Philippine updates: Philippines: First country in Southeast Asia to adopt ecological footprint accounting

Philippines: First country in Southeast Asia to adopt ecological footprint accounting

 

(Manila, Philippines) - The Philippines has been known to be one of the countries with the highest biological diversity, endowed with a wealth of natural resources. However, a new report, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, commissioned by the Climate Change Commission (CCC) shows that the country had entered into a situation of ecological deficit since the mid-1960’s and the gap continues to widen.

According to “A Measure for Resilience: 2102 Report on the Ecological Footprint of the Philippines,” the report prepared by the Global Footprint Network, sustainable management of resources in the Philippines can help the emerging economy address its goals of greatly reducing poverty in the context of inclusive growth. Conversely, failure to manage the impacts of development on the environment will hamper efforts to better the lives of its people. 

The newly released Report shows that the human footprint on the environment has surpassed the ability of nature to sustainably provide for the needs of the populace and if allowed to deteriorate, may jeopardize the advancement of human development. 

The report points to overharvested fisheries, diminishing forests, unproductive croplands, built-up areas, and livestock impacts, and carbon emissions as key areas of concern. The CCC has adopted the Ecological Footprint as a tool to measure the productive area of land and water required to provide for the resources that the Philippine populace needs for its consumption and absorb its wastes. 

As of 2008, Filipinos have been using more than twice the biological capacity of the Philippines. The ecological footprint of the average Filipino stood at 1.3 global hectares in 2008. This means that every Filipino required 1.3 hectares of productive land and water to provide for his needs and absorb waste. However, the available biological capacity in the Philippines for every resident was only 0.6 global hectares. The difference – 0.7 hectares is the ecological deficit.

In a message supporting the Report, President Benigno S. Aquino III asserted that “indeed, the time is right, for ecological accounting,” referring to the work of the CCC showing the way forward in embarking on the critical exercise of examining the country’s ecological footprint in relation to its biological capacity. 

“As the Philippines anticipates robust economic growth, stronger trade relations, rapid development, and a growing population, it is necessary to measure the ability of nature to provide for our national goals. Mitigating and adapting to the impacts of a changing global climate mean pursuing prosperity in a manner that ensures the integrity of our vital natural resources and protecting our country from risk,” the President stressed.

The CCC adopted the Ecological Footprint approach as a way of understanding how resilience to climate change may be enhanced. In the face of the global climate change crisis, the Philippines has embarked on a dynamic process towards building a roadmap that serves as the basis for the national response to climate change, establishing an agenda upon which the country pursues concrete actions to confront the impacts of a changing climate and work towards its sustainable development goals. 

The President of the Global Footprint Network, Mathis Wackernagel underscored the importance of ecological accounting in economic decision making. “We see ever more evidence that resource constraints have become an increasingly significant determinant of economic success in the 21st century. Yet most economic decisions are made as if this part of the equation did not exist,” said Wackernagel. 

Through the National Strategic Framework on Climate Change and the National Climate Change Action Plan, the country pursues its vision of a climate-risk resilient Philippines with healthy, safe, prosperous and self-reliant communities, and thriving and productive ecosystems. 

Climate Change Commissioner Lucille Sering emphasized the importance of the ecological footprint study in the implementation of the National Climate Change Action Plan. “The country clearly views the climate change challenge as an opportunity to effect transformation across the widest possible range of sectors and has closely identified its response to climate change with the pursuit of sustainable development.  The measurement of the national Ecological Footprint and biological capacity therefore plays a crucial role in the implementation of the National Climate Change Action Plan. Building resilience against climate change means managing risk. We cannot manage what we cannot measure,” Sering said.

The sobering nature of the findings notwithstanding, the President highlighted the spirited character of the Filipino people. “Filipinos have shown time and again that we are a resilient people. Together, we can make the Philippines a model of true sustainable development in the region and the rest of the world.”

