Carbon Forum Asia 2009

The annual Carbon Forum Asia trade fair and conference starts today at the Raffles City Convention Centre, officially opened by Mr S Iswaran, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry.

This year’s trade fair offers a comprehensive showcase of regional and international carbon market players from over 27 countries, including 22 countries across Asia Pacific, such as Singapore, Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Pakistan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Thailand, Bhutan and Papua New Guinea.

At the trade fair’s Sellers Pavilion, sponsored by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), innovative sustainable projects in Asia were showcased by project developers and carbon credit sellers. These projects include biomass-biogas combined heat and power generation, conversion of waste coal gas to energy, methane avoidance, etc.

The conference brings together more than 130 leading regional and international speakers to discuss new trends and perspectives for the Asian and global carbon market, and on issues related to emissions trading, carbon finance and climate change.

The total value of the global carbon market reached US$125 billion in 2008, more than double the US$60 billion recorded in 2007. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) has also benefited developing countries such as China, India and Brazil.

Although there are critics of carbon trading and the CDM, we cannot deny the importance and potential of the CDM if done properly to reduce emissions and contribute to sustainable development together. As Mr Andrew Tan, CEO of the National Environment Agency, explained in his speech at the Clean Development Mechanism World Designated National Authorities Forum (held in conjunction with Carbon Forum Asia):

Right at the start, the CDM was a compromise solution between countries that wanted the creation of an adaptation fund for climate vulnerable countries and those that wanted a more market-driven mechanism. The CDM was therefore never a perfect system to begin with and a system that its designers had to improve as they learnt along the way. Indeed, up to recent times, the CDM has attracted criticisms that it is too bureaucratic a system, with many delays and not cost-effective. Environmental groups have similarly criticized the CDM for providing millions of dollars of financing for minimal emissions reductions or projects that would have gone on anyway. These calls have not gone unheeded and efforts have been made to address the shortfalls of the system.

…

I therefore hope that at the Singapore meeting, delegates can build upon recent discussions on the CDM and work closely together to help improve the governance framework to ensure:

a. greater transparency and accountability

b. better accreditation of DOEs and minimizing conflicts of interest

c. clearer guidelines and standards

Failure isn’t failing. Failure is failing to try.

In the Eye of the Storm: Coping with Emerging Environmental and Economic Crises

Venue: ISEAS Seminar Room II

Speaker: Dr Michael Jackson, Founder Member and Chairman, ShapingTomorrow.com

About the seminar

The next decade will likely be a time of great opportunity and risk coming off of the back of recent financial stormy weather. What more environmental and economic crises lie ahead? How can we navigate through the next storm and keep the ship afloat.

Our speaker will describe emerging trends, potential breakthroughs and breakdowns and present practical ideas for immediate action.

For details and registration, visit the ISEAS website.

About the speaker

Dr Michael Jackson is a Founder Member and Chairman of ShapingTomorrow.com. He also advises businesses on dramatically improving their competitiveness through pioneering work on practical Sustainable Business Strategies. Clients include a number of blue-chip, international and national companies and small to medium sized UK businesses. He is known on conference platforms speaking on business subjects including futures, sustainability, customer loyalty and retention, business process re-engineering, change management, building strategic visions and values and people motivation and communications, ethics, alliances and corporate governance: he has many published articles on these subjects. With over 30 years’ experience in Business Management in the UK, North America and Europe, he has significant exposure to corporate banking and consumer finance and, latterly, futuring.

Dr Jackson was Chief Executive of Birmingham Midshires Building Society between 1990 and 1998, then the UK’s 4th largest. As Chief Executive of Birmingham Midshires he achieved a dramatic change for the better in the Society’s fortunes moving from near oblivion to a highly profitable, customer led and multiple-award winning business in just eight years. He was previously a Senior Vice President with Bank of America who he joined in 1986. He began his financial services career in 1973 with Citibank NA as its first overseas process engineer, based in London. He then transferred to Italy, with subsidiary Citifin Finanziara as Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, later moving back to the UK with Citibank Savings as Vice President and Customer Services Director, and subsequently Consumer Banking Director.

