Event: Constitutional Development Forum for the Environmental Industry (30 March 2014)

Constitutional Development Forum for the Environmental Industry (30 March 2014)

Event Date: 31 Mar 2014 Event Time: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Venue: BEC Auditorium Fee: Free   ( BEC Members only )
Contact: Ms Jill Chow Email: jill@bec.org.hk Telephone: 2784 3942 -
BEC is presenting the Constitutional Development Forum for the Environmental Industry with the support from the Environment Bureau and other organisations as below:

BEAM Society Limited

Hong Kong Green Building Council

Hong Kong Environmental Industry Association

Hong Kong Recycle Materials & Re-production Business General Association

Members of BEC and supporting organisations are welcome to join.


The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region formally launched a five-month public consultation on the methods for selecting the Chief Executive in 2017 and for forming the Legislative Council in 2016 on 4 December 2013. How can environmental experts, sustainability professionals and practitioners in the environmental industry contribute to the constitutional development of the city that could facilitate long-term government-business communications and collaborations for sustainable development of Hong Kong? The Chief Secretary for Administration Mrs Carrie Lam and the Secretary for the Environment Mr K S Wong will be explaining the consultation process and listening to the views and suggestions from the environmental industry on 31 March in persons.

About the Forum
Date                  : 31 March 2014 (Monday)
Time                 : 3:30pm – 5:00pm (Registration starts at 3:00pm)
Venue               : BEC Auditorium, G/F, 77 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong (location map)
Language        : Cantonese (simultaneous interpretation in English/Cantonese will be provided)

Registraton

Fee                   : Free admission (for members of BEC and supporting organisations only)

Registration    : Please click HERE to register.
                             (Confirmation will be issued upon successful registration.)
Enquiry
Ms Jill Chow (Email: jill@bec.org.hk | Tel: 2784 3942)

 

Other Supporting Organizations:
                           

- See more at: http://bec.org.hk/events-current/constitutional-development-forum-for-the-environmental-industry#sthash.c5sM9QC0.dpuf




See more at: http://bec.org.hk/events-current/constitutional-development-forum-for-the-environmental-industry#sthash.c5sM9QC0.dpuf

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Event: BEC Leadership Networking Series (27 Mar 2014)

BEC Leadership Networking Series (27 Mar)

Event Date: 27 Mar 2014 Event Time: 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Venue: BEC Auditorium, 77 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong
Fee: $180.00 Discounts: Free seats for each BEC member: Five (5) – Council; Three (3) – Corporate; Two (2) – General; Two (2) – Affiliate Contact: Ms Joey Hui Email: joey@bec.org.hk
Telephone: 2784 3958


BEC Leadership Networking Series is a monthly platform for sustainability leaders and practitioners to network and share their insights in an open and relaxing atmosphere. Come join us in the upcoming sharing session, where you could mingle and meet with other BEC members and like-minded major industry players. You may find more details below.  We hope to see you there!

“Go Green with Smart Office Design”

Mr Kevin Edmunds, Senior Manager, Sustainability, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation

The 21st century has been called the "century of the environment." Due to the increasing awareness of the environmental challenges, such as pollution, building construction and waste management, sustainable development has become a major concern for both the Government and business sector in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Science Park strives to incorporate the latest green technologies and sustainable design in office environment and buildings. By adopting 39 green design elements, Hong Kong Science Park Phase 3 has been ecologically designed to achieve a net zero-carbon footprint environment. Using the case studies from Phase 3, Mr Edmunds will share the latest green building technologies and showcase the sustainable practice in Hong Kong.

Followed by sharing from Mr Gary Hui, Senior Sustainability Design Manager, Leigh & Orange Limited

Fee	HKD 180 per head
Free Seats for Each BEC Member	Five     (5)  -  Council Three  (3)  -  Corporate Two     (2)  -  General Two     (2)  -  Affiliate
Format	20-minute keynote presentation and 10-minute sharing; followed by networking cocktail
Language	English

Please download and fill in the REGISTRATION FORM to reserve your seat(s). Successful registrations will be notified separately. For further information, please contact Ms Joey Hui (T 2784-3958  E joey@bec.org.hk)


- See more at: http://bec.org.hk/events-current/bec-leadership-networking-series-27-mar#sthash.qAIvbWvn.dpuf

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Event: BEC HR Excellence Awards 2014 - Winner Showcase Forum and Briefing Session (26-1 April 2014)

