ABC Carbon Express 
Food for Thought: 
The Climate, Energy & Water Nexus
Express 219     28 November  2016
Events 2016
 







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F ood for Thought
Life goes on, doesn't it? Many of us still eat and drink our way through days and nights, oblivious to the plight of those who suffer and die daily from hunger and poverty. Many of us have been scratching our heads and despairing over the US Presidential election, instead of accepting that there's no turning back on climate change and the new energy revolution is unstoppable. It can't be trumped!  Of course, even we have been known to waver and wobble. Pessimistic, because political and business leaders have been far too slow to act. The sense of urgency has been missing. For the best part of ten years, we've been communicating the good, the bad and the ugly of climate change. We've advanced the issues and promoted the opoportunities in equal measure. Have things really changed? Has the impact of extreme weather events - even earthquakes and "man-made" disasters - given us a wake up call to action? Even the election of Donald Trump - a climate change denier if ever there was one - cannot stop what has started to take root. And that very agricultural analogy must be applied to how the world needs to address food production and food security. Climate change impacts are already being felt, with the developing world less prepared to cope. In spite of 50 years of UN-driven campaigns to address poverty and hunger, there's still a long way to go. Food, water, energy and waste are issues and opportunities that must be addressed along with climate impacts. A connected world demands we act collaboratively. 
                                                     -  Ken Hickson
Global Business & UN Focus on Hunger-Poverty-Food-Climate
+Tackling Hunger & Malnutrition in Asia. The private sector has a critical role to play in both, supply and demand-side solutions,  including innovations, partnerships and consumer education, says Dr Shenggen Fan, Director General of the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). Read More
+ Sowing the Seeds of Climate Action for Agriculture. Three new initiatives: Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA), Global Framework on Water Scarcity and the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact, were launched during the UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakech (COP22), designed to assist small-scale farmers in building their adaptive capacities, to help urban citizens in dealing with the impacts of climate change and to support countries in fulfilling their climate commitments. Read More 
Sustainability/Energy Funding
+ New funding platform launched for sustainability projects in Asia: Bringing together European banks and UN funding, the new Sustainable Finance Collective Asia will offer capital and expert advice for sustainability projects, in the areas of the circular economy, sustainable energy and social impact. Eco-business has the story. Read More
+ Leading wave energy developer gets European funding: Carnegie Wave Energy has been granted £9.5 Million from the European Regional Development Fund to support the first phase of its planned 15MW commercial wave energy project at Wave Hub, Cornwall in the United Kingdom. Carnegie, based in Western Australia, is the only company in the world to have operated a grid-connected wave energy project over four seasons. Read More

Unintended consequences: Trumped over Climate Change?
+  What you can count on in the energy and climate world. You can always rely on Assad Razzouk in The Huffington Post  to bring us down to earth with a reality thump. Here's his "Ten Impacts On Energy And Climate", reflecting on the election of a coal-loving, oil and gas-funded climate denier as President. Read More

+ Why Donald Trump's election might accidentally help climate action.  The economics of wind and solar are transforming generation globally. Electric vehicles have multiple value propositions besides climate change. The rest of the world and especially China aren't going to stop, they'll just pull ahead of the USA. There's no reason to cheer a Trump presidency, but there's less reason for gloom than most would think. CleanTechnica and RenewEconomy have this to say. Read More

+ How Trump has changed his mind on climate.  Donald Trump has said he has an "open mind" over US involvement in the Paris agreement to combat climate change, after  previously pledging to withdraw from the effort . Questioned by the New York Times over the link between human activity and global warming, the latest from the US President elect is: "I think there is some connectivity. Some, something. It depends on how much." He added that he was thinking about how the issue "will cost our companies"  Here's how the Guardian reports it.  Read More

+ When self-interest works to sustain the fight against global warming. Even if Mr Trum honours America's commitment to the Paris accord, it is unlikely that his administration will galvanise action. Man y in the Republican establishment think that climate deals are examples of global regulatory over-reach. But the reality is  more complex, says The Economist. Trump's brand of "America First" populism will do nothing to help the planet, but neither need it be the catastrophe many fear. Read More
 
