Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Publication: Green Revenues for Green Energy: Environmental fiscal reform for renewable energy technology deployment in China ( Oct 2013)

IISD Publications Centre

Green Revenues for Green Energy: Environmental fiscal reform for renewable energy technology deployment in China

» Jacqueline Cottrell, Richard Bridle, Zhao Yongqiang, Shi Jingli, Xie Xuxuan, Christopher Beaton,Aaron Leopold, Eike Meyer, Shruti Sharma, Han Cheng, 2013.Paper
China’s economy continues to grow rapidly with corresponding increases in both energy consumption and environmental pollution. Renewable energy is a key part of China’s response to this challenge. The current costs of measures to facilitate the large-scale deployment of renewable energy are primarily met through an electricity surcharge—effectively a tax on electricity consumption. However, concerns have been raised that continuing to rely on the surcharge alone places a disproportionate burden on electricity consumers. In response, the need for further debate on how best to fund renewable energy and reduce environmental pollution was identified by the IISD and the CNREC, leading to the establishment of a research project to examine the international experience of similar schemes and their relevance to China. This report presents a summary for policy-makers of the findings of that research.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Hong Kong News: Garbage truck upgrades broached (25 Oct 2013)


Garbage truck upgrades broached
October 25, 2013
Secretary for the Environment KS Wong says the Government will table an amendment bill at the Legislative Council within this year, mandating that all garbage trucks be fully enclosed to use government refuse-disposal facilitates, and to endorse the subsidy scheme to retrofit the vehicles.

Speaking to the media after inspecting retrofitted fully enclosed garbage trucks at Island West Transfer Station in Kennedy Town today, Mr Wong said the whole nine month subsidy scheme, which he hopes to implement in January, will cost about $20 million.
 
The vehicles should have a fully enclosed tailgate cover as well as a wastewater sump tank. These features can enhance the environmental performance of the trucks and minimise environmental impact, he said.
 
There are about 530 garbage trucks in Hong Kong, and half have been fully enclosed so far.
 
In August, the Environmental Protection Department launched a pilot scheme to retrofit garbage trucks, and has received applications for 40 trucks to be retrofitted so far. The Electrical & Mechanical Services Department is providing technical support for the whole project.
 
Mr Wong called for Legislative Council and transport sector support to get the subsidy scheme launched in January.
 
“These refuse collection vehicles will enhance the overall environmental performance of refuse collection vehicles running around the whole territory, so is not only helping us to reduce the burden to the neighbourhood around the landfill, but also enhance the environmental performance or hygiene to the whole Hong Kong


Hong Kong News: Food Wise Hong Kong Campaign promotes food waste reduction at source in food and beverage industry (22 Oct 2013)

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     To encourage the food and beverage industry to reduce food waste at source, a briefing session for the food and beverage industry was held today (October 22) under the Food Wise Hong Kong (FWHK) Campaign in order to boost industry support for signing the Food Wise Charter as a pledge for adopting good practices in food premises to reduce food waste.

     The Acting Secretary for the Environment, Ms Christine Loh, said during the briefing session that the FWHK Campaign was launched in May this year to encourage the entire community, including the commercial and industrial sectors, individuals and households, to avoid and reduce food waste generation. The support and participation of the food and beverage industry is essential in achieving food waste reduction at source.

     About 100 representatives from the food and beverage industry attended the briefing session at Central Government Offices. During the briefing, representatives of signees of the Food Wise Charter shared their insights and results in adopting good practices to reduce food waste at food premises. Other representatives from the industry also discussed their experience in food waste management.

     The Food Wise Charter aims to encourage organisations to promote best practices and behavioural changes to reduce food waste. Participating organisations are committed to drawing up plans to promote the awareness and acceptance of food waste reduction best practices among stakeholders; implementing plans with measurable targets to reduce food waste in organisations and business settings; promoting and adopting recipes that make use of food trimmings; and supporting food donation activities whenever possible. More than 300 organisations have signed the Food Wise Charter to establish a green food culture and contribute to the FWHK Campaign.

     Representatives from the food and beverage industry are also welcome to participate in the FWHK Ambassador Scheme. The Ambassadors will be provided with food waste reduction workshop training in order to put into practice green measures in food premises and spread the FWHK message. Since the scheme has been rolled out, six workshops have been held and around 450 FWHK Ambassadors have received training.