He studied at Salford University, Manchester, and holds a Bachelor of Science in Electronics and a U.S. accredited MBA in Operations Research. He was conferred an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration by the University of Wolverhampton in 1997. He is a Fellow of the Institutes of Directors and a full member of the Strategic Planning Society, the Association of Professional Futurists and the World Future Society. He is a member of the advisory board of European Futurists and a strategic board member of the Customer Service Network in the UK.

Source: ISEAS

Some Banks Just Don’t Get It

It is amazing how some banks waste resources in their marketing campaigns. One example is when banks send pre-approved credit cards to their customers, even though their customers never ask for those cards.

The photo above shows all the material inside a single envelope by DBS, including the letter, pre-approved credit card, brochures, card agreement, and discount vouchers. Customers who are not interested in the credit cards offered by the banks simply throw them away, hopefully into recycling bags or bins.

Imagine the envelopes, letters, brochures and credit cards that go to waste, just because the banks simply chose to throw them at their customers without asking them if they want the credit cards in the first place. These banks are not only wasting resources and money but also ending up irritating their customers.

Are you one of those banks? It’s time to rethink and do things differently (hint: read Seth Godin’s books for help).

The Carbon Disclosure Project 2009, Asia ex-Japan Report

The Carbon Disclosure Project 2009, Asia ex-Japan Report, authored by the Association for Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Asia (ASrIA), reported a double increase in the number of companies reporting their corporate greenhouse gas emissions data, from 61 last year to 127 this year.

Carbon Disclosure Project

Founded in 2000, The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) represents about 475 global institutional investors with more than US $55 trillion in assets under management. CDP collects climate change data from 2,500 major corporations into the world’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emissions database.

Asia ex-Japan Report

In this 2009 Asia ex-Japan Report, there are 4 key themes from the CDP questionnaire responses:

1. From Mitigation to Adaptation – Companies Start to Move Beyond Regulatory Uncertainty and Focus on Opportunities
2. More Substantive Disclosure of Emissions and Operational Data
3. IT Sector leads on Responses and Data
4. Korea Pushes Ahead, India Emerges Strongly

The Carbon Disclosure Project 2009, Asia ex-Japan Report, is available for free download from the ASrIA website.

Singapore

For Singapore, the number of companies involved and the response rate is less than satisfactory (see tables below). 14 local companies were involved in the questionnaire and the response rate was 21%. Only 3 companies answered the questionnaire – Capitaland Limited, City Developments Limited and Singapore Airlines. In contrast, the response rate in Korea is 50% with 50 companies answering the questionnaire.

Response Profiles of Asian Countries

Singapore Companies and their Responses

More Effort Needed

Clearly, more Singapore companies need to take climate change seriously and start reporting their corporate greenhouse gas emissions data and take steps to reduce their emissions. If not, local companies will fall behind more proactive companies in Korea and India, and lose their competitive advantage in the coming carbon constraint market.

Source and image credit: Association for Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Asia (ASrIA)

Submit Your Company News on the Environment

We welcome your company to submit press releases, articles, news, products, services, events, websites, programmes, reports or books that are suitable for Green Business Times and are related to business and the environment.

Please send your submissions through our Contact page. We will look through your submissions and consider whether to publish them. Thanks!

New Book on CSR for Sustainability and Success

The new book “CSR for Sustainability and Success” by Singapore Compact was launched during the International Singapore Compact CSR Summit held last week. The book features the CSR journey and experiences of 10 local and global companies with operations in Singapore.

The 10 companies (listed below) are in the following industries: food and beverage, retail, financial services, telecommunications, property development and management, construction, steel and energy.