Clean Technologies and Renewables Go Around the World 
+ World Alliance for Clean Technologies launched at COP22. The Solar Impulse Foundation, as a legacy to the first ever solar flight around the world, took this initiative, with the goal to drive main actors in the field of clean technologies, to create synergies, promote profitable solutions to the world's most pressing environmental and health challenges, and give credible advice to governments. Read More
+ Collaboration on renewable sources and storage.  A case in point is a new wind, hydropower, and energy storage project between US-based GE and Germany's Max Bögl Wind AG, which is on track to connect its four wind turbines to the grid next year, with the hydropower component coming online in 2018. Read More 
+ 48 countries commit to 100% renewable energy plan.  In the final hours of the UN climate meeting in Marrakeech, representatives from the 48-nation Climate Vulnerable Forum - a group of countries disproportionately affected by climate change - pledged to move to 100% renewable energy generation between 2030 and 2050. Read More
+ Indonesia finally recognises renewable opportunities. Renewables have up until now played a scant role in Indonesia's power sector, despite sitting on a world's biggest geothermal pot and being bathed in sunshine. Crowded out by an abundance of cheap coal and bureaucratic bottlenecks. But disappearing costs of renewable electricity plus a new push by President Joko Widodo to capitalise on offshore energy resources in remote eastern parts of the archipelago are changing a picture. Read more
What's Old is New Again: Sustainability Past, Present & Future
+ A new emphasis on models of ancient Hawaiian sustainability: When conservation leaders from around the world gathered in Honolulu, they agreed that indigenous methodologies are very much a 21st century issue.  With the continued development of collaborative governance and application of the new rules and procedures, Hawaii can demonstrate that its commitment to a sustainable future is more than just lip service. Read More

+ Walmart is taking the next step in 11-year  susta inability journey:  CEO Doug McMillon announces a series of 2025 goals, putting som e hard targets and  timetables on what had previously been largely aspirational goals. It's a big step forward as  the company is promising nothing less than "a new era of trust and transparency," as laid out at the Net Impact conference in Philadelphia. GreenBiz has the story. Read More

Elon Musk Brings Tesla and Solar City together: For the second time in three years, the Tesla Model S has been voted the "Most Loved Model" in the United States, earning a Consumer Love Index (CLI) of 652 out of a possible 1000. In the same month, Tesla and Elon Musk's energy company, Solar City, merged with the full approval of all shareholders. Read More

Australian Awards:  Cane Farmer to Rubbish Warrior
                                  State Minister to Energetic Exporter
1. ABC Rural Farmer of the Year is a cane producer turned rubbish warrior, who has transformed his business into a recycling facility. Matthew Keith started taking the cane waste left on the ground after harvesting and turning it into mulch. He's also showing that there are plenty of other opportunities when you treat waste as a resource. Read More
2. Meet this year's Business of the Year winner and discover exactly what it takes to win the crowning glory at the Optus My Business Awards. "It's a great honour to be recognised as the Business of the Year," says Rod Welford, Executive Chairman of Enright Energy The business was founded in 2003 with the aim of transforming how businesses use energy. Rod Welford was a Queensland state Member of Parliament for ten years, and among his portfolios, he served as the Minister for Environment & Heritage and Minister for Natural Resources from 1998 to 2001. Read More

Winners in the Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards 2016 
We will know the winners this week in the 2016 Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards (ASRA). An impressive 68 companies from 14 countries made it to the final round. The finalists were shortlisted by the members of an independent judging panel. ASRA recognises and honours sustainability reporting leaders in Asia.  An independent panel of judges with distinguished backgrounds judge the entries to decide the winners.The winners will be announced at the awards night on Monday 28 November in Singapore. See who's on the list to win in any of the 15 categories for this years award. 

