Issue 230  | 29 October 2018
express
Crucial Climate Links: Energy, Forests & Oceans
What is becoming increasingly obvious to all of us watching climate change unfold before our very eyes - extreme and damaging weather events everywhere - is the great need for a sense of urgency to finally be adopted by those in control of our countries, our communities and our companies.
The latest and most-telling IPCC report spelt it out in languages everyone could understand: climate change is here to stay, but we can get it under control. With maximum effort by everyone, we could keep the average global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees. Doesn't sound a lot, but it will make the world of difference. But we have little time tp get our collective act together - 12 years at the most if we start NOW.
What to do? Get coal completely off the energy agenda; move much faster to embed renewable energy everywhere; stop deforestation that eliminates one of the best known carbon sinks we have, and clean up our oceans so they can continue to play a fundamental role in mitigating climate change by serving as a major heat and carbon sink. 
Ken Hickson, Managing Editor, ABC Carbon Express. Reporting Climate Change since 2007.
A new concept, “fish carbon”, recognises the potential of marine life to address the climate change challenge and prevent global biodiversity loss. Oceans, and all marine life that lives under and above the water, play a central role in stabilising the Earth’s climate, providing a vital source of food and regulate the amount of CO 2  that stays in the atmosphere by absorbing 30% of global emissions. “Fish carbon” describes the carbon interactions of all marine vertebrates that contribute to the oceans’ carbon sequestration. They are the natural life processes of marine life that enable capture of atmospheric carbon, allow carbon storage in benign form deep in the ocean, and provide a potential buffer against ocean acidification. “The fish carbon concept is not without precedence in conservation policy,” says Steven Lutz, Blue Carbon Programme Leader for UN Environment/GRID-Arendal. “Just last month, 41 nations of the International Whaling Commission endorsed two resolutions recognising the value of whales in carbon storage and their potential role in climate change mitigation.” Read the full story here on UNEP.
The problem is, mankind has been cutting down forests, especially in the tropics, at an alarming rate, mainly for agriculture. The lure of profits from commodities such as beef, soya, palm oil as well as timber plus growing populations mean land clearing often takes priority over conservation and worries about climate change. Widespread land clearing raises local temperatures, and rising global temperatures are, in turn, triggering more wildfires. Yet, big forest countries such as Indonesia, Brazil and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) can limit these risks by being major players in using nature to fight climate change, by soaking up excess carbon dioxide (CO2). Plants and soils absorb about 20% of mankind's greenhouse gas emissions, though this is offset by emissions from land use change, including land clearing and agricultural activities.....But in their analysis, the IPCC authors estimated that stopping deforestation, restoring forests and improving forestry practices could cost-effectively remove seven billion tonnes of CO2 annually, or as much as eliminating 1.5 billion cars. Read the full story by David Fogarty in the Straits Times.
Transforming Energy: Invest, Innovate, Integrate
Modern bioenergy will have the biggest growth in renewable resources between 2018 and 2023, underscoring its critical role in building a robust renewable portfolio and ensuring a more secure and sustainable energy system, according to the International Energy Agency’s latest market forecast.  While the growth in solar PV and wind is set to continue in the electricity sector, bioenergy remains the largest source of renewable energy because of its widespread use in heat and transport, sectors in which other renewables currently play a much smaller role. “Modern bioenergy is the overlooked giant of the renewable energy field,” said Dr Fatih Birol, the IEA’s Executive Director, who will deliver t he Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) Opening Keynote Address on Tuesday 30 October. “Its share in the world’s total renewables consumption is about 50% today, in other words as much as hydro, wind, solar and all other renewables combined. We expect modern bioenergy will continue to lead the field, and has huge prospects for further growth. But the right policies and rigorous sustainability regulations will be essential to meet its full potential.”
This will be one topic which will definitely get attention at the SIEW 2018.
Partnership to Drive Clean Energy Investments
On 29 October in Singapore, Ministers welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Cooperation between ASEAN and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) to strengthen cooperation and assist ASEAN in scaling up renewable energy deployment and advancing the transition to a sustainable energy future. It endorses the Action Plan, which aims to:
  • strengthen dialogue between ASEAN and IRENA;
  • develop roadmaps to accelerate the deployment of renewables;
  • build capacity on renewable energy (RE) policy support mechanisms;
  • provide technical support on technology and innovation;
  • develop bankable RE projects and support to project facilitation.  More from IRENA
The theme for the Singapore International Energy Week (SIEW) from 29 October to 2 November 2018 is: “Transforming Energy: Invest, Innovate, Integrate”. This 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.
Timber! The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
A UNEP programme is helping developing countries cut greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and scored a number of successes by boosting their forest monitoring capacities. Technical support from FAO provided through the UN REDD programme has helped countries make significant advances in their national forest monitoring systems. Some 34 governments - which account for 1.4 billion hectares of forests or 36% of the planet's forest area - are now able to submit data on forest carbon stores and forest-related greenhouse gas emissions to the UNFCCC. 