     Ms Loh said the FWHK Campaign has been well received by the public and added that Big Waster, a character in the campaign who symbolises food wastage, has become well known. In order to further encourage public support and raise awareness of the campaign, a large-scale event will be held in December this year to review the work of the FWHK Steering Committee after its establishment for one year. The campaign will continue to raise public awareness of food waste reduction through various promotional and educational activities with a view to encouraging behavioural changes across all sectors.
Ends/Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:02
Photo Photo Photo

Book: Routledge International Handbook of Social and Environmental Change Edited by Stewart Lockie, David A. Sonnenfeld, Dana R. Fisher (30 Oct 2013)


Routledge International Handbook of Social and Environmental Change

Edited by Stewart LockieDavid A. SonnenfeldDana R. Fisher

Routledge – 2014 – 344 pages
Today, the risks associated with global environmental change and the dangers of extreme climatic and geological events remind us of humanity’s dependence on favourable environmental conditions. Our relationships with the landscapes and ecologies that we are a part of, the plants and animals that we share them with, and the natural resources that we extract, lie at the heart of contemporary social and political debates. It is no longer possible to understand key social scientific concerns without at the same time also understanding contemporary patterns of ecosystem change.
The Routledge International Handbook of Social and Environmental Change reviews the major ways in which social scientists are conceptualizing more integrated perspectives on society and nature, from the global to local levels. The chapters in this volume, by international experts from a variety of disciplines, explore the challenges, contradictions and consequences of social–ecological change, along with the uncertainties and governance dilemmas they create. The contributions are based around the themes of:
  • Climate change, energy, and adaptation
  • Urban environmental change and governance
  • Risk, uncertainty and social learning
  • (Re)assembling social-ecological systems
With case studies from sectors across both developed and developing worlds, the Handbookillustrates the inter-connectedness of ecosystem health, natural resource condition, livelihood security, social justice and development. It will be of interest for students and scholars across the social sciences and natural sciences, as well as to those interested and engaged in environmental policy at all levels.

Publication: Toward a Binding Climate Change Adaptation Regime A Proposed Framework by Mizan. R. Khan (30 Oct 2013)

Toward a Binding Climate Change Adaptation Regime

A Proposed Framework

By Mizan R. Khan

Routledge – 2014 – 260 pages
The impact of climate change is global both in its cause and its effect. Thus there is a global responsibility for international cooperation to tackle the causes through mitigation strategies such as those agreed at the Durban Platform of December 2011. This climate regime aims to define responsibilities, mechanisms, funding and compliance in order to achieve a clear objective regarding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Although tackling the causes of climate change through mitigation is necessary, it is also essential to examine the effect of climate change and what international cooperation can take place to ensure global adaptation measures. This pioneering book deals exclusively with the politics of why adaptation as a global responsibility continues to be ignored.
Scientific consensus is that the impacts of climate change are increasing, as evident from the greater frequency, intensity and magnitude of climate disasters in recent years. This book asks why anticipatory and planned measures for reducing vulnerability to the impacts of climate change should not be regarded as a global responsibility in the same way as mitigation. This discrimination is likely to continue unless the framing and legal basis of adaptation can be strengthened. It is with this aim in place that Professor Khan utilises his experience in academia and as a negotiator to analyse the politics surrounding this important issue. In this book the author sets out a framework for establishing a legally-binding adaptation regime under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, with the view to reducing the gap between the strategic focus on mitigation and adaptation. This is invaluable research for students researching climate change from a variety of disciplinary perspectives, including the politics, law and economics of the issue.

Vietnam Update: ASEAN urges more eco-system protection (8 Oct 2013)


ASEAN urges more eco-system protection Thứ ba, ngày 08 tháng 10 năm 2013 cập nhật lúc 15:49
ASEAN has called for more protection to be offered to critical ecosystems in the region in the face of increasing environmental fears.
The appeal was made at the fourth ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) Conference in Tagaytay city, the Philippines, which ran from October 1-4.

Over 300 delegates from all ten ASEAN member countries joined representatives of regional and international ASEAN has called for more protection to be offered to critical ecosystems in the region in the face of increasing environmental fears.
The appeal was made at the fourth ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHP) Conference in Tagaytay city, the Philippines, which ran from October 1-4.
Over 300 delegates from all ten ASEAN member countries joined representatives of regional and international organisations to discuss strategies improving the management of the AHP network and other protected reserves.
The fourth conference was part of ASEAN efforts to prevent environmental degradation while implementing protective measures in areas of high conservation.

