Snow Job?    Big Names, Big Issues, Big Deal!

Davos is attracting the world’s headlines again as it does every January as world leaders – political and business – gathered amidst snow and grandeur in the Swiss mountains to deliberate, discuss and do deals at the World Economic Forum. But you can be forgiven for wondering where this leads to. Climate change, sustainable development, poverty alleviation, energy security are big issues on the agenda and there are many businesses who commit to do more while many are inspired to go down from the mountain to act. But how disappointing to read – from a key reports presented by PwC this year – which shows that fewer business leaders than ever care enough about climate change to do anything about it. See this in The Guardian.  There are many who do care and we think the work of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development is making some real progress with its “Action2020 platform for sustainability in action”. What a pity others don’t follow the example of Unilever – with its sustainable living plan – which shows that growth can be compatible with sustainability.  It all comes down to making the best use of resources. Coming clean – with energy, economy, environment and ethics – and cutting waste to the bone. Simple, sensible, sustainable.  To make a big deal of difference!

Source: www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/jan/20/global-warming-business-risks-government-regulation-taxes

Pessimism Grows on you….When No one Takes Notice or Acts

How depressed would you be if you had spent more than 40 years warning of an impending global catastrophe, only to be continually ignored even as you watch the disaster unfolding?                                                                                                                                                 So spare a thought for the man, who back in 1972 co-authored “Limits to Growth”, which highlighted the devastating impacts of exponential economic and population growth on a planet with finite resources.  As politicians and business leaders gathered in Davos to look at ways to breathe new life into the global battle to address climate change, we hoped they were listening to this man’s sobering perspective. Read More

‘It is profitable to let the world go to hell’

Jo Confino for The Guardian (19 January 2015):

How depressed would you be if you had spent more than 40 years warning of an impending global catastrophe, only to be continually ignored even as you watch the disaster unfolding?

So spare a thought for Jørgen Randers, who back in 1972 co-authored the seminal work Limits to Growth (pdf), which highlighted the devastating impacts of exponential economic and population growth on a planet with finite resources.

As politicians and business leaders gathered in Davos to look at ways to breathe new life into the global battle to address climate change, they would do well to listen this man’s sobering perspective.

The professor of climate strategy at the Norwegian Business School has been pretty close to giving up his struggle to wake us up to our unsustainable ways, and in 2004 published a pessimistic update of his 1972 report showing the predictions made at the time are turning out to be largely accurate.

What he cannot bear is how politicians of all persuasions have failed to act even as the scientific evidence of climate change mounts up, and as a result he has largely lost faith in the democratic process to handle complex issues.

In a newly published paper in the Swedish magazine Extrakt he writes:

It is cost-effective to postpone global climate action. It is profitable to let the world go to hell.

I believe that the tyranny of the short term will prevail over the decades to come. As a result, a number of long-term problems will not be solved, even if they could have been, and even as they cause gradually increasing difficulties for all voters.

Randers says the reason for inaction is that there will be little observable benefit during the first 20 years of any fiscal sacrifice, even though tougher regulations and taxes will guarantee a better climate for our children and grandchildren.

He has personal experience of this, having chaired a commission in Norway that in 2006 came up with a 15-point plan to solve the climate problem if every Norwegian was willing to pay €250 (£191) in extra taxes every year for the next generation or so.

If the plan had been given the green light, it would have allowed the country to cut its greenhouse gas emissions by two-thirds by 2050 and provide a case study other rich countries could learn from.

He says:

In my mind, the cost was ridiculously low, equivalent to an increase in income taxes from 36% to 37%, given that this plan would eliminate the most serious threat to the rich world in this century.

In spite of this, a vast majority of Norwegians were against this sacrifice. To be frank, most voters preferred to use the money for other causes – like yet another weekend trip to London or Sweden for shopping.

When it comes to more regulation or higher taxes, Randers says voters tend to revolt and, as a result, politicians will continue to refuse to take courageous steps for fear of being thrown out of office at the next election.

“The capitalist system does not help,” says Randers. “Capitalism is carefully designed to allocate capital to the most profitable projects. And this is exactly what we don’t need today.

“We need investments into more expensive wind and solar power, not into cheap coal and gas. The capitalistic market won’t do this on its own. It needs different frame conditions – alternative prices or new regulation.”

Analysis From water to weather: where to make money sustainably

As leaders meet in Davos, a new report highlights 15 sustainable business opportunities that find profit in solving global problems

An obvious solution is putting a price on carbon so that companies are forced to internalise the external costs of CO2 emissions, but despite many progressive companies calling for such a tax, Randers says voters will be loath to pay more.

Optimists who believe this stalemate will end once it becomes profitable to solve the climate problem have a very long time to wait, according to Randers.

“It will always cost more to produce clean power from coal, than to produce dirty coal power as we do today,” he says. “It will always cost to collect the CO2 emitted from the burning of coal. And global society will be burning coal for a very long time unless something drastic is done.

In the face of such intractable opposition, what can we do? Randers says the first step is to communicate effectively to citizens that short-termism represents a real threat to the sustainability of democratic society.

Second, we should argue for the use of low discount rates in public cost-benefit analyses and encourage the use of common sense rather than quantitative analyses when deciding whether to make long-term investments. One way would be to set aside a fraction of society’s investment flow for long-term purposes, in similar fashion to the military budget.

Another sensible change, he argues, would be to lengthen the election period in order to give politicians time to implement unpopular measures before they lose the next election, and to guarantee all workers receive an adequate salary after their “dirty” jobs have been closed down until they get new “clean” jobs.

Randers says:

These five solutions have all been proposed, and sadly rejected by a democratic majority, as has the most obvious sixth solution, which is to reinstall enlightened dictatorship for a time limited period in critical policy areas, like the Romans did when the city was challenged and which is the solution currently pursued by the Chinese Communist party, with obvious success in the poverty/energy/climate area. But I agree that the obvious solution of strong government appears unrealistic in the democratic west.

Given that Randers believes these proposals will fail, what does he suggest? Rather than being idealistic, he says we need to promote policies that offer long-term solutions and short-term benefits.

He gives the example of the Tesla electric car, which offers superior short-term advantages that compensate for the high price. He also highlights the introduction of huge subsidies in Germany for those who were willing to install solar panels on their rooftops or windmills in their fields, although Randers points to the system ending after many years because voters did not like the extra tax.

For many decades, Randers has refused to sweeten the bitter pill of climate change and is not going to start now. Some dismiss his pessimism as belonging to the past and argue we are transitioning to a new era of global climate action. But they would be wrong to ignore the warnings of an elder who has borne his scars with honour and dignity, and who continues to devote his energy to solving the greatest challenges facing humanity.