Disastrous climate change cannot be averted without substantially reducing emissions from the forest and land use sector. Today tropical deforestation and forest degradation through agricultural expansion, conversion to pastureland, destructive logging, forest fires, etc. accounts for 11% of total global greenhouse gas emissions, larger than the entire global transportation sector. In fact, halting and reversing deforestation could deliver up to 30% of the climate solution, making forests one of the most cost-effective and immediate solutions to curb climate change. From UN REDD.
Promoting Legal Timber Trade: When APEC leaders meet in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, 12-18 November, it's hoped that illegal logging gets the attention it deserves. Measures to promote legal trade in timber and combatting illegal logging and associated trade has been on the APEC agenda since 2011 when it set up its Expert Group on Illegal Logging and Associated Trade (EGILAT). 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. In tacking illegal logging, APEC must also make sure that communities that rely on forests for their livelihood, as well as owners and operators of small forests, receive the support they need to become certified as responsible sources of timber products. PEFC, long a supporter of small, non-industrial private forests, with hundreds of thousands of family forest owners, has put in place stringent safeguard mechanisms for the avoidance of raw material from controversial sources, including illegal logging.
Singapore: Clean, Green and Eco-friendly
3-4 November
With over 70 brands, artists and quickie talks from change-makers who are making meaningful change in their industries and doing good in the world, the Marketplace is a 360-degree immersive experience into living more consciously. .

For the third year, the local eco community comes together to Celebrate and Accelerate Environmental Solutions at the “ Singapore Eco Film Festival ” November 1-4th 2018 presented at the ArtScience Museum. Headlining the festival are ten acclaimed eco-themed documentary feature films, with six Singapore Premieres and one Asian Premiere, opening with JANE, the award winning documentary about Jane Goodall's early explorations.
The Clean and Green Singapore Carnival 2018 is happening at Wisma Geylang Serai on 3-4 November 2018. Come along with your family and friends for a fun day learning all about a clean and green lifestyle. Stand to win attractive prizes simply by taking part in a wide range of eco workshops and exciting activities. We have so much lined up for everyone in the family. 
The Guest of Honour on the day will be Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Responsible Business Forum Highlights
Perfect Platform
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) answer the challenges faced by all countries in the Asia Pacific, but they are only achievable if all stakeholders - governments, civil society, academics and the private sector - take collective action. This from the head of the UN Development Programme Achim Steiner at the Responsible Business Forum opening in Singapore 11 October. He labelled the event "the perfect platform" for discussing how to implement, innovate and finance the SDGs, with a special focus on elements like Circular Economy, Climate Action, Food and Nutrition, Urbanisation, and Business and Human Rights. For his full speech go here.
Farm or Forest?
Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) presented its case at the Responsible Business Forum and highlighted the importance of sustainable consumption and lifestyles as well as governance of land and natural resources. SEI has worked with Trase and Global Canopy to show that forests are in the major frontlines of environmental destruction in the name of food production. Farms and cattle ranches are pushing further and further into forests, devastating their rich biodiversity, altering water flows, destroying livelihoods of the poorest, and eliminating carbon sinks that are essential for the climate system – and by extension for the future of food production. There's more.
Building Mass Engineered Timber in Singapore
Pictured above is the architect's impression of the NTU MET building, courtesy Aurecon.
One of the world’s largest mass engineered-timber buildings
International Green Building Conference in Singapore in September will be remembered for many important announcements and opportunities, but none more than the large role to be played by Mass Engineered Timber (MET). Two major University projects were highlighted - one at SMU and one at NTU - showing how MET embraces sustainability and smart construction, as the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) notes:
  • it utilises imported sustainable materials for easy assembly at the worksite.
  • it involves smart advanced technologies and building processes
In Singapore, more projects are adopting MET to meet the rising demand for smart, green and high quality buildings and as valuable solution for productive and sustainable construction.  More from BCA on MET.
Designed to transform the construction industry
Fresh from his time as Chairman of the World Green Building Council, Tai Lee Siang made his appearance at this year's International Green Building Conference in September wearing a new but entirely appropriate hat: the Building and Construction Authority’s (BCA) Executive Director of BuildSG. No-one in Singapore is better placed to take BuildSG ahead as it seeks to foster closer collaboration with industry stakeholders, including the Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs), firms, institutes of higher learning (IHLs) and unions, in "transforming the industry". Mr Tai will head BuildSG which comprises three centres that will work closely with stakeholders to transform the construction industry in workforce capability (iBuildSG), partnership and collaboration (weBuildSG), and internationalisation (SGBuilds).  More about Tai Lee Sang and Build SG.
WBCSD makes presence felt in Singapore
Olam International CEO Sunny Verghese, who is also Chairman of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), was on hand when his company received one of the prestigious Sustainability Reporting Awards at the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID) annual conference in September.
Reporting Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) more efficiently and transparently was the theme of a World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) initiative in Singapore when it joined hands with SGX, SID, the UN Compact and ABC Carbon to present a seminar. WBCSD's MD of Redefining Value and Education Rodney Irwin led his team to present a strong case for better reporting. Go here for more.
