New Publication: Greening governance in Asia-Pacific

Greening governance in Asia-Pacific

Once every two years, IGES releases a white paper focusing on key policy agendas in the Asia-Pacific region. The Fourth IGES White Paper, entitled "Greening Governance in Asia-Pacific" examines innovative approaches to governance and institutions that have emerged from the region and recommends governance arrangements and policy solutions to accelerate the transition to a green economy, and argues that, without significant governance reform in Asia-Pacific, global sustainable development will remain an under-implemented ideal rather than a new reality.

Publication Date: 

01/07/2012

Source: Institute for Global Environmental Strategies

Attachment(s): 

 greening governance in Asia-Pacific.pdf

For more details: http://www.iges.or.jp/en/pub/whitepaper4.html

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New Publication: Design and performance of policy instruments to promote the development of renewable energy: emerging experience in selected Developing Countries

Design and performance of policy instruments to promote the development of renewable energy: emerging experience in selected Developing Countries

This report summarizes the results of a recent review of the emerging experience with the design and implementation of price- and quota-based instruments to promote renewable energy in a sample of six representative developing countries and transition economies. It also discusses the importance of a tailor-made approach to policy design and identifies the basic elements that have proved instrumental to policy effectiveness, including adequate tariff levels, long-term policy
or contractual commitments, mandatory access to the grid, and incremental cost pass-through.

Publication Date: 

01/07/2012

Author(s): Gabriela Elizondo Azuela, Luiz Augusto Barroso

Source: The World Bank

Attachment(s): 

 Development of Renewable Energy.pdf

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S. Korean Updates: 183.4 billion won to be saved from 2011 plastic waste recovery & recycling agreement

Korea Environment Corporation (KECO) of the Ministry of Environment announced on the 24^th the outcome of voluntary agreement on plastic waste recovery & recycling in 2011. It was shown that over 180 thousand tons of plastic wastes were recycled resulting in economic benefits of 183.4 billion won.  

The agreement is for manufacturers and importers of plastic products and packaging materials to voluntarily conclude an agreement with the Ministry and receive exemption on waste disposal charge.

Based on the progress report by KECO, 183.4 billion won was saved in total, consisting of 48.4 billion won in landfill & incineration treatment and 135 billion won by recovering and recycling plastic wastes which have recyclable value and can be distributed and sold.

Economic burden on the companies were also lightened by exempting 47.9 billion won of waste disposal charge.

The effect equals to exporting 11,835 of vehicles, based on the average unit price of vehicles in the first half of 2011.

When calculated by applying employment inducement coefficient, about 1,269 of job creation is possible contributing in creation of green jobs.   

In addition, waste plastics which have been buried and incinerated were recycled and 202,357 tons of greenhouse gases were reduced.

	Year 2011	Year 2010	Year 2009	Year 2008
Number of businesses under agreement	777	685	504	412
Amount recycled (ton)	179 thousand	145 thousand	105 thousand	69 thousand
Saved landfill/incineration treatment cost (won)	48.4 billion	39.2 billion	27.5 billion	18.9 billion
Economic value of recycled wastes (won)	135 billion	107 billion	81.6 billion	57 billion
Job creation (person)	1,269	920	701	490
Exempted waste disposal charge (won)	47.9 billion	42 billion	14 billion	10 billion
Reduced greenhouse gas (ton)	202 thousand CO2	167 thousand CO2	111 thousand CO2	24 thousand CO2

As shown from the outcomes including creation of economic befit, mitigation of companies’ burden and reduction of greenhouse gases, voluntary agreement on recovery & recycling of plastic wastes, in its 5^th year, is evaluated that system is on it stabilization stage.     

Source: http://eng.me.go.kr/board.do?method=view&docSeq=10628&bbsCode=new_news

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Call for Papers: The International Conference on Humanity, Culture and Society. 29-30 December 2012, Hong Kong

The International Conference on Humanity, Culture and Society - ICHCS 2012 will be held during December 29-30, 2012, in Hong Kong. ICHCS 2012, aims to bring together researchers, scientists, engineers, and scholar students to exchange and share their experiences, new ideas, and research results about all aspects of Humanity, Culture and Society, and discuss the practical challenges encountered and the solutions adopted.