This Davos coverage is funded by The B Team. All content is editorially independent except for pieces labelled “brought to you by”. Find out more here.

Source: www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/jan/19/davos-climate-action-democracy-failure-jorgen-randers

Embracing a Clean Energy Future: New US-India Investment Partnership

India needs to invest US$250 billion over the next five years to tackle chronic energy shortages and provide power for its 1.2 billion people. The government is targeting $100 billion of investment in renewables and $50 billion in transmission and distribution. So while Barrack Obama was on Indian soil he reinforced a partnership to boost clean energy investment as well as the need for India to play a crucial role in the global climate change alliance to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Read More

This article by Ken Hickson appeared on the eve of President Obama’s visit in the new publication  “Foreign Investors on India”, produced by Gurdip Singh to give insight into the economic scenario in India, investment opportunities in the country, challenges facing foreign investors and sector-wise policy details for entrepreneurs keen on setting up or expanding business in India.

20 January, 2015

India-US: Obama to Address Climate Change while Boosting Clean Energy Investments

When Barrack Obama steps onto Indian soil for a three day visit from 25 January he is expected to make sure attention goes well beyond civil nuclear and military co-operation to an enhanced emphasis on clean energy investment as well as reinforce the need for India – in partnership with the US and other big players – to play a crucial role in the global climate change alliance to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Obama’s visit to India couldn’t have come at a better time. India is currently grappling with the sensitive issue of maintaining a delicate balance between industrial development and agriculture and environmental preservation. The latest ordinance to amend last year’s Land Acquisition Act to facilitate investment in infrastructural and industrial projects is only the latest is a series of developments in recent years that reflect the Indian dilemma to stimulate economic growth without increasing pollution and displacing indigenous people on a mass scale.

In a curtain-raiser for the main Presidential game, US Secretary of State John F. Kerry made it clear when he was in India earlier this month that the US definitely wants to boost trade ties and promote sustainable energy.

US officials have been quoted as saying that the goal of the meetings between the leaders of the world’s two oldest and largest democracies is to have “very concrete and tangible things that we can show forward movement on when President Obama and Prime Minister Modi meet, including on climate change”. The leaders are expected to unveil a number of initiatives to expand research and access to clean energy technologies.

A couple of months ago that Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal told a World Economic Forum conference in New Delhi that India needs to invest $250 billion over the next five years to tackle chronic energy shortages and provide power for its 1.2 billion people. The government is targeting $100 billion of investment in renewables and $50 billion in transmission and distribution to “create a national grid where power can seamlessly flow”, the minister said according to media reports.

There are certainly signs that this “clean energy investment bandwagon” has begun.

SunEdison and Adani made an announcement at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit (on 12 January) that they would together build and finance the country’s largest vertically integrated solar PV manufacturing facility in Gujarat – involving a total investment of $4 billion.

The facility is expected to produce enough panels to encourage extensive growth of solar generation in India, helping to achieve the target of clean energy independence.

The Mundra facility will integrate and cover entire features of solar panel production like Polysilicon refining, ingots, wafers, cells and panels along with a systematic supply chain for raw materials and consumables. It is expected that around 4,500 direct jobs and over 15,000 indirect jobs will be created during the process.

Vneet S Jaain, the Executive Director and CEO of Adani Power said at the time:  “India has embarked on an ambitious program to become a world leader in power generation from renewable technologies, and sees solar as a key part in realizing that goal”.

Such a major investment certainly starts to move India a few rungs up the solar energy manufacturing and production ladder, which has been driven by the US, China and Germany up until now.

The private sector solar investment is certainly a boost also for Prime Minister Modi’s “Make in India” vision that promotes indigenous clean energy production.

The evolving partnership between American and Indian companies – and the SunEdison/Adani move flags this trend – started as the President’s trip was being planned in detail. Back in October last year there was a very fruitful US-India Energy Summit in Washington which not only charted a roadmap for an enhanced strategic partnership, but marked a major development in the collaboration between the two countries in energy and sustainable development.

One of the key speakers at the Energy Summit was none other than Dr R K Pachauri, best known for his Nobel Peace Prize winning role as chairperson of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, or IPCC, but also head of the Energy and Resources Institute, or TERI, who told the assembled guests:  “For the first time there is optimism and an upbeat attitude towards renewable energy in India.”

He spoke of prospects of a breakthrough. He said that the summit discussions had developed several ideas to help implement the goals of the “new and enhanced strategic partnership on energy security, clean energy, and climate change”.

The two-day summit, organized by TERI, North America and Yale University, brought experts from the fields of energy, finance, policy, technology, climate change and environment, and deliberated on collaborations between the US and India.

One concrete step forward came when TERI and United Technologies Corporation signed a Memorandum of Understanding to set up the Center of Excellence on Energy Efficient Buildings in India’s Cities. This will be set up at and administered by TERI and will focus on ways to evaluate and enhance energy efficiency in existing buildings in India. This initiative was made possible by a donation from United Technologies.

Dr J Michael McQuade, UTC Senior Vice President of Science and Technology, said, “With India’s expected urban expansion over the next 20 years, it is imperative that we make India’s existing and future buildings more energy efficient. UTC’s contribution to create this new Center of Excellence is a major step forward in supporting that mission.”

US Deputy Secretary of Energy, Mr Daniel Ponemon, who gave the luncheon address at the summit’s High Level Corporate Dialogue, said, “There are huge environmental risks by not building environmentally, or in a way to mitigate climate change. We have every reason to act together.”

At the important Gujarat January summit, there was also the urgent call and commitment to act. Terming 2015 as the most important year, the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, stated that it was a target year to achieve the millennium development goals.

The UN boss made it clear that “we have to accelerate our all resources and efforts to meet the target……and agree the post-2015 development agenda with focus on sustainable development”. He also said there must be “a universal and meaningful climate change agreement in December in Paris.”

“Gujarat is a prime example of how sustainability and private action are different aspects of the same issue. I call on all India’s business community to lead the transformation. We need sustainability and inclusive growth,” the Secretary General said.

Echoing the sentiments expressed by Ban Ki-moon on climate change concerns, US Secretary of State John Kerry mentioned that it was affecting crop production, economy and raising the cost of doing business.

“Together we can create an environment where all companies play a leading role in bringing cutting edge technology, equipment and capital know-how not just to India, but countless countries that need this growth and development,” he said.

It is not that India has been lagging too far behind in the clean energy revolution but it just hasn’t had the high level endorsement or commitment.

The Asian Development Bank has supported a number of key developments in this sector including the Tata Power Wind Energy Financing Facility to set up two wind energy projects in Maharashtra. They are expected to reduce GHG gas emissions by approximately 129,000 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) per year and by approximately 2.6 million tons of CO2 during the minimum project life of 20 years.

