The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development (IMCSD) recently announced Singapore’s vision and initiatives for sustainable development, and is seeking public feedback and suggestions. The IMCSD is studying ways to be more sustainable in the way we Work, Commute, Live and Play. Visit the Sustainable Singapore website to find out more and give your feedback or suggestions.

In response to the call for green ideas, we came up with 20 suggestions that would help Singapore to be more sustainable. The 20 suggestions involve the following categories:

• Reduce Energy and Carbon Emissions
• Redesign, Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Waste
• Reduce Water Demand and Pollution
• Sustainable Transportation
• Sustainable Food, Materials and Products
• Protecting Natural Habitats and Biodiversity
• Greener Companies and Businesses

The 20 suggestions are compiled in a report and sent to the IMCSD Secretariat. To read the full report, download it from Green Business Times.

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Gary Hirshberg is the CE-Yo of Stonyfield Farm, which is the largest organic yogurt manufacturer in the world. In his book, he describes how his company incorporates environmental principals and embraces sustainability, while making money at the same time. He also shares similar environmental efforts by other companies such as Whole Foods, Timberland, Wal-Mart, Patagonia, Seventh Generation, Honest Tea and Terracycle. He shows that it is possible to go green, save money and increase profits.

Borrow it from your local library or buy it from our AsiaIsGreen Bookstore.

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ASEAN leaders signed the ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Sustainability yesterday at the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore. The Declaration signifies ASEAN member countries’ concern of the environment and climate change, and the need to ensure environmental sustainability while pursuing economic development. The leaders pledged to address issues on environmental protection and management, responding to climate change, and conservation of natural resources. Some key issues that the leaders declared:

Combating Haze Pollution 

To implement measures and enhance international and regional cooperation to combat transboundary environmental pollution, including haze pollution, through, among other things, capacity building, enhancing public awareness, strengthening law enforcement, promoting environmentally sustainable practices, as well as combating illegal logging and its associated illegal trade;

Improving Water Access and Living Conditions 

To endeavour to reduce by half of the number of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water by 2010 in accordance with the VAP to meet the needs of ASEAN citizens, and significant improvement in the lives of slum dwellers by 2020 in ASEAN Member Countries in accordance with the UN MDGs;

Promoting Renewable and Nuclear Energy 

To take concrete measures to promote the use of renewable and alternative energy sources such as solar, hydro, wind, tide, biomass, biofuels and geothermal energy, as well as, for interested parties, civilian nuclear power, while ensuring safety and safeguards that are of current international standards, and environmental sustainability throughout the full life cycle of production and use;

Protecting Biodiversity and Forests

To achieve by 2010, a significant reduction in the current rate of loss of biodiversity, as pledged by countries at the WSSD in 2002 and as envisaged by the Convention on Biological Diversity;

To agree to collectively work towards achieving an aspirational goal of significantly increasing the cumulative forest cover in the ASEAN region by at least 10 million hectares by 2020;

Source: ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Sustainability. Image attribution: 13th ASEAN Summit.

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At the 13th ASEAN Summit in Singapore, ASEAN leaders signed the ASEAN Charter today, giving ASEAN a legal personality and more accountability. The Charter sets the institutional changes for ASEAN to meet future challenges as it celebrates its 40th anniversary since its’ founding in 1967. In the Charter, one of the purposes of ASEAN is:

To promote sustainable development so as to ensure the protection of the region’s environment, the sustainability of its natural resources, the preservation of its cultural heritage and the high quality of life of its peoples

ASEAN’s effort to ensure sustainable development in the region is an important part of contributing to Asia’s efforts to be green. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is made up of 10 countries - Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. ASEAN has a total population of about 567.5 million, a total area of 4.5 million square kilometers, and a combined GDP of over US$1 trillion. It is also home to a wide range of biodiversity and rich culture. The size and potential impact of ASEAN are usually overlooked and we tend to diminish the role of ASEAN in Asia. We have to recognise that acheiving sustainable development in ASEAN is a necessary step for Asia to be green.

More on the ASEAN Declaration on Environmental Sustainability tomorrow.

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Now you can learn more about the environment and sustainability in Japan! We are pleased to announce that we will be publishing more environmental news and articles from Japan. This is thanks to Japan for Sustainability, who has given us permission to republish their articles in AsiaIsGreen. Japan has always taken the lead in environmental protection and sustainability, and we can learn much from the Japanese. Read more about Japan for Sustainability from their introduction below or check out their website.

About Japan for Sustainability (JFS)

Japan for Sustainability is a non-profit organization. We share information on developments and activities originating in Japan that lead toward sustainability, with the aim of building momentum toward a sustainable path for the world.

Japan for Sustainability (JFS) does the following activities:

• Provides a variety of information on the environment and sustainability, from Japan to the world, via our web site and e-mail magazines.
• Covers not only current developments but also traditional wisdom, craftsmanship and practices of day-to-day life, as well as local activities.
• Works to develop special partnerships with people in Asia, in order to cooperate to find paths toward sustainability in this region.
• Welcomes feedback and comments from overseas and shares them in Japan and with partners in Asia, so that we can improve efforts and activities in this region by learning from each other.
• Creates a vision for a sustainable Japan through discussion among various stakeholders.

JFS Projects

1) Kids’ “Create Your Future” Website

JFS has launched their Kids’ “Create Your Future” Website with an aim to encourage children worldwide to take interest in and gain an understanding of environmental issues, and to think and act independently in response. Through this site, we emphasize the concept of taking a creative approach toward the realization of a more ecological future on our planet unrestrained by conventional ideas, and we aim to introduce innovative ways of thinking to support concrete methods for sustainable living.

2) The JFS Indicator Project

JFS has chosen 20 headline indicators for sustainability based on an analysis of over 200 data sets in several sustainability-related categories. This is the first ever numerical evaluation / trial calculation of national sustainability for Japan, undertaken by citizen volunteers through open discussion and study sessions to achieve a more sustainable Japanese society. The results obtained compared across time periods between 1990 vis-a-vis and a hypothetical perfect score of 100 projected for 2050 which is based on the model-”Japan in 2050, moving closer towards a sustainable society”.

3) Daiwa - JFS Sustainability College

The 21st century is shaping up as the era of the environment. A concern about environmental issues has led to emergence of the idea of sustainability, which is expanding as the most important concept of today. Under the circumstances, JFS opened “Daiwa-JFS Sustainability College” in partnership with Daiwa Securities Group, aiming at boosting awareness and facilitating actions of the young people who will lead the next generation in Japan as well as enhancing sustainability in society as a whole.

Contact JFS

1-13-1-205, Mita, Tama-ku

JP-Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 214-0034/Japan

E-mail: info@japanfs.org

Internet: http://www.japanfs.org

Contact person: Noriko Sakamoto

Note

JFS Uses Green Power for Its Energy Requirements: The Green Power Certification System is a scheme in Japan that offers a new way for companies and organizations to voluntarily engage in energy conservation and environmental protection. Participants earmark their electricity consumption to be supplied from power produced from renewable energy, and do not have to invest directly in equipment and facilities. In return, they receive a Certificate of Green Power that certifies them for embracing the benefits of renewable energy, namely, energy conservation and the reduction of CO2 emissions.

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