br />
Taiwan and the State of<br />
Illinois (U.S.A.)<br />
Thematic zones<br />
include Air & Water<br />
<br />
friendly Product Zone,<br />
<strong>Green</strong> Building &<br />
<br />
<strong>Green</strong> Transportation<br />
Zone and Waste<br />
Management &<br />
Recycling Zone, etc.<br />
Theme day topics:<br />
“Global <strong>Green</strong><br />
Insights”, “Cleaner<br />
Production & Waste<br />
Management”, “<strong>Green</strong><br />
Building & Energy<br />
<br />
Living” with a variety<br />
of special events and<br />
conferences related to<br />
the theme of each day<br />
12,385 buyers from 97<br />
countries and regions<br />
Received around 400<br />
<br />
and representatives<br />
from ASEAN, Chinese<br />
mainland and Hong<br />
Kong<br />
Malaysia’s Lee Lih Shyan (right) with fellow speakers<br />
Jointly organised by the Hong Kong<br />
Trade Development Council (HKTDC)<br />
and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd., and<br />
co-organised by the Environment<br />
Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR<br />
Government, the tenth edition of<br />
Eco Expo Asia took place on<br />
28 - 31 October 2015 at the<br />
AsiaWorld-Expo in Hong Kong.<br />
Eco Expo Asia 2015 continued to attract an international<br />
visitor attendance with 12,385 buyers<br />
coming from 97 countries/regions (a substantial<br />
increase of <strong>14</strong>.5% from 20<strong>14</strong>), including 55 buying<br />
missions, which comprised of 1,690 representatives<br />
from 34 countries/regions. Top 10 visiting foreign<br />
countries were namely, Chinese mainland, Taiwan,<br />
India, U.S.A., Japan, Malaysia, Iran, Russia, Canada<br />
and the Philippines.<br />
CONTINUING INTERNATIONAL<br />
PARTICIPATION<br />
Eco Expo Asia had proven itself as a leading trade<br />
show for environmental products, technologies and<br />
solutions in the Asian region. This year, the Expo<br />
attracted a record-breaking number of 320 exhibitors<br />
from 18 countries/regions. Besides, 12 overseas<br />
pavilions and group participations presented<br />
at the fair, including ones from the Chinese mainland<br />
(Beijing, Foshan, Guangdong, Guangzhou,<br />
Shenzhen), EU, Japan, Macau, the Netherlands,<br />
Switzerland, Taiwan and the State of Illinois (U.S.A.).<br />
STAUNCH GOVERNMENT SUPPORT<br />
Eco Expo Asia continued to receive support from<br />
government officials and leaders in Hong Kong,<br />
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Chinese mainland and across Asia.<br />
This year, there were 8 local government<br />
departments exhibited in Eco Expo Asia<br />
together with the Environment Bureau, including<br />
first-time participants of Agriculture,<br />
Fisheries and Conservation Department and<br />
Buildings Department. Besides, about 400 government<br />
officials from the Chinese mainland,<br />
Japan, Malaysia, Philippines and Hong Kong<br />
visited the 2015 show, underlining the value<br />
they viewed the Expo as a premier platform<br />
to acquire the latest and quality environmental<br />
solutions.<br />
GREEN INITIATIVES<br />
The latest eco-friendly vehicles were<br />
on display at Eco Expo Asia. The e-Golf,<br />
Volkswagen’s first pure electric vehicle, as<br />
well as Nissan’s e-NV200, a multi-purpose<br />
electric commercial van, and LEAF models<br />
were available for visitors to test drive and<br />
test ride at the fair. An electric bus manufactured<br />
by <strong>Green</strong> Dynamic Electric Vehicle<br />
Ltd in collaboration with the Hong Kong<br />
Productivity Council was also on display. The<br />
bus featured a motor control system and body<br />
structure that was developed in Hong Kong.<br />
Eco Expo Asia also presented a host of hi-tech<br />
environmental protection products. A case<br />
in point was the “iTrash Smart City Trash<br />
Recycling System” which was well-received<br />
by buyers for its e-money function: the trash<br />
collection system has a weighing mechanism<br />
that can charge fees according to the quantity<br />
of garbage collected. On the other hand,<br />
the resource recycling machine can process<br />
rebates for plastic bottles and aluminium cans<br />
recycled.<br />
PARTICIPATION OF LEADING<br />
INDUSTRY PLAYERS<br />
Renowned brands and leading industry<br />
players were also presented at the Expo. ALBA<br />
IWS, BAFCO Hong Kong Limited, British<br />
Energy Saving Technology, Baguio <strong>Green</strong><br />
Group Limited, China Energy Conservation<br />
and Environmental Protection (Hong Kong)<br />
Investment Co. Ltd., China Water Industrial<br />
Group Limited, Eggersmann, Envac, Hao-Yang<br />
Environment Science Ltd., Hellatron, MOBA<br />
Mobile Automation AG, Molok Oy, OWAC<br />
Srl, SID, SK Kaken Co., Ltd.,SUEZ, Synergy<br />
Lee Lih Shyan from Petaling Jaya City Council spoke<br />
about “<strong>Green</strong> Opportunities in ASEAN”<br />
Group and Veolia Environmental Services<br />
China Ltd were among the many others that<br />
exhibited at the Expo.<br />
FRINGE PROGRAMMES<br />
The three-day Eco Asia Conference<br />
invited 38 government officials and experts<br />