Call for Papers
2012 International Conference on Humanity, Culture and Society - ICHCS 2012 is the premier forum for the presentation of new advances and research results in the fields of theoretical, experimental, and applied Humanity, Culture and Society. The conference will bring together leading researchers, engineers and scientists in the domain of interest from around the world. Topics of interest for submission include, but are not limited to:

 Administrative Sciences
 Anthropology
 Applied Social Modeling and Simulation
 Area Studies (African, American, Asian, European, Hispanic, Islamic, Jewish, Middle Eastern, Russian, Women\'s and all other cultural and ethnic studies)
 Behavioral and Psychological Sciences
 Business
 Business Information Management
 Business Information Systems
 Business, Economics, Management and Marketing
 Business, Finance and Tourism Management
 Cognitive, Psychological and Behavioral Sciences
 Communication and Information Technologies in Social Sciences
 Communication, Communities and e-societies
 Communities and Communications
 Complex Socio-Cognitive-Technical Systems
 Complexity Theory in the Social Sciences
 Computation and Social Networks
 Computational Methods in Social Science
 Confluence of Social Networks, Artificial Intelligence, Complexity
 Country studies
 Criminology and Criminal Justice Studies with International Relations
 Data mining in Social Science
 Digital Libraries, Archives and Repositories
 Economics, Financial and Industrial Systems
 Economics, Markets and Systems
 Education and Information Technologies
 Education Science and Technology
 Educational Technology
 Electoral Competition
 Energy Alternatives
 Energy, Environment, Sustainable Development
 Environmental studies
 E-Society and Online Communities
 Ethical Issues and Challenges
 Ethnic Studies/International Studies
 Finance
 Gender Studies
 Geographic Information Systems
 Geography and Geological Sciences
 Health Issues and Services
 History
 Human and Social Evolutionary Complexity
 Human Development based on psychological and social concepts
 Human Rights Development
 Human-Computer Interactions
 Human-Environment Interactions
 Information and Communication Systems
 Innovation, Technology and Society
 Interdisciplinary Research and Studies
 International Relations & Collaborations
 Journalism
 Knowledge Management and Knowledge Economy
 Land-Use Modeling Techniques and Applications
 Law and Justice
 Learning and Behavioral Modeling
 Management
 Management Information Systems
 Mathematical Modeling in Social Science
 Media and Communications, Technology
 Open Learning and Distance Education
 Organizational Decision Making
 Physics Methods for Analyzing Social Complexity
 Policy/Public Administration/Public Health
 Political Science and Decision Making
 Politics, society, and international relations
 Population and Development
 Preservation and Green Urbanism
 Psychology
 Public Administration
 Public Governance
 Race/Ethnic Studies
 Social and Organizational Networks
 Social Complexity
 Social Computing
 Social Network Analysis
 Social Systems Dynamics
 Social Work
 Social-Psychological, Social, Organizational, and Technological Systems
 Socio-Cognitive-Technological Systems
 Sociology
 Sociology and Social Computation
 Sport and Physical Education
 Standards for Metadata, Ontologies, Annotation, Curation
 Sustainable Development
 Sustainable Economic Development
 Sustainable Human and Social Development
 Sustainable Urban Neighborhoods
 Sustainable Urban Transport and Environment
 Technology and Education
 Technology, Society, Environmental Studies
 Urban and Regional Planning
 Urban Studies
 Violence, Extremism, and Terrorism
 Virtual Communities and Communications
 Women’s studies

All papers for the ICHCS2012 will be published in the IPEDR (ISSN: 2010-4626) as one volume, and will be included in the Engineering & Technology Digital Library, and indexed by EBSCO, WorldCat, Google Scholar, CNKI, Ulrich's Periodicals Directory, Cross Ref and sent to be reviewed by ISI Proceedings. About 10 papers selected from registered ones will be published in the International Journal of Social Science and Humanity (IJSSH, ISSN: 2010-3646) free of charge.