If the sun shines – and the wind blows – on President Obama during his visit hopefully he will see some obvious signs that India is moving in the right energy direction, but it needs massive injection of funding – from outside the country and from the private sector at home – if it is cut its serious dependency on fossil fuels and at the same time deal with climate change impacts, poverty, food production and air pollution.

In recent years, nuclear power projects such as in Kudankulam and hydro-electric projects in the Brahmaputra basin have become target of civil society’s opposition but India’s hunger for clean energy cannot simply be brushed under the carpet. India has to stimulate sustainable growth without compromising on environmental protection and public safety. India has an advantage that it can learn lessons from China’s experiences where growth came at a heavy expense making it one of the world’s most polluted countries where organizing the Olympic Games had become synonymous with experiencing haze.

Public private partnership and a vibrant climate of genuine co-operation between the world’s two largest democracies could well demonstrate to Indians at home and aboard that peace and prosperity could be a welcome by-product of sustainable development and the clean energy revolution.

Ken Hickson is a sustainability leader, climate change action advocate and champion for a clean energy, zero waste, resource efficient and low carbon future. He is Chairman/CEO of the Singapore based consultancy, Sustain Ability Showcase Asia (SASA).  He is Director for the Blue Asia Group and Singapore chairman for the International Green Purchasing Network. He has been actively involved in the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) for many years. He is the author of six books, including Asia’s first book of sustainability case studies, “Race for Sustainability” (2013), in which he sets out the most important four E’s of sustainability – Energy, Environment, Economy and Ethics. He also produced the land-mark climate change reference book, “The ABC of Carbon” (2009).   He has been producing the e-newsletter abc carbon express since March 2008. He is a regular speaker at events throughout the Asia Pacific and regularly contributes to many online and print publications. He produces the annual 100 Global Sustain Ability Leaders list.   kenhickson@sustain-ability-showcase.com

Source: www.fii-news.com/india-us-obama-to-address-climate-change-while-boosting-clean-energy-investments/

Stop Digging up & Burning Fossil Fuels to Keep Global Warming in Check

Most of the world’s fossil fuel reserves will need to stay in the ground if dangerous global warming is to be avoided. Over 80% of coal, 50% of gas and 30% of oil reserves are “unburnable” under the goal to limit global warming to no more than 2C, say scientists in a report published in Nature and reported by BBC. It rules out drilling in the Arctic and points to heavy restrictions on coal to limit temperature rises. Read More

Most fossil fuels ‘unburnable’ under 2C climate target

By Helen Briggs for BBC Science and Environment (7 January 2015):

Most of the world’s fossil fuel reserves will need to stay in the ground if dangerous global warming is to be avoided, modelling work suggests.

Over 80% of coal, 50% of gas and 30% of oil reserves are “unburnable” under the goal to limit global warming to no more than 2C, say scientists.

University College London research, published in Nature journal, rules out drilling in the Arctic.

And it points to heavy restrictions on coal to limit temperature rises.

“We’ve now got tangible figures of the quantities and locations of fossil fuels that should remain unused in trying to keep within the 2C temperature limit,” said lead researcher Dr Christophe McGlade, of the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources.

“Policy makers must realise that their instincts to completely use the fossil fuels within their countries are wholly incompatible with their commitments to the 2C goal.”

Past research has found that burning all of the world’s fossil fuel resources would release three times more carbon than that required to keep warming to no more than 2C.

The new study uses models to estimate how much coal, oil and gas must go unburned up to 2050 and where it can be extracted to stay within the 2C target regarded as the threshold for dangerous climate change.

The uneven distribution of resources raises huge dilemmas for countries seeking to exploit their natural resources amid attempts to strike a global deal on climate change:

The Middle East would need to leave about 40% of its oil and 60% of its gas underground

The majority of the huge coal reserves in China, Russia and the United States would have to remain unused

Undeveloped resources of unconventional gas, such as shale gas, would be off limits in Africa and the Middle East, and very little could be exploited in India and China

Unconventional oil, such as Canada’s tar sands, would be unviable.

The research also raises questions for fossil fuel companies about investment in future exploration, given there is more in the ground than “we can afford to burn”, say the UCL scientists.

“We shouldn’t waste a lot of money trying to find fossil fuels which we think are going to be more expensive,” co-researcher Prof Paul Ekins told the BBC.

“That almost certainly includes Arctic resources. It will certainly include a lot of the shale gas resources in Europe, which have not really been explored or exploited at all.”

Golden age

Carbon capture and storage would have only “a relatively modest effect” on how much fossil fuels can be used because of its expense and late introduction, the scientists added.

Emma Pinchbeck, WWF-UK’s head of energy and climate change policy, said the study showed “yet again that the majority of the world’s fossil fuel reserves, and coal in particular, must stay in the ground to stay within two degrees of warming”.

And Rob Bailey, research director for energy, environment and resources at Chatham House, said the finding that half of natural gas reserves must remain untapped will make uncomfortable reading for governments seeking to replicate the US shale revolution and displace dirtier coal.

“The recently heralded golden age of gas will be short lived if we are to avoid dangerous climate change,” he said.

Source: www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30709211 and www.nature.com/nature/journal/v517/n7533/full/517150a.html

Global campaign for cities & islands to choose 100% clean energy

Environmental campaigners are hoping that 2015 will be the year when the United Kingdom’s cities – and even remote island states – go beyond green to blue. Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Munich, Seattle, Sydney and Lima have all committed to switching to using 100% clean energy by 2050. Meanwhile, one island in the Caribbean – Bonaire – has switched from diesel to renewables, with 12 wind turbines providing 11 MW total power capacity, contributing up to 90% of the island’s electricity at times of peak wind, and 40-45% of its annual electricity on average. Read More

Global campaign aims to inspire British cities to choose 100% clean energy

Jamie Doward for The Guardian (3 January 2015):

Grassroots campaigns calling on civic leaders to endorse the initiative have been launched in 123 towns and cities across the UK

Hope that example set by Munich, Seattle, Lima and others will prompt pledges to commit to zero emissions by 2050.

Environmental campaigners are hoping that 2015 will be the year when the UK’s cities go green. Frankfurt, Copenhagen, Munich, Seattle, Sydney and Lima have all committed to switching to using 100% clean energy by 2050, and now grassroots campaigns calling on civic leaders to endorse the initiative have been launched in 123 towns and cities across the UK. It is hoped that as many as 20 will pledge their commitment before the end of this year.

