Issue 229  | 8 August 2018
express
TOO HOT TO HANDLE: MAN-MADE DISASTERS
Wildfires: "It's everyone's business"
In Sweden, 18,500 hectares has burnt so far, an astounding 41 times the 10-year average. Dozens of fires have burned  from the Arctic Circle down to the Baltic Sea . At least 80 people have been killed in wildfires in Greece, with blazes also reported as far apart as the US - the worst and biggest fires ever in California are raging right now - Canada and the UK. In the UK the area burned so far - 13,888 hectares - is more than four times the average of the past decade. Besides the loss of lives, property and infrastructure damage, think of the loss of what's burnt. The trees and forests which we value as carbon stores. " Climate change is real", writes Per Axbom in The Local (Sweden) "and effects could be coming faster than most of us would prefer to imagine. Sweden is on fire, and I believe it's everyone's business. Read more
Authorities in Stung Treng province scrambled to carry out an emergency evacuation of 1,200 families after five billion cubic metres of water gushed into the rivers and surrounding landscape when the Xe-Namnoy hydropower dam in south-eastern Laos, on the border with Cambodia,  broke under pressure . The dam collapse that triggered massive flooding and devastation was due to "substandard construction," the country's Minister of Energy and Mines said. Laos already has 39 hydropower plants and 53 more are under construction or in the planning stage, while there will be more than 90 hydropower plants to be constructed in the country in coming years. See report below on environmental problems with large infrastructure projects. Read all about it.
Unprecedented Heatwaves, Floods, Droughts & Wildfires
"The impacts of climate change are no longer subtle," said  Michael Mann , a climate scientist and director of the Earth System Science Center at Penn State University. "We are seeing them play out in real time in the form of unprecedented heat waves, floods, droughts and wildfires. And we've seen them all this summer," he said. Data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)  shows that the first half of 2018 was characterised by warmer to much-warmer-than-average conditions across the Earth's land and ocean surfaces. Instead of preparing for the worst, we're making the situation worse. See the story by David Fogarty in Singapore's Straits Times entitled "Too Hot to Handle". Australian farmers are experiencing what's beng described as the worst drought for 100 years. See The Guardian photo essay. We can no longer even mention the words "Act of God" when looking at disasters around the world. Nine times out of ten they're man-made. By decisions made to continue to burn fossil fuels when we know how bad they are for the atmosphere, spewing green house gas emissions out of control, and by continuing to perpetrate deforestation, land-clearing and construction of large scale infrastructure - dams, roads, ports - without making sure that people are not displaced and the environment is not damaged beyond repair. Recently Professor William Laurence has been waving a big red flag, warning of the large scale environment disaster waiting to happen with China's Belt and Road projects that are spreading around the globe. Here's what he has to say about it.
Serious Tree Cover Loss: State of the Forests
Wildfires destroy 6 to 14 million hectares of fire-sensitive forests worldwide, a annual rate of loss and degradation comparable to that of destructive logging and agricultural conversion.  PEFC - the world largest forest certification organisation - specifies that fire management must be incorporated into plans by countries and forest owners. But "controlled burning" of peat lands and rainforests - to clear for palm oil and other agricultural production - along with out-of-control wild fires appear unstoppable. The world needs all the tree cover it can get and while wild fires are a consequence of a warming world, loss of trees is making matters far worse. The Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reports that time is running out for the world's forests, whose total area is shrinking by the day. It urges governments to foster an all-inclusive approach to benefit both trees and those who rely on them. Read the FAO's State of the World's Forests.
Not long ago, Myanmar had the third-highest rate of forest reduction in the world. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) reported in 2010, that only Brazil and Indonesia ranked higher. Now the Southeast Asian country (formerly known as Burma), is committed to make the transition to manage all its forests, through a three year project initiated by the Programme for Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) and funded by the  Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. Read the full story.
Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Best Practices to Promote Legal Trade of Wood Products takes place in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea on 9/10 August. It's part of APEC's continuing role in monitoring and combatting illegal logging and associated trade. APEC set up in 2011 its Expert Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (EGILAT) stressing the importance of the region, as APEC economies account for approximately 53% of the world’s forests, 60% of global production of forest products, and 80% of global trade in forest products, according to the  UN FAO.  APEC’s forest products trade was valued at over $150 billion in 2010. The United Nations estimates that over 1.6 billion people worldwide depend directly on forests for food, clothing and shelter. Ken Hickson will be attending the meeting.
Water & Waste, World Cities, Green Growth & Investor Focus for a "Cooler" Singapore
Singapore International Water Week
Too much of a good thing? You could say that about this year's Singapore International Water Week with a host of co-located events. You cannot be everywhere at once, but with the help of co-opted colleagues, we covered a lot of what has become Singapore's biggest eco-friendly event - covering, water, waste, urban planning, green solutions and financing - covering five levels of the massive Marina Bay Sands Convention Centre. That was the week that was! Here are some of the highlights.
Green Growth and Business Forum