Important Date
Paper Submission (Full Paper)                                                    Before September 10,  2012
Notification of Acceptance                                                                On September 25, 2012
Final Paper Submission                                                                   Before October 10, 2012
Authors' Registration                                                                       Before October 10, 2012
ICHCS 2012 Conference Dates                                                      December 29 - 30, 2012

For more details: http://www.ichcs.org/index.htm

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Call for Papers: 2012 International Conference on Environment, Chemistry and Biology, 29-30 December 2012, Hong Kong

The 2012 International Conference on Environment, Chemistry and Biology-ICECB 2012 will be held during 29-30, December, 2012, in Hong Kong. ICECB 2012, aims to bring together researchers, scientists, engineers, and scholar students to exchange and share their experiences, new ideas, and research results about all aspects of Environment, Chemistry and Biology, and discuss the practical challenges encountered and the solutions adopted.


Sponsors: Asia-Pacific Chemical, Biological & Environmental Engineering Society (APCBEES)


Call for Papers
2012 International Conference on Environment, Chemistry and Biology-ICECB 2012 is the premier forum for the presentation of technological advances and research results in the fields of Environment, Chemistry and Biology. ICECB 2012 will bring together leading engineers and scientists in Environment, Chemistry and Biology from around the world.

Topics of interest for submission include, but are not limited to:

Chemical, Environmental, and Process Engineering 
Environmental engineering and sustainable development
Process design and optimization
Product innovation, development and economics
Process intensification
Nanotechnology
New materials & structured products
Intelligent polymers
Green organic synthesis routes
Process integration
Environmental engineering & management
Sustainable & clean technologies
SCF as solvent substitutes

Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Fundamentals 
Chemical engineering fundamentals
Physical, Theoretical and Computational Chemistry
Chemical engineering educational challenges and development
Chemical reaction engineering
Chemical engineering equipment design and process design
Thermodynamics
Catalysis & reaction engineering
Particulate systems
Rheology
Multifase flows
Interfacial & colloidal phenomena
Transport phenomena in porous/granular media
Membranes and membrane science
Crystallization
Distillation, absorption and extraction
Ionic liquids/electrolyte solutions

Multi-scale and/or Multi-disciplinary Approaches 
Process system, instrumentation and control
Product engineering and product development
Product design & innovation
Nanomanufacturing
Controlled release of the active ingredient
Energy & nuclear sciences
Energy and environment
CFD & chemical engineering
Food engineering
Nanomaterials
Particle technology
Mathematical modeling in chemical engineering
Macromolecular Science and Engineering
Advanced materials processing

Systematic Methods and Tools for Managing the Complexity 
Multiscale modeling
Process synthesis & design
Process control & operations
Process Safety Management
Supply chain management & business decision support
Advances in computational & numerical methods
Safety & risk management systems
Systems biology
Economics and Business Management
Process Analytical Technology - PAT
Software architecture, standards and interfaces

Integration of Life Sciences & Engineering 
Biochemical Engineering
Biotechnology
Product Engineering in the Bio Industries
Self-organisation in the Bio-sciences and elsewhere
Delivery of the final product
Biotechnology applied to production of new and better quality food
Physical chemistry and thermodynamics for life sciences and biotechnology
Improvement of environmental remediation processes
Food process technology and engineering
The impact of bio-based polymeric materials
Biochemical and bio-molecular engineering
Bioengineering and biomedical engineering
Biological and Medicinal Chemistry
Energy and environment
Forest product processing
Milk product processing