One city expected to be at the vanguard of the scheme is Oxford, which has launched a “low-carbon hub” that aims to install solar panels on schools, put water turbines in its stretch of the Thames and develop solar farms.

Persuading cities to switch to clean energy is crucial in tackling climate change, according to research by the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate, the increasingly influential body that comprises former heads of government, former ministers, economists and business leaders.

The commission recently produced analysis suggesting that, by 2030, the world’s 724 largest cities could reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by up to 1.4bn tonnes of carbon dioxide – greater than the annual emissions of Japan – purely by developing more efficient transport systems.

It also claimed that adopting low-carbon technologies, such as using energy-efficient building materials and switching to electric buses in 30 of the world’s megacities, would create more than 2m jobs and avoid some 3bn tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over the next 10 years. More than 100 countries backed the clean cities initiative at last year’s climate talks in Lima. There is also considerable global public support for the idea.

The campaigning organisation Avaaz, described as the world’s largest and most powerful online activist network, recently delivered a petition to the UN secretary general, Ban Ki-moon, signed by 2.2 million people, calling on local, national and international leaders to shift to 100% clean energy. Avaaz hopes to persuade 100 cities around the world to join its campaign over the next 12 months.

“Last year people took to the streets to demand a shift to clean energy, and this year these same people will be making that goal a reality, one town at a time,” said Bert Wander, senior campaigner at Avaaz. “Cities all over the world have already started announcing 100% clean-energy targets, and where cities lead, entire countries can follow.”

Unlike other high-profile Avaaz campaigns, the green cities initiative is being run by Avaaz members at a local level. In the UK, more than 150,000 people have signed up.

Wander said support for the initiative was growing exponentially: “A renewables revolution is happening right now, and in just a few months it’s gone from pipe dream to mainstream, with countries including Norway and Uruguay flicking the ‘clean’ switch, and cities such as Frankfurt, Seattle and Copenhagen doing the same. We hope that cities and towns across Britain will follow their lead this year.”

Jon Crooks, who is helping organise the Manchester petition for Avaaz, said the time was right for cities to play their part in tackling climate change, in particular helping their countries cut emissions by 80% by 2050, a target set out in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report in 2007.

“Governments aren’t committing to this,” Crooks said. “But if we can get cities to commit, then governments will have to respond. This is the right fit for Manchester right now. The city is to get an elected mayor and things that can be done to make a city 100% clean, like sustainable transport and housing, could become real electoral issues.”

Source: www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jan/03/british-cities-clean-energy-global-campaign

Caribbean island says goodbye diesel and hello 100% renewable electricity

By Kaitlyn Bunker for Rocky Mountain Institute (7 January 2015):

Bonaire (pop. 14,500), a small island off the coast of Venezuela, is famous for its beautiful marine reefs, which are visited by 70,000 tourists every year. What many of the tourists don’t realize is that the majority of the electricity powering their needs comes from renewable energy. Yet for the residents of Bonaire, the switch from fossil-fuelled to renewable energy systems has made a world of difference.

Like many Caribbean islands, Bonaire originally relied on diesel fuel to generate electricity for residents, with a peak demand of 11 MW. This fuel had to be shipped in from other nations, resulting in high electricity prices for Bonaire residents, along with uncertainty about when and how much prices might increase with changing fuel costs.

In 2004, everything changed when a fire destroyed the existing diesel power plant. Although tragic, the situation provided an opportunity for Bonaire to consider what kind of new electricity system to build. Temporary diesel generators were rented to provide power for the short term. Meanwhile, the government and local utility began working together to create a plan that would allow Bonaire to reach a goal of generating 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources.

BONAIRE’S ELECTRICITY SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION

The result is a transformed electricity system on Bonaire. The island is now home to 12 wind turbines with a total of 11 MW of wind power capacity, which contribute up to 90 percent of the island’s electricity at times of peak wind, and 40–45 percent of its annual electricity on average. Battery storage (6 MWh) is included in order to take advantage of available power in times of excess wind, and provide that stored electricity in times of low wind. The battery also boosts the reliability of the overall system—it is capable of providing 3 MW for over two minutes, allowing time for additional generation to be started when there is a sudden drop in wind.

The Bonaire system also includes 14 MW of diesel generation, five total generators, which provide the necessary power to meet the load when there is not enough wind power available. The generators are equipped to run on both traditional diesel as well as biodiesel. The next steps in the island’s energy transformation involve using local algae resources, grown in the large salt flats on the island, to create biofuel, which can then be used in the existing generators. This will allow Bonaire to operate a 100 percent renewable electricity system—with on average 40–45 percent from wind and 55–60 percent from biodiesel.

The new electricity system led to more reliable electricity, more employment opportunities, reduced dependence on oil (and its fluctuating prices), and a reduction in electricity bills. Bonaire residents currently pay $0.22/kWh for electricity, much lower than prices on other nearby Caribbean islands, which are often $0.36/kWh or above. When oil prices spiked in 2008, while Bonaire was still using temporary diesel generators before making its transition to renewables, electricity prices on the island reached $0.50/kWh. The new electricity system also created jobs for the construction and ongoing operation of the wind farm, and for research and development of algae production capabilities and conversion to biofuel. Additional employment opportunities will be created for continuing algae production and operation of the biodiesel plant.

The success of the updated electricity system on Bonaire provides an important example to other nearby islands of the opportunity to achieve high levels of renewable energy penetration.

WHY DID BONAIRE MAKE THE SWITCH TO RENEWABLES?

Two aspects unique to Bonaire’s situation may have contributed to the decision to switch to a 100 percent renewable electricity system. One driver may have been Bonaire’s status as a special municipality within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This provides a connection with the Netherlands and Europe in general, where many countries have incorporated large amounts of wind and other renewable sources of electricity. Nearby Aruba, also a Dutch Caribbean island, has a wind farm as well, which provides up to 20 percent of the island’s electricity. There may be a common theme of islands with ties to European countries moving to renewables more quickly than others. In the case of Bonaire, the consortium that is developing the project, Ecopower Bonaire BV, is made up of Dutch and German companies.

Secondly, Bonaire’s government and local electricity provider were presented with an opportunity to build a new renewable electricity system since they needed to replace the plant that was damaged. Many other Caribbean islands still have existing diesel resources that are not at the end of their lifetime. These existing generators may remain a part of the electricity system, especially as renewables are incrementally added to the system, and may even remain as backup power for a transformed system that operates mostly with renewables. However, if some or all of the existing diesel resources on an island are completely shut down before the end of their available lifetime, that island will need to consider the sunk costs involved and incorporate that into their overall energy transformation plan.