 The third GGBF - jointly organised by the UK and Singapore Governments - strongly emphasised the risks and the opportunities of climate change and the need to speed up investments in critical areas. One notable speaker was Michael Lewis of DWS, who pointed out that six of the world’s ten most affected countries by extreme weather events were in Asia: Myanmar, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Pakistan and Thailand, with climate risks ranging from typhoons, extreme precipitation, droughts, sea level rise and coastal flooding. Asia is therefore faced with significant financial risks as a result of climate change, including the disruption or ultimate loss of productive assets and supply chains. He pointed to the damaging impacts of the 2011 Thailand floods (pictured above), the worst in 50 years, worsened by climate change, which wiped out 25% of the world’s hard drive production capacity. It also had ripple effects on global markets for electronics and auto-manufacturers, with an estimated USD44 billion in global damage.   In his presentation, he referred to a Climate Risk White paper produced by Global Research Institute and a recent DWS article in the Financial Times: "Transparency vital in assessing the risk posed by climate change".
CleanEnviro Summit Platform for NZ Climate Change Minister
New Zealand's Minister for Climate Change, James Shaw delivered a presentation and participated in a panel with World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva at the Clean Enviro Leaders’ Summit at the invitation of Singapore’s Minister for Environment and Water Resources, Masagos Zulkifli. He spoke about the work NZ has underway, such as the Zero Carbon Bill and plans for a just transition to a net zero emissions, sustainable economy by 2050. He said he was also there as he wanted to learn what Singapore and others are doing to build sustainable cities and economies.  Read all about it
World Cities Summit Brings "Cool" to Urban Heat Island of Singapore

The Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect has been undervalued in the past. One of the key revelations now is the magnitude of this problem. Dr Peter Edwards of the Singapore-ETH Centre stresses the urgency in implementation of mitigation strategies - it has to begin now. Transition to active mobility where we walk and cycle more is also an important part we all can plan to contribute to greater physical and psychological outdoor thermal comfort. One of the key presentations at World Cities Summit. Read the article "True Cost of Cooling" by Contributing Editor Lekha Patmanathan.
Forum with Focus on Investments in India
Investing in a Clean Energy Future was the theme of the Investor Forum held on 11 July 2018 on the sidelines of Singapore International Water Week and other co-located events. It introduced eight companies operating in India - Argo Solar, Cygni, Ecosoftt, Freyr Energy, Inficold, Keystone Energy Systems, MESolshare and ONergy - to potential investors and partners in Singapore. It was jointly organised by Regain Paradise and Sustain Ability Showcase Asia (SASA), supported by New Ventures, Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship and USAID. For more information on all those involved as well as access to the presentations made on the day, please go to Investor Forum Asia.
Asian Venture Philanthropic Network
One of the best conferences we've ever attended. Crammed full of important issues, as well as solutions and opportunities. Hope for Asia and hope for the world. The Asian Venture Philanthropy Network (AVPN) organised a mind-blowing event in Singapore (4-7 June), bringing together some of the best people in the world who are committed to improving the lot of everyone. Committed to social impact investing. Committed to the Sustainable Development Goals. Committed to bringing about the much needed clean energy revolution in Asia. We cannot possibly do justice to the event and its outcomes here, but fortunately AVPN has comprehensively covered the content of the conference here , so whether you attended or not, learn all about the good work being done and planned throughout Asia. Also, we draw attention to three women who presented or moderated at important sessions. We've committed to follow up and do more to recognise the work of all these people and organisations. You must too! - Ken Hickson
Overseeing a diverse business portfolio, Tipchaya Phongsathorn, CEO of Real Estate & Hotels at Premier Group of Companies, matches entrepreneurship with philanthropy by running Food4Good, a charitable nutrition programme working with more than 100 participating restaurants to help end malnutrition in underprivileged children throughout Thailand. She spoke in the session on Innovative Partnerships to Address Hunger Solutions. Read all about it.
Lauren Sorkin is Managing Director, Asia Pacific for 100 Resilient Cities and is an environment and knowledge management specialist. Lauren spent six years working with the Asian Development Bank promoting climate responsive development in the Asia Pacific region. A speaker in the session on Investing in Sustainable and Inclusive Cities, she set out what 100 Resilient Cities is working on in Asia and around the world. Read More
Sian Ferguson is the trust executive of three Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts and is a member of the trusts’ Impact Investment Committee. She also manages Climate Change Collaboration, formed in 2011 to support pilot and research projects to find ways of reducing CO2 emissions quickly. She was a speaker in two sessions at the AVPN Conference: Tackling Climate Change in Asia and Financing Solutions to Climate Change. More here.
Management Education in Sustainability
Diploma of Sustainable Operations

Next course dates:
27 August to 7 September 2018

Conducted in Singapore. Don't miss this.

This course provides essential skills and knowledge to manage the risks and opportunities associated with the transition to a low-carbon economy.

This course is delivered by Dr Adrian Ward, who has more than a decade of experience as an environment, climate and energy policy expert in both the private and public sectors.

The Diploma of Sustainable Operations is a recognised Qualification by the Australian Government (Australian Qualifications Framework) and is accredited by Ministry of Manpower Singapore as a structured activity under the Continuing Professional Development scheme for Workplace Safety & Health Professionals with 43 SDUs.

Ten days Intensive course + 5 months online study and post course report.

Brands for Good: 24 Winners
The recipients of the inaugural  Brands for Good  were feted at a recognition event in Singapore on 26 July hosted by CEO Asia.  Brands for Good  recognises the achievements of forward-looking companies, especially Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), that champion corporate social responsibility (CSR). Sponsored by Maybank Singapore and BBX, the  Brands for Good  programme has eight categories -- spanning the Workplace, the Community, the Environment and Patents -- which recognised 24 companies spanning 33 awards. The four overall Champions were:
  • Kowabunga! Education Pte. Ltd -- People Development & Managing Environmental Impact
  • Genashtim Innovative Learning Pte. Ltd. -- Diversity & Inclusiveness
  • Emergenetics Caelan & Sage Pte. Ltd. -- Culture and Communications
  • Mullenlowe Salt Singapore Pte. Ltd. -- Culture and Communications
Singapore: Sustainability Events Capital

Organised by  The Building and Construction Authority of Singapore (BCA)  in collaboration with strategic partners - the  Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC)  and  Reed Exhibitions -  IGBC is a premier green building conference where thought leaders, policymakers, and practitioners in the built environment sector converge for learning, networking and collaborations. It's on 5 – 7 September 2018 at the
Sands Expo & Convention Centre. One of the key highlights of IGBC is the specially curated Green Mark tours to 12 award-winning BCA Green Mark projects in Singapore, to explore what goes behind a green, sustainable and smart buildings.  For all the details, go here.