Environmental dynamics
Meteorology
Hydrology
Geophysics
Atmospheric physics
Physical oceanography
Global environmental change and ecosystems management
Climate and climatic changes
Global warming
Ozone layer depletion
Carbon capture and storage
Biofuels
Integrated ecosystems management
Satellite applications in the environment
Environmental restoration and ecological engineering
Habitat reconstruction
Biodiversity conservation
Deforestation
Wetlands
Landscape degradation and restoration
Ground water remediation
Soil decontamination
Eco-technology
Bio-engineering
Environmental sustainability
Resource management
Life cycle analysis
Environmental systems approach
Renewable sources of energy-energy savings
Clean technologies
Sustainable cities
Health and the Environment
Health related organisms
Hazardous substances and detection techniques
Biodegradation of hazardous substances
Toxicity assessment and epidemiological studies
Quality guidelines, environmental regulation and monitoring
Indoor air pollution
Water resources and river basin management
Regulatory practice, water quality objectives standard setting, water quality classification
Public participation
Economic instruments
Modelling and decision support tools
Institutional development
Transboundary cooperation
Management and regulation of point and diffuse pollution
Monitoring and analysis of environmental contaminant
Ground water management
Wastewater and sludge treatment
Nutrients removal
Suspended and fixed film biological processes
Anaerobic treatment
Process modelling
Sludge treatment and reuse
Fate of hazardous substances
Industrial wastewater treatment
Advances in biological, physical and chemical processes
On site and small scale systems
Storm-water management
Air pollution and control
Emission sources
Atmospheric modelling and numerical prediction
Interaction between pollutants
Control technologies
Air emission trading
Solid waste management
Waste minimization
Optimization of collection systems
Recycling and reuse
Waste valorization
Technical aspects of treatment and disposal methods (landfilling, thermal treatment etc)
Leachate treatment
Legal, economic and managerial aspects of solid waste management
Management of hazardous solid waste
Water treatment and reclamation
Advanced treatment of water and secondary effluents (membranes, adsorption, ion exchange, oxidation etc)
Disinfection and disinfection by- products
Management of water treatment residuals
Aesthetic quality of drinking water (taste, odors)
Effect of distribution systems on potable water quality
Reuse of reclaimed waters

Important Date
Paper Submission (Full Paper)                                                          Before August 25, 2012
Notification of Acceptance                                                               On September 15, 2012
Final Paper Submission                                                               Before September 30, 2012
Authors' Registration                                                                   Before September 30, 2012
ICECB 2012 Conference Dates                                                        December 29-30, 2012

For more details: http://www.icecb.org/index.htm

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Taiwanese Updates: 電動機車最環保 電池交換便利好 環保署與見發公司簽約於高雄市設置30個電池交換站

電動機車最環保 電池交換便利好 環保署與見發公司簽約於高雄市設置30個電池交換站

提供單位：行政院環境保護署空保處
提供日期：2012.07.23

為提升空氣品質及解決電動機車充電不方便的問題，環保署積極推動電動機車電池交換系統，已核定補助見發先進科技股份有限公司及城市動力股份有限公司等2家民間企業，分別在南部及北部各設置30個電池交換站。該署並於7月23日在高雄市舉辦與見發先進科技股份有限公司簽約儀式，宣示環保署推動電動機車電池交換營運系統的具體行動。

        環保署指出，電動機車具有低污染和低噪音等環保優點。以電動機車取代傳統汽油引擎機車，除了符合節能減碳趨勢之外，也能改善環境生活品質。但電動機車目前因為受限於電池性能，民眾使用時沒辦法像汽油引擎機車一樣的方便。為讓電動機車使用者享受像加油一樣的方便，環保署積極推動建置電池交換營運系統。

        環保署說，目前推動電動機車的主要問題在於民眾接受程度，包含價格、性能及使用方便性。價格部分主要是電池是在到達使用年限時的更換費用問題；在性能部分主要是續航力（每次充飽電可行駛里程）問題。而在使用方便性部分，主要是充電時間長以及充電不方便等。這些問題可以透過電池交換營運系統來加以解決。因為這樣可以讓民眾在騎乘電動機車在換電池的時候，也能像騎汽油引擎機車加油時一樣方便。此外，如加油站一樣，電池交換系統由專業廠商負責營運，民眾在交換電池時依據使用電力的情形付費，就如同加油時付費一般。這樣一來，可以讓使用電動機車的民眾不須負擔後續電池維修或更換的費用，以滿足民眾使用需求。