The production of the report was supported by the AgenceFrancaise de Developpment (AFD). The next phase of the project intends to examine the ecological footprint and biological capacity of Metro Manila, with the Laguna Lake Development Authority and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as key partners. 

                                                                           -#-

For more information:
Usec. Naderev M. Saño
Commissioner, Climate Change Commission
Mobile:  +63 908 8935168
E-mail: yeb.sano@climate.gov.ph

Download the report "A Measure for Resilience: 2102 Report on the Ecological Footprint of the Philippines" at
http://climate.gov.ph/index.php/a-measure-for-resilience-2012-report-on-the-ecological-footprint-of-the-philippines/category/45-report?download=91:a-measure-for-resilience-2012-report-on-the-ecological-footprint-of-the-philippines

webpage source: 
http://climate.gov.ph/index.php/news/press-releases/542-philippines-first-country-in-southeast-asia-to-adopt-ecological-footprint-accounting

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HK Updates: 香港首座零碳建築「零碳天地」

「零碳天地」免費開放至月底

【新報訊】位於九龍灣的「零碳天地」是本港首座零碳排放的建築物，由環保建築材料建成，以太陽能板和生物柴油生產可再生能源，能源消耗平均減少四成，將於本星期六起至月底，免費開放給市民參觀。

再生能源減四成消耗位於九龍灣的「零碳天地」將於明年1月5日正式對外開放，佔地14,700平方米的「零碳天地」主要分為兩部份，分別是佔地1,400平方米的零碳建築，其餘的是公眾休憩綠化區。
而室內的建築部份，包括展覽和教育場地，綠色辦公室和綠色家居等，內裏會有光伏板和生物柴油，可生產可再生能源，能源消耗平均減少四成，達致零碳排放的效果。此外，場內亦會展示一些環保建築物料、通風的家居設計和節能電器等，市民亦可租用展覽館和會議室，舉行相關活動。

周六至月底免費入場至於室內的公眾休憩區，則是香港首個都市原生態森林，內裏有超過370棵樹，當中300棵是本地品種，設計亦模仿了大自然的樹林環境，有助減低熱島效應，夏天時有降溫的效果。
「零碳天地」每日會有3場導賞團，有興趣的市民，可由今日起，透過網上預約系統預約，成人入場費20元，學生10元。另外，室內展覽館亦在本月22日至30日期間，提供免費開放時段供市民參觀。

Source: http://www.hkdailynews.com.hk/news.php?id=265040

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香港首座零碳建築「零碳天地」

「零碳」建築是指建築物產電量大於用量，香港首座零炭建築「零碳天地」（CIC Zero Carbon Building）位於九龍灣工業區，由建造業議會與發展局合作發展，金門建築承辦興建，造價2.4億達港元，包括一棟集綠色科技於一身的兩層高建築，以及環繞其四周的全港首個都市原生林景區，不僅達致零碳排，還有多餘電力回饋城市電力。

零碳天地如何省碳？

「零碳天地」採被動式建築設計，室內採用低速高流風扇，減少耗電又可保持涼快感；室外採錐狀和長形建築設計，減少太陽熱量吸收，屋頂北高南低，仰角21度，使太陽能板接受最多光照。屋簷向低處延伸，形成遮陽。墻面採用大塊的低輻射玻璃窗獲得自然透光，有效減少熱傳遞。

建築大致坐北朝南，迎風而立，利用從海面吹來的自然風為室內通風。設在室內地板上的送風口與室外的捕風口相連。自然風從捕風口進入，經過地底，再進入室內時已經比原本的溫度降低了5度。

而在被動建築設計無法滿足日常需求的時候，就需要主動技術調節。 「零碳天地」擁有一套智能建築管理系統，會依照分佈在建築內外的2800個探測器，掌握溫、濕度、光照及二氧化碳情況。當室內超過28度，系統就會命令地板上的送風口輸出冷氣。送風口安裝於地板上，冷氣可以直接吹向參觀者，而不用將整個空間吹冷，因此製冷溫度不用像一般冷氣的12至14度那麼低，只需達到16至18度就能達到同樣的效果。

