Latest Environmental News from Singapore and the World

Asia Green News

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Green Business Local News

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Green Business Global News

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Zero Waste Local News

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Zero Waste Global News

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Summary of Green News: 4 Nov 08

Local News

• Growing allure of ‘green-collar’ jobs in Singapore (Straits Times via Wildsingapore) – Students are eyeing green-collar jobs at a mini fair at the National University of Singapore, which showcases careers in renewable energy.
• Wind power takes off in big way (Straits Times via Wildsingapore) – Vestas Wind Systems officially launched its $500 million wind research centre in Fusionopolis, employing about 300 researchers and engineers by 2012.
• Plan to develop eco-park on Semakau Landfill expected early 2009 (Channel NewsAsia) – The National Environment Agency is planning an eco-park on Semakau Landfill to provide a test bed for renewable and clean energy technologies.
• Electric cars, buses among ideas to energise Singapore (Business Times via Wildsingapore) – The International Advisory Panel on Energy met this week to provide perspectives on emerging global energy trends and to advise on the strategic directions for the energy sector.
• Message in a bottle: Tap water just as good (Straits Times via Wildsingapore) – Singaporeans spent $98.3 million on bottled water last year although tap water is just as clean and safe to drink.

Global News

• Most Consumers Can’t Name a Green Brand: Survey (ClimateBiz) – A recent survey showed that 65% of Americans can’t name any brands taking the lead in fighting climate change.
• First Environmental Product Declaration System to Launch in November (TreeHugger) – The Environmental Product Declaration System to be launched by The Green Standard gives consumers independent and impartial assurance of a corporation’s environmental claims.

Summary of Green News: 31 Oct 08

Local News

• Environmental pact sees F&B packaging waste down 17% (Channel NewsAsia) – The National Environment Agency (NEA), said that signatories to the Singapore Packaging Agreement, has cut down their packaging waste by 850 tonnes since they joined it last June.
• Good things do come in small packages (Today) – The 3R Packaging Awards will be given out to the Singapore Packaging Agreement signatories that have made notable efforts in their waste minimisation programmes and to reduce packaging waste.
• More than just hot air (Today) – Wind energy is making its first inroads into Singapore and it may be possible to tap on wind as an alternative energy source.
• New sand substitute sets green milestone in Singapore (Straits Times via Wildsingapore) – Geocycle Singapore, a joint venture of cement maker Holcim Singapore and recycler ecoWise Holdings, has set up a new plant to recycle used copper slag as a substitute for sand in the making of ready-mixed concrete.
• Fitting 70% of roofs with solar panels achievable (Straits Times via Wildsingapore) - It is possible to put solar panels on 70% of Singapore’s rooftops and generate 11,550 gigawatt hours of power for the needs of 2.8 million people.

Global News

• DHL E-Billing to Cut Paper Invoices by One-Third (GreenBiz) – By 2010, DHL expects to have its e-Billing system rolled out in Europe and to cut the amount of paper invoices by one-third.
• Telecommuting and the Green Office of the Future (GreenBiz) – Businesses are becoming greener through telecommuting and it makes sense too.

Summary of Green News: 23 Oct 08

Local News

• New book on how Singapore achieved environmental and water sustainability (Straits Times via Wildsingapore) – A new book, Clean, Green And Blue, published by the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies gives a detailed look at how Singapore achieved environmental and water sustainability in 40 years.
• Recycling food waste into biogas in Singapore (Business Times via Wildsingapore) - IUT Global Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based company that operates a bio-methanisation plant to convert food waste into biogas and compost.
• New ways to help businesses cut power bills (Straits Times via Wildsingapore) – The National Environment Agency recently announced the Sustainable Energy Fund to help companies design their premises in the most energy-efficient manner, train their own energy managers, and pay for energy audits and energy-efficient technologies.

Global News

• Google’s chief of environmental policy explains strategy (International Herald Tribune) - Dan Reicher, director of climate and energy initiatives explains Google’s energy strategy and green investments.
• Cost Savings, Not Planet Savings Drives Green IT (Environmental Leader) – A survey at Storage Expo 2008 showed that 70% of businesses said green IT is a priority as long as it saves money.
• DHL Says Small Efficiencies Can Deliver Big Carbon Savings (ClimateBiz) – DHL is making small changes to improve efficiency in all parts of its supply chain, thus reducing carbon emissions and operating costs.

Summary of Green News: 15 Oct 08

Local News

• From water-scarce island to hydrohub (Business Times via Wildsingapore) – Singapore has evolved from a water-scarce nation into a global hydrohub of solutions and technologies for the water industry.
• S’pore to announce development plans for Semakau Landfill in November (Channel NewsAsia) – Singapore will be announcing its masterplan for the Semakau Landfill during the International Solid Waste Association Congress, which includes test-bedding environmental technologies and increasing its use for educational purposes.
• Singapore’s BCA Green Mark debuts in Malaysia, set to go beyond (Business Times via Wildsingapore) – Some green building developers from countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and China are adopting the Green Mark scheme developed by the Building and Construction Authority.

Global News

• Businesses offered interest free loans for energy efficiency (edie) – Small businesses in the UK can apply for interest-free loans of up to £200,000 to improve their energy efficiency by upgrading equipment with a more energy efficient version.
• New Site Launched to Promote Extended Producer Responsibility (GreenerDesign) – The California Product Stewardship Council has launched a new website on extended producer responsibility, where manufacturers are responsible for the end-of-life management of their products.
• Leading From the Middle: The Power of the Green Champion (GreenBiz) – Businesses are seeking out volunteer “green champions” in their workplace who are passionate about being green and are eager to implement green suggestions, although they are not on a green team or sustainability committee.