        為推動電池交換營運系統，環保署已發布「電動機車電池交換系統補助辦法」和「電動機車電池交換費用補助辦法」，並核定補助2家民間企業各設立30個電動機車電池交換站，目前都均積極設站當中。環保署也提醒民眾，該署針對將來購買可自動交換電池的電動機車，並且加入前述2個交換系統的前5,000位民眾，該署將運用空污基金提供新臺幣1萬元之電池交換費用，來鼓勵民眾體驗電池交換的方便性。

        環保署沈世宏署長也特別在簽約儀式致詞時感謝民間企業以及高雄市政府環保局對該署推動電池交換系統的積極配合，除了協調相關單位租借設置電池交換站的用地外，也計畫鼓勵高雄市的大型企業及所屬員工購買可電池交換電動機車使用。相信在中央和地方政府的全力推動下，一定可以讓電動機車逐漸成為民眾的代步工具，有效改善空氣品質。

Source: http://ivy5.epa.gov.tw/enews/fact_Newsdetail.asp?InputTime=1010723124958

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CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: TRENDS, THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES, 27-28 September 2012, Singapore

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: TRENDS, THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES

27 & 28 SEPTEMBER 2012
RAFFLES CITY CONVENTION CENTRE

The 4th International Singapore Compact CSR Summit 2012 is back. Themed "Trends, Threats and Opportunities", the conference will highlight the value of CSR and look at aspects of sustainability, focusing on the social, environment and business impacts. The Summit will feature a distinguished panel of speakers who will share about the growing awareness of sustainability as the next business megatrend.

Plenaries and workshops during the 2-day conference will explore CSR with regard to value creation, the environment and human capital while providing in-depth perspectives across sectors and the ASEAN region. As an extension of the past three years' Summits, thought leaders will share their research and findings addressing different business stakeholder groups and impart CSR strategies on how to ride the uncertainty.

The Summit last year was a great success with Mr S Iswaran, Minister, Prime Minister Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry as the Guest-of-Honour delivering the keynote address. Mr Iswaran delivered insightful thoughts on the factors building up the global CSR movement, with specific sustainable development targets by many countries.

Building upon previous CSR Summits, the 4th International Singapore Compact CSR Summit 2012 is expected to draw about 400 delegates, and will feature winners of the CDL-Singapore Compact Young CSR Leaders Competition 2012 and the Singapore Compact CSR Awards 2012.

Who should attend:
Key decision makers and motivators from MNCs and local enterprises
C-suite executives interested in long-term business sustainability
Entrepreneurs and strategists
CSR and sustainability experts and consultants
Corporate development and communication managers
Policymakers, non-profit, academic and think-tank groups
Trade union and co-operative leaders
Legal and compliance professionals

For more details: http://www.singaporecsrsummit.com/

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Chinese Updates: Govt 'Set' to Resume Nuclear Projects

Govt 'Set' to Resume Nuclear Projects
2012-07-20



China is ready to resume nuclear power project approval, suspended last year in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan, according to the former head of the National Energy Administration.

Speaking exclusively to China Daily, Zhang Guobao said the government may now "consider starting construction of four new projects that had been approved" prior to a suspension of activities after the crisis in Japan in March 2011.

The four nuclear plants, with seven reactors in total, were due to start construction in Fuqing, Fujian province, Tianwan, Zhejiang province, Yangjiang, Guangdong province and Shidaowan, Shandong province.

The projects are planned by the country's three nuclear power developers — China National Nuclear Corp, China Guangdong Nuclear Power Corp and China Huaneng Group.

Although not yet "officially announced", Zhang also revealed that the State Council gave approval in principle to a nuclear safety plan in June, for a five-year period ending in 2015 and long-term targets for 2020.

In the aftermath of Fukushima, the global nuclear power sector has been seen by energy analysts as being plagued by uncertainty.

