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During the symposium of “Energy Saving, Emission Reduction and Carbon Trading Symposium” at 2009MIECF today, Mr. Li Hui, the Deputy director of Guangdong Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau, introduced the measures taken in promoting a green economy and reducing emission for the long-term in Guangdong. He also said Macao enabled government and green business representatives to learn more about Guangdong’s green initiatives and help promote co-operation under the framework of Pan-Pearl River Delta Regional Co-operation Agreement on Environmental Protection. He said that by implementing the Agreement, the involved parties would jointly improve cooperation mechanism, expand the collaborative areas and increase the ways of cooperation. 2009MIECF promote environmental protection cooperation in Pan-PRD Mr. Li, who is also the Secretary-general of the secretariat of Pan-PRD Environmental Co-operation Joint Meeting, said that 2009MIECF utilizes Macao’s regional advantage and set a good cooperation platform for its neighboring areas, Pan-PRD regions and Macao. 2009MIECF is of great significance in realizing the mutual benefits on environmental protection in the Pan-PRD region, improving a more diversified economy in Macao SAR, and enhancing the international influence of Pan-PRD region. Guangdong introduces rewards and penalties mechanism to promote environmental protection He said, since June 2007, Guangdong has set eight environmental criteria into its credit management system, such as excess sewage, illegal environment, pollution accident, which are under the joint supervision of environmental protection and finance departments. Loan for illegal enterprises will be cut off and green loan will be carried on. Besides, Guangdong government has taken a leading role in green procurement and promoting green trade in order to curb the expansion of firms that were detrimental to the environment. Li Hui also said that Gungdong has come into the crucial stage of economic and social transformation. At present, the provincial government makes use of environmental economic policy to adjust the market and improve people’s behavior. It rewards green enterprises and punishes the illegal ones, and charge enterprises for treatment of sewage, garbage, medical waste, plastics, as well as vehicle emission. According to last year’s statistics, sulfur dioxide and chemical oxygen demand, two major pollutants, dropped 5.58% and 5.28% respectively in Guangdong. Thus, the province over-fulfilled the targets set up by the Central Government.
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At the Natural Disaster Management Symposium of 2009 MIECF, several scholars presented their studies on earthquake disaster control. Among them, Professor Zhang Xiaojian and Professor Nie Yongfeng of the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China, gave special presentations on the water quality risk and emergent measurement for Municipal Water Supply after the Wenchuan Earthquake. Water Works Should Formulate Contingency Plans for Various Water Contamination Risks In his presentation, Professor Zhang Xiaojian of the Institute of Drinking Water Safety, the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University summarized the earthquake’s impacts on the municipal water supply and the emergent measures taken in response, as well as the good results of the water quality control efforts made by the Chengdu Municipal Water Supply Company and the various water works in such cities as Mianyang and Deyang after the disaster. Prof. Zhang Xiaojian pointed out that the water resources agencies must pay attention to water contamination risks after an earthquake and monitor water quality, including pathogenic microorganisms, pesticides, petroleum and organic pollutants, heavy metals, taste and odor, and suspended solids. He presented a number of effective techniques for emergent treatment of water contamination, for future reference of Macao and other cities when in face of a major natural disaster or epidemic. He recommended that a water works should first determine the corresponding technique of emergent treatment for each particular risk, and then, taking into consideration of the unique conditions of the works, determine the emergent measures for different water quality risks and objectives. Safety as First Priority in Solid Waste Treatment after a Disaster Professor Nie Yongfeng of the Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China gave a presentation titled Solid Waste Treatment in the Sichuan Disaster Areas after the Earthquake, in which he shared the priorities and measures in the treatment of solid wastes in the disaster areas as a real life experience. Professor Nie proposed that different measures be adopted for different wastes emerging after an earthquake, such as household wastes, animal corpses, hazardous wastes and building ruins. These wastes could be recycled while minimizing potential hazard. Professor Nie pointed out, according to environmental safety principle, priority should be given to treatment of drinking water, medical wastes and hazardous chemicals in the treatment of wastes in a disaster area, and other kinds of wastes should also be sorted out and treated centrally. In this way, massive pollution to the environment and harm to human health can be minimized.
