Gov't aiming for green quality living

Gov't aiming for green quality living

by Irina de Carvalho

Based on the reform and development for the Pearl River Delta issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, the government will work with Guangdong and Hong Kong on policies towards a green and quality living in the region, Chief Executive, Edmund Ho Hau Wah, said yesterday during the opening of the 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2009 MIECF).

The environment and sustainable development have become urgent issues as regional climate change presents real threats to our environmental well-being and economic development, he added.

He also warned about the cost of inaction was too great and the threats to the environment could not be ignored.

The CE also emphasised the 2009 MIECF importance as a timely opportunity for addressing these threats, with enormous contributions from governments, experts and industry leaders worldwide.

Meanwhile at the launch of the Green Business Co-operation Day held alongside the 2009 MIECF, Secretary for Economy and Finance Francis Tam explained the government was also trying to ensure sustainable development to foster service industries and emerging industries, including the green industry and the convention industry.

Advanced economies now regard the green industry as a new growth engine, with the market of new renewable growing up to 30 percent every year, and make every endeavour to tap the market, said Vice-Chairman of Korea Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCCI), Ethan Ji Win Tzou.

Korea also plans to actively cope with climate changes and foster green industry projects in order to boost its national economic recovery. The government has launched 17 projects supported by fiscal spending in three sectors including the Green New Deal Project, according to Ji.
Stewart J Ballard, Business Development Director (Asia) of Sindicatum Carbon Technology Limited, introduced the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) during the symposium.

CDM allows industrialised countries to meet their emission reduction targets by paying for green house gas emission reduction in developing countries. A CER, or Certified Emissions Reductions, is issued by the CDM Executive Board to projects in developing countries to certify they have reduced green house gas emissions by one tonne of carbon dioxide per year.

Developed countries buy CERs from developing countries under the CDM mechanism to help them achieve their Kyoto targets.

Nigel Hall, Technical Adviser of Regional Office for the Pacific of European Investment Bank (EIB), said they provided loans and financing services to environmental and renewable energy projects across the world. Through its Carbon Funds, EIB engages in Clean Development Mechanism and promotes participation of CDM by the related industries.

Michal Pastvinský, Director of the Development and Project Co-operation Department of the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic, also took part in the symposium.

Friday, 03 April 2009
Macau Daily Times