Summary of Green News

Local News

• International panel to review BCA’s green plans (Business Times via Wildsingapore) – The Building and Construction Authority has invited five international experts to review its green building plans and recommend new directions for Singapore’s green building efforts.
• Can a green F1 ever exist? (Straits Times Blogs)- The environment takes a backseat during the F1 Grand Prix and the total carbon footprint of the event from fuel consumption, equipment transportation, lightings to air travelling is mind-boggling.
• Asia’s first carbon hub: Hong Kong closing in on Singapore (Straits Times via Wildsingapore) – Hong Kong is catching up with Singapore to be Asia’s first carbon trading hub, with its recent establishment of the legal framework to allow projects that could sell their reductions in carbon emissions, and its close location to China where a large proportion of carbon projects are.
• Biggest hike in 8 years (Today) – SP Services announced the biggest jump in electricity tariffs since the market began opening up in 2001, and consumers are expected to pay an average of 21.5% more on their monthly electricity bill.
• Are you being green washed? (Straits Times via Wildsingapore) – The trend of greenwashing can be found in Singapore. A check of about 50 necessities which claimed to be environmentally friendly, found that 1 in 4 claims was dubious and could not be proven.
• Going green: Firms can do a lot more (Straits Times via Wildsingapore)- A survey by Spire Research and Consulting showed that 8 in 10 companies surveyed in Singapore have adopted environmental conservation measures, but their green measures are still skin-deep and they need to put in more effort to be truly eco-friendly.

Global News

• First U.S. greenhouse cap-and-trade market opens (Yahoo! News UK) – Ten states in the U.S. Northeast have started the country’s first cap-and-trade market on greenhouse gas emissions to limit emissions of carbon dioxide from power plants. The states conducted their first auction of permits to emit CO2 to utilities and investors, and plan to spend the money raised from the auctions on improving energy efficiency and alternative energy.
• Companies’ Carbon Offset Strategies, Practices Detailed in New Report (GreenBiz)- A study called Carbon Offsetting Trends Survey 2008 was conducted by EcoSecurities and ClimateBiz, and sampled 65 companies across industries on their carbon offset strategies. The study showed that multinational corporations are addressing their carbon footprints and only 23% have not yet developed a carbon offset strategy.

Summary of Green News

Local News

• ‘Green’ meetings take off here (Straits Times via Wildsingapore) – More companies are starting to hold green meetings and requesting for eco-friendly measures to be included in the hotels and convention centres.
• A green meeting place (Today Online) – City Development Limited’s new eco-friendly City Square Mall will be opened at the end of next year, and one of the anchor tenants, NTUC FairPrice, has pledged to implement green practices such as checkout lanes for shoppers with reusable bags, a section for organic products, and motion sensor lighting in its office and storeroom.
• Green makes dollar sense (Business Times via Infocomm123) – Infocomm vendors are promoting Green IT, which refers to the application of technology and practices that cut unnecessary energy use. Some practices include the virtualisation of servers and using less power-consuming computers.
• More individuals, firms doing their part to save water (Channel NewsAsia) – More individuals and organisations are doing their part to save water, as the PUB saw a 140% increase in its “Friends of Water” membership last year.
• Trials on new system of buying electricity start later this year (Channel NewsAsia) – The Electricity Vending System will go on trial in Nov this year and will give households the freedom to choose different electricity packages from suppliers. Home owners can buy electricity from vending machines and via the Internet and mobile phones. This system would help consumers to be more aware of how much electricity they use and save energy.

Global News

• U.N. chief warns against waiting for climate deal (Reuters) – United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said that countries should aim for a meaningful breakthrough on negotiations for the successor deal to the Kyoto Protocol in Poland this December, and not wait till the Copenhagen summit in end 2009.
• First Draft of Sustainable Biofuels Standard Released (ClimateBiz) – The Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels has released the first draft of a biofuels global standard, which will guide worldwide biofuel production and processing.

Summary of Green News

Local News

• Got a plan to harvest solar energy? (Today Online) – The Clean Energy Programme Office (Cepo) is calling for research proposals to develop roof-mounted solar harvesting devices and systems for the tropical region.
• Energy sector can fuel Singapore manufacturing growth (Business Times via Wildsingapore) – The Director of the Warwick Manufacturing Group said that Singapore has a talent pool that can take advantage of the clean energy industry to fuel future manufacturing growth.
• Firms, go on energy ‘diet’ (Today Online) – The new chairwoman of the National Environment Agency (NEA) wants to get more businesses to go green and reduce their energy consumption, and also wants to see more societal participation on environmental issues.
• The green light to save earth (Digital Life, The Straits Times) and Enjoy tech the eco way (Digital Life, The Straits Times) – Learn how companies are implementing green solutions and greening their IT products, and also how green techies do their part.

Global News

• Reuse and Recycle. But First, Virtualize. (GreenerComputing) – Virtualization software can help to green data centers by allowing the consolidation of servers and reducing energy costs by as much as 80%.
• Buildings That Can Breathe (Newsweek) – Newsweek’s Fareed Zakaria speaks to well-known architect, William McDonough, about energy efficiency in buildings, the concept of Cradle to Cradle, and renewable energy.
• Green Retailers Six Key Focus Areas (Environmental Leader) – A new Aberdeen Group report shows that green retailers are focused on achieving sustainability in procurement, pacakging, waste management, supply chain and product lifecycle.
• Carnegie Mellon Researchers Urge Industry to Broaden Carbon Footprint Calculations (Carnegie Mellon) – Carnegie Mellon University researchers are urging companies to include carbon emissions from all tiers such as their own activities, electricity purchased, and their entire supply chain of goods and services, in their carbon footprint calculations.