Singapore Institute of Director's flagship annual conference on 7 September has grown to be a much-anticipated event for directors and corporate leaders to learn about and share the latest trends and thinking, to help their companies create value. Last year the theme was Sustainability, this year the conference will explore the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of globalisation. It will debate how governments and regulators are shaping the new world order, and how companies and their boards can respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by the ensuing disruption. The latest Singapore Sustainability Reporting Awards  will also be presented at the conference . Read all about it.
SHAPING THE WORLD IN 2030:
The formulation of the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 was a pivotal moment in acknowledging the role that businesses will play in addressing the world’s social, economic and environmental challenges. Now, all stakeholders in development need to move beyond the theory and articulate clear pathways to achieving those goals.
The Responsible Business Forum 2018 in Singapore will deliver practical solutions across five areas critical to the attainment of the SDGs.
Climate action, Urbanisation, Circular economy, Human rights, Food & nutrition .
Sustainability Business Awards 2018
There were two overall winners in this year's Sustainability Business Awards in Singapore:
  • Unilever for its Sustainability Living Plan which sets out their vision for growing their business while decoupling their environmental footprint from growth. A leader in sustainability globally for many years, Unilever continues to set ambitious targets across all aspects of their business.
  • CDL, which has integrated sustainability into its core strategy since 1995 and its Future Value 2030 blueprint, which encapsulates a longstanding commitment and best practices by setting clear guidelines to a more sustainable future.
The Asia Sustainability Reporting Summit 2018 will be held in Singapore from 2-3 October. The Summit’s theme this year is Sustainability Reporting: Beyond Transparency. The Summit will explore how businesses can integrate business strategy with sustainability reporting to drive long term value and business growth. Read More
Transforming Energy: Invest, Innovate, Integrate
Market opportunities and risks from climate change
By Marc Allen of Engeco, Singapore
Climate change - and the global agreement that something needs to be done about it - hastens this transition to a low carbon economy, which requires profound change from all parts of society. There'll be winners and losers as there are risks and opportunities ahead from the transition:
  • Action on climate change hastens an energy transition that was potentially going to occur naturally
  • This change from the current economy to a new, low-carbon economy must happen relatively fast (given the scale of change required) to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement
  • The change presents both risks and opportunities to businesses today and it's wise to take a strategic approach and be prepared for what may happen.
Much more in this thought provoking article on how businesses everywhere and in all critical sectors can tackle this complex but very necessary transition to a low carbon economy. Read More
The Energy Market Authority (EMA) has announced the theme for the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) from 29 October to 2 November 2018. “Transforming Energy: Invest, Innovate, Integrate”, which reflects how the deployment and integration of new technologies, and the growth in energy demand are transforming the energy landscape. A highlight this year will also be, for the first time, the 36th ASEAN Ministers of Energy Meeting (AMEM) and Associated Meetings, as part of Singapore’s Chairmanship of ASEAN. The 36th AMEM and ASEAN Energy Business Forum will bring together ASEAN Dialogue Partners to advance key regional energy initiatives and strengthen public-private partnerships. For much more.
Campaign to Cancel Coal from all Calculations
Airborne mercury pollution from coal-fired power stations in Victoria’s Latrobe valley (Australia) increased 37% in just 12 months, according to an annual national survey of toxic emissions, released earlier this year (2018).
By   Andrew Stock   in RenewEconomy
Any claim that new “clean coal” power stations should be built and heavily subsidised by the taxpayer in a bid to deliver cheap reliable power should stand for what it is – a naked claim befitting an old emperor with no clothes.
The facts. Coal power is always polluting. Coal is dirty and harmful to the health of workers and communities when it is mined and transported. It pollutes when burnt to make electricity. Not just with greenhouse gases that cause climate change, but also more than 30 toxic substances harmful to health including heavy metals like mercury, fine particles, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. For the full story, go to RenewEconomy
"Water, water everywhere but ne'er a drop to drink!"
Profile: Marcus Lee and Stanley Samuel, ECOSOFTT
Ever active on the exhibition/conference circuit, ECOSOFTT is doing much more than winning awards for its innovative but practical approach to water management in India and Southeast Asia. At the Singapore International Water Week, it was announced that ECOSOFTT has been selected to pilot Water Smart Innovations in Amaravati, the new capital city of the state of Andhra Pradesh, India. Operated by Stanley Samuel, Founder & CEO, and Marcus Lee, Co-founder & Managing Director, this Singapore based, globally-networked innovation catalyst specialises in decentralised management of water, wastewater, and environmental services. Its technology-based solutions are relevant for the developed and developing world. As a social enterprise, it is built on the foundations of creating shared value, making a social impact. whilst achieving sustainable growth. Read More
Cities of Love Awards 2018
A holistic approach to loving our cities.
The organisers and judges of the second Cites of Love Awards - or COLA for short - are looking for actions or initiatives that have resulted in positive social, economic or environmental impact. Projects should be submitted under ONE of the following three categories:
  • SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY: Building A Society That Lasts
  • ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY: Building A Well-Sustained Economy
  • ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY: Building A Healthy Environment