European countries abandoned or postponed plans for nuclear expansion, but many emerging economies, including China, said they remained committed to nuclear power and that they planned to continue leading nuclear power development.

The Chinese government has made strenuous efforts to check and enhance nuclear safety across the country since the disaster, added Zhang.

It ordered a nine-month inspection at 41 reactors in operation or under construction, and at three reactors where construction was due to start, before the disaster struck.

The safety inspection report concluded that the quality of China's nuclear industry, including reactor design, manufacturing, construction and operations, was generally "under control", and that the country's nuclear safety standards meet International Atomic Energy Agency requirements.

However, the report also noted that some atomic plants didn't meet the latest requirements to safeguard again flood control and that some had "weak" capabilities in evaluating and dealing with tsunami-related problems.

A few civil experimental reactors and fuel-cycle facilities also fell short of new earthquake standards but corrective measure have been taken.

The agency also embarked on a research and development plan for nuclear safety technology, aiming to increase the safety level of its mainstream technology, or the advanced second-generation reactors.

And the agency established a separate division to manage nuclear power, showing the importance the government attaches to future nuclear development.

Zhang added that Chinese energy companies are now making contributions to international energy development too, by sharing the country's nuclear technology expertise to a number of countries.

CNNC, the country's largest nuclear power developer, signed an agreement with Argentina's National Atomic Energy Commission in June for nuclear program cooperation based on its latest advanced 1,000-megawatt pressurized water nuclear power reactor technology.

That demonstration project is scheduled to begin at the end of 2013.

For more info: http://english.mep.gov.cn/News_service/media_news/201207/t20120720_233739.htm

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S. Korean Updates: Mutual agreements with the U.S. and Canada on Eco label

Agreements for mutual cooperation on Eco label with the U.S. (Green Seal) and Canada (EcoLogo) are concluded.

Korea Environmental Industry & Technology Institute (KEITI) of the Ministry of Environment announced on the 16^th the conclusion of agreement which mutually recognizes Eco label, assigned to environmentally friendly products, Green Seal of the U.S. and EcoLogo of Canada.

Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) is to accept the reliability of eco labeling program of each country and to act as a proxy in acquiring the eco label of other countries for the citizens of each country who apply for the accreditation.

The conclusion of the agreement opened the road for domestic companies to acquire eco labels of the U.S. and Canada via KEITI. Acquisition process does not require the companies to obtain certification from North America examinant and test institutes, thus save large amount of time and cost for eco label accreditation.

In particular, it is expected that the agreement will provide opportunities for environmentally friendly products to enter into North America market and the U.S. public sector market.

Green Seal mark is essential for the U.S. public sector market as Green Seal Inc. is running cooperative programs with state governments, schools and public facilities of LA and Chicago.

In addition, EcoLogo products of Canada are highly recognized across North America market, also widely distributed in the U.S.

KEITI is planning to expand the exchange and cooperation through various programs and activities.

For more info: http://eng.me.go.kr/board.do?method=view&docSeq=10624&bbsCode=new_news

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HK Updates: 渠署研究：綠化牆助降溫7℃

【明報專訊】渠務署完成垂直綠化研究，發現攀緣植物最高可為建築物降溫7℃。由於每種攀緣植物的生長速度、適應環境能力、降溫效果不同，該署認為挑選合適品種才可發揮最大效果。據了解，發展局計劃制訂垂直綠化植物清單，工務工程可因應攀緣植物特性而決定選種。

渠務署與港大合作，2010年起研究攀緣植物對外牆降溫功效，於沙田污水處理廠沿4個13米高的圓形污泥缸邊緣，種植20種攀緣植物，當中10種設鋼架讓植物附生；另外10種毋須鋼架，植物會自行沿牆壁向上生長。

擬訂清單 讓工務工程選用

結果顯示依靠鋼架生長的植物中，以首冠藤和炮仗花表現較佳，後者更可令牆壁降溫7℃。另港大改良泥土成分，發現攀緣植物生長高度較使用原有土壤高出34％。渠務署副署長徐偉解釋，攀緣植物生長愈密，降溫能力愈高，但要視乎植物是否適合在本港生長。