• Cerebos Pacific Limited
• Citi
• City Developments Limited
• Holcim (Singapore) Pte Ltd
• NatSteel Holdings Pte Ltd
• NTUC Fairprice Co-operative Limited
• PowerSeraya Ltd
• SembCorp Industries Limited
• Shell Group of Companies
• Singapore Telcommunications Limited

In the book, each company shares its insight on adopting CSR – the company’s motivation, process, programmes, results, impacts, challenges and opportunities during the CSR journey. The business case for CSR was mentioned by the companies and they find that CSR provides business opportunities and is critical to business success.

The book also highlights 3 key challenges and suggests what can be done for each challenge:

1. Getting Started

Companies may face a lack of understanding and knowledge on CSR, lack of interest within the organisation and by stakeholders, and also resource constraints to get started.

Some solutions:

• Form a cross-functional CSR working group with commitment and leadership from top management
• Refer to relevant national programmes and policies, and what other companies are doing in the same industry
• Define what is important to the company and stakeholders, and form clear targets and milestones
• Discuss and develop the CSR policy and strategy at the department and group levels

2. Operationalising CSR

Companies may find it difficult to translate vision and mission into CSR policies and actions throughout the company and stakeholders.

Some solutions:

• Require top management to lead, drive change and be role models
• Ensure perseverance to embed policies and practices across the organisation
• Have clear roles and responsibility and a reporting structure
• Include tools, policies and processes for stakeholders to act
• Include measures and channels to communicate and engage with stakeholders

3. Sustaining the CSR Journey

Companies may find it difficult to maintain management commitment, employee awareness and buy-in, meet the needs and expectations of diverse stakeholders, ensuring focused efforts and measuring impacts.

Some solutions:

• Emphasize the importance of ongoing engagement and sharing of info among employees and stakeholders
• Educate, involve and empower stakeholders in the CSR and sustainability journey

If your company or organisation is starting on your CSR journey, this book gives useful examples and case studies on CSR strategies, policies and practices based on the Singapore context.

CleanTech Happy Hour October

This announcement is from the organisers of Cleanteach Happy Hour.

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Hey there everyone!

Time for CleanTech Happy Hour October and we’ve got mighty exciting stuff going on this month. !

Join us on 14th October 2009 at Durty Nelly’s (Marina Square) from 7pm onwards.

To keep it short and simple. Here are 10 reasons why YOU should NOT MISS this month’s CTHH! Don’t forget to bring your namecards!

• Stand a chance to WIN tickets worth SGD1600 each to CLEAN ENERGY EXPO ASIA (CEEA) happening in Singapore in November 2009. (courtesy of Koelnmesse)
• F&B Vouchers from Gaelic Inns chain.(the friendly people behind Durtty Nelly’s, Ballymoons, Muddy Murphys, Scruffy Murphys etc)
• 5 Coveted Essential hardcover books on ” Carbon Jargons” (many thanks to Rani, from The Carbon Neutral Company)
• Happy hour prices from $8 onwards!
• Enjoy one of the coldest pint of Guinness in town!
• Network with exhibitors from the CEEA (psst before anyone else, another reason to be there early too)
• Happy hour prices extended till MIDNIGHT only to all CTHH attendees (Now where can you get such a deal in town?!)
• Catch up with the people you missed from previous CTHH
• Have a good time with great company as always.
• Do you really need another reason to save the world, Happy hour style?

RSVP NOW and tell your friends about it. !

See you then!

Amelia & Joost

CleanTech Happy Hour Team

Scandinavian Cleantech Forum Singapore

This event is postponed until 2010.

Venue: Mandai Cleantech Park, Singapore

Southeast Asia is experiencing rapid growth in the demand for energy and energy services to fuel its economic development. As a result, the greater use of energy and higher energy efficiency are becoming increasingly critical issues for the whole region. Governments in Asia Pacific are strengthening their policies to promote renewable energy sources and usage, thus creating enormous opportunities for industry players.

Our objective

The Scandinavian Cleantech Forum in Singapore aims to serve as a business networking platform for Scandinavian cleantech companies to better understand these opportunities and to connect with potential partners, investors and governmental decision makers.