from 8 countries and regions to discuss matters<br />
relating to government policies and needs,<br />
cleaner production, waste management &<br />
recycling, green purchasing & consumption<br />
and green building & energy efficiency.<br />
The two luncheons held on 28 Oct<br />
together attracted over 280 Chinese mainland<br />
and Hong Kong government officials, manufacturers<br />
and business leaders to exchange<br />
views on innovative environmental solutions.<br />
A group business matching session was<br />
arranged to the property developer and hoteliers<br />
from the Chinese mainland generated<br />
over 320 individual contacts and business<br />
discussions.<br />
Thematic guided tours were organised<br />
to local government green managers, listed<br />
companies’ professionals as well as overseas<br />
trade buying missions. The tours were tailored<br />
with a mixture of selected exhibitors in the<br />
areas of <strong>Green</strong> Building & Energy Efficiency,<br />
<strong>Green</strong> Purchasing & Consumption, Waste<br />
Management, as well as Cleaner Production,<br />
There were country or region focused<br />
seminars to explore the latest industry innovations<br />
and creations from different countries<br />
and regions. Seminars included “Introduction<br />
to Illinois Environmental Equipment &<br />
Technologies”, “Waste Management Solutions<br />
for a <strong>Green</strong> Smart City”, “Advantages of<br />
Japanese Environmental Technologies and<br />
“Taiwan’s <strong>Green</strong> Products & Technologies<br />
Seminar”.<br />
PUBLIC DAY<br />
In order to raise public awareness on environmental<br />
protection, Eco Expo Asia was open<br />
to public on 31 October. 3,384 public visitors<br />
attended the Public Day, indicating the strong<br />
public interest in environmental related events.<br />
Series of varied and interesting events were<br />
held, including Public Day Forum on hot eco<br />
topics and <strong>Green</strong> Workshop, etc. Visitors could<br />
also purchase various kinds of environmentally<br />
friendly products at the <strong>Green</strong> Mart.<br />
MORE TO SEE IN 2016<br />
The four-day Eco Expo Asia 2015 created<br />
tremendous business opportunities. In addition,<br />
it had been an effective learning and networking<br />
experience for all. As a successful<br />
trading and networking platform for suppliers<br />
to tap the fast growing markets in Chinese<br />
mainland and across Asia, Eco Expo Asia will<br />
be held on 26-29 October 2016.<br />
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ENERGY<br />
UNESCO and Panasonic<br />
partnership<br />
Educational support programmes for next generation launched in off-grid<br />
communities in Myanmar<br />
Malaysia has long realised<br />
the potential of<br />
Science, Technology and<br />
Innovation (STI) as the<br />
driver in attaining the<br />
Vision 2020 goals, more<br />
so in the current global challenges of addressing<br />
Urbanisation and Climate Change.<br />
As a developing nation, rich with biodiversity<br />
and resources, STI plays key role in ensuring sustainable<br />
solutions to these global challenges and<br />
it is implemented through the national Science to<br />
Action (S2A) Initiative.<br />
Clean technology or green technology has been<br />
identified as one of the effective ways to improve<br />
and minimize destruction to the environment<br />
through sustainable consumption and production,<br />
leading to the growth of Circular Economy which<br />
is a more competitive resource-efficient economy.<br />
Malaysia’s forthcoming Eleventh Malaysia Plan<br />
2016-2020 highlighted the importance of pursuing<br />
<strong>Green</strong> Growth for sustainability and resilience.<br />
In support to this intention, The Malaysian<br />
Cleantech programme was launched in 2013 in<br />
Kuala Lumpur known as The Global Cleantech<br />
Innovation Programme (GCIP) by MIGHT<br />
(Malaysian Industry-Government Group for<br />
High Technology) in collaboration with UNIDO<br />
(United Nations Industrial Development<br />
Organisation).<br />
In his keynote address during GCIP’s An<br />
Evening with Cleantech Champions 2015, Dato’<br />
Mah Siew Keong, Minister in the Prime Minister’s<br />
Department (as well as Minister in-charge of<br />
MIGHT) congratulated the top five finalist of<br />
GCIP 2015 competition.<br />
He said: “GCIP can definitely bring our emerging<br />
economies to the global market. Malaysia<br />
needs new and creative companies to stimulate<br />
the growth of High Tech SMEs as not only it<br />
benefitted us economically but also socially and<br />
sustainably.”<br />
He emphasized on the need for Malaysia to be a<br />
Cleantech Innovation hub with competitive global<br />
Donation of 500 units of “eneloop solar storage” to<br />
schools around the Ancient City of Bagan<br />
status companies delivering solution to mitigate<br />
climate change and environment degradation.<br />
These initiatives fit the Science to Action (S2A)-<br />
Science for well-being and Science for industry<br />
objectives as part of the Science transformation<br />
agenda by the YAB Prime Minister.<br />