BONAIRE AS INSPIRATION FOR THE CARIBBEAN

RMI and Carbon War Room’s ongoing Ten Island Challenge works with Caribbean islands to utilize their local renewable resource potential to transform electricity systems and provide a renewable, reliable, secure, and affordable energy supply for their citizens. One of the participating islands is Aruba, which neighbours Bonaire and forms part of the ABC islands in the Netherlands Antilles, along with Curacao. Although the shift to renewables on Bonaire is not part of the Ten Island Challenge, RMI and CWR’s ongoing work in the area will strive to spread the success that Bonaire has achieved to the rest of the region, so that more Caribbean islands can take advantage of efficient and renewable electricity systems.

Source: www.reneweconomy.com.au/2015/caribbean-island-says-goodbye-diesel-hello-100-renewable-electricity-49930

Clean Energy Investment Jumps 16%, Shaking off Oil’s Drop

Clean energy investment rose for the first time in three years in 2014, overcoming a slump in oil prices that unsettled the outlook for the industry. New funds for wind, solar, biofuels and other low-carbon energy technologies gained 16% to US$310 billion last year, according to Louise Downing in Bloomberg New Energy Finance. It was the first growth since 2011, with some credit to China for a 32% expansion in renewables. Talking of which, it is pleasing to read of The Climate Group initiative to get 100 companies to commit to be 100% reliant of renewable energy by 2020. Read More

Clean Energy Investment Jumps 16%, Shaking Off Oil’s Drop

By Louise Downing for Bloomberg (9 January 2015)

Clean energy investment rose for the first time in three years in 2014, overcoming a slump in oil prices that unsettled the outlook for the industry.

New funds for wind, solar, biofuels and other low-carbon energy technologies gained 16 percent to $310 billion last year, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance. It was the first growth since 2011, erasing the impact of lower solar-panel prices and falling subsides in the U.S. and Europe that hurt the industry in previous years.

Oil Prices

The industry benefited from a number of trends that will be challenging to replicate this year. Funding surged because of a 32 percent expansion in China’s commitment to renewables, as well as a record $19.4 billion committed to offshore wind projects that were years in the making. Money also flowed into electric cars, especially for Tesla Motors Inc., just before cheaper gasoline prices reduced forecasts for that segment.

“Healthy investment in clean energy may surprise some commentators, who have been predicting trouble for renewables as a result of the oil price collapse,” said Michael Liebreich, chairman of the advisory board of the London-based researcher. “Our answer is that 2014 was too early to see any noticeable effect on investment. The impact of cheaper crude will be felt much more in road transport than in electricity generation.”

Offshore Wind

While there may be hiccups ahead for electric cars and offshore wind, the biggest bits of the renewable energy industry are still expanding. BNEF expects installations for solar and wind power to grow about 10 percent this year.

The findings ease concerns that the oil price rout that began in the middle of last year would lead to a sharp reduction in funds for low-carbon energy, which is more costly than fossil fuels. The WilderHill New Energy Global Innovation Index, which tracks 105 clean-energy equities, has tumbled almost 19 percent since March.

“This increase in renewable energy investment demonstrates the resilience of the sector in the face of tumbling oil prices,” said Ben Warren, head of environmental finance at the consulting firm EY. “This trend is set to continue as technology around renewables becomes more affordable. The increasing role that renewable energy plays in emerging markets will also help ensure sustainable growth for the sector.”

Offshore Wind

Seven offshore wind projects worth more than $1 billion each obtained financing in 2014, driving funding for the wind energy industry up 11 percent to a record $99.5 billion. The outlook for further developments has dimmed in recent months because the technology remains among the most costly for power.

“It may be difficult in 2015 to match” the overall investment if only because of the scale of the cash that came forward for offshore wind last year, said Angus McCrone, a senior analyst at BNEF in London.

A surge in solar everywhere had the biggest impact on the total result for 2014. Investment in projects that generate electricity from the sun rose 25 percent to $149.6 billion in 2014, its highest share of the total ever.

Driving solar was China’s support both for photovoltaic installations and its panel manufacturers, which dominate the industry. Also, the rise of rooftop panel installers such as SolarCity Corp. and “yieldcos,” companies that channel dividends to investors from operating solar projects, broadened the paths for money to flow into the industry.

Unshaken by Oil

“Technologies such as solar are much more cost competitive now so you might not see as much pressure from low oil prices,” said Lit Ping Low, assistant director for sustainability and climate change at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. “Investment in clean energy will at least hold its own, if not continue to rise this year.”

Sales of electric vehicles probably will be first to feel the impact of cheaper oil, which has reduced the cost of gasoline and made conventional cars more economical.

Investment in biofuels, which are blended with gasoline to help cut emissions, was one of the few clean-energy segments to suffer a decline, dropping 7 percent to $5.1 billion.

What BNEF calls energy smart technologies, including power storage, efficiency products and electric cars, rose 10 percent to $37 billion last year.

China’s Role

China was the biggest single contributor among the major markets for renewable energy, increasing its investment to $89.5 billion, the BNEF report showed. The nation has become the top market for solar power and one of the largest for wind after ladling out support for the industries to diversify its energy supplies.

The U.S. boosted its investment 8 percent to $51.8 billion, the most since 2012. Japan, which has become the second-biggest market for solar power, lifted funding for renewables 12 percent to $41.3 billion. In Europe, which led the industry in installations in the first decade of this century, investment grew 1 percent to $66 billion despite funding for offshore wind.

Reflecting a shift away from large, centralized power stations to smaller, local facilities, investment in so-called distributed power swelled 34 percent to $73.5 billion. That will weigh on utilities that are under pressure to replace fossil-fuel or nuclear power stations with more intermittent and smaller low-carbon facilities.

New equity raised for clean energy companies on the public markets grew 52 percent to $18.7 billion driven by a succession of U.S. and U.K.-listed yieldcos and project funds.

Source: www.bloomberg.com/news/print/2015-01-09/clean-energy-investment-jumps-16-on-china-s-support-for-solar.html

Creating work that leads us forward – spiritually and sustainably

“There has been a lot of interest from solar energy companies who want to customise their work and look more attractive. There is also interest from architects and designers. I think my solar projects have greater impact on the solar and architectural world than on the field of stained glass.” Artist Sarah Hall on why she’s putting solar cells into stained glass windows and on walls of buildings. Read More

Glass artist incorporating solar into stained glass

Written by Amanda H. Miller For the Clean Energy Authority (5 January 2015):

Solar incorporates beautifully into stained glass art

Solar panels are beautiful in their own way, but when a building is architecturally significant, it doesn’t work to slap a few panels on the roof and call it green. As demand for architecturally appealing solar increases, artists like Sarah Hall are gaining a new degree of notoriety.