ASEAN countries, which together house more than 1,300 protected reserves, have joined international efforts to improve the management of the reserves, especially the ASEAN Heritage Parks.

source from :

Event: 2nd Regional Forum for Waste Charging Scheme in Hong Kong (31 Oct 2013)


可持續發展委員會 Council for Sustainable Development


2nd Regional Forum - Kowloon East

Date: 31 October 2013 (Thur) 7:00PM

Venue: Sai Tso Wan Neighborhood Community Centre

Address: 81 Cha Kwo Ling Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon


Monday, October 28, 2013

Event: BEC Eco Expo (28-31 Oct 2013)


Hong Kong Cleanup 2013

vent Date: 28 Oct - 31 Oct 2013
Venue: AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau, Hong Kong Contact: Ms Vanessa Tung Email: vanessa.sy.tung@hktdc.org
- See more at: http://bec.org.hk/events-current/eco-expo-asia-2013#sthash.zerKdaDX.dpuf

for more information : http://bec.org.hk/events-current/hong-kong-cleanup-2013

Hong Kong news: New regulation to phase out pre-Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles (23 Oct 2012)


     A spokesman for the Environmental Protection Department said that the Regulation is required to take forward the proposal to phase out some 80 000 pre-Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles including diesel goods vehicles, non-franchised buses and light buses using an incentive-cum-regulatory approach, with the aim of improving roadside air quality and better protecting public health. Under the proposal, the Government will offer eligible vehicle owners an ex-gratia payment ranging from 27 per cent to 33 per cent of the average taxable value of comparable new vehicles.

     "The Regulation will stipulate retirement deadlines for pre-Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles with reference to their respective dates of first registration, namely January 1, 2016, for the most polluting pre-Euro diesel commercial vehicles, and January 1, 2017; January 1, 2018; and January 1, 2020, for Euro I, II and III vehicles respectively. The Regulation also sets a service-life limit of 15 years for diesel commercial vehicles first registered after the commencement of the Regulation to enable timely replacement of diesel commercial vehicles in the long run for better roadside air quality," he said. 

     "To reduce the number of polluting diesel commercial vehicles, the Regulation requires the owners of the vehicles concerned to, on each licence application from the respective retirement deadlines or from their 15th anniversary date of first registration, as the case may be, comply with the emission standards applicable to them as if they were first registered on the date of the vehicle licence application. Failure to comply with the requirement may offer grounds for the Commissioner for Transport to refuse to license the vehicles," he added.

     Phasing out pre-Euro IV polluting diesel commercial vehicles can reduce vehicular emissions of respirable suspended particulates and nitrogen oxides by 80 per cent and 30 per cent respectively. As well as contributing towards the attainment of the new Air Quality Objectives that will take effect in 2014, the reduction can also reduce by half the cancer risk associated with exposure to diesel engine exhaust fumes.

     The Regulation will be tabled in the Legislative Council for negative vetting on October 30. Subject to the approval of the Council, the Regulation will take effect on February 1, 2014. After the passage of the Regulation, the Government will seek funding approval from the Finance Committee for the ex-gratia payments as soon as possible with a view to implementing the scheme in the first quarter of 2014. Details of the ex-gratia payment scheme will be sent to the registered owners of pre-Euro IV diesel commercial vehicles before its commencement.
Ends/Friday, October 25, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:28

source from: http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/tc_chi/news_events/press/press.html

Book" Water Security:Principles, Perspectives and Practices (15 Oct 2013)

Water Security
Principles, Perspectives and Practices
Edited by Bruce Lankford, Karen Bakker, Mark Zeitoun, Declan Conway

Routledge – 2013 – 376 pages

The purpose of this book is to present an overview of the latest research, policy, practitioner, academic and international thinking on water security—an issue that, like water governance a few years ago, has developed much policy awareness and momentum with a wide range of stakeholders. As a concept it is open to multiple interpretations, and the authors here set out the various approaches to the topic from different perspectives.
Key themes addressed include:
  • Water security as a foreign policy issue
  • The interconnected variables of water, food, and human security
  • Dimensions other than military and international relations concerns around water security
  • Water security theory and methods, tools and audits.
The book is loosely based on a masters level degree plus a short professional course on water security both given at the University of East Anglia, delivered by international authorities on their subjects. It should serve as an introductory textbook as well as be of value to professionals, NGOs, and policy-makers.