The final round of the GCIP 2015 saw five top<br />
winners from nation-wide participants, namely<br />
Eclimo, ReneonTechnologies, WaveEnergy, Eco<br />
Clay and Zymeratics. These five finalists, including<br />
the national champion who represented Malaysia<br />
in the Cleantech Open Global Forum in Silicon<br />
Valley, USA, received sponsored tickets to attend<br />
the Forum. The National Champion will be pitching<br />
to global investors jointly with other teams<br />
from South Africa, India, Pakistan, Turkey and<br />
Armenia.<br />
Datuk Dr Mohd Yusoff Sulaiman, President<br />
and Chief Executive Officer of MIGHT, who also<br />
attended the event commented: “We support<br />
the GCIP Acceleration Programme in scaling-up<br />
technoprenuers towards becoming Regional and<br />
Global Industry Champions. In doing so, we will<br />
continue to engage both the public and private<br />
sectors in inculcating green practices and making<br />
them a norm among the society today, as well as<br />
for the industry to unleash new opportunities in<br />
the emerging Circular Economy.”<br />
The initial market access for these technopreneurs<br />
is supported through the National Smart<br />
Communities Programme which targets to accelerate<br />
the greening of Malaysian cities through<br />
industry driven projects. This Smart Communities<br />
Programme is also a platform to commercialise<br />
new technologies into the market in areas of<br />
Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, Waste to<br />
Wealth and Mobility.<br />
GCIP Malaysia is a collaborative programme<br />
between Malaysian Industry-Government<br />
Group for High Technology (MIGHT), Global<br />
Environment Facility (GEF), the United<br />
Nations Industrial Development Organization<br />
(UNIDO)and the Ministry of Natural Resources<br />
and Environment (NRE) that enables the<br />
scaling up of Cleantech start-ups through GCIP<br />
Technopreneurship Pathway towards providing<br />
support ecosystem in areas of technology development,<br />
technopreneurship development, syndicated<br />
funding and capacity building.<br />
2015 also marks the establishment of integrated<br />
ASEAN Economic Community which targets<br />
in transforming ASEAN into a region with free<br />
movement of goods, services, investment, skilled<br />
workers, and free flow of capital would benefit<br />
the participating cleantech companies in building<br />
economies of scale, market and the pool of skilled<br />
workers.<br />
GCIP will be expending its role in supporting<br />
the expansion of this program into ASEAN, in<br />
collaboration with UNIDO, to develop an integrated<br />
and vibrant Cleantech Innovation in the<br />
region through the ASEAN Cleantech Innovation<br />
Network Program.<br />
This effort will commence with the forum on<br />
“Opportunities for ASEAN in Clean Technology<br />
Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Inclusive<br />
Growth” on 21st Nov 2015in conjunction withthe<br />
One ASEAN Enterpreneurship Summit (1AES)<br />
2015 from16-22 November 2015 organised by<br />
the Ministry of Finance Malaysia (www.1aes.my).<br />
70<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
ENVIRONMENT<br />
Environment<br />
Day at Pulau Aman<br />
Contest to<br />
run for three<br />
months starting<br />
on Dec 12<br />
The Penang <strong>Green</strong> Council<br />
(PGC) recently organised<br />
an event to promote<br />
the Environment Day<br />
Programme.<br />
It was in collaboration with<br />
Seberang Perai Municipal Council (MPSP) and<br />
Penang Women’s Development Corporation<br />
(PWDC).<br />
The programme explores the theme, “Pulau<br />
Aman Saya Bersih dan Hijau”.<br />
Penang State Assembly Speaker Law Choo<br />
Kiang said the main objective of the programme<br />
was to cultivate a love for the environment and<br />
to educate the community about waste management,<br />
especially waste segregation at source<br />
and composting.<br />
Besides that, the programme also aims to<br />
encourage the community to recycle in our<br />
daily life to be in line with the State government’s<br />
vision to increase the efficiency of recycling and<br />
recyclables-buyback processes.<br />
PGC is a state agency established to carry out<br />
activities and programmes in Penang, involving<br />
both children and adults. House-to-house<br />
Education Campaign, <strong>Green</strong> Camp, Youth<br />
Camp and Penang <strong>Green</strong> Carnival are among<br />
the programmes which are being conducted by<br />
PGC.<br />
These programmes seek to educate and<br />
encourage the people of Penang to understand<br />
the importance of conserving the environment<br />
and its impact to human beings.<br />
“The Federal government has<br />
made it mandatory to separate<br />
solid waste at source beginning 1<br />
September 2015 in six States and the<br />
Federal Territories, while the Penang<br />
government will implement the mandatory<br />
solid waste segregation starting<br />
June 2016,” said Law,<br />
“Therefore, PGC conducted a<br />
study on the public perception of<br />
Penang residents towards waste<br />
separation at source and recycling<br />