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By establishing the Environmental Protection Bureau in the future, Macao would enhance the regional cooperation of the Pan Pearl River Delta Region as well as the Greater Pearl River Delta, said the Secretary for Transport and Public Works, Mr Lau Si Io. Speaking at the luncheon of the 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (2009 MIECF), Mr Lau said environmental protection is a critical issue that demanded attention nowadays. He said the Kyoto Protocal was applicable to Macao SAR in 2007, so the Government had taken different measures and strategies in environmental protection. Meanwhile, Macao would enhance regional cooperation with the Pan Pearl River Delta Region and the Greater Pearl River Delta, he said. Mr Lau also said that the Macao Government would continue to put effort in promoting the concepts of “Thinking Green, Going Clean and Living Cool”.
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Prof. Wo Xiaoming of Scientific research Institute of Pearl River Water said he believed that global warming and frequent extreme weather, together with the influence of socio-economic development to the Pearl River, would increase the threats of water-related hazards to Macao, and that the Macao Government should highly attach importance to the works of prevention and control of water hazards. At the "Natural Disaster Management Symposium" held today at the 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation and Forum and Exhibition (2009MIECF), Professor Wu Xiaoming delivered “Suggestions on Macao Water Risk Analysis and Studies”, which he jointly wrote with Prof. Wang Xianfang, the Director of the Institute. Prof. Wo said changes in global climate anomalies caused impacts to Macao, including the rising of sea-level, the aggravation of salt tide and the increased extreme weather and weather hazards. The rising water level of Pearl River estuary affects Macao directly Studies have shown that global warming is one of the reasons that lead to the rising sea level at the estuary of Pearl River in the past 50 years. Experts have projected that about 2030 the average sea level of the estuary of Pearl River will rise by 13-17cm comparing to that of 1980-1999. He said that Macao is one of the most sensitive areas that are affected by the rising sea level the estuary of Pearl River. In addition, Xijiang and Beijiang of Pearl River experienced persistent drought during dry season in recent years. The annual precipitation from 2003 to 2005 was only 150-200 mm on average, showing a plunge of 40%-50% comparing to a normal year. The river flows reduced by 30%-40% too, aggravating the salt tide. He said that decreasing water flows during dry season and rising sea level would worsen the salt tide at Modaomen Estuary, posing new threats to water supply to Macao. Therefore, he suggested that Macao Government should begin a comprehensive study on the risks of water hazards to improve awareness for both the government and public. It should also carry out water hazard prevention and control projects and non-engineering measures planning, and study and establish the water hazard warning and monitoring system and related responsive plans. Moreover, it should engage in research of regional cooperation mechanism, and promote the formation of regional coordination mechanism on hazard prevention. Former Philippines’ Minister of Energy takes part in workshop In addition, Professor Lotilla, former Minister of the Philippines’ Department of Energy, presented a thesis on "Integrated Coastal Management as a Framework for Natural Disaster Management". Professor Lotilla currently serves as Executive Director of the "Partnerships for Environment Management for the Seas of East Asia", which is supported by the United Nations Development Program and relevant organizations. During his term as Minister of Philippines’ Department of Energy, he took charge of the government's energy independence and power industry reform plan, and took the lead to legislate the related reforms into the Biochemical Fuel Act, and promoted the legislature to consider the draft of renewable energy.
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Following two days of green events, business and contacts and academic discussions, the great environmental meeting in Macao will host an “Open Day” tomorrow (4April) with many free gifts for all who will visit the exhibition at the Resort Hotel Venetian Macau, in Taipa. Through the educational display panels on site, with a theme “Beautiful Earth”, the MIECF organizing committee calls for the general public to protect and cherish natural resources, take practical action to protect the Earth in their daily lives and try to preserve make the unique home to all human being. Visitors may also place their wish on a green wish board at the exhibition hall to express their wishes for the nature. The opening hour for the Public Open Day is from 9:00a.m. to 6p.m., 4 April. Visitors may get free admission passes at Hall A of Exhibition Center of the Macao Venetian. Three free shuttle bus routes are provided for visitors to commute and the operation hour is from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30p.m, with the first return trip of the shuttle bus scheduled at 10:30am. The shuttle buses of each route will operate at 30-minute intervals. The drop-off points of free shuttle buses are at Avenida Doutor Mario Soares (Macao Square), Avenida do Coronel Mesquita (Pak Wai Popular Pharmacy), Avenida de Kwong Tung, Taipa (next to Hung Fat Garden) and the Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel. MIECF staff will set up location signs at the above locations. Visitors will be given 4 hours of free parking by showing the passes at the car parks of Venetian Macao-Resort-Hotel.