The Awards are supported by diverse regional and international organisations, including the British High Commission Singapore, Embassy of Sweden in Singapore, the High Commission of Canada, the British Chamber of Commerce, the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development (VBCSD), Sasin Centre for Sustainability Management, Systainability Asia, Green Evangelist, Academy of Fashion Professionals, Sustain Ability Showcase Asia (SASA),  ABC Carbon and Ginga Environment. Get your copy of the excellent report on the ASRA 2015 winners - a valuable case study. Read More 
Asia Society Honours Leader for Impact Investing &  
Trailblazer Showcase to Celebrate Sustainable Investors
+ Durreen Shahnaz, a Bangladeshi-American entrepreneur and founder of Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) and Shujog, received the Asia Game Changer Award for her pioneering work in changing the game for millions through impact investing.   Launched by the Asia Society in 2014, the Award has identified and honored key leaders who are making a transformative and positive difference for the future of Asia and the world. Read More
+ The first Annual Impact Investment Trailblazer Showcase is being held on Thursday, 8 December in Singapore. This unique event will include an introduction from USAID and the US consulate, as well as expert insight into the latest impact investing trends in innovative finance, agriculture and sustainable fisheries. It will also showcase rising players, celebrate those who have long been creating impact, and recognize the winner of the first ever IIX Trailblazer Award for their investment in sustainable development. Read More 
Which Countries Rank Highest in Three International Surveys: Prosperity, Sustainability & Soft Power
+ The Legatum Institute Global Prosperity Index: P ublished each year by the London-based institute, ranks 149 of the world's nations according to nine key sub-indices, plus considers 104 different "variables". GDP, security and quality of healthcare and education are all accounted for, but there are more intriguing considerations too. Like having ample energy resources and managing the natural environment. See who ranks where.   Read More 

+ RobecoSAM's country Sustainability assessment which evaluates 62 countries: This report provides a succinct summary and analysis of various countries' Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)  profiles around the globe. It builds on the results of 22 developed and 40 emerging market economies, via a structured and comprehensive framework, covering a  broad range of factors that are particularly relevant for investors from a  risk-return perspective. Read More

+ Monocle Magazine's annual Soft Power survey: In this year's Soft Power Survey Monocle looks at the hard truths of politics and how a tumultuous year has affected the softer sides of nations. Find out who's in and who's out in this count-down to the winner. To discover more about who's ahead and who's behind in soft power internationally, according to Monocle magazine, see and hear what they've put on YouTube.   Read More 

ACES for Asian Companies in Excellence and Sustainability
+  With so many corporate awards around now, many more companies can be winners. The Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability (ACES) awards organisers go to a lot of trouble to make sure the assessment is thorough to maintain its credibility and to recognise genuine achievement. The third annual Asia Corporate Excellence & Sustainability Awards (ACES) was held at The Shangri-La, Singapore, on November 17. The ACES Awards is organised by MORS Group, which champions revolutionary leadership and sustainability in companies operating in the Asian region. See who's made the list of top achievers in Asia this year. Singapore's Business Times had the full ACES report card. Read More

+ Two leading Indian companies have been awarded for their leadership in sustainability, corporate social responsibility, eco consciousness and community care at the third annual Asia Corporate Excellence and Sustainability Awards (ACES). TATA Consultancy Services (TCS) was named Industry Champions in the Leadership category, while Vedanta Limited was named in "Top Companies to Work For in Asia."  Eleven Indian companies were nominated among 185 Asian businesses for ACES 2016 awards. Press Trust of India was represented at the awards by Gurdip Singh, who's also editor of Foreign Investors on India.  Here's the Indian Express story. Read More
Brewing by the Sun and Maintaining a Sustainable Supply Chain
Making an impressive advertising claim that Tiger Beer is "brewed by the sun", is just one thing - important as it is - but Asia Pacific Breweries and its international owner Heineken believe in taking it a lot further.  One of the biggest global brands, Heineken says it is committed to "Brewing a Better World". Sustainability is a business imperative rather than something that lies outside its normal business operations.  In Singapore, the brewery's Head of Supply Chain, Gerardo Naranjo Sotomayor tells us what's involved in the "sustainability brew". Read More