The Forum is held in Singapore the day before the Clean Energy Expo Asia – Asia’s most important Clean Energy gathering of the year. It should provide all participants with a complete understanding about the opportunities Singapore can offer for further market expansion to Scandinavian cleantech companies.

Who should attend?

• Scandinavian Cleantech Companies – Potential to understand the market and potential support and funding options. Unique chance to meet potential partners and distributors
• Cleantech Investors, both foreign and local – Unique opportunity to meet other investors and to forge potential collaborations
• Local Cleantech companies, meet the CEOs and owners of Scandinavian cleantech companies with leading edge technology and a vision to expand in Southeast Asia
• Government officials, a chance to promote the Singapore cleantech eco-system
• Technology transfer officials, from Singapore universities and research organizations, promote your technology and seek new partners

Rates of participation:

Together with Koelnmesse we offer a combination package for the Scandinavian Cleantech Forum and the Clean Energy Expo for only €888, normal price €790+€250=€1.040, total savings more than 11%.

For participants to the Scandinavian Cleantech Forum only, the full day event is offered to participants at the subsidized price of SGD 500 (~€250) and includes all transportation, coffee, lunch, networking drinks and dinner.

Supporting organization:

The Scandinavian Cleantech Forum is proud to be supported by the following organizations:

• Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB)
• Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS)
• EMA – Part of the Singapore International Energy Week
• SBAS – Swedish Business Association of Singapore

In collaboration with:

The Scandinavian Cleantech Forum is proud to be collaborating with the following companies:

• Koelnmesse

Corporate Sponsors:

The Scandinavian Cleantech Forum is proud to be collaborating with the following Corporate sponsors:

• Indochine Group
• Portelet Asia Pte. Ltd.
• Ritz Carlton

Media Partners:

• Green Business Times
• Asia Is Green
• Low Carbon Singapore

Corporate Sponsors pay SGD1.000 to display logo on marketing material and includes free entrance to the event for one person per company. Space will be provided at the event for Corporate Sponsors who wishes to display marketing material to participants.

Corporate Social Responsibility in Singapore: Awareness and Implementation

The awareness and implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Singapore has been increasing over the past four years since the formation of the Singapore Compact, a national society promoting CSR in Singapore.

What is CSR? Some companies associate CSR with charity and philanthropy, but CSR actually goes beyond that. According to Singapore Compact:

Corporate Social Responsibility is essentially about businesses doing well and doing good at the same time. CSR is about the long term strategy of aligning business strategy and operations with universal values to achieve positive and sustainable outcomes for customers, suppliers, employees, shareholders, communities, other stakeholders and as well as the environment.

Through the implementation of CSR, companies can reap benefits and improve profits. Mr Koh Juan Kiat, Vice-President of Singapore Compact and Executive Director of Singapore National Employers’ Federation explains:

Adopting CSR brings intangible benefits such as a good reputation for the company, high morale among employees and improved performance and attracts investors. Employees will also take greater pride in their company and this will affect productivity.

In 2008, survey findings by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) show that out of the 507 Singapore-based enterprises surveyed, 40% of the respondents were aware of the term CSR. Of the CSR-aware respondents, two-thirds have implemented CSR activities.

To date, 240 organisations have joined Singapore Compact and are implementing CSR practices. These organisations include large corporations, SMEs, co-operatives, unions, federations and NGOs. In addition, 70 companies have signed up as signatories to the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) network in Singapore.

Despite the growing awareness and implementation, CSR in Singapore is still in its infant stage and more needs to be done. As such, Singapore Compact will hold an inaugural International Singapore Compact CSR Summit from 6 to 7 October at Orchard Hotel. The conference will cover topics such as:

• CSR and the Community: The Role of Corporate Foundations
• CSR Global Trends
• CSR: Strategy for Sustainability and Success
• Investor’s Perspectives on CSR
• CSR and Sustainable Development – The Environment and Beyond
• CSR – what can be done?

This is a good and timely opportunity for your company to understand more about CSR and how to implement CSR in your organisation. Visit http://csrsummit.csrsingapore.org/ for details and registration.