activities from 29 July 2015 till 29<br />
September 2015.”<br />
Law said they received feedback<br />
from 1,484 respondents. Analysis<br />
(From right) Dato’ Maimunah and Dato’ Law Choo Kiang<br />
giving out a plant to Abdul Halim bin Ayob (second<br />
from right), PulauAmanVillage Development and<br />
Security Committee (JKKK)Chairman, accompanied by<br />
Penang <strong>Green</strong> Council General Manager, Thing Siew<br />
Shuen (standing from right) during the launching of<br />
“HalamanRumahTercantik” contest.<br />
showed majority of the respondents understood<br />
the 3R concept and practiced it in their<br />
daily lives.<br />
Most of the respondents separate recyclable<br />
items such as paper (80.20%), newspaper<br />
(76.9%), however, the rate for electronic waste<br />
is lower at 35%. The majority of respondents<br />
(86.5%) supported that law to be enforced to<br />
increase recycling rate in Penang.<br />
Thing Siew Shuen (left) with the winners for Innovative and Creative Contest &<br />
Recyclable Materials Collection Contest.<br />
In order to raise the awareness and exposure<br />
on the new policy, the State Government<br />
is making an effort to spread information to<br />
ensure that the public is well aware and is practicing<br />
waste separation through programmes<br />
such as one that was held at Pulau Aman in early<br />
December.<br />
The programme is not only an initiative by<br />
the State government to make Pulau Aman a<br />
beautiful island, but also to raise its standard as<br />
a world’s known tourist attraction for both local<br />
and foreign tourists.<br />
“The State government hopes residents<br />
in Pulau Aman will be able to treat the island<br />
like their own homes to have a better sense of<br />
belonging. The local residents need<br />
to be more responsible towards the<br />
island’s cleanliness because the island<br />
is your ‘home’.<br />
“Instead of depending on others,<br />
we are the ones who should be<br />
responsible for our home cleanliness<br />
when it is dirty. Hence, ‘Halaman<br />
Rumah Tercantik’ contest is being<br />
introduced in this programme to<br />
embolden the residents of Pulau<br />
Aman in maintaining the cleanliness<br />
and beauty of the home surrounding,”<br />
added Law.<br />
The contest duration is three<br />
months, starting from Dec12, 2015<br />
to March 12, 2016.<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016<br />
71
ECOLIGHT TECH ASIA 2015<br />
A SUCCESS story<br />
Asia’s premier energy-saving innovation show<br />
“PEA presents EcoLightTech Asia”, “Solar-Tech”, and “C-Tech 2015”, the state-of-the-art lighting<br />
technologies, cooling systems, and solar energy from operators in energy-saving industry<br />
around the world was successfully held on Nov 19-21 at the Queen Sirikit National<br />
Convention Center, Bangkok.<br />
The Governor of PEA, Sermsakool Klaikaew, presided the opening ceremony together with<br />
(Ms) Bussaya Prakobthong, General Manager of N.C.C. Exhibition Organizer Company limited;<br />
Jaruwan Suwannasat, Director of Exhibitions and Events, Thailand Incentive and Convention<br />
Association and Dr. Dusit Kruangam, President of the Thai Photovoltaic Industries Association.<br />
Over 100 participating leading entrepreneurs attended the ceremony.<br />
72<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
ECOLIGHT TECH ASIA 2015<br />
Bussaya said the 2015 show comprised<br />
all innovations, products,<br />
commodities, services and<br />
knowledge in energy saving for<br />
local and international entrepreneurs<br />
and created total trade<br />
value of more than 1,000 million baht.<br />
During its three-day run, the tradeshow gained<br />
15.8% growth compared to 20<strong>14</strong> edition, with 124<br />
exhibitors from seven countries on 3,000 sqm. The<br />
2015 edition was record-breaking as 7,000 visitors<br />
from 10 countries, and over 1,000 visitors attended<br />
a conference.<br />
Additionally, the special highlights of the year<br />
included full-scale technologies from exhibitors<br />
in lighting, cooling system and solar power industries;<br />
more than 10 international and national energy-saving<br />
workshops and conference; and free<br />
energy-saving advice clinic. The great feedback of<br />
3rdedition is able to perfectly satisfy the needs of<br />
smart entrepreneurs and has reinforced the position<br />
of Thailand as the ASIA Expo of Energy Saving<br />
technologies and innovations.<br />
The company is proud to announce a new<br />
concept of “PEA presents EcoLightTech Asia –<br />
SolarTech – C-Tech 2016” as “Leading the way to<br />
energy saving across the nation in 2016”.<br />
For more information please browse to website;<br />
www.ecolight-tech.com, www.solartech-asia.<br />
com, and www.chillertech-asia.com or call +662<br />
203-4261-62.<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016<br />
73
ARCHITECTURE<br />
By SARAWUT BURAPAPAT<br />
Ahead of schedule<br />
Wyndham Worldwide reaches carbon emissions goal six years earlier<br />
Tourism and hospitality<br />
business is considered as<br />
the world’s largest consumer<br />
(Lam & Ng, 1994).<br />