Winner Showcase Forum and Briefing Session Event Date:	26 Mar - 1 Apr 2014
Venue:
Email:	project@hkihrm.org
Telephone:	2837 3817 / 2837 3822 / 2837 3823
Business Environment Council is pleased to be the associate assessor and the supporting organisation of HR Excellence Awards 2014 organised by Hong Kong Institute of Human Resources Management (HKIHRM). HKIHRM will host the Awards Winner Showcase Forum and Briefing Session in March and April 2014 to share the details of the Awards to the audience. About the Event Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management (HKIHRM) presents the HR Excellence Awards to recognise organisations and individuals who achieve business success through outstanding people management strategies and practices. You are cordially invited to the Awards Winner Showcase Forum and Briefing Session. Submission of entry: 26 March to 9 May Launch cum 2013 Awards Winner Showcase Forum Date: 26 March, 2014 (Wednesday) Time: 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm Language: Cantonese and English (No simultaneous interpretation) Venue: 25/F, HKFYG Multi-function Hall I, The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups Building, 21 Pak Fuk Road, North Point, HK (MTR: Exit C, Quarry Bay) Fee: HKIHRM member - HK$700; Non-member - HK$1000 Click HERE for details and enrolment Briefing Session Date: 1 April, 2014 (Tuesday) Time: 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm Language: English Venue: HKIHRM Office, Suite 1503, 15/F, 68 Yee Wo Street, Causeway Bay, HK Fee: Free Click HERE for details and enrolment Enquiries: Project & Event Department – Tel: (852) 2837 3817 / 2837 3822 / 2837 3823 or Email: project@hkihrm.org

- See more at: http://bec.org.hk/events-current/hr-excellence-awards-2014---winner-showcase-forum-and-briefing-session#sthash.iOq5m3oC.dpuf

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Event: 2014 Asia-Pacific Forum on Financial Inclusion - Realizing Financial Inclusion in Asia: Achievements and Challenges (18-20 March 2014)

2014 Asia-Pacific Forum on Financial Inclusion - Realizing Financial Inclusion in Asia: Achievements and Challenges

Shanghai, People's Republic of China : 18 March 2014 - 20 March 2014

The 2014 Asia-Pacific Forum on Financial Inclusion will provide an opportunity to review trends, recent achievements, and challenges and opportunities related to financial inclusion and discuss how these developments are impacting different markets. The forum will strengthen capacities of government officials from developing member countries of ADB in implementing financial inclusion initiatives, as well as to provide policy suggestions in promoting financial inclusion in the region.
ADBI website


Rillo, Aladdin D.

Email contact form

source from: http://www.adb.org/news/events/2014-asia-pacific-forum-financial-inclusion-realizing-financial-inclusion-asia

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Event: Warsaw? Where next for the UN Climate Caravan? (BEC HK) (23 Jan 2014)

Warsaw? Where next for the UN Climate Caravan? 

Event Date: 23 Jan 2014 

Event Time: 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

 Venue: PwC, 21/ F, Edinburgh Tower, The Landmark, Central, Hong Kong Fee: Free Contact: Ms Joey Hui Email: joey@bec.org.hk Telephone: 2784 3958

Business Environment Council (BEC) Climate Change Business Forum (CCBF) Advisory Group and Civic Exchange invite you to join us for an annual update on efforts to both tackle the Greenhouse Gas emissions which are causing climate change and adapt to the climate change which is inevitable.
Questions to consider:

• What happened at the November 2013 UN Climate Conference at Warsaw? Where will the UN process go next? 
• Is the UN on course to conclude a deal at their December 2015 meeting in Paris?
• When will the Green Climate Fund start to operate? 
• Was the deal done on REDD+ (forests) at Warsaw significant? 
• What action on climate change is being taken outside of the UN process?

Programme*:

Time	Theme	Speakers
3:30pm	Registration
4:00pm	Welcoming	Mr John Barnes (PwC)
Session 1: What happened at Warsaw and where is the UN process going?
4:05pm	Overview	Mr Wai-shin Chan (HSBC)
	Reporting from Warsaw	Dr Jeanne Ng (CLP)
	A Government view	Mr. C F Wong (EPD)
	Moderated discussion with Q&A from the floor	Panelists: Mr Wai-Shin Chan (HSBC) Dr. Jeanne Ng (CLP) Moderator: Mr Simon Ng (Civic Exchange)
4:55pm	Coffee/Tea break
Session 2: Action on climate change outside the UN process. What should Hong Kong do and how might it be affected?
5:10pm	Low carbon economy action	Dr Hannah Routh (PwC)
	Climate Finance	Ms Alexandra Tracy (ASrIA)
	Energy options – HK and beyond	Mr Robert Allender (ENERGY Resources Management)
	Moderated discussion with Q&A from the floor	Panelists: Dr Hannah Routh (PwC) Ms Alexandra Tracy (ASrIA) Mr Robert Allender (ENERGY Resources Management) Moderator: Mr Hendrik Rosenthal (BEC)
6:00pm	Meeting ends

