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...

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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...

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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 24th 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...

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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...

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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...

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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。  ...

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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...

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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...

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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 16th 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...

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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...

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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...

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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...

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