Hall is a renowned glass artist best known for her beautiful stained glass pieces in iconic churches and prominent buildings throughout the world. But in recent years, her name is circulating in new architectural realms.

If you want solar integrated into your building design, but you also want a show-stopping one-of-a-kind piece of original glass art to distinguish your building, Hall has proven herself in that arena.

From the Cathedral of the Holy Family in Saskatoon, Canada to the Grass Valley Elementary School in Camas, Washington and the Harbourfront Centre Theatre in Toronto, Hall has created some truly amazing, beautiful and artistic pieces incorporating solar.

While solar photovoltaics only account for 5 percent of her glass projects, she is probably the best-known glass artists for incorporating solar into her works.

“There has been a lot of interest from solar energy companies who want to customize their work and look more attractive,” Hall said in an email interview. “There is also interest from architects and designers. I think my solar projects have greater impact on the solar and architectural world than on the field of stained glass.”

And that’s how it should be, she adds.

“My interest as an artist is to be an advocate for the values I hold,” Hall said. “I have always been interested to create work that leads us forward – spiritually and environmentally.”

Hall employs a lot of the Old World stained glass techniques in her work, but often has a contemporary approach to stained glass that made her a prime candidate for incorporating current technology into her work.

Incorporating solar cells into window glass isn’t as simple as sprinkling them around.

“In the short time I have worked with solar technology, the method for integrating the cells into the art glass has evolved,” Hall said. But there is always a need for artistic context around the cells.”

When working with solar, Hall said she designed the glass with the solar cells in mind and she designs graphic elements and patterns for the cells. Then she sends it to the solar engineer to technically incorporate the solar into the piece. Sometimes the wiring can be so understated it’s almost invisible. Other times, the wiring becomes part of the design.

“Solar projects have brought a definite rigor to the design process by having to incorporate rigid graphic elements,” Hall said.

Of course, solar technology is changing and advancing at a rapid rate, which constantly gives Hall new challenges and advantages.

“The new nanotechnology I am designing for is much more open and fluid and will bring further change to my design work.”

Source: www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/glass-artist-incorporating-solar-into-stained-glass-010515

Adopt energy price transparency – cut fossil fuel subsidies

The recent slump in oil prices represents a unique opportunity for countries to move towards energy price transparency by cutting expensive subsidy programmes which have been around for decades.  This is the opinion of The Blue Circle’s Olivier Duguet, who is supported by the IEA’s Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven who says the current global cost of subsidising energy consumption, mainly in developing economies, is US$500 billion a year. This can be reduced to $400 billion, thanks to cheaper oil, leaving governments with the choice of continuing subsidies or dismantling these very costly programmes for the sake of national budgets and economic fairness. Read More

Opinion in Eco-Business.com (21 January 2015):

Last chance for ASEAN to adopt energy price transparency

By Olivier Duguet

The recent slump in oil prices represents a unique opportunity for Southeast Asia to move towards energy price transparency by cutting expensive subsidy programmes which have been around for decades.

The current global cost of subsidizing energy consumption, mainly in developing economies is US$500 billion a year, the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA) estimates. This can be reduced to $400 billion, thanks to cheaper oil, leaving governments with the choice of continuing subsidies or dismantling these very costly programs for the sake of national budgets and economic fairness.

This then could be the perfect time to deal with subsidies and at the same time put a price on carbon, the IEA said.

“The collapse in oil prices is a stimulus for consumers around the world,” said Maria van der Hoeven, the IEA’s executive director, at the UN Climate Change conference in Lima last year. Leaders should respond with some sort of tax on carbon emissions or by cutting incentives for hydrocarbon production, she added.

She called this a “golden opportunity” for world leaders to put a price on carbon emissions since cheaper fuel makes the move less risky politically. Global oil prices have tumbled almost 60 percent since June, hitting five-year lows of under $50 per barrel.

“We’re putting $550 billion into fossil fuel subsidies,” she said. “Use this opportunity to phase them out!”

Stark Choice for Southeast Asia

The choice is particularly important for Southeast Asia’s high growth and fuel-dependent economies.

Energy demand from Asean’s (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) 600 million inhabitants has risen two and a half times since 1990 and is now equivalent to three-quarter of the energy demand of India.

Indonesia alone spent US$29.2 billion in 2013 to make fossil fuels cheaper for final consumers while total subsidies from three other Asean countries – Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia – amounted to over US$10 billion for 2013, according to IEA’s World Energy Report.

The electricity support schemes have required subsidies of power generation fuels to keep state-owned utilities financially viable. In 2012, the US$51 billion spent by Asean countries in subsidising fossil fuels was equivalent to 11% of all general government budgets in the region, contributing to fiscal deficits in countries like Malaysia and Indonesia.

The difference between market and subsidised prices, which accounted for 2.16 per cent of the gross domestic product in Asean-5, has contributed to major imbalances in many countries and inhibited utilities from investing in new technologies and capacity building.

Vietnam, amongst others, has electricity prices capped and differentiated for different users (the energy-intensive heavy industries being the most subsidised). More than US$2.5 billion is spent yearly to subsidise electricity prices from national utility EVN, distorting any competitive advantage renewable energy sources could have in a country with plenty of sun and wind resources.

Indonesia, under its new President, has just started to slash its fuel subsidies but is still artificially reducing the price of 60-75 million tonnes annually of coal used in its 12 GW of coal-fired power plants. Malaysia announced in November it will abolish subsidies for gasoline and diesel from December as falling oil prices provide Prime Minister Najib Razak the opportunity to end a decades-old policy of cheap fuel.

Meanwhile, Thailand spent US$6.8 billion in 2012 in fossil fuel consumption support schemes, second only to Indonesia, according to IEA records, and it remains to be seen when it will start to cut its costly policy.

Indonesia alone spent US$29.2 billion in 2013 to make fossil fuels cheaper for final consumers while total subsidies from three other Asean countries – Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia – amounted to over US$10 billion for 2013, according to IEA’s World Energy Report.

Of course, low income earners in these countries have to be protected against wild fluctuations in fuel prices, but pricing fuel accurately is crucial for the future of renewable energy and reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases.

Wind is the cheapest

In a landmark study by Edward Douglas from Armstrong Asset Management – “Renewable energy is cheaper than imported gas and oil” – energy generation from renewable sources in Southeast Asia could be cheaper than from imported fossil fuels, but subsidies for fossil fuels distorted the picture.

The current plunge of oil prices will be one of the very last chances to implement true energy price policies around Southeast Asia and enable renewables to compete directly with non-subsidised fuels. It is the right time for governments to resist the temptation to subsidise oil and to let market forces play out for energy in Southeast Asia.