Please download and fill in the REGISTRATION FORM to reserve your seat(s). Successful registrations will be notified separately. For further information, please contact Ms Joey Hui (T 2784 3958  E joey@bec.org.hk)
Remarks:
* The programme may change, and the organiser reserves rights to change it without prior notification.
** Professional photographers and videographers are often present at the Event to take photos and videos which may be edited and used by Civic Exchange in the video channel and other promotion materials in the ordinary course of our business. By attending the Event, you acknowledge and agree that your image may be used by Civic Exchange, solely for this purpose.

- See more at: http://bec.org.hk/events-current/warsaw-where-next-for-the-un-climate-caravan#sthash.6iyt5yOZ.dpuf

for more information: http://bec.org.hk/events-current/warsaw-where-next-for-the-un-climate-caravan

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World News: Global Forum Shares Lessons on Climate Finance Effectiveness (13 jan 2014)

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Global Forum Shares Lessons on Climate Finance Effectiveness

6 January 2014: The Global Forum on Using Country Systems to Manage Climate Change Finance gathered over 170 participants from ministries of finance, planning and environment to share climate finance effectiveness lessons.


Development partners, civil society organizations (CSOs), and representatives from the UNFCCC and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) were also in attendance. During the Forum, which took place in Incheon, Republic of Korea, on 2-3 December 2013, country systems were defined broadly to include national and local systems for planning, policy coordination and implementation, budgeting and financial management, procurement, and monitoring and evaluation. Climate finance was defined based on a country-led definition of climate expenditures from both domestic and international sources. Participants identified the following benefits of country systems for climate finance: greater ownership; reduced duplication; domestic transparency and accountability; and more opportunities for transformation and mainstreaming. They added that political, institutional and fiduciary issues pose challenges for using country systems.


The Forum reviewed country experiences in using such systems, including opportunities, innovations and challenges. Participants underscored the importance of, inter alia: tracking climate spending through the budget and other extra-budgetary systems; building capacity to support the new institutional frameworks; strengthening mechanisms for measuring climate policy impact and results; involving local government to channel climate finance; and strengthening transparency and accountability mechanisms.


Forum participants agreed that the GCF business model should: build upon existing country systems to manage finance; provide support for country readiness to absorb climate finance through country systems; promote a programmatic approach covering both adaptation and mitigation; ensure transparency and accountability of its operations; and create an enabling environment for the private sector. Addressing the Forum, GCF Executive Director Hela Cheikhrouhou encouraged countries to view the GCF as a fund that could drive transformational change through providing additional catalytic finance.


Forum participants reviewed a framework for learning lessons on the use of country systems to manage climate finance that will be useful to the UNFCCC and the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation. The suggestion was also made that the Forum consider developing a concrete work plan and an active strategy to engage all relevant stakeholders.


The Forum was co-organized by the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Republic of Korea, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the Civil Society Partnership for Development Effectiveness, and co-financed by the Governments of the Republic of Korea, Sweden and Germany, and the EU's Global Climate Change Alliance.

read more: http://climate-l.iisd.org/news/global-forum-shares-lessons-on-climate-finance-effectiveness/228272/

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Singapore News: Inaugural ASEAN Climate Outlook Forum Launched (5 Dec 2013)

Inaugural ASEAN Climate Outlook Forum Launched

Singapore hosts first-ever regional platform for ASEAN countries to
develop consensus-based regional seasonal climate outlook

Singapore, 5 December 2013 – In a new initiative to improve understanding of climate variability and change relevant to Southeast Asia, and to develop a consensus-based seasonal climate outlook for the region, Singapore hosted the first-ever ASEAN Climate Outlook Forum (ASEAN-COF) from 3 to 5 December 2013 at the Centre for Climate for Research.  The establishment of ASEAN-COF was endorsed in July 2013 by the ASEAN Sub-Committee on Meteorology and Geophysics (SCMG), comprising the National Meteorological Services (NMS) of ASEAN member countries.

