Sustainability: Asia

Showing posts with label Asia. 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.

sustainable.onbeon.com/2015/03/the-symposium-on-water-sanitation-and.html

“When the well’s dry, we know the worth of water” penned Benjamin Franklin over 250 years ago to not only underscore the essence of water for life but also to portend the horrors of its absence. Water, declared a basic human right essential to the enjoyment of life and all other human rights by the UN, is inextricably linked to a nation’s health, economy and environment, yet today over 780 million people lack access to clean water and nearly 1.9 billion lack adequate sanitation. The stark contrast between developed and developing nations amplifies the current water and sanitation crisis. Multiple factors, most notably poverty, inequality and unequal power relationships, place developing regions like sub-Saharan Africa and Southern and Eastern Asia in a struggle for survival. Furthermore, social and environmental challenges like rapid urbanization, climate change, increasing agriculture water consumption, rising pollution levels, and the depletion of water, exacerbate the problem and intensify the competition for available water.

sustainable.onbeon.com/2014/12/the-second-asian-conference-on.html

ACES 2015 will be held at the Mitsui Garden Hotel Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan, February 1-3, 2015.

Today’s sustainability challenges require a holistic perspective that embraces the critical relationship between the classroom and community service. This is evidence as human communities as well as their diverse biological and cultural heritage are increasingly threatened by mounting environmental and societal problems from climate change and exploitation of finite resources to the inequities and human costs of unsustainable practices and technologies.

2014 Conference Theme: “Individual, Community & Society: Conflict, Resolution & Synergy”

Conflict from earliest times has been a characteristic of the human condition. The struggle between our individual selves and our social selves arises from what makes us unique on the one hand, being challenged by our being part of an interdependent structure of relationships on the other.

Twenty five years ago, the Brundtland report – formally titled “Our Common Future” – launched the concept of sustainable development as “the process of change in which the exploitation of resources, the direction of investments, the orientation of technological development, and institutional change are all in harmony and enhance both current and future potential to meet human needs and aspirations.” At the heart of the concept of sustainable development lie two interrelated challenges: how to address our growth needs, in particular those of the developing countries, given the limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on our ability to meet present and future needs.

Ecobuild India 2013 - an international sustainability conference and exhibition programme at the Bombay Exhibition Centre from April 16-18, 2013,

Ecobuild India 2013 is an event for sustainable design and construction in the built environment. It will bring together a wealth of top sustainability experts to debate and share their unique perspective on the agenda for India's sustainable future and the hot issues in the built environment.

The University of Maziar, in collaboration with Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHTO) organize "The 1st International Conference on Sustainable Tourism of Caspian Sea Coastlines: Opportunities and Challenges" in light of the increasing importance of developing more responsible and sustainable tourism in the Caspian sea coastlines.

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.

image via Wikipedia

For social entrepreneur Joe Oliver, showing the world you are environmentally conscious is not just about symbolic gestures like saving trees. When it comes to a sustainable lifestyle, "people always talk the talk, but do not always walk the walk", Oliver says. Oliver, 28, can fall neatly into the category of young idealist trying to save the world. He believes he can help individuals and companies to "walk the walk" - and he is trying to do that from East and West.

PM to inaugurate Delhi Sustainable Development Summit

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the Delhi Sustainable Development Summit, being organised by The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI), on February 2. Finnish President Tarja Halonen, President of Seychelles James Alix Michel and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger will attend the conference, TERI officials said. Nobel laureates Prof Paul J Crutzen and Dr Elinor Ostrom will also address the conference, organisers said. "Protecting The Global Commons: 20 Years Post Rio" is the theme for this year's DSDS to be attended by decision makers from governments, corporates, NGOs, bilateral organisations, academia and research institutions.

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If the recent global financial crisis marks the beginning of the end of modern capitalism. It is a curious question, because it seems to presume that there is a viable replacement waiting in the wings. The truth of the matter is that, for now at least, the only serious alternatives to today’s dominant Anglo-American paradigm are other forms of capitalism.