COLA was initiated by Inception, which was formed in Singapore in August 2010, by Valerie Ang and Tai Lee Siang, co-authors of the book "Cities of Love". See who won last year and decide on which of the categories best suit you. Cities of Love Awards are supported by Green in Future, SASA, ABC Carbon, The Hickson Team and The Avenue for Creative Arts.  Read More
Last Word: Sands for Good, Bio & Ocean Plastics, Winnows' Win & Renewables Champion
Sandcastles in the Air? Why manufacture sand when you can pick it up from a beach near you? That's a question CDE answered at the Singapore International Water Week last month. They've come up with a method of economically converting rocks, along with construction site waste, into very useable and sustainable sand, cutting out the need to collect and transport the sand from beaches where it's needed to prevent erosion and keep our shorelines intact. This British company is now operating in Southeast Asia in partnership with YTL. Read More
Smashing bottles for good! If that doesn't give you all the sand you need, how about recycling glass bottles, one at a time if necessary. A New Zealand invention from Pioneer Waste and Recycling Equipment, this neat machine takes a used glass bottle - any shape or colour - and crushes it into fine sand. Clean and safe enough for your child's very own sand-pit or to create your own beach or garden path. Joseph Tan of Terrasol Smart Solutions had this on show at the Clean Enviro Summit Exhibition at Marina Bay Sands last month, along with the Bigbelly Smart Bins .
Alternative to Single Use Plastic! Why not come up with a way to produce and finance bio-plastics - bio-compostable - made from plant waste. Natural Polymers, a packaging company established in Singapore in 2017 has done just that: converting bio-compostable resins to form flexible packaging products. They have won some big contracts, including the latest from the Dairy Farm Group worth $11 million, starting in January 2019. It's one very good way to cut the use of single use plastic which is cluttering our landfill sites and spoiling our oceans.
Help for Southeast Asia to cut plastic waste! Circulate Capital is creating a new, blended financing mechanism to help allocate public and private sources of capital and so divert plastic from the environment. The New York based investment firm seeks to fill capital gaps by financing opportunities - ideally in Southeast Asia - to collect, sort, process, and manufacture, utilising waste in countries known to contribute to the ocean plastic crisis. More on Circulate Capital here.
Good News for Renewable Energy in Asia : Andrew Affleck, well-known for establishing and managing the very successful Armstrong Asset Management Clean Energy Fund for Southeast Asia, which raised and distributed US$164 million for utility scale projects, has launched a new company - Renewable Energy Asia Holdings - to invest in Asia Pacific Renewable Energy projects and platforms. He's also an actve member of the Asia Investor Group on Climate Change (AIGCC). an initiative to create awareness among Asia’s asset owners and financial institutions about the risks and opportunities associated with climate change and low carbon investing. Watch this space!
With its innovative food waste technology, Winnow was a well-deserved winner in the Managing Environmental Impact and Sustainable Resource categories of Singapore's first Brands for Good Awards. Maxime Pourrat , Managing Director at Winnow APAC is thrilled to have been presented with the Brands for Good Awards. "It really validates our mission. We are looking forward to continue expanding in Asia so our technology can keep helping chefs cut food waste in half."  
Look out for the next issue of The Avenue for Creative Arts.