20種攀緣植物中，只有2、3種如黃金葛及常春藤，因不適應環境枯萎，其餘均可在1.5年內攀爬至13米高的缸頂。但各品種的生長速度參差，例如紫藤和使君子表現最佳，5個月便攀爬到缸頂，另有7個品種生長緩慢。研究發現，部分生長較快的植物如紫藤，因冬天落葉，效果大打折扣，但到夏天會迅速生長，爬滿綠化的牆壁；生長速度較慢的勒杜鵑、葡萄及金銀花，不但四季常綠，由地下至缸頂的葉片密度相若，不會出現較低位置疏落的情况。

徐偉表示，現時政府工務工程沒有參考攀緣植物，業界多使用爬山虎，較為單調，該署會公開測試結果，讓部門因應情况挑選不同的攀緣植物。

不少商場及屋苑採用預製組件，以高密度纖維棉代替泥土，逐件安裝在牆上，雖較靈活，但成本高。不過渠務署發現，大部分攀緣植物，只須沿牆壁邊緣的地下種植，或加設鋼架，便可自行沿牆向上攀爬逾10米。徐偉指研究至今兩年，僅安裝了自動灑水裝置及每年施肥兩次，保養成本有限，大部分植物均可持續生長。

明報記者 馬耀森

Source: http://hk.news.yahoo.com/%E6%B8%A0%E7%BD%B2%E7%A0%94%E7%A9%B6-%E7%B6%A0%E5%8C%96%E7%89%86%E5%8A%A9%E9%99%8D%E6%BA%AB7-212318100.html

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Indian Updates: India joins hands with S Asian neighbours to protect wildlife

India joins hands with S Asian neighbours to protect wildlife



New Delhi: Recognising the danger posed to wildlife from illegal trade, India and its South Asian neighbours have agreed to develop institutional mechanisms to promote harmonised and collaborative approaches to common threats, a government document said.

However, the modalities of this agreement and the ensuing legal structures evolved at the First Meeting on Illegal Wildlife Trade in South Asia held in Kathmandu two years ago are still under discussion.

India is a lucrative market in the USD 20 billion global illegal wildlife trade.

At a time when poaching and illegal trade of wildlife articles have assumed alarming proportions, the Environment Ministry document has conceded that the South Asian nations were "not resourced adequately" to deal with the problem.

A number of regional initiatives have emerged, including SACEP (South Asia Cooperative Environment Programme), SAWTI (South Asia Wildlife Trade Initiative) and SAARC Convention on Cooperation on Environment to check the illegal trade of wildlife articles.

"...But (these agencies) have not been resourced adequately to implement activities," concedes the document --Environmental and Social Framework Document for "Strengthening Regional Cooperation in Wildlife Protection in Asia"-- prepared for financial assistance from the World Bank under regional IDA (International Development Association) window.

When contacted, officials in the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) refused to share more details.

Wild animals are killed for the flourishing illegal international trade of their skins, bones, flesh, fur, used for decoration, clothing, medicine and unconventional exotic food.

Victims of the trade include the iconic tiger and elephant, the snow leopard, the common leopard, the one-horn rhino, pangolin, brown bear, several species of deer and reptiles, seahorses, star tortoises, butterflies, peacocks, hornbills, parrots, parakeets and birds of prey and corals.

Yearly trade of wildlife articles probably ranks third after narcotics and the illegal weapons trade, says the document quoting INTERPOL.

The nations across the world are also signatories to CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora), which was set up to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

The report says that poaching techniques are "extremely gruesome".

"The more egregious methods include skinning or dehorning live animals and transportation of live creatures in inhuman conditions," it says.

Poaching has become so intense that tigers have disappeared from many parks throughout Asia.

"Nowhere has the impact been greater than in India and Nepal which remain the bastions of tiger conservation," says the document.