At The Blue Circle, we are convinced that despite the current glut of oil, fossil fuels will eventually run out.

Recent economic weaknesses in China, Europe and Japan, coupled with market share war amongst oil producers, have pushed fuel prices to unexpected lows which may not last long before world economic growth resumes.

In that environment, wind energy, though not evenly distributed in the region, might be the cheapest to tap into and one of the easiest renewable sources to deploy.

According to an EU analysis released in October last year, for every megawatt hour (MW/h) of electricity generated within EU, onshore wind costs roughly €105 per MW/h, compared to gas and coal which can cost up to around €164 and €233 per MW/h, respectively when the costs of ‘external’ factors like air quality, human toxicity and climate change are taken into account.

As these costs are dependent on the wind resource, the case of each Southeast Asia country might be different, but bringing back energy price transparency by phasing out fossil fuel subsidies will only enhance renewable power competitiveness in a low-carbon future.

Olivier Duguet is the Chief Executive Officer of The Blue Circle, a Singapore-based company which focuses on developing wind and solar energy projects in Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. www.thebluecircle.sg

Source: www.eco-business.com/opinion/last-chance-asean-adopt-energy-price-transparency/

Chiller Optimisation Helps Philips Win Green Mark Platinum

Philips Lumileds Singapore is the first manufacturing plant in Singapore to be awarded the Green Mark Platinum by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) for Existing Buildings. The Chiller plant optimisation, under taken by Barghest Building Performance (BBP), achieved a 27% improvement in the plant’s efficiency. A comprehensive lighting replacement project, installing the latest generation of LED lighting, is expected to achieve overall 40% efficiency. Read More

Media release (19 January 2015):

Energy Efficiency Efforts Win Green Mark Platinum for Lumileds Singapore

Philips Lumileds Singapore is the first manufacturing plant in Singapore to be awarded the Green Mark Platinum by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) for Existing Buildings.

Four key areas that contributed most to achieving the Green Mark Platinum award were:

•             The Chiller plant underwent optimisation to achieve an average plant efficiency of 0.64 kW/RT (indicating the amount of power required to produce a unit of cooling)

•             Extensive use of LED throughout the building, leading to an improvement in lighting power budget compared with Singapore Standards Code of Practice

•             Extensive water recycling efforts leading to huge water savings and achieving Pub’s Water Efficient Building (Gold) certification

•             Encouraging sustainable operation and management through recycling efforts as well as educational and awareness programmes involving employees, contractors and vendors

The achievement is a worthy recognition for all involved parties, according to Mr James Day, Manufacturing Director of Lumileds Singapore.

“Philips Lumileds Singapore is very proud and honoured to be the first manufacturing plant in Singapore to receive the Green Mark Platinum award from BCA.  It is a wonderful feeling to know that we are making such a positive impact on the environment”, Mr Day said.

Tang Wai Meng, Facilities Director at Philips Lumileds Singapore, said that while a key goal for the company was to improve the overall operational efficiency and in particular address the air conditioning chiller plant efficiency, it had to be done without disruption to the 24 hour functioning of the LED production factory and desirably without involving any major equipment replacement. This was a major challenge considering that the current chiller plant is 14 years old.

“We were happy to complete our energy efficiency exercise without any replacement of equipment or operational disruption, achieving a 27% improvement in the chiller plant’s efficiency, which resulted in significant savings in energy and costs”, Mr. Tang said.

Projected chiller plant room energy savings amounted to 3,510,562 kWh or in monetary terms, S$702,112 in energy costs for a year.

The optimisation solution supplied and installed by Barghest Building Performance (BBP) involved introducing minute level adjustment of pumps and cooling tower fans to deliver the needed cooling in the most energy efficient manner. It also involved introducing meters and instrumentation in line with BCA Green Mark requirement for effective measurement and verification. The newly installed system also includes features of remote monitoring, auto reporting and alarms for improved day to day operation.

In order to ensure sustained savings over time, Philips Lumileds Singapore entered into a long term performance contract with BBP. The performance contract avoided any upfront cost to Philips Lumileds, with BBP being only paid upon showing measurable performance improvements. Verification of efficiency improvement is done on a monthly basis by independent third party, DNV GL through the DNV GL Clean Technology Centre in Singapore.

In addition to the chiller efficiency improvements, Philips Lumileds also looked at other energy efficiency opportunities, and being in the LED business, lighting was an obvious area to look at.

A comprehensive lighting replacement project, which focused on installing the latest generation of LED lighting, was launched. The improvement in lighting power budget compared with code is expected to reach 40%.

Although the Green Mark Platinum award is a milestone for Philips Lumileds Singapore plant, the site team is continuing their ongoing efforts of improving operations and reducing environmental impact.  It is continuing its programme started three years ago to reduce energy intensity, reduce water usage and increase environmental awareness of all stakeholders.

The next planned project is to get BBP to undertake an evaluation of the plant and office Air Handling Unit (AHU) system with the goal of optimisation to reduce energy consumption.

These efforts are in line with the focus of the BCA  Green Building Master plans, which is to accelerate the ‘greening’ of existing buildings and further engagement with building occupants to bring Singapore closer to achieving the target of  ‘greening’ 80 percent of all buildings by 2030.

Mr Ang Kian Seng, Group Director, Technology Development, BCA said, “beyond focusing on the building infrastructure, we also want to get building owners, facility managers, tenants and occupants to play a bigger role in the green building movement.

“Achieving a sustainable built environment is a collaborative effort that requires commitment across the value chain, from policy makers, to developers, right down to the end-users. As such, there will be a greater emphasis on engaging and enabling stakeholder communities so that we can champion change together.”

About Barghest Building Performance

Barghest Building Performance (BBP) offers energy conservation solutions that help buildings operate their existing equipment optimally and thereby achieve long term measureable and sustainable energy saving. BBP provides solutions without upfront cost to clients and is paid through the savings achieved over the long term. Besides a primary focus on air conditioning systems, BBP offers a range of other energy efficiency related services including support in Green Mark Certification process. BBP team members have been involved in numerous energy efficiency projects, helping clients reach their Energy Efficiency and Green Mark Certification goals. Visit www.bbp.sg for more information.

Written by Ken Hickson for Barghest Building Performance (BBP) and issued by Sustain Ability Showcase Asia (SASA) with the approval of the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and Philips Lumileds Singapore.     