World Update: EU Over-Delivered on Kyoto Commitments: EEA Assessments (9 Oct 2013)


EU Over-Delivered on Kyoto Commitments: EEA Assessments
EEA



9 October 2013: Two assessments by the European Environment Agency (EEA) indicate that the EU is on track to meet its common targets for greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reductions, renewable energy and energy efficiency. The assessments show that all member States are on track in at least one target area, although no member State is on track to meet all three.

The first assessment, ‘Trends and Projections in Europe 2013: Tracking Progress towards Europe's Climate and Energy Targets until 2020,' concludes that the EU reduced GHG emissions between 2008 and 2012 by 12.2%, beyond the 8% target required under the Kyoto Protocol. The assessment further finds that the EU is on track to achieve GHG reductions of 21% by 2020, beyond the 20% required by its 2020 target. On renewable energy, the assessment notes that 13% of EU final energy consumption came from renewable sources in 2011, on the way to a 2020 target of 20%.

The second assessment, ‘Approximated EU GHG Inventory: Early Estimates for 2012,' offers the first comprehensive assessment of EU performance for the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, which called for collective reductions of 8% from 2008 to 2012. The assessment finds that the 15 member States of the EU with a common commitment over-performed the 8% target, achieving a collective reduction of 12.2%.

In light of these findings, Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action, remarked, "The EU is clearly delivering on its Kyoto commitments. The EU has reduced its emissions significantly since 1990 while expanding its economy. This further demonstrates that climate policy can be implemented in a way that fosters jobs and growth.” [EEA Press Release] [European Commission Press Release] [Publication: Trends and Projections in Europe 2013


Sunday, October 27, 2013

Vietnam Update: Turning scrap into cash: still a long way to go (14 Oct 2013)


Turning scrap into cash: still a long way to goThứ hai, ngày 14 tháng 10 năm 2013 cập nhật lúc 09:26
In many countries, scrap recycling brings about high economic efficiency, while reducing environmental pollution. Meanwhile in Vietnam, although HCM city has implemented waste sorting at source since 1999, the process is still not as successful as expected.
Looking into world experience as a reference


According to the US-based Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), each year the scrap-recycling industry in the U.S. contributes over $ 90 billion to its national economy, accounting for 0.6% of the GDP and creating nearly 460,000 jobs.
According to the UN , Brazil is the country with the largest e-waste volume among emerging markets. An average Brizillian disposes of 96,000 tons of computers, 17,000 tons of printers and 2,200 tons of mobile phones each year. For metal parts, they either recycle or transform into raw materials. The boards may be fixed, refurbished and exported to Japan. Those types containing chemicals or dangerous acids go through treatment to prevent harmful effects to the environment. In Japan, recycling and re-use of waste are always encouraged through tax incentives and preferential financial policies. Waste sorting is required of all citizens. The environment agencies would come to have collect the classified waste and transfer it to waste treatment plants.
Some countries such as Thailand and Singapore are able to save as much as 50% - 55% of materials such as paper, plastics and heavy metals, etc each year, thanks to the adoption of suitable recycling methods.

Reflection on domestic situation
In Vietnam, waste sorting at source was piloted from 1999 to 2001 in HCM city. At that time the city had not built a synchronous system of solid waste management, so after coming out from families, the already-classified waste was dumped into a miscellaneous pool. This was why the program failed. In 2001 , the city continued to implement waste sorting at source for 6 districts, including Districts 1 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 10 and Cu Chi suburban district, with a total budget of about 284 billion VND. Unfortunately, the 2nd project was again unsuccessful because the district could not afford to equip themselves with garbage trucks to carry the classified waste. By 2010, Da Phuoc, a well-equipped solid waste treatment complex, each day received and provided safe treatment for 3,000 tons of garbage from the whole city. Here, Vietnam Solid Waste Treatment (VWS ), Ltd., invested in a waste recycling sorting plant, worth of more than $ 10 million; and a compost fertilizer plant, worth of more than $ 7 million . It is expected that in early 2014, a plant designed to produce electricity from gas extracted from the sanitary waste burial site in the complex, with a capacity of 12MW, would come into operation . These works received positive comments from the leaders of related governing bodies, in terms of infrastructure, waste treatment technology and waste quality. However, after 3 years since the recycling and sorting plant of VWS company was completed, the program has stayed dormant because there is no waste sorted at source  for the plant to operate. Not only does the failure in waste sorting at source cause financial damage to VWS but it is also a waste of resources because everday the waste is still being taken to waste burial sites.
In Vietnam, waste sorting at source has been piloted for approximately 10 years, but we are just in the initial phase in comparison with many countries. In America, in order that the people acquire the habit to carry out waste sorting at source, the government had to propagate it for 50 years .
According to statistics of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Hanoi and HCM City alone annually generates about 30,000 tonnes of waste, including household waste, industrial waste and medical waste. Among this, as much as 50 % - 70 % contain those compounds that can be recycled and or used to create new sources of energy, but only about 10 % is recycled and reused. Therefore, if we are able to utilize this amount of waste, it is likely to become a huge resource in the future.

