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.

The Green Business Times Guide to 30 Singapore Government Funding and Incentives for the Environment

Singapore is well-known as a clean and green city with the government striving for environmental sustainability while growing the economy. The government has also identified Environmental and Water Technologies (EWT) including Clean Energy as strategic areas where Singapore has a competitive edge and which could generate future economic growth.

To accelerate the growth of the environmental industry and to maintain Singapore’s image as a clean and green city, the government has initiated several funding and incentive schemes related to energy efficiency, clean energy, green buildings, water and environmental technologies, green transport, waste minimisation, environmental management system, environmental initiatives, clean development mechanism, and green IT.

The funding and incentive schemes are provided by government agencies such as:

• Building and Construction Authority (BCA)
• Economic Development Board (EDB)
• Infocomm Development Authority of Singapore (IDA)
• Land Transport Authority (LTA)
• National Environment Agency (NEA)
• National Parks Board (NParks)
• PUB, the national water agency (PUB)
• SPRING Singapore (SPRING)
• Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA)

To help businesses understand what’s available, we have compiled a list of 30 government funding and incentives for the environment:

1. Energy Efficiency Improvement Assistance Scheme (EASe)
2. Grant for Energy Efficient Technologies (GREET)
3. Accelerated Depreciation Tax Allowance
4. Design for Efficiency Scheme (DfE)
5. SCEM Training Grant
6. Clean Energy Research and Testbedding Programme (CERT)
7. Clean Energy Research Programme (CERP)
8. Solar Capability Scheme (SCS)
9. Market Development Fund
10. Green Mark Incentive Scheme for Existing Buildings (GMIS-EB)
11. Green Mark Incentive Scheme for New Buildings (GMIS-NB)
12. Green Mark Gross Floor Area Incentive Scheme (GM-GFA)
13. MND Research Fund for the Built Environment
14. Pilot Incentive Scheme for Green Roofs
15. Gross Floor Area Incentives for Outdoor Refreshment Area on Rooftops
16. Water Efficiency Fund (WEF)
17. Fast-Track Environmental and Water Technologies Incubator Scheme (Fast-Tech)
18. Technology Pioneer (TechPioneer) Scheme
19. Incentive for Research and Innovation Scheme (IRIS)
20. Environmental Technology Capability Development Programme (EnviroTech CDP)
21. Innovation Voucher Scheme
22. Innovation for Environmental Sustainability (IES) Fund
23. Land Transport Innovation Fund (LTIF)
24. Green Vehicle Rebate (GVR)
25. 3R (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) Fund
26. Environment Technology Research Programme (ETRP)
27. Local Enterprise Technical Assistance Scheme (LETAS)
28. 3P Partnership Fund
29. Clean Development Mechanism Documentation Grant
30. Infocomm Leadership and Development Programme (iLEAD)

If we missed out any funding or incentive scheme, do let us know. Thanks! Read more

National Environment Agency Launches Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Documentation Grant

The National Environment Agency (NEA) launched the $500,000 Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Documentation Grant yesterday. This is a co-funding scheme to encourage companies to develop CDM projects in Singapore and support them in engaging carbon consultancy services for the documentation needed.

The funding is capped at $100,000 for each CDM project and would be provided for up to 30% or 50% of the qualifying cost of engaging a carbon consultant to develop a Project Design Document (PDD), which depends on the need to develop a new methodology or just to use an existing approved methodology. The cost of implementing the CDM project would not be supported under the grant. Read more