The large amount of<br />
energy has been consumed<br />
through transportation, travelling, accommodation<br />
and related tourism and hospitality<br />
business. In addition, forms of tourism<br />
have been changed, since people prefer to<br />
travel according to their interests. Therefore,<br />
there are the emerged of new tourism forms<br />
to support the various needs of tourists, or<br />
called ‘Special interest tourism’, for example,<br />
eco-tourism is one of the tourism forms that<br />
preferred for people who interest and care<br />
about the environment, wild life, nature and<br />
also the incoming concept of ‘Sustainable<br />
tourism’.<br />
Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN),<br />
one of the world’s largest hospitality companies<br />
announced recently it reached its carbon<br />
emissions goal six years ahead of schedule.<br />
The Company achieved a 20 percent reduction<br />
in carbon emissions (measured on a per<br />
square foot basis), well-surpassing its goal.<br />
The reduction is equivalent to saving more<br />
than <strong>14</strong> million gallons of gasoline.<br />
“This is a huge achievement for a company<br />
with such a wide and diverse global portfolio,<br />
and especially one in the hospitality industry,”<br />
said Stephen P. Holmes, chairman and chief<br />
executive officer, Wyndham Worldwide. “Our<br />
commitment to sustainability as one of our<br />
top strategic priorities is critical to the longterm<br />
success of our business, and our continued<br />
drive is the result of an incredible commitment<br />
that aligns sustainability with effective<br />
business operations.”<br />
As one of the largest hospitality companies,<br />
Wyndham Worldwide accommodates millions<br />
of travelers every day through its hospitality<br />
portfolio that includes everything<br />
from hotels to vacation ownership resorts<br />
to vacation rentals to holiday parks in nearly<br />
100 countries. This news follows the signings<br />
of 26 managed and franchised properties<br />
for Wyndham Hotel Group so far this year<br />
in South East Asia. With operationally controlled<br />
assets including owned, managed and<br />
leased properties in all of its business units,<br />
the Company tracks, measures and reports<br />
on more than 50 million square feet across<br />
its global hospitality portfolio.<br />
As further proof of its industry-leading<br />
best practices, Wyndham Worldwide was<br />
once again named to the Dow Jones North<br />
America and World Sustainability Indices<br />
for the third consecutive year. The Company<br />
is one of three hospitality companies, and is<br />
the Index Leader for the hospitality sector for<br />
both the North American and World indices.<br />
The Company showed strong performance<br />
across the assessed criteria, specifically in the<br />
areas of its Environmental and Economic programs.<br />
The Dow Jones Sustainability Index<br />
is one of the most recognized sustainability<br />
performance rating tools, with the Index<br />
identifying leaders in the areas of sustainable<br />
economic, environmental and social<br />
performance.<br />
“Our progress has earned us industry distinctions<br />
that recognize the value we aim to<br />
create for our shareholders, our associates, our<br />
partners and communities, and is a reflection<br />
of our dedicated teams and partnerships that<br />
deliver tangible and meaningful results,” said<br />
Faith Taylor, senior vice president, corporate<br />
social responsibility, Wyndham Worldwide.<br />
“These accolades validate our ongoing<br />
journey. But, we never rest on any success,<br />
and we continue to build on our success and<br />
raise the bar. Today, we are announcing our<br />
new goal to reduce our energy and water by<br />
25 percent by 2025.”<br />
Since setting its goal in 2010, Wyndham<br />
Worldwide has reduced its carbon emissions<br />
through:<br />
the Wyndham <strong>Green</strong> Toolbox, a proprietary<br />
state-of-the-art eco-software program<br />
that tracks and measures environmental<br />
impact for the Company’s wide range of hospitality<br />
and office properties;<br />
becoming more efficient in energy and<br />
water usage. Energy production and consumption<br />
(electricity, natural gas, fuel oil,<br />
propane) is the leading cause of carbon<br />
emissions. Water conservation reduces the<br />
amount of water used, and therefore reduces<br />
the energy demand to produce and move the<br />
water;<br />
an environmental certification program for<br />
the Company’s participating timeshare properties,<br />
a first for the hospitality industry.<br />
Additionally, in the Company’s fifth<br />
year of formal sustainability reporting, its<br />
recently released 20<strong>14</strong>-2015 Corporate Social<br />
Responsibility Report details its strong,<br />
industry-leading commitment to socially<br />
and environmentally responsible business<br />
practices.<br />
Ramada Plaza Bangkok Menam Riverside,<br />
Thailand, part of Wyndham hotel group,<br />
recipient of <strong>Green</strong> Leaf Award and Nonsmoking<br />
hotel award, the property demonstrates<br />