A momentous occasion for the natural rubber industry. Singapore's Halcyon Agri Corporation Limited together with 18 other leading tire companies and natural rubber producers became founding members of the Global Platform for Sustainable Natural Rubber (GPSNR). Convened by the Tire Industry Project of the WBSCD, the platform serves to create sustainability standards for natural rubber.
New Zealand Weighs Up Agriculture Emissions
New Zealand's Green House Gas Dilemma
  • Pasture Paradise?
  • Clean and Green Environment?
  • It's not all as it seems down on the farm
By Brook Wright
New Zealand is unique among its global counterparts when it comes greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Its carbon budget is dominated by the agricultural sector, which represents around 49% of gross emissions. According to the OECD, this is the highest ratio in the western world. The key sources of these GHGs are nitrous oxide (N 2 O) from soil bacteria and methane (CH 4 ) from sheep and cattle (ruminants). A single tonne of methane is roughly equivalent to the release of between 25-30 tonnes of CO 2 . Nitrous Oxide, while being the lesser of the two evils is more than 300 times as potent. The nature and origin of these gases makes cessation or mitigation rather tricky when compared to other sectors including manufacturing, energy and construction.
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
Look what Events are coming up in November
13-14 November
Why Cleantech Forum Asia is coming to Singapore?
Asia is where most of the world’s population resides, with the fastest rates of urbanisation, where the majority of the world’s heavy industries are located, and where the majority of the world’s products are manufactured. However, while Asia is fast-growing, it is not very resource-efficient. Asia is hungry for innovation and is investing in cleantech solutions that can solve Asian environmental challenges and provide global competitive industrial advantage. Read all about Cleantech Asia.
The Global Compact Network Singapore (GCNS) Annual Summit
19 November 2018
In its 10th edition, this premier platform of advocacy, capacity building and networking, brings together government officials, business leaders, civil society organisations and youth. A truly inclusive and holistic approach to practising sustainability. Themed “Building Better Businesses”, the Summit will explore latest sustainability trends and insights to build more robust and future-ready businesses.  Here's more.
IT Solutions for Sustainable Forest Management in
South east Asia 29 November
Are you a stakeholder in Southeast Asian Forests? If so, you are invited to discuss new and emerging technologies, supporting sustainable forest management and responsible trade. This interactive session brings together forest sector stakeholders, leading technology providers, innovators and sustainability experts. What’s needed, what’s working and where are the opportunities.
Singapore Sustainability Academy. Registration enquiries to: dev.se.asia@pefc.org Organised by PEFC and Trimble Forestry.
Last Word: Can't see the wood for the trees?
Bubble Nut Wash: Among the many useful things that come out of a forest are soap nuts from the Sapindus Mukorossi tree, in north India. Manas Nanda, who we met at the DBS Foundation gathering in Singapore, set up Bubble Nut Wash to help a community supplement its income from the forest and produce soap to keep clean.
Zambawood of Zambales: With forest to the south, beach to the west, lake to the southwest and view of the mountain to the east, Zambawood provides a breathtaking sanctuary in the midst of nature. That's what we were told by Rachel Fernandez-Harrison, founder and creative director of the place, which offers a chance to commune with nature for those wth disabilities or anyone who just wants a change of pace. You'll find it not far from Clark Airport, Philippines.
Double Helix Tracking: Sounds like some complicated scientific test using DNA to track down "criminal intent". Exactly! Darren Thomas tells us the Singapore company is one of a handful of organisations engaged in Myanmar to find solutions to the serious challenges faced by the timber sector. It's working with Government, the forestry industry and PEFC to responsibly manage forests, and to legalise the export of teak to Europe. See what else Double Helix Tracking does around the world.
Urban Forest Strategy: Together with Nature Conservancy, Melbourne's resilience officer Toby Kent has developed a metropolitan urban forest strategy. Instead of greening projects piecemeal, this coordinates reforestation and natural asset development. This helps mitigate shocks and stresses, like urban heat island effect and flooding. Read about 100 Resilient Cities , a Rockefeller Foundation initiative.
Bio Carbon Engineering: Met up with Clark Harris, head of Marketing Asia for Interface at the Responsible Business Forum. Arguably, the most sustainable business in the world, Interface looks beyond the obvious. It's now taking plant based carbon, converting it into a durable material that prevents the release of that carbon back into the atmosphere and have stored it into a concept tile. Biophilic design comes into it, as does Bio Carbon Engineering.
Trees Outside Forests: It's a win-win-win situation, acclaims Thorsten Arndt, Head of Communications at PEFC International . “We can positively impact the lives of small famers and improve the management of trees in agriculture, whilst increasing the amount of wood available to society for products from sustainably managed sources.” It also enable cities to certify urban trees and parks, raising awareness of the tremendous services that trees in cities provide to urban populations.
Look out for the next issue of The Avenue for Creative Arts.