Top 5 in 15 Categories Who Started the Year Sustainably Well

What’s best for sustainability in a troubled world? Who’s taking the most notice of the four E’s of Sustainability – Energy, Environment, Ethics and Economy?  Who’s geared up for what’s to come with a changing climate and the need to move to a low carbon economy? Who is working on the essential elements of the Blue Economy – Zero Waste; Maximising Resources; Zero Emissions and Net Positive Impact? So here’s what Ken Hickson/SASA has come up with – the top five in a total of 15  categories – with a distinct bias towards Asia – covering influential leaders, cities, countries, companies, multinationals, not for profit organisations, events and even some hold out the most promise for contributing to a Sustainable Future ahead. Read More

This was produced by Ken Hickson and initially supplied at the request of the Japanese “Environmental Business” publication by Kankyo Business Global.  

Five of the Best Sustainability Performers and those with the Most Promise for 2015 and beyond

By Ken Hickson for Environmental Business (1 January 2015):

Let’s start the year of 2015 on the right footing.

What’s best for sustainability in a troubled world? Who’s taking the most notice of the four E’s of sustainability – Energy, Environment, Ethics and Economy?

Who’s geared up for what’s to come with a changing climate and the need to move to a low carbon economy? Who is working on the essential elements of the Blue Economy – Zero Waste; Maximising Resources; Zero Emissions, No Waste to Disposal and Net Positive Impact?

This is very much a personal selection and while some of the leaders are well known and feature in various measurements and awards, like the Dow Jones Sustainability Index, other people, organisations, countries or cities I’ve rated are there because I know them very well and they are heading in the right direction.

So here’s what I’ve come up with – the top five in a number in a total of 15  categories covering influential leaders, cities, countries, companies, multinational organisations, not for profit organisations, events and even some countries and organisations  which hold most promise for contributing to a Sustainable Future.

1.            Top Five Sustainable Cities

Tokyo – has set very high standards in cleanliness, green buildings, with the world’s first cap and trade system for buildings; a city with resilience and readiness for a changing climate.

Taipei – world’s best practice for waste management and recycling, committed to thought leadership, green productivity and energy; open to sharing with the region and the world.

London – most sustainable and productive centre for business, conservation, culture and the arts; world’s most sustainable events (London Olympics), and leader for economy and ethics.

Singapore – a well-balanced, liveable and sustainable city with environmental factors, like water, energy, public transport under good management. Promoting energy efficiency at all levels.

New York – set some strong sustainability standards under previous Mayor Bloomberg for energy efficiency, green buildings and economic management. Maintaining vibrancy and liveability.

2.            Top Five Leaders in Sustainability – Inspiration and Influence

What about leadership? Who is out to impress and influence us to change our ways to make our cities, companies, countries and communities better places for us? We have steered clear of political/ government leaders to people we know who communicate well across boundaries, not afraid to speak out and make good sense.

John Elkington – author of many books (latest The Breakthrough Challenge), regular speaker, consultant, and change agent based in United Kingdom, but travels a lot.

David Suzuki – ecologist and non-stop activist for environment protection and action in Canada, who is respected and taken notice of around the world.

Maria Van der Hoeven – Executive Directive of International Energy Agency (IEA), and former Minister of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands, who calls for an end to fossil fuel subsidies – “the enemy of energy efficiency” – and promotes the “multi benefits of energy efficiency”.

Christine Lagarde – as head of the International Monetary Fund she heralds the importance of Economy and Ethics, but also stresses that Environment and Energy are game changers too.

Jose Ramos Horta – Nobel Peace Prize winner and first President of East Timor, still active promoting peace and sustainable development. Works with U Brain TV to spread the world.

3.            Top Five Events to Attend in 2015

World Future Energy Summit in Dubai – 19-22 January – Dubai

Energy from Waste – 25 -26 February – London

Sustainable Solutions for an Urban Future (ICLEI World Congress) – 8-12 April Seoul

International Conference on Business Sustainability (Blue Asia Group) – 22/23 April – Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

UNFCCC – landmark climate change action conference – 30 November -11 December – Paris

4.            Top Five Countries in Asia Pacific Committed to a Sustainable, Low Carbon Future

Taiwan

New Zealand

Japan

South Korea

China

5.            Top Five Global Companies showing leadership in all aspects of sustainability

BMW – leading on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for the automotive sector, for getting the best electric cars on the road and setting high standards in recycling in manufacturing.

Unilever – launched its sustainability Living Plan to set some of the best examples in the world for sustainable production, consumption to benefit all – health and environment uppermost.

Interface – sets the highest standards in manufacturing with 100% renewable energy and zero waste. Recycling of dumped fishing nets into carpet tiles, working with NGOs and communities.

Lend Lease – most sustainable and driven construction industry company worldwide. Green Buildings, green productivity and Cross Laminated Timber – sustainable construction for the future.

Honda – for its sustainability commitment, and its production of hydrogen fuel cell that can power homes and cars.

6.            Top Five Leading Multi-National Organisations Promoting the Four E’s of Sustainability:

World Bank

International Energy Agency (IEA)

World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)

Asian Productivity Organisation (APO)

International Green Purchasing Network (IGPN)

7.            Top Five Leading International NGOS (Non-Governmental Organisations) Effectively and Actively working in Asia Pacific:

World Resources Institute (WRI)

Nexus – carbon for development

Zoological Society of London (ZSL)

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

Forum for the Future

8.            Top Five global consultancy and advisory firms best able to manage the Four E’s of sustainability:

DNV GL

Accenture

Corporate Citizenship

Carbon Trust

McKinsey

9.            Five Leading Funds, Investors and Promoters of Renewable Energy in Asia Pacific:

Asian Development Bank

ReEx Capital Asia

Armstrong Asset Management

The Blue Circle

Sindacatum

10.          Top Five Asia Pacific companies for Sustainable Enterprise and Leadership:

YTL (Malaysia)

CDL (Singapore)

Ricoh (Japan)

Asia Plantation Capital (Singapore)

Hitachi (Japan)

11.          Which Countries we predict will Step up to provide Sustainability Leadership for Asia Pacific’s Future:

Indonesia

Sri Lanka

Australia

India

Malaysia

12.          Which countries in Asia Pacific are taking up the clean energy challenge to speed up the switch from fossil fuel dependency?

Philippines

Vietnam

Thailand

Bangladesh

Bhutan

13.          Which Organisations Will Provide Sustainability Leadership in the Future for Asia Pacific?

Blue Asia Group

IPEx Cleantech Asia

Japan for Sustainability

Sustain Ability Showcase Asia (SASA)

Environment and Development Foundation (Taiwan)

14.          Who’s Most Active in Asia for Building Performance and Energy Efficiency:

BBP – Barghest Building Performance (Singapore)

TEALE (Singapore)

Energenz (Hong Kong)

Sustainable Development Capital (Hong Kong)

Envizi (Australia)

Source: www.abccarbon.com and www.kankyo-business.jp