a range of green practices for sustainability.<br />
<strong>Green</strong> policies and procedures<br />
are entrenched in day-to-day activities on<br />
site, and are an important factor in management’s<br />
planning. Tracking and measuring<br />
the utility consumption, contain costs, and<br />
manage detailed information that will allow<br />
it to see trends and from that target strengths<br />
and opportunities. Larger scope - external<br />
(RFPS) and internal (educate our employees)<br />
communication becoming more efficient<br />
and really reducing the environmental<br />
impact created by our hotels’ operation.<br />
This system called CA technologies for this<br />
Environmental Management Systems that is<br />
internally called the Wyndham <strong>Green</strong> Tool<br />
Box .<br />
Examples of this hotel’s sustainable actions<br />
include: using high-efficiency lighting technology<br />
on more than 75 percent of light fixtures; providing<br />
shuttle boat passes to guests and employees<br />
to promote public transportation use; and<br />
implementing a linen and towel reuse program<br />
for guests.<br />
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<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
ARCHITECTURE<br />
Hotel shuttle boat<br />
Also participation in community such as river<br />
clean up in September every year, Wyndham<br />
Worldwide <strong>Green</strong> Day and tree planting initiatives<br />
and also provides 525 trees to the community<br />
in October; nominated and trained 16<br />
Junior <strong>Green</strong> Ambassadors from Thai-Muslim<br />
school to inspire them to be responsible for the<br />
environment; naming tree as a diamond repeated<br />
guest or called “Celebrity Tree” project. Providing<br />
bike storage and parking for low-emission vehicles;<br />
utilizing renewable energy for some of the<br />
hotel’s energy needs; using seasonal fruits and<br />
vegetable from local; decoration with the natural<br />
plants instead of cut flower, using Enzyme Ionic<br />
Plasma for cleaning drains and rain sensors for<br />
irrigation to prevent over-watering.<br />
Wyndham Worldwide <strong>Green</strong> Day and tree planting Project<br />
Junior <strong>Green</strong> Ambassadors from Thai-Muslim school<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016<br />
First celebrity tree was named after the diamond guest,<br />
Mr. Jörg Starke. The tree name ‘Jörg’ refers to the little<br />
Cork tree near the pool which was planted on Wyndham<br />
Celebrate Worldwide <strong>Green</strong> Day in last October.<br />
75
ARCHITECTURE<br />
-<br />
tiatives include: assignment of a <strong>Green</strong> Team<br />
to coordinate environmental initiatives and<br />
implementing annual audits of energy and<br />
water consumption.<br />
in our daily lives that we often don’t think<br />
it. Did you know that almost every piece of<br />
plastic that was ever created is still in existence<br />
today? Plastic may break down into smaller<br />
pieces, but it never truly biodegrades, leaving<br />
it to leach chemicals into the earth, pollute our<br />
oceans, and poison animals that accidentally<br />
ingest it. While recycling plastic helps with this<br />
problem, the best solution is to minimize or<br />
stop your plastic usage all together. So we set<br />
up every 20th of month as ‘Plastic Free day, to<br />
help end dependency on plastic.” Klaus Sennik,<br />
General Manager of Ramada Plaza Bangkok<br />
Menam Riverside said<br />
that the hospitality industry can make when<br />
it comes to sustainability,” continued Sennik.<br />
alone, even small acts can add up to a major<br />
impact on our environment. And,<br />
with consumers increasingly looking<br />
for green travel services, it also makes<br />
good business sense to take these<br />
actions.<br />
As part of its overall Corporate<br />
Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy,<br />
Wyndham Worldwide consistently aligns its<br />
responsible way it operates by maintaining<br />
its investment and focus on such areas as sustainability,<br />
diversity, human rights, wellness<br />
and philanthropy. By holistically integrating<br />
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into its<br />
business, the Company has grown as a responsible<br />
corporate citizen that consistently delivers<br />
results as one of the best performing hospitality<br />
companies in the world.<br />
76<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
ENERGY<br />
Indian trend-setter<br />
Kochi airport becomes world’s first to completely operate on solar power<br />
Inauguration of the 12 MWp solar power plant on Aug 18. V.J. Kurian is on extreme right<br />
COCHIN International<br />
airport, the country’s first<br />
airport built under PPP<br />
model, has scripted another<br />
chapter in aviation history by<br />
<br />
the world that completely operates on solar<br />
power.<br />
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated<br />
the 12 MWp solar power plant Aug 18.<br />
The plant comprises 46,150 solar panels laid<br />
across 45 acres near the cargo complex. Now,<br />