India has a Memorandum of Understanding with Nepal on controlling trans-boundary illegal trade in wildlife and conservation, apart from a protocol on tiger conservation with China.

A Global Tiger Forum of Tiger Range Countries has been created for addressing international issues related to tiger conservation.

India has appealed to China to phase out tiger farming, and eliminate stockpiles of Asian big cats body parts and derivatives. The importance of continuing the ban on trade of body parts of tigers was emphasised.

The economic value of the illegal wildlife trade is determined primarily by cross-border factors. Wildlife are poached in one country, stockpiled in another, and then traded beyond the South Asia region.

Source: http://zeenews.india.com/news/eco-news/india-joins-hands-with-s-asian-neighbours-to-protect-wildlife_784798.html

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IFMA's Industrial Spotlight, 10 Aug 2012, Hong Kong

IFMA's Industrial Spotlight (10 Aug 2012)

Topic:	Organic Waste Management
Time:	Friday, 10 August 2012, 18:45 - 20:00
Venue:	UR1, SCOPE Admiralty Learning Centre, 8/F United Centre, Admiralty, Hong Kong
Contact:	Tel: (852) 2512 0111 or Email: hk-ifma.administrator@ifma.org.hk

Programme Highlights:
(1)   What is and what isn’t composting.
(2)   Why on-site composting is a good solution for organic waste treatment in Hong Kong.
(3)   What is required for having a successful composting operation.
(4)   Application of organic waste management and successful cases sharing.

Speaker

Mr. Abdon Beitia, KCS Engineering

Mr. Beitia has had firsthabd experience in waste sorting and composting from a very young age. Already in 1982, when composting was unheard of in Spain ar almost anywhere in Europe, KOLLVIK Recycling, s.l. started developing on-site composters, and the family’s home became a sort of test field for waste sorting and different solutions.

With the introduction in the 1990’s of new European Directives on waste handling calling for the closure of landfills, local governments became more aware that proper waste handling and recycling plans are essentials to comply with new legislation and protect the environment. This pushed Kollvik Recycling, S.L. to include in its scope consulting activities related to waste management in small communities, towns and companies.

As a result Mr. Beitia participated in both surveying, planning, drafting and implementing waste handling plans for small size cities (20.000 pop.) in Spain, mainly in the Basque Country, as well as in France (Pyrenees Atlantiques) and for companies like Carrefour, Auchan, IKEA, Acuidoro etc.

For 2003 onwards Mr. Baitia moved to China to pursue his own interests and business, however in 2011, when the market became more receptive to new waste handling methods he moved to Hong King and set up KCS Engineering to promote the family’s products and services in Asia. In all Mr. Beitia has over 20 years professional experience in composting operations and waste related consulting.

CPD

1 hour

Registration Fee-    IFMA HK Members/ Corporate Sponsors/ CityU SCOPE Students/ HKCT Students/ HKU SPACE Students/ PolyU Students: FREE Admission
-    Supporting Organizations: HK$50
-    Non-members: HK$100

Venue Sponsor
UR1, SCOPE Admiralty Learning Centre, 8/F United Centre, Admiralty, Hong Kong (download the map)

Supporting Organizations
Alumni Association of Building Services Engineering (AABSE) 

Asian Institute of Intelligent Buildings (AIIB)

BEAM Society (BEAM)

Business Environment Council (BEC)

Building Services Operation and Maintenace Executives Soicety (BSOMES)

The Chartered Institution of Water and Enviriomental Management Hong Kong Branch (CIWEM HK)

Hong Kong College of Technology (HKCT)

HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKU SPACE)

The Society of Operations Engineers (Hong Kong Region) (SOE HK) 

Event FlyerClick HERE to download.

For more info: http://www.ifma.org.hk/ifma/index.php?option=com_jevents&task=icalrepeat.detail&evid=126&Itemid=3&year=2012&month=08&day=10&title=ifmas-industrial-spotlight-10-aug-2012&uid=0742de6997d81067d78cd1fd48623745

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