China Insurance Building (中国保险大厦), Shanghai

Image by thewamphyri via Flickr

At present, unbalanced, inconsistent and unsustainable development factors persist in China's foreign trade. They are manifested in the following ways: Export growth mainly relies on the input and consumption of resources, energy, land, manpower, environment, etc, while the input of science and technology, management, innovation and other factors are insufficient, resulting in an ever more conspicuous contradiction between foreign trade development and the constraint on resource supply and environmental carrying capacity;

Logistics, customs and corporate supply chain experts attending the closing ceremony of the 2nd Annual Global Logistics Forum held at Park Rotana Hotel in Abu Dhabi recently, have unanimously agreed on the importance of employing sustainable and green practices in logistics operations throughout the region.

sustainable.onbeon.com/2011/12/semiconductor-manufa-smic-added-to-hang.html

SMIC has been selected as a constituent company of the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Benchmark Index.

The Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index Series was launched in July 2010 to provide a benchmark for sustainability-focused investment. Companies must demonstrate a high standard of performance in environmental, social and corporate governance in order to be added to the Benchmark Index, which currently has 68 constituents. These factors are assessed by an independent sustainability advisory firm, ensuring that the series is objective, reliable, and of high investability.

SMIC's inclusion in the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Benchmark Index demonstrates its adherence to the highest levels of sustainability in environmental, social, governance, and workplace practices. SMIC will continue to implement robust governance and compliance systems across all aspects of its operations, and pursue its longstanding commitment to sustainable development, environmental health and safety, and corporate social responsibility.

About SMIC

Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation ("SMIC"; NYSE: SMI; SEHK: 981) is one of the leading semiconductor foundries in the world and the largest and most advanced foundry in mainland China, providing integrated circuit (IC) foundry and technology services at 0.35-micron to 40-nanometer. Headquartered in Shanghai, China, SMIC has a 300mm wafer fabrication facility (fab) and a 200mm mega-fab in Shanghai, a 300mm mega-fab in Beijing, a 200mm fab in Tianjin, and a 200mm fab project under development in Shenzhen. SMIC also has customer service and marketing offices in the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Taiwan, and a representative office in Hong Kong.

Corporate Social Responsibility

SMIC works hard to foster Trust, care for People, and protect the Environment.
They are committed to protect the interests of many stakeholders, from employees and neighbors, to customers, partners, and investors worldwide. SMIC work in these areas is the way of building a more harmonious society.

Responsibility is at the heart of SMIC culture.

The commitment to responsibility is seen in products, which are made with advanced technologies that require the trust of our partners and governments worldwide. The company was established with a focus on people and community, and the results can be seen at all SMIC sites, where have been built residential communities with comfortable homes and leading private schools.

Responsibility is at the center of SMIC institutions.

Commitment to corporate social responsibility is embraced by top executives. Leaders of key functions form CSR Committee, which coordinates practices concerning legal compliance and care for people and the environment. By institutionalizing CSR at SMIC, they ensure that SMIC practices are aligned with the best in the industry.

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.

Global warming and a consciousness to preserve the eco system have made ‘Sustainable Development’ a key focus area for governments and companies. Carbon emissions per capita are lower for India compared to many other countries but in absolute numbers, we are among the largest carbon emitters in the world. Economic growth will further increase these numbers and there will be tremendous pressure on us in the future to reduce our carbon footprint.

Downtown Ho Chi Minh City seen from Saigon River

Image via Wikipedia

Ho Chi Minh City plans to invest around VND1.4 trillion (US$70 million) in bio-technology during the period 2010-2015, with 89 percent of the amount or VND1.2 trillion coming from state budget.

This was announced at the ‘2nd National Biotechnology Conference in Southern Vietnam’, held in Ho Chi Minh City last week.

The United Nations Development Group (UNDG) called today for governments to work together to reduce inequality and support sustainable development ahead of the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in the Republic of Korea next week.

In a statement, the group cited the global economic crisis, the devastating floods in various countries, and the millions of people in need of humanitarian assistance as urgent calls for decisive action in the forum, to be held in the city of Busan.

“The operating principle for an East Asian community needs to be sustainable development.”

The 2011 Asia Future Forum (AFF) wrapped up Wednesday with this proposal of five tasks for the future.

Image via Wikipedia

Stock exchanges in China are taking corporate sustainability more seriously than ever before.
Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index Series Expands with Two New Benchmark Indexes
Hang Seng Indexes Company Limited announced on August 3^rd, 2011, that it will expand the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Index Series by adding two new benchmark indexes: the Hang Seng Corporate Sustainability Benchmark Index (“HSSUSB”) and the Hang Seng (China A) Corporate Sustainability Benchmark Index (“HSCASUSB”).