Hoang Son

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Book: World Energy Outlook 2013 (12 NOV, 2013)

More info about this title
World Energy Outlook 2013 -- TO BE RELEASED ON 12 NOVEMBER 2013, 600 pages, ISBN 978-92-64-20130-9, paper €135, PDF €108 (2013)
Type: Studies
Subject: Climate Change ; Energy Policy ; Energy Projections ; Non-OECD Countries ; Oil
Take advantage of the above special pre-sale 10% reduction, which is valid until 12 November 2013.
The 10% pre-order discount is already included in the price on this page (135€ instead of 150€ for the paper copy). After 12 November, this publication will be sold at its regular cover price of €150 per paper copy and €120 for a PDF-1 user. 


Special discounts:
- 30% discount for universities and non-profit organisations
- 50% discount for clients based in low income and lower middle income countries For your special discount to be set up please click on ASK FOR A DISCOUNT and follow the procedure. Please do not place your order before receiving your confirmation e-mail.

Please note that we also offer the "corporate/institutional package" and the "global corporate/institutional package" which are the options to make the PDF version of the book available to all employees. For more information, please contact us at weo@iea.org.


In a world where big differences in regional energy prices impact competitiveness, who are the potential winners and losers?

Huge volumes of oil are needed to meet growing demand and offset declines in existing fields. Where will it all come from?

What could trigger a rapid convergence in natural gas prices between Asia, Europe and North America, and how would it affect energy markets?

Is the growth in renewable energy self-sustaining and is it sufficient to put us on track to meet global climate goals?

How much progress is being made in phasing out fossil-fuel subsidies and expanding access to modern energy services to the world’s poor?

The answers to these and many other questions are found in WEO-2013, which covers the prospects for all energy sources, regions and sectors to 2035. Oil is analysed in-depth: resources, production, demand, refining and international trade. Energy efficiency – a major factor in the global energy balance – is treated in much the same way as conventional fuels: Its prospects and contribution are presented in a dedicated chapter. And the report examines the outlook for Brazil’s energy sector in detail and the implications for the global energy landscape

Friday, October 25, 2013

Indonesia Update: Pulp and paper giant gets $1.8B loan from China for Indonesia's largest mill (11 Oct 2013)

mongabay.com logo

Pulp and paper giant gets $1.8B loan from China for Indonesia's largest mill


October 11, 2013


Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) secured a $1.8 billion loan from China Development Bank (CDB) to finance the development of what will be Indonesia's large pulp mill, according to a statement released by the company. 

The total cost of the new mill, located in South Sumatra and run by APP affiliate OKI Pulp & Paper Mills, will be $2.6 billion. It will will have an annual capacity of 2 million metric tons of pulp and 500,000 tons of tissue paper, potentially South Sumatra's pulp production by 36 percent. 

The OKI mill will be subject to APP's forest conservation policy, which prohibits the use of fiber sourced by clearing of natural forests and peatlands and requires the company and its affiliates to employ the concept of "free prior informed consent" (FPIC) in dealing with local communities. APP established the "zero deforestation" policy this past February after a long-running campaign by environmental groups over its damaging forestry practices, which NGOs said destroyed vast areas of rainforest, triggered social conflict, and put critically endangered species at risk. 

source from :http://news.mongabay.com/2013/1011-app-oki-pulp-mill.html

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Indonesia Update: Asia’s first Rhino Range States meeting secures government-level agreement to bolster conservation efforts (4 Oct 2013)

Camera traps produce first ever hard evidence of Sumatran rhino population in Kalimantan forests

WWFPosted on 02 October 2013  

Lampung (2/10) – Using video camera traps, a joint research team that included members from WWF-Indonesia and the district authorities of Kutai Barat, East Kalimantan, have captured video of the Sumatran rhino in East Kalimantan. The footage of the rhinos --- the rare Dicerorhinus sumatrensis --- is the fruit of three months of research that collected footage from 16 video camera traps. The team is delighted to have secured the first known visual evidence of the Sumatran rhino in Kalimantan.