Sustainable Development Goals should be Taught at School
Akzo Nobel Promotes Possibilities & Sustainable Cities: 
As part of a global effort to create more liveable cities, the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) should be part of the curriculum in every primary and secondary school in the world, said AkzoNobel chief executive Ton Büchner at the Cities:Possibilities forum in Singapore.    "The SDGs are a strategy to make the world a more sustainable, liveable place, but nobody knows anything about them. If nobody knows about them, we don't get anything done."  Read More

Creating Liveable Car-Lite Cities: The Urban Land Institute (ULI) and the Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC)jointly launched the publication "Creating Liveable Cities through 'Car-Lite' Urban Mobility" in Dallas, Texas, United States last month. It  is an outcome of a joint research project to develop practical recommendations on how cities can be more sustainable and liveable by reducing their reliance on cars. It grew out of the World Cities Summit in Singapore in July. Get your e-book copy online. Read More
Last Words: People Who Matter

# A Waste of Space? Hear what Bidushi Bhattacharya has to say. The former NASA scientist has set up in Singapore Bhattacharya Space Enterprises to  train young people to build, launch and use space technology for social good. Space exploration has proved to be vitally necessary not just to satisfy curiosity or as a reality check on science fiction. It has produced considerable benefits for us mere earthlings. Look at solar energy advances derived from space age testing. Communications satellites have given us GPS and weather forecasting like never before. See the wonderful NASA exhibition at the Art Science Museum in Singapore. 

# Tyler Brule in town again. This time to launch the latest edition of The Monocle Guide to Drinking & Dining. The Monocle magazine Chairman and Editor in Chief is at pains to point out that the latest edition - like the monthly magazine itself - is for anybody who enjoys life, where-ever in the world they might be. Besides celebrating drinking and dining in cities and out of the way places, the book also promotes sensible consumption, sustainable production and the "locavore rule" - sell produce sourced locally or within 180 km, where-ever possible. That's the story about Sydney's Carriageworks Farmers Market which features in the Stocking Up section, which comes after Food for Thought. So much to read, so many people to meet and places to visit. 
 
# Samantha Jewel on a mission. Not just to promote food - she is passionate about regenerative farming to improve our climate, our food and ourselves.  Through Climate Food, she's determined to see that food and fabric is produced in a way that actively improves soil health, nutrient availability for the plant and carbon sequestration. We met in Singapore so we could see how we could together promote the some of the quality food from Australia, produced the regenerative way. Sam is spreading the word to encourage support for better Agricultural Practices, so "we can change the quality of our food, change our climate and improve soil, animal and human health". She's on her way to Italy to persuade the fashion industry to adopt what she believes to be the most sustainable yarn in the world - hemp. You'll be hearing a lot more from us about hemp and its many uses. Read More 

# More than one clean energy trick up his sleeve. We met up again with Mike Chia the other day. His Singapore-based company MSE Greentech has a collection of mind-blowing "inventions" that could take the world by storm. One is a remarkable mechanical power generator.  Cheaper than solar or wind power - or any normal fossil fuel based generator - it comes with no recurring fuel cost. Hard to believe but it produces 100% clean energy on 24/7 basis, produces extremely low heat and noise. Watch this space! 

      
Six Books You Should Have in Your Collection!
     
People keep asking me "where can I get hold of your books?" Here's the full range and all can be found in libraries somewhere in the world - most likely in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand. Some you will find in bookstores, too. Just ask and name the author and title. Most are available from various online sources, new and used, mostly in print, some as e-books: Try Amazon, Abe Books, World Scientific, Book Depository or even Books Kinokuniya.  We are even in the process of setting up a online book selection and distribution service ourselves. For these books and, in time, many more, go to our dedicated websites:
www.abccarbon.com or www.fifthavenue.asia 
Ken Hickson
Founder Chairman/CEO, Sustain Ability Showcase Asia - SASA
Managing Editor, abc carbon express & the avenue for creative arts
Director, ABC Carbon & Blue by Design