China’s Water Crisis

Speakers: Dr Yang Mu, Coordinator of EAI’s China Cooperation Programme; Mr Teng Siow Song, EAI Research Officer

Venue: East Asian Institute (EAI) Conference Room, NUS Bukit Timah Campus, 469A Bukit Timah Road, Tower Block #06-01, Singapore 259770

This seminar covers the problems of obtaining clean water in China, such as demand, pollution and governance issues. Read more details at the EAI website.

Green Tip #3 – It’s not necessary to be always clean and spotless

We feel that it’s not necessary to be clean and spotless at all times. It’s ok to be slightly dirty, and help save water and energy or reduce the use of chemicals. You may not agree with us but we think cleanliness can be overlooked at times. Read more

Asian Water Development Outlook 2007

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has recently published the Asian Water Development Outlook 2007, which discusses the current situation in water management in Asia, and the future challenges and solutions. The report is available for download at the ADB website. We share some key points from the report.

The misconception on the scarcity of water in Asian developing member countries (DMCs):

We can confidently predict, on the basis of current assessments of water resources, expected water demands of the future, available technology, knowledge, and experience, that Asian DMCs should not experience, or expect, a crisis in the future because of physical scarcity of water.

The problem is not about scarcity but management of water: 

It is likely that if there will be a water crisis in the future, it will not come because of actual physical scarcity of water, as many predict at present, but because of continuing neglect of proper wastewater management practices. Continuation of the present trend will make available water sources increasingly more contaminated, and will make provision of clean water more and more expensive, as well as more complex and difficult to manage.

Climate change will make water management more difficult:

… climate change is likely to introduce high levels of risks and uncertainties that the water profession simply may not be able to handle with any degree of confidence, at least over the near term. All this will make efficient water planning and management an exceedingly complex and difficult task during the post-2025 period.

Some requirements for better water managment:

… solving the water problems of the future will require additional skills, innovative approaches, and new mindsets. It will also require a more holistic approach that can successfully coordinate the energy, food, environment, and industrial policies of a nation, all of which have intimate linkages to water. Each will affect the others and, in turn, be affected by the others.

… there are two key needs to make measurable progress. One is to collect better quality and more comprehensive data, especially from water utilities, so that real problem areas can be pinpointed. … The other is to implement and enforce existing policies and legislation – policy development is not the issue. This can only happen if there is accountability and a strong regulation/monitoring regime in place.

Source: Asian Water Development Outlook 2007. Image attribution: Asian Water Development Outlook 2007.

Staying Alive Forever – Islam and Environmental Conservation (Part 1)

The article below was first published in the Apr-Jun 07 edition of NADi by the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS). We find the article enlightening and it gave us more insights on how the teachings of Islam promote environmental consciousness and protection. We think that more people should be exposed to the relationship between the environment and religion. So we have republished the article below (in 2 parts) with kind permission from MUIS.

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“Strive for your life in the hereafter as if you will die tomorrow.
Strive for your life on earth as if you will live forever.”

A community of excellence which is well adjusted contributes towards the care of the larger society they live in.

On 18 April 2007, Singapore celebrated Earth Day with a host of activities aimed at promoting environmental consciousness among the people. Muslims here responded positively to this effort and lent it our full support. This article explains that in contributing to the protection of the environment, Muslims are actually performing a sacred duty commanded by Allah S.W.T to all man, as stewards of the Earth.

As Muslims we believe strongly in the hereafter. In the famous hadith, Rasulullah S.A.W reminds us to be prepared for our future life in the next world, as if we would leave this one tomorrow. Read more

How to solve environmental problems?

At AsiaIsGreen, we believe that there are already existing solutions and technologies to solve most environmental problems, such as lack of clean drinking water, malaria deaths and climate change. What we need are not solutions and technologies but the willpower and leadership to change the status quo. We also need planning and coordination so that we know what we have to do, what financial resources and manpower are needed, how much time we have, what success looks like, and a process or someone to make sure things get done. Read more

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