“This physical evidence is very important, as it forms the basis to develop and implement more comprehensive conservation efforts for the Indonesian rhinoceros,” said Forestry Minister Zulkifli Hasan upon unveiling the video at the opening of the Asian Rhino Range States Ministrial Meeting in Lampung, Sumatra. “This finding represents the hard work of many parties, and will hopefully contribute to achieving Indonesia's target of three percent per year rhino population growth.” He emphasized that all parties need to immediately begin working together to develop a scientific estimate of all the remaining Sumatran rhino populations in Kalimantan, and to implement measures to conserve the species --- particularly by strengthening the protection and security of the rhinos and their habitats.

The remarkable evidence from the camera traps includes footage of  a rhino wallowing in the mud to keep its body temperature cool and a rhino walking in search of food.  The rhino footage, captured on June 23, June 30 and August 3, is believed to show different rhinos although confirmation of this will require further study.

Nazir Foead, Conservation Director of WWF-Indonesia, said, “To ensure the protection of the species, a joint monitoring team from the Kutai Barat administration, Rhino Protection Unit, and WWF have been conducting regular patrols around the area.  WWF calls on all parties, in Indonesia and around the world, to immediately join the effort to conserve the Indonesian rhinoceros”.

Commenting on the findings, the district head of West Kutai, Ismael Thomas SH. M. Si., noted “The local administration is fully supporting these conservation activities in West Kutai. We are drafting further laws to protect endangered animals --- including these rhinos.” 

The Asian Rhino Range States Ministrial Meeting is taking place in Lampung 2-3 October 2013, with participation of goverment representation from Bhutan, Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and Nepal.


Note for Editor :
  
The camera trap VIDEOS can be download at http://bit.ly/18EBb1a with © WWF-Indonesia/PHKA as copyright.

More info, please contact:
Sumarto, Head of Public Relation, Indonesia Ministry of Forestry

Email: sumarto.suharno@gmail.com 

Diah R. Sulistiowati, Communication Coordinator for Forest & Terrestrial Species Program WWF-Indonesia
Email: dsulistiowati@wwf.or.id,  Mobile: +62-811-100-4397



Event: 2013 Eco Expo Asia (28 Oct- 31 Oct 2013 )

Environmental Campaign Committee - Latest News




2013 Hong Kong Expo

The Hong Kong Awards for Environmental Excellence (HKAEE) scheme is one of the exhibitors at Eco Expo Asia this year, which will be held from 28 Oct (Monday) to 31 Oct 2013 (Thursday).  Eco Expo Asia is a leading trade fair for environmental protection products, services and technologies.  The HKAEE pavilion will be set up in Hall 3 (Booth No. 3-C02) to feature the HKAEE scheme, awardees' green achievements and products.

Activity Highlights
Productwi$e Label awardees will display their green products;
The 2012 Green Innovations Awards winners will have on-site promotion to showcase their products.

Fair Details

Venue:
Hall 3, AsiaWorld-Expo, Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau, Hong Kong (Booth No.: 3-C02)

Admission:
28-30 Oct: Free admission to trade visitors aged 18 or above.
31 Oct: Free admission to all visitors.

How to Go:
Recommended means of transport is available here
For enquiries, please call HKAEE hotline, at (852) 2788 5903 or visit the website of Eco Expo Asia.

more information: http://www.ecc.org.hk/english/hk_awards/hk_awards.php?id=105

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Publication: Biofuels - At What Cost? A review of costs and benefits of U.K. biofuel policies (13 Oct 2013)

Biofuels - At What Cost? A review of costs and benefits of U.K. biofuel policies

» Christopher Charles, Richard BridleTom Moerenhout, IISD, 2013.Paper, 51 pages, copyright: IISD
This report evaluates some of the principal issues associated with the U.K.'s biofuel industry, including support policies, employment creation, emissions abatement, and the role of biofuels and other renewable technologies in meeting EU renewable energy targets. It assesses the costs and benefits of the U.K.’s policies in meeting the objectives that EU member states have set out to achieve, including increased energy security, improvements in environmental performance and the generation of additional economic value. The report finds:

China Update: Beijing to replace coal-burning power plants (5 Oct 2013)


Beijing to replace coal-burning power plants

Beijing will build four power centers by the end of 2014 to replace coal with natural gas in heating and power generation, municipal authorities said Saturday.