2          A total of about 40 experts from the NMS of ASEAN member countries, international experts from China, Japan, South Korea, USA and Europe as well as representatives from the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), participated in the three-day event. The meeting was supported by WMO under a project funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

3          The Director-General of the Meteorological Service Singapore, Ms Wong Chin Ling, explained the significance of the forum, “This inaugural session of ASEAN-COF brings together expertise from the leading climate modelling and prediction centres around the world, and marks an important milestone in advancing regional capabilities and collaboration in the area of seasonal climate prediction. Long-range forecasts of rainfall, temperature and other weather parameters have numerous useful applications such as risk assessment of transboundary smoke haze occurrences caused by regional land and forest fires during the dry season, as well as flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains during the rainy season.”

4          The inaugural ASEAN-COF saw a fruitful exchange of ideas and plans discussed to improve long-range forecasts for the region. In particular, the participants reached a consensus on the regional climate outlook for the current Northeast Monsoon season from December to February. For southern Southeast Asia, normal to above normal rainfall is expected, while normal to below normal rainfall is expected for northern Southeast Asia during the season[1]. There was also agreement that more scientific research was needed to improve understanding of the predictability of rainfall in the region as well as the key drivers of the region’s climate, such as the El Nino and La Nina phenomena. 

5          Dr Rupa Kumar Kolli, Acting Director of Climate Prediction and Adaptation Branch of WMO said, “For more than 15 years, WMO has been supporting Regional Climate Outlook Forums which now serve more than half the world’s population with climate outlooks of up to three months ahead. Seasonal climate outlooks offer increasingly reliable and accessible decision-support tools for climate-sensitive sectors such as farming, public health, water as well as disaster risk reduction and translate advances in scientific knowledge into practical services for society. The new ASEAN Climate Outlook Forum will enable us to spread the benefits of these climate services to millions more people.”

6          The ASEAN-COF will meet annually in the fourth quarter of every year and will focus on forecasting the Northeast Monsoon season, evaluating end user requirements and putting in place plans for these to be addressed. Another ASEAN-COF will be held in conjunction with the annual ASEAN SCMG meeting in the second quarter every year and will focus on forecasting the Southwest Monsoon season. While ASEAN-COF provides regional climate outlooks, it is the responsibility of NMSs to update and downscale them to shorter time-frames and local levels for their respective countries.          

7          ASEAN-COF is considered to be a key initiative in the context of the implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS) in Southeast Asia. For more information on the GFCS, refer to the website www.gfcs-climate.org.                                                                

- See more at: http://app2.nea.gov.sg/corporate-functions/newsroom/news-releases/inaugural-asean-climate-outlook-forum-launched#sthash.wAdz5sNM.dpuf

sourece from : http://app2.nea.gov.sg/corporate-functions/newsroom/news-releases/inaugural-asean-climate-outlook-forum-launched

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Event: 5th Regional FOrum- New Territories East on Municipal Solid Waste Charging Scheme (18 Dec 2013)

Municipal Solid Waste Charging Scheme-Public Engagement scheme

5th Regional Forum - New Territories East

Date: 18 December 2013 (Wed) 7:00PM

Venue: Lek Yuen Community Hall

Address: Lek Yuen Estate, Sha Tin, New Territories

for more information and application procedures: 

http://www.susdev.org.hk/english/events/events_detail.php?id=5

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Event: 5th Regional Forum-New Territories East (18 Dec 2013)

5th Regional Forum - New Territories East

Date: 18 December 2013 (Wed) 7:00PM

Venue: Lek Yuen Community Hall

Address: Lek Yuen Estate, Sha Tin, New Territories

for more information: http://www.susdev.org.hk/english/events/coming_events.php

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Malaysia News: Malaysia Hosts Sixth Sub-Regional Meeting and Associated Activities (11 Dec 2013)

Malaysia Hosts Sixth Sub-Regional Meeting and Associated Activities

11 DECEMBER 2013POSTED IN: APN EVENTS, APN NEWS, FEATURED STORY

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 30 November 2013 – Members and delegates of Southeast Asian Countries gathered to attend the 6th Southeast Asia Sub-Regional Committee Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The two-day meeting was chaired by Dr. Wan Azli Wan Hassan of the Malaysian Meteorological Department, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation of Malaysia.

The meeting discussed several issues, including:

1. Sub-regional cooperation and efforts towards institutionalisation of sub-regional committees
2. Proposed activities on a summer school on climate change adaptation in urban planning
3. Improving communication between member countries
4. Engagement of Myanmar in sub-regional cooperation
5. APN Frameworks
6. Future Events and Activities

Members discussed the importance of effective communication in improving Southeast Asian sub-regional activities and decided to explore various means of communication, such as mailing groups, telecommunication tools, regular Skype conferences, etc.