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Hundreds of local and overseas government officials, scholars and experts in environmental protection gathered at the 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (2009 MIECF), sharing their expertise and insight in the latest measures in tackling environmental issues and dealing with natural disasters. The three forums held today at 2009MIECF were “Energy Saving, Emission Reduction and Carbon Trading Symposium”, “Natural Disaster Management Symposium”, and Green Co-operation Gateway: Environment – Business – Connection “Extending Green Industry Network” Seminar. The speakers of Energy Saving, Emission Reduction and Carbon Trading Symposium” were the Deputy Director of Resource Conservation and Environmental Protection Division of National Development and Reform Commission of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. He Bingguang, First Secretary of European Commission Delegation in Beijing, Mr. Magnus Gislev, Deputy Director of Guangdong Provincial Environmental Protection Bureau, Mr. Li Hui, Policy Analyst of European Policy Centre, Ms. Marie-Hélène Fandel, Director-General of Agência Portuguesa do Ambiente, Prof. Engenheiro António Gonçalves Henriques, Principal Assistant Secretary (Energy) of Environment Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Ms. Katherine Choi, Director of Office for the Development of the Energy Sector of the Macao SAR Government, Mr. Arnaldo Ernesto dos Santos, and Managing Director of Climate Strategies, Mr. Jon Price. The moderator of the symposium was Prof. Wang Zhishi of University of Macau. During the symposium, they addressed the participants over the environmental policies of China, European Union, Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao in energy efficiency, cutting emission, carbon trading, energy usage and waste processing. At the Natural Disaster Management Symposium moderated by the President of General Council of Environment Council of Macao SAR, Mr Lionel Leong Vai Tac, Prof. Zhang Xiaojian of Department of Environmental Science and Engineering of Tsinghua University looked into the impact of earthquake in his thesis, “Water Quality Risk and Emergent Measurement of Municipal Water Supply after the Wenchuan Earthquake”. Other theses relating to earthquake were “The Chain Disaster Research and Forecast in China” by Prof. Gao Jianguo, a researcher of Institute of Geology of China Earthquake Administration, and “Environmental Protection Emergency Countermeasures after Earthquake” by Mr. Ye Hong, a Researcher of Sichuan Provincial Environmental Protection Institute of Science and Technology. Prof. Wu Xiaoming of Scientific Research Institute of Pearl River Water delivered a thesis, entitled “Suggestions on Macao Water Risk Analysis and Studies” (in collaboration with Prof. Wang Xianfang), and Prof. Nie Yongfeng of Environment Science and Engineering of Tsinghua University delivered a thesis entitled “Post-disaster solid waste treatment in Sichuan Earthquake Stricken Areas”. Other speakers included Prof. Milan Konečný of Masaryk University of Czech Republic (“Ubiquitous Mapping for Improvement of Decision Making in Disasters Situations”), Prof. Raphael P.M. Lotilla, Executive Director – PRF Regional Programme Director of Partnerships in Environmental Management for the Seas of East Asia (PEMSEA) (“Integrated Coastal Management as a Framework for Natural Hazard Management”) and Mr. Martin Parr, Chairman & CEO, MPCEE (“Contingency Plans & Contingency Planning: Planning for the Unthinkable”). During the Green Co-operation Gateway: Environment – Business – Connection “Extending Green Industry Network” Seminar, professionals from public and private sectors discussed freely on environmental industry, regional co-operation, technology transfers, and other topics. The seminar was chaired by President of Macao Association of Environmental Protection Industry, Mr. António Trindade, and the consultant and advisor of 2009 MIECF, Mr Quang Trung Thai. The twelve speakers of the seminar were the Chief of Staff of the Green and Environment Secretariat of Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sra. Alejandra Maria Devecchi (on behalf of Deputy Secretary of the Secretariat, Mrs. Leda Maria Aschermann); Deputy Secretary of Guangdong Association of Environmental Protection, Mr. Ou Jun; Principal Engineer of Department of Land Environment and Resources in Hainan Province, Mr. Wang Ling; the General Manager of Honeywell Limited, Mr. Allan Cheung; Environmental Engineer of Safety Health Environment and Quality (SHEQ) Office of CEM, Mr. Edmond Sassouvi Etchri; Manager of Banco Espírito Santo do Oriente, S.A., Mr. Bernardo Amaral; Manager of the Value Engineering Department of GE Water & Process Technologies (Canada), Mr. Arnold Janson; Consultant of Emerge Knowledge Design Inc., Mr. Peter Reimer; Country Manager of CDM Service Unit China of German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Dr. Markus Schwegler; Dr. Wolf-Dietrich Müller of Messe München International; CEO of SelfSun S.A., Mr. José Zurstrassen; and CEO of Martifer Solar N.V., Mr. Ricardo Meireles. Speeches, theses, and information of the speakers could be found on the official website of 2009MIECF: www.macaomiecf.com.