Construction of the centers is part of the city's efforts to optimize energy mix and reduce emissions, according to officials with the Beijing Municipal Commission of Development and Reform.

With investment of 47.7 billion yuan (7.79 billion U.S. dollars), the four power centers and 40 other related utility projects will reduce sulfur dioxide by 10,000 tonnes, provide heating for 100 million square meters and generate 7.2 million kilowatts of electricity through natural gas.

These services have so far been powered by four coal-fired power plants, which burned 9.2 million tonnes of coal in 2012, or 40 percent of the 23 million tonnes Beijing consumed in the same period. They will be shut down once the new power centers start operation.

Heavy smog shrouded Beijing's sky during the seven-day National Day Holiday, prompting concern about worsening air pollution in the nation's capital. Coal burning accounts for 16.7 percent of airborne particles measuring less than 2.5 microns, or PM 2.5, that is blamed for the smog.

In a recently published action plan on cleaning Beijing's air, municipal authorities vowed to slash coal consumption by 1.3 million tonnes by 2017. 

source from :

Publication: Performance and Environmental Emissions of a Gasoline Spark Ignition Engine (22 Oct 2013)






Performance and Environmental Emissions of a Gasoline Spark Ignition Engine





Mehrnoosh Dashti, Ali Asghar Hamidi, Ali Asghar Mozafaric, 2013. Study of Performance and Environmental Emissions of a Gasoline Spark Ignition Engine. International Journal of Sustainable Future for Human Security, 1(1), pp.8–14.Keywords: Engine, Gasoline, Simulation, Performance, Emission

for more information: http://www.j-sustain.com/files/pub/file/Vol1(1)2013/J-SustaiN_Vol1_No1_8-14.pdf

Monday, October 21, 2013

Hong Kong Update: 百佳、惠康等7大超市蔬果包裝率至少達70%,過度包裝問題嚴重 (10 Oct 2013)

百佳、惠康等7大超市蔬果包裝率至少達70%,過度包裝問題嚴重

 

綠領行動於今年7月,派員巡查全港各區8大超市,調查蔬果包裝情況,其中包括:AEON、Taste、city'super、一田百貨、惠康超級市場、華潤萬家超級市場、百佳超級市場及佳寶食品超級市場;巡查地區涵蓋長沙灣、旺角、觀塘、大埔、灣仔及屯門;主要針對10種常見蔬果,包括:芒果、木瓜、番茄、香蕉、蘋果、青瓜、龍眼、薯仔、生菜及檸檬。就調查中的10大蔬果而言,8大超市均有不同程度的蔬果過度包裝問題。表現最佳的佳寶食品超級市場於8個樣本裡面只有2個樣本有包裝;而百佳、惠康等超市的蔬果包裝率至少達70%。其中一田百貨的蔬果包裝率高達100%,可謂「逢果必包」,嚴重「濫膠」;city'super則以95%的蔬果包裝率緊隨其後。city'super及AEON均出現同一種蔬果部份沒有包裝的情況,令人質疑包裝的標準。詳細情況請參閱新聞稿。

下載新聞稿
下載發佈會簡報

source from: http://www.greeners-action.org/modules/AMS/article.php?storyid=381

Publication: Biofuels At What Cost? A review of costs and benefits of Spain's biofuel policies (13 Oct 2013)

IISD Publications Centre

Biofuels At What Cost? A review of costs and benefits of Spain's biofuel policies