Regarding the sub-regional proposal on a summer school on climate change adaptation in urban planning, members decided to focus on practical activities in climate change adaptation as an important component of the curricula. They further decided to involve the private sector and NGOs. The meeting agreed to appoint a coordinator and co-coordinators to refine and finalise the proposal for submission to APN in 2014.

The meeting had an intense discussion on engaging Myanmar and institutionalising sub-regional committees. On the matter of Myanmar engagement, it was agreed that a Myanmar representative will be invited to the next meeting. On institutionalisation, members stressed the importance of acknowledging sub-regional committees in the APN Framework Document. The SRC is supposed to be the bridge between the science community and policy makers; hence a good mechanism needs to be in place to sustain it. Another agreement made is on the self-evaluation of sub-regional committees.

Economics of Climate Change Seminar

A seminar on the Economics of Climate Change was part of the serial meetings and workshop held during the 6th SEA SRC Meetings. Two keynote speakers, Mr. Chang Yii Tan and Dr. Jamal Othman, presented two topics on the Economics of Climate Change in Malaysia (ECCM). Mr Chang Yii Tan put an emphasis on adaptation in the water sector as the point of view of his work, while Dr. Jamal Othman focused on the issue in energy sector.

APN member country delegates also shared their lessons on economic issues of climate change in their countries and the sub-region as a whole. During her presentation, Dr. Jariya Boonjawat, Scientific Planning Group member for Thailand, promoted the recently published APN book “Climate in Asia and the Pacific: Security, Society and Sustainability” and the 2011 APN Climate Synthesis report.

Proposal Development Training Workshop

Sixteen young scientists from Southeast Asia were invited to the Proposal Development Training Workshop, a two-day training to introduce APN’s calls for proposal process and proposal review process for increased involvement of young scientists. Prior to the training, there was a field trip to the SMART office. SMART stands for Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel. It is a tunnel constructed as part of the Flood Management System in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. SMART has been officially in operation since 2007 and proved to have effectively minimised the flood occurrence in the city. Participants also visited the Kualalumpur Tower, the highest viewpoint of Kuala Lumpur, for weather familiarisation.

Participants were enthusiastic about the training. They were divided into four groups, each working on one proposal. They were also familiarised with the proposal review process by doing exercise on peer-reviewing the proposals

During the training, two APN project leaders were invited to share their experience and views about the proposal development and project implementation. Prof. Joy Jacqueline Pereira presented her APN-funded project “Strengthening Capacity for Policy Research on Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change in Agriculture and Water Sectors (CRP2011-01CMY-Pereira).” In addition, she shared her experience in having 19 failed proposals before finally having one proposal accepted. The moral of the story is to be perseverant and keep on trying to submit proposals. She also encouraged the young scientists to submit proposals to APN, saying “there are a lot for us in Asia to learn from each other and even though it is very competitive, it is well-worth investing your time, not only because it can enhance the science community in general, but also bringing us closer as a scientific community especially in Southeast Asia.”

Another project leader, Prof. Fredolin Tangang, presented his APN-funded project “Southeast Asia Regional Climate Downscaling (ARCP2013-17NMY-Tangang)”. On being asked about the opinion on the training, Prof. Tangang mentioned that this training is a good opportunity to explore the potentials of the young scientists. He also pointed out the diverse participation as one of the strength of the training. “This is a really good platform for networking. It provides the opportunity for communication among young scientists from different countries as well as resource persons from various countries.”

For further inquiry, please contact: Dr Linda Anne Stevenson (lastevenson@apn-gcr.org), Head of Communication and Scientific Affairs Division

By: Dyota Condrorini, Programme Officer for Scientific and Institutional Affairs

source from: http://www.apn-gcr.org/2013/12/11/malaysia-hosts-sixth-sub-regional-meeting-and-associated-activities/

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Event: CSR Asia Disclosure Forum 2013 (5 December 2013)

CSR Asia Disclosure Forum 2013

Date: Thursday, 5 December 2013 Location: Malaysia Course Overview: CSR Asia’s third Disclosure Forum will provide cutting-edge information and top speakers on non-financial disclosure and sustainability reporting. Fee: USD 360 Registration: For CSR Asia Strategic Partners (to enjoy special discount) For Ordinary CSR Asia Strategic Partners are entitled to a 20% discount on all courses organised by CSR Asia. To register using your free training pass, please contact your relationship manager directly. for more information and registration: http://www.csr-asia.com/course-detail.php?id=98

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