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Exhibitors of the 2009 International Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2009MIECF) said the universal awareness of environmental protection continued to grow in recent years, it could be expected that in the future there would be more major constructions and projects using environmental protection equipments in Macao that further boost the environmental protection industry . The three-day 2009 International Co-operation Forum and Exhibition (2009MIECF) was officially opened today. The Organizing Committee launched a new campaign of "Green Business Cooperation Day" in the first day, providing precious business communication and negotiation opportunities for exhibitors from all over the world, based on this environmental protection exhibition platform, the exhibitors would further expand cooperation in environmental protection business, and create mutually beneficial development. There are more than 200 exhibitors this year from many areas around the world, including countries and regions from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao, Europe and America, one of the exhibitors from the United States, the Honeywell Automation Control System Group (Honeywell) is running business mainly in areas of space, chemicals, transportation equipment, automation and control, and 50% percent of its products are used in environmental protection. Person in charge said in recent years there are more Macao Organizations willing to invest funds in environmental protection or replace environmental protection equipments in order to save energy, which could lead to a increase of profit for enterprises; as the universal awareness of environmental protection continues to grow in public, the company predicted that in the future there would be more major constructions and projects using environmental protection equipments in Macao, and the environmental protection industry would have further development. Besides, a Finnish environmental protection company, Lamor Corporation AB, today has signed a cooperation memorandum with local enterprises of Macao in 2009MIECF, to jointly set up an oil pollutant disposal company. The man in charge from Lamor expressed, as an international tourist city, Macao has potentials to develop environmental protection industry, meanwhile the Pearl River Delta Region has developed rapidly in recent years. Lamor chose Macao as a base to expand and further develop the environmental protection business in Macao as well as South China.
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To further strengthen enterprises’ business co-operation in the area of environmental protection, the first day of 2009 MIECF has been designated as the Green Business Co-operation Day by 2009 MIECF. The Green Business Co-operation Day aims at assisting enterprises to conduct business co-operation negotiations and promote projects as well as business co-operation. The activities in the Green Business Co-operation Day include “The Green Business Co-operation and Finance Symposium”, “The Enterprise Green Business Summit and Green Business Networking Cocktail Reception and Signing Ceremony”. The theme of the Green Business Co-operation Day is Gathering Unlimited Green Business Opportunities. The event is organised by China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute, European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, Macao Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania and European Union Business Information Programme. The event was officiated by Mr. Francis Tam, the Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR. Mr. Dong Songgen, the Vice Chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, leaders of local and international trade/economic authorities and chambers of commerce also attended the activities of the Green Business Co-operation Day. The Green Business Co-operation and Finance Symposium At the Green Business Co-operation and Finance Symposium, senior management and experts from environmental, financial institutions/enterprises in various regions conducted an in-depth study and discussions in the current status and future development of the environmental industry. Speakers of the event included Mr. Michal Pastvinský, Director of Development and Project Cooperation Department of Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic, Mr. Nigel Hall, Technical Adviser of Regional Office for the Pacific, European Investment Bank (EIB), Mr. Ethan Ji Win, Tzou, Vice-Chairman of Korea Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCCI), Chairman of Winfull Capital Korea Co., Ltd., Private Equity Fund Advisor of Myasset Investment Management Co., Ltd. and Mr. Stewart J. Ballard, Business Development Director (Asia) of Sindicatum Carbon Technology Limited. The Enterprise Green Business Summit Representatives of chambers of commerce and enterprises from Mainland China (Pan-Pearl River Delta Region) and various European countries attended the Summit to discuss environmental co-operation between enterprises. The event was held in the