Cochin airport’s solar power plant is producing<br />
50,000 to 60,000 units of electricity per day<br />
to be consumed for all its operational functions,<br />
which technically makes the airport ‘absolutely<br />
power neutral‘.<br />
CIAL, which has always adhered to the philosophy<br />
of sustainable development, ventured<br />
into the Solar PV sector in March 2013, by<br />
78<br />
When we realised the power bill was<br />
on the higher side, we contemplated<br />
possibilities. Then the idea of<br />
tapping the green power came in. We<br />
consume around 48,000 unit (KWh) a<br />
day.” — V.J. Kurian, Managing Director,<br />
Cochin International Airport<br />
installing a 100 kWp solar PV Plant on the roof<br />
top of the Arrival Terminal Block. This was a<br />
<br />
PV in the State of Kerala.<br />
The plant was installed by a Kolkata-based<br />
company, Vikram Solar Pvt. Ltd. Four hundred<br />
<br />
numbers of 20kW capacity Refu-sol make string<br />
inverters were used in this plant. After the successful<br />
commissioning of this plant, CIAL<br />
installed a 1 MWp solar PV power plant partly<br />
on the roof top and partly on the ground in the<br />
Aircraft Maintenance Hangar facility within the<br />
Airport premises.<br />
This plant was installed by Emvee<br />
Photovoltaic Power Pvt. Ltd. Four thousand<br />
monocrystalline modules of 250Wp with thirty<br />
three numbers of 30kW capacity Delta make<br />
string inverters were used in this plant, which<br />
<br />
PV system in Kerala.<br />
Both these plants are equipped with a<br />
SCADA system, through which remote monitoring<br />
is carried out. After commissioning, these<br />
plants have so far saved more than 550MT of<br />
<br />
CIAL towards minimizing environmental<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016
ENERGY<br />
The solar farm feeding Kochi airport<br />
degradation.<br />
Inspired by the success of the above plants,<br />
CIAL decided to set up a larger scale 12MWp<br />
solar PV plant as part of its green initiatives.<br />
This was set up in an area of about 45 acres near<br />
the International Cargo complex. The work has<br />
been awarded to Bosch Ltd.<br />
The project components include PV modules<br />
of 265Wp capacity manufactured by Renesola,<br />
and Inverters of 1MW capacity manufactured<br />
by ABB India. With the commissioning, this<br />
installation is expected to generate around<br />
48000 units per day, which along with the electricity<br />
generated from the existing 1.10 MWp<br />
plants, making the total output around 52,000<br />
<br />
power requirement of the Airport.<br />
This is a grid connected system without<br />
battery storage and a power banking module<br />
with the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB)<br />
has been worked out; wherein, CIAL gives as<br />
much power it produces (in day time) to (the<br />
grid of) KSEB and ‘buy’ back the power from<br />
them when needed (especially at night).<br />
“When we realised the power bill was on<br />
the higher side, we contemplated possibilities.<br />
Then the idea of tapping the green power came<br />
in. We consume around 48,000 unit (KWh)<br />
a day,” said V.J. Kurian, Managing Director,<br />
Cochin International Airport.<br />
“So, if we can produce the same, by<br />
strictly adhering to the green and sustainable<br />
development model of infrastructure development<br />
which we already follow, that would transcend<br />
a message to the world.<br />
<br />
fully operates on solar power. In fact, we are<br />
producing a few megawatt of extra energy which<br />
is being contributed to the State’s power grid.”<br />
This plant will produce 18 million units of<br />
power from the ‘sun’ annually — the power<br />
equivalent to feed 10,000 homes for one<br />
year. Over the next 25 years, this green power<br />
project will avoid carbon dioxide emissions<br />
<br />
lakh metric tons, which is equivalent to planting<br />
3 million trees or not driving 750 miles.<br />
— CIAL Newsroom<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016<br />
79
EVENTS<br />
Sustainable Energy & Technology<br />
Asia 2016 (SETA)<br />
Date: March 23-25<br />
Bangkok International Trade &<br />
Exhibition Centre<br />
With Asia’s booming demand for energy, the region’s energy industries have become the<br />
focus for raising environmental concerns. Investment and expansion of the alternative and<br />
renewable energy sector needs to be the primary source of future energy demands.<br />
RECAM Week is the must attend<br />
congress for decision makers<br />
doing business in the renewable<br />
energy industry from Central<br />
America, Colombia and the Caribbean. This premium renewable energy event will give<br />
you the answers you are looking for to ensure you secure financing, navigate policy and optimise<br />
operations to maximise ROI.<br />
EUROPE<br />
8th European Conference on Sustainable<br />
Cities & Towns<br />
Dates: April 27-29<br />
Location: Basque Country, Spain<br />
The event will be hosted by ICLEI – Local<br />
Governments for Sustainability, the<br />
Basque Government, Bizkaia County<br />
Council and Bilbao City Council, with the<br />
