Eco-Products 2008

The tenth Eco-Products 2008 Exhibition will be held from 11-13 Dec at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center (TOKYO BIG SIGHT) in Tokyo. This annual exhibition is one of the biggest environmental event in Japan, showcasing environmentally friendly products and services. The three-day event is organised by the Japan Environmental Management Association for Industry (JEMAI) and Nikkei Inc., and is expected to draw more than 750 companies and organizations, and more than 170,000 visitors.

The theme for this year’s exhibition is “We Can Do It! Eco-lifestyle with a 50% CO2 Reduction”. Check out the Eco-Products 2008 website for more info and the list of exhibitors. English guided tours are also available here.

World Energy Outlook 2008 Launch in Southeast Asia

Speaker: Mr Nobuo Tanaka, Executive Director, International Energy Agency

Venue: Casuarina Room, Shangri-La Hotel, 22 Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350

The Executive Director of the IEA will outline key data and policies from the 2008 edition of the World Energy Outlook (WEO), including new energy projections to 2030 (by region and by fuel type), and key issues such as prospects for oil and gas production, and post-2012 climate scenarios. Details and registration is available here.

Public Policy for Clean Electricity

Speaker: Benjamin K. Sovacool, Research Fellow in the Energy Governance Program, Centre on Asia and Globalization, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy

Venue: Seminar Room 2-2, Level 2, Manasseh Meyer, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, 469C Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 259772

This seminar discusses the public policy mechanisms to promote clean energy supply and use, and explains why these policy mechanisms must be implemented comprehensively. Details and registration at the LKYSPP website.

The Future of Corporate Responsibility

Speaker: Jem Bendell, Director, Lifeworth Consulting, Associate Professor, Griffith Business School

Venue: Seminar Room 2-2, Level 2, Manasseh Meyer, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, 469C Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 259772

This seminar discusses corporate responsibility trends and the implications for research, policy and management. Details and registration at the LKYSPP website.

Sustainable Manufacturing: Greening your Processes

Sustainable manufacturing is defined as the creation of manufactured products that use processes that are non-polluting, conserve energy and natural resources, and are economically sound and safe for employees, communities, and consumers.

Many large, multinational companies are cognizant of impending overseas environmental regulations and growing consumer demand for a new generation of environmentally friendly products, and they are beginning to formulate their response. Some have embraced the notion that green products and production techniques are a competitive weapon.

These companies are finding that green manufacturing initiatives offer competitive market advantages. Manufacturers can actually save money by institutionalising greener products and processes. Sustainable manufacturing has become not only a more responsible way for many organisations to do business, but a more profitable way as well. Read more

Green Business Times Interview – Phoenix Solar Pte Ltd

There has been great interest in solar energy in Singapore over the past few years. To understand more about solar energy technologies, issues and trends, we have the privilege of interviewing Mr Christophe Inglin, Managing Director of Phoenix Solar Pte Ltd.

About Phoenix Solar Pte Ltd

Phoenix Solar Pte Ltd (Phoenix Solar) is the Singapore subsidiary of Germany-based Phoenix Solar AG. The company designs, engineers and installs solar photovoltaic power systems for grid-connected and off-grid applications. Since it started operations here in early 2007, Phoenix Solar has secured contracts for over 400kWp of PV systems in Singapore, Malaysia and China. Read more

Recycling Day 2008

Recycling Day is an annual event where the public can learn more about recycling and the 3Rs through exhibition booths, exchange of recyclables for gifts, and taking part in various games and contests.

This year’s Recycling Day will be held at the main site, Blk 252, Yu Hua Village, and three other satellite sites at Hougang Central, Blk 123 Bukit Merah View, and Yio Chu Kang Secondary School. Visit the Clean and Green Singapore 2009 website for more details.

Is Humanity Facing a Looming Ecological Credit Crunch?

Speaker: Dr Chris Hails, Director (Network Relations), World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

Venue: Seminar Room II, ISEAS

This seminar discusses the key findings of the WWF’s Living Planet Report, and explores how we can avoid the ecological credit crunch and close the gap between humanity’s footprint and available biocapacity. Details and registration at the ISEAS website.

Singapore Energy Lecture by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew

Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew gave the Singapore Energy Lecture at the Singapore Energy Conference held last week. The video of the lecture is available at the Energy Market Authority website. MM Lee spoke on the following energy issues:

• Singapore’s green efforts over the years and the need to maintain the efforts because:

The point is, if we don’t do this, we lose our status as a clean, green city and we’ll lose our business and lose our extra premium for being an unusual city.

• Major economies such as China and India have to take climate change seriously:

If they get that message within 10, 15 years, then I think there’s hope, all is not lost. If it comes too late, if it comes 30, 40 years we are all in trouble.

• Nuclear energy is the real alternative although the big problem is where to site the nuclear plant:

The real alternative that can produce the electricity generation to match oil and gas is nuclear.

• ASEAN countries need to cooperate on energy by having a common power grid and pipelines:

I hope our neighbours also come to the conclusion that we are forced to cooperate. If we understand the complexity and immensity of the problems the world faces, and which we will face in Southeast Asia, then we should have a common grid and a common pipeline so that it’s transferable. 

• Singaporeans are not ready to pay more for renewable energy:

Singaporeans are cost-conscious. They don’t care where the energy comes from, they just want to know which is the cheaper option.

• The need to lower consumption:

There are limits to what man’s ingenuity can do, so let’s consume less … and live within the limits of what the world can sustain.

Singapore Energy Conference: Assessing the Energy Landscape for Today and Tomorrow by Peter Schwartz

Mr Peter Schwartz, Chairman of the Global Business Network and renowned futurist, gave a keynote address on “Assessing the Energy Landscape for Today and Tomorrow” at the Singapore Energy Conference held last week. He is also a member of the International Advisory Panel (IAP) on Energy set up by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) to “provide insights and perspectives on emerging trends in the global energy arena, and to advise on the strategic directions for the energy sector in Singapore”.

In his presentation, Mr Schwartz focused on five key questions for the energy future:

1. How much will income grow?
2. How much will efficiency contribute?
3. What is the future of conventional oil and gas?
4. How much will greenhouse gas matter?
5. What is the future of low carbon technology?

These five questions will define how our energy future would look like. Let’s take a closer look at Mr Schwartz’s thoughts on the questions. Read more

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