form of interactive discussion. Participants include Mr. João Marques da Cruz, Board Member of EDP Internacional, Dr. Dominic Orr, President and CEO of Aruba Networks Inc., Dr. Bernd Dallmann, Chief Executive of Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG, Mr. Rui Faria da Cunha, President of Belgian-Portuguese Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Douglas Woodring, Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce ‘s Environmental Committee, Hong Kong, Mr. Fred Larsen, Chairman of the Board of Lamor Group and Mr. Edward W.C. Leung, Managing Partner and Founder of Secured Environment Company. Green Business Networking Cocktail Reception and Signing Ceremony The Green Business Networking Cocktail Reception and Signing Ceremony, another activity held under the Green Business Co-operation Day, was held at 5:30pm at the 2009 MIECF venue. The activities aimed at providing business communication and exchanges opportunities to further promote interactive co-operation among participating international enterprises and environmental sector. Mr. Francis Tam, Secretary for Economy and Finance of the Macao SAR, officiated the event. The signing ceremony was also attended by leaders of local and international trade/economic authorities and chambers of commerce.
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Green and low-carbon emission industries are set to be the growth engines for economies worldwide amid the global warming crisis, said the experts from the financial sector today at the Green Business Co-operation and Finance Symposium, which is part of the ongoing 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (2009 MIECF). 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 endeavor to tap the market, said Vice-Chairman of Korea Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCCI), Mr. 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 Mr. Ji. He said that the Korean government projected that if these new growth engines bear successful fruits, the added values for 2018 of green industry would be approximately US$700 billion and the volume of exports would reach US$900 billion. Mr. 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. For example, if a project generates energy using wind power instead of burning coal, it can save 50 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year. There it can claim 50 CERs (as one CER is equivalent to one tonne of carbon dioxide reduced). Developed countries buy CERs from developing countries under the CDM mechanism to help them achieve their Kyoto targets. Mr. Nigel Hall, Technical Adviser of Regional Office for the Pacific of European Investment Bank (EIB), said that EIB 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. Mr. Michal Pastvinský, Director of the Development and Project Cooperation Department of the Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic, also took part in the symposium. 2009 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum and Exhibition Organizing Committee.
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On the eve of its 20th Anniversary, the Monetary Authority of Macao (AMCM) will host the captioned international conference with the main theme “Establishing a Platform for Financial Cooperation and Promotion of Economic and Commercial Development”. It is hoped that a financial cooperation mechanism can be established subsequently whereby economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese speaking countries can be further enhanced. The move will certainly underline the function of the MSAR as the service platform for liaison between China and Portuguese speaking territories. Representatives from central banks and financial institutions of Portuguese speaking countries in four continents will make their addresses surrounding the main theme. Up-to-date, confirmation has been received from representatives of Portugal, Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, São Tomé and Príncipe and Timor-Leste. To reinforce the effectiveness of this conference, AMCM has specially invited the Commercial Attachés of Chinese Embassies in the aforementioned countries to participate in the conference, whose presence will certainly of great help in our subsequent follow-up action in this respect. It is hoped that a financial cooperation mechanism between China and Portuguese speaking countries can be set up at an earlier date whereby economic and trade relationship can be further strengthened. The above mentioned conference will be held on 6 April 2009 from 9:30am to 6:30pm at the Lotus Room of Four Seasons Hotel. It will be officiated by the Secretary for Economy and Finance, Mr. Francis Tam, Ms. Gao Yan, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government, Mr. Lu Sumin, Special Envoy, Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Representatives of consulates of Portuguese speaking countries in Macao and commercial institutions in addition to decision makers of local financial institutions have been invited to attend the conference.
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