involvement of Udalsarea 21 - Basque Network of Municipalities for Sustainability, and the<br />
support of Araba County Council, Gipuzkoa County Council, Donostia/San Sebastián City<br />
Council and Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council.<br />
SUSTANICA 2016<br />
Dates: June 2-5<br />
Location: Düsseldorf, Germany<br />
Sustainica in 2016 envisions the future we all dream of. Breakthrough innovations and<br />
future trends on mobility, fashion, food, technology, art and much more – brought to you by<br />
artists, designers, innovators and high-quality brands.<br />
Sustainica is the international consumer fair for sustainable lifestyle and innovation. We<br />
invite companies and designers from various industry sectors as well as creative-and cultural<br />
industries - with a focus on consumer products and services - to register and join this<br />
cutting-edge platform for sustainable innovation.<br />
From June 2 to June 5 2016 Sustainica showcases innovative solutions for sustainable<br />
living at the NRW-Forum Düsseldorf and is also host of the Conference where businesses,<br />
NGOs, creatives and students spread ideas and kick-start discussions.<br />
2th European<br />
IFSA Symposium<br />
Dates: July 12-15<br />
Location: Harper Adams<br />
University, UK<br />
The theme of the Symposium<br />
will be: Social and technological<br />
transformation of farming<br />
systems: Diverging and converging<br />
pathways<br />
SOUTH AMERICA<br />
World Resources Forum 2016 & the<br />
International Sustainable Building<br />
Congress (ISBC) 2016<br />
Dates: May 17-20<br />
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica<br />
“Building Sustainable Cities and<br />
Lifestyles in Latin America and the<br />
Caribbean” is the joint theme of two<br />
major international conferences to be<br />
held in the capital of Costa Rica, San<br />
Jose, 17-20 May 2016. As a follow up<br />
of the World Resources Forum 20<strong>14</strong>,<br />
held in Peru, which attracted over<br />
1,000 participants, the first regional<br />
WRF for Latin Amercia and the<br />
Caribbean will be held in conjunction<br />
with the International Congress on<br />
Habitat and Sustainable Cities alongside<br />
the International <strong>Green</strong> Expo,<br />
co-organised with the United Nations<br />
Environment Programme (UNEP).<br />
The conferences will focus on<br />
the potential for change in the Latin<br />
American and Caribbean region, by showcasing best practices, identifying obstacles and<br />
discussing how to overcome them, and forging partnerships and agreements to start acting<br />
now.<br />
High-quality infrastructure, sustainable cities, modern energy supplies and adequate<br />
waste management facilities are widely seen as key factor in enabling consumers to adopt<br />
more sustainable lifestyles. This can be achieved by increasing investments by business<br />
and public authorities in resource-efficiency and CO2 reduction, and helping decision<br />
makers in government, business, NGO’s and private households to get access to adequate<br />
information, tools and methodologies.<br />
Stakeholders from all Latin American and Caribbean region are expected, representing<br />
national governments, local authorities, business, researchers, NGO’s and students, who<br />
will get the opportunity to reinforce networks, share experiences, learn and participate in<br />
an effective and timely technological transfer towards better resource management, and<br />
sustainable construction and lifestyles in the region.<br />
For the scientific sessions a WRF Call for Papers has been opened. Furthermore organisations<br />
are invited to submit workshop proposals. The plenary program, including a high-level<br />
forum on Latin American and Caribbean priorities, will be presented early next year.<br />
For details visit the WRF LAC 2016 conference page or GBC Conference website. You can<br />
also write to info@wrforum.org or info@gbccr.org<br />
AUSTRALIA<br />
WIOA Water Industry Operations Conference and Exhibitions<br />
Dates: April 6-7<br />
Location: Victoria, NSW & QLD<br />
All water industry personnel involved in the operation and maintenance of urban, rural<br />
and industrial water related infrastructure for the management, conveyance, treatment,<br />
discharge and reuse of water and trade wastes should attend this conference.<br />
This is one of three very successful `operationally focussed` conferences and exhibitions<br />
organised by WIOA annually. WIOA stages the Annual Victorian Water Industry<br />
Operations Conference and Exhibition which provides a forum for individuals involved in<br />
the water operations to:<br />
Distribute the latest “operational” technical and research based information through<br />
platform and poster presentations.<br />
Update of knowledge and skills plus network development by operations staff through<br />
interaction with fellow Water Industry employees.<br />
Provide opportunities to view and discuss the latest advances in technical equipment<br />
and systems with suppliers and trade consultants.<br />
80<br />
<strong>Green</strong>plus TM MARCH 2016