» Christopher Charles, Alicia Natalia Zamudio TrigoTom Moerenhout, 2013.Paper, 60 pages
This report evaluates some of the principal issues associated with Spain’s biofuels industry, support policies, employment creation, emission abatement and the role of biofuels and other renewable transport technologies in meeting EU renewable energy targets. The report assesses the costs and benefits of Spain’s policies in meeting the objectives that EU member states have set out to achieve—increased energy security, improvements in environmental performance and the generation of additional economic value. The report finds:
  1. Support to Spain’s biofuel industry in 2011 was estimated at between €213 million and €237 million for ethanol and from €955 million to €1,002 million for biodiesel.
  2. 2011 carbon abatement costs for ethanol were €488 per tonne CO2 avoided and €194 per tonne for non-land based biodiesel. Conventional biodiesel was responsible for net emissions increases and no abatement cost can be calculated.
  3. There is a wide range for the number of direct and indirect jobs created by the Spanish biofuels sector estimated at between 3,797 and 12,055 in 2011. Job estimates are based on a variety of job-counting approaches used in measuring biofuel and renewable energy jobs reflecting the challenges in assessing the numbers and quality of sectorial jobs.
  4. More than 75 per cent of biodiesel consumed in Spain was imported in 2011. Around 95 per cent of biodiesel feedstock was imported with 90 per cent coming from Argentinian soy and Indonesian palm oil. Spain also imported 73 per cent of the feedstock used in ethanol production eroding energy security benefits due to a high reliance on foreign imports.
A number of policy recommendations are provided to promote the sustainability and effectiveness of Spain’s biofuel policies.

China Update: Beijing targets polluting cars to clean up air (9 Oct 2013)

Welcome to Beijing.

The slogan used to greet visitors during the 2008 Olympics lost some of its luster if you traveled to the capital in the last few days of the National Day holiday.

From Thursday to Sunday, the city was shrouded in the heaviest smog in months, and neighboring Tianjin municipality and Hebei province were no exception.

On Monday, cold air pushed the smog southward to central and southern parts of North China, as the National Meteorological Center continued issuing a smog warning for the region.

"It's completely different from the golden autumn that I had expected in Beijing," said Wang Zhidong, a 37-year-old tourist from Tianjin who visited the capital during the holiday.

The pollution also reduced visibility, causing traffic congestion on expressways and flight delays.

The Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau said high humidity and lack of wind were the major reasons for the haze.

Yu Jianhua, who is in charge of air pollution management at the bureau, said the size of the city and the fact that it is ringed on three sides by mountains has made it hard to disperse pollutants.

Beijing has been hit frequently by smog in recent years. The city had 14 smoggy days from Sept 1 to 28, about 10 more than the average in the same period for the past 20 years, according to the China Meteorological Administration.

Pollutants emitted by cars are the major cause of the smog. Coal consumption in neighboring regions and dust from construction sites also contribute, according to the Beijing Environmental Protection Bureau.

Car emissions have become a major source for air pollution in big cities, accounting for 58 percent of the nitrogen oxide, 40 percent of the volatile organic compounds and 22 percent of fine particles in Beijing's air, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

To tackle pollution caused by vehicles, a senior ministry official has suggested the government collect a fee from heavy-polluting vehicle owners, rather than giving out subsidies to phase out such vehicles.

"It is questionable issuing subsidies to the polluters by using money collected from everyone through taxes, which is against the basic concept of ‘holding those who cause pollution responsible for clearing it up' in environmental protection," said Ding Yan, deputy head of the ministry's vehicle emission control center.

As many as 15 million yellow-label cars — those that do not meet the phase 1 emission standards — will be removed from the roads nationwide by 2017, according to the Airborne Pollution Prevention and Control Action Plan (2013-17) unveiled by the central government last month.

Pollutants emitted by one yellow-label car equal the amount from 28 vehicles meeting phase 4 emission standards. They account for about 10 percent of the vehicles being used yet discharge 50 percent of the pollutants coming from automobiles, according to the ministry.

But removing them from the streets is no easy task. Policies in the past almost all saw subsidies from local governments to encourage yellow-label car owners to abandon the old cars.

Ding said the most rational move is to collect fees from yellow-label car owners, and use the fees to accelerate the upgrade of emission standards.

The plan also requires major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou to strictly control the number of vehicles.

China has been the world's top automobile producer and seller for four consecutive years. During that period, the number of light motor vehicles has grown 20 percent every year, reaching 82 million at the end of 2011.

The total number of motor vehicles in China will reach 590 million by 2050, according to research by Tsinghua University.

"To ‘strictly control' does not mean to stop developing the industry, just a restriction to the pace," said Ding, adding that Beijing's annual growth in the number of vehicles was reduced from 800,000 to about 200,000, after the local government started to restrict the issuing of license plates.

The capital vows to keep the number of private cars to less than 6 million by the end of 2017, as compared with more than 5.2 million in early 2013.

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