Sustainability: Singapure

Showing posts with label Singapure. Show all posts

Asia’s biggest funding opportunity for sustainable solutions offers up to S$1m and more for clean energy & circular economy solutions

Singapore—The Liveability Challenge on 10th January launched a global call for innovative clean energy and circular economy solutions for cities in the tropics, dangling Asia’s biggest prize for sustainability solutions with up to S$1 million in project development funds, as well as exclusive crowdfunding campaigns and mentorship opportunities up for grabs. The global call for submissions will close on 5 April 2019, 11:59pm (GMT+8) Singapore time.

The need for transformative action has never been greater. Humanity only has 12 years to curb its carbon emissions and keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius—or risk an irreversible climate crisis, according to the recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

The Singapore Sustainability Academy (SSA) has been built to highest energy efficiency and green building standards and will serve as the city-state’s sustainability learning and collaboration hub, reports Climate Action.

The SSA is a joint collaboration between local property developer City Developments Limited (CDL) and the non-profit Sustainability Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS).

“SEAS as the voice of the sustainable energy industry in Singapore has been promoting sustainable technologies, project development, as well as financing of clean energy projects locally and regionally,” said Sherman Kwek, deputy chief executive officer of CDL.

Stakeholders such as consumers, investors, communities and employees have become increasingly more sophisticated and demanding in their expectations of corporate accountability and transparency. As more Singaporean organisations take their disclosure beyond traditional financial reporting, this trend to communicate environmental, social and governance issues has been greatly enhanced with the publication of the Guide to Sustainability Reporting for Listed Companies, by Singapore Exchange (SGX) published in 2011.

As the first Singapore-based company to officially partner with EC3 Global, GPS is now able to deliver end-to-end sustainable tourism development services and expertise to external parties, overseeing the entire process.

Through their successful implementation of sustainable projects for [the Phuket founded] Banyan Tree's portfolio of properties, GPS will leverage on their expertise in project planning, development management, green technical advisory and engineering technology, while EC3 Global will contribute its expertise on engaged destination management, building and precinct planning and design standards, community and destination master planning and certification.

The Tianjin Eco-City Business Park is currently being developed as part of the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-City Start-up Area. SSTEC have commissioned HASSELL as the landscape architect for the overall business park and the landmark building within the business park. The landmark building will become a showcase project for the whole site, incorporating a range of sustainable design principles and strategies.

Singapore companies encouraged to explore sustainable construction

Companies in Singapore are strongly encouraged to explore sustainable construction in their building projects and to address resource efficiency issues.

Chief executive officer of the Building and Construction Authority Dr John Keong spoke about the government's commitment in providing funds for sustainable constructions at the 3rd International Holcim Awards for Asia Pacific.

Image via Wikipedia

Nowhere else in the world is the construction of eco-cities more prevalent than in Asia. With most of the world’s population living in urban areas for the first time in history, the race is on to design the perfect eco-city.

From India to Indonesia, China to Vietnam, new, sustainable and intelligent cities are being drawn up and built for the future needs of Asia’s fast-growing population.

Join us at the 3rd Annual Sustainable Cities 2011 in Singapore when city officials, property developers, leading urban planners, sustainability experts and green solutions providers will address the issues and provide case studies for a more liveable and sustainable existence.

Opportunities & challenges for sustainable luxury goods

Image by dtailed via Flickr

SINGAPORE : The luxury goods market is a fiercely competitive one, and for those brands looking to enter into the sustainable luxury goods market, there are business opportunities as well as big challenges.

Jujube Ecological Apparel Design, which designs apparel that is made 100 per cent from so called "eco fibres", was launched earlier this year.

However, growth has been flat. The company said a key challenge for the industry here in Asia is that it is just taking off.

Jujube Li, director, Jujube Ecological Apparel Design, said: "I think that eco fashion is only beginning to become more of a trend here in Singapore and Asia, whereas in North America and Europe there are already eco brands that have been established and have been performing very well since 10 years ago.

"So in terms of the local market, in terms of demand for our designs, most of it is coming from the local market because this is where we are based right now."

Image via Wikipedia

With increasing global attention being paid to issues of environmental protection and social responsibility, companies are beginning to issue sustainability reports.

According to estimates, the number is picking up and will involve some 3,000 companies worldwide this year.

Such reports allow investors to look beyond a company's standard financial reporting to their management of environmental and social matters.

In Europe, some analysts estimate that 17 per cent of investments are in sustainable-related funds, and in the US, they make up around 11 per cent.

Comparatively, the numbers in Asia are small. But experts say there are signs of growing investor interest in such funds.

Sharad Somani, executive director, Global Infrastructure & Projects, KPMG, said: "There are a lot of funds now which are socially responsible investors ...