為了徹底消滅碳足跡，「零碳天地」用太陽能、生物柴油自行發電。位於主建築地下一層的生物柴油發電裝置，提煉自食用廢油的百分百生物柴油。生物柴油通過特製設備發電，發電的餘熱被用來製冷，製冷後的餘熱再用來除濕，形成發電、製冷、制熱的三聯供。從而充分利用能源，能源利用率達70%，而傳統的發電廠發電只有約40%的能源利用率。

綠化設計 對抗熱島效應

項目的建築師為上任前的香港特別行政區政府環境局局長黃錦星，為了讓「零碳天地」更融入香港，設計師在主建築南面打造了香港首座原生林。模仿天然樹林環境，樹木高矮錯落，樹冠層互相滲透，而且樹木品種多樣化。

建築物樓高兩層，設有1層地庫；建築物室外栽種了135棵原生樹木，為社區帶來生氣，也能對抗熱島效應，樹林成熟後將提供城市氧氣與涼蔭，夏季時更可以降溫攝氏1至2度，減低附近建築物的溫度。樹林成熟後，每年可以吸收3,100公斤的二氧化碳，減低空氣污染。亦能夠構築樹林生態系統，為鳥類昆蟲提供食物和庇護。

香港的綠​​色建築環保評核體系雖然早在1995年就已推出，但建築物的用電量仍佔香港總用電量的九成。建造業議會希望，從「零碳天地」開始，向市民傳遞綠色建築生活的正能量。

Source: http://www.mmag.com.tw/ad/20120831-architectural_design-462

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Conference: The Politics of Water Resources Governance in the Indus Basin (9-10 Jan 2013)

The Politics of Water Resources Governance in the Indus Basin

EVENT

• DATE / TIME :

  2013•01•09 – 2013•01•10

  LOCATION :

  Lahore

  The UNU Institute for  Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) and the Department of Political Science, Government College University (Lahore) are jointly organizing a conference on “The Politics of Water Resources Governance in the  Indus Basin”.

  This conference, to be held on 9–10 January 2013 in Lahore, Pakistan, will explore critical perspectives on the politics of water in the Indus Basin (defined for the purposes of discussion as the natural  watershed from Kabul in Afghanistan to the northwestern states of India and most of Pakistan’s territory, including Gilgit-Baltistan).

  Since the independence of both Pakistan and India in 1947, the dominant discourse  in understanding water-related issues has centered on a managerial–technocratic approach, which tends to depoliticize issues pertaining to water. Critical decisions concerning water distribution and management have generally been  taken in the absence of a full-scale political participation of all stakeholders. Furthermore, water has played a significant role in the delineation of the social, political, and economic structures of Indus society.

  Water scarcity is becoming an increasingly important consideration in the larger political agenda. Water is inextricably linked to the larger issues of food and energy security, and the environmental and social  effects of climate change, with their related political challenges. It is fully recognized that water has a significant role to play in easing tensions and conflicts, stimulating cooperation, and ensuring economic and social development for sustainable long-term growth and human well-being.

  This conference provides a timely opportunity to connect  the nature of political discourse in the Indus Basin within the larger global context of water as a security concern, and to explore how water governance may affect political and regional stability and cooperation, and social and  economic development.

  For more information, see the conference announcement on the UNU-INWEH website.

  
  

  Webpage source: http://unu.edu/events/upcoming/water-resources-governance-in-indus-basin.html

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Events: APN/IGES/Hyogo Symposium on Low Carbon Society in Asia through Dissemination of Renewable Energy Technology organized by IGES, Hyogo Prefectural Government and APN (18 Feb 2013)

APN/IGES/Hyogo Symposium on Low Carbon Society in Asia through Dissemination of Renewable Energy Technology

20/12/2012

Background

All countries should work together towards low carbon development and green grow by enhancing mitigation actions both in developed and developing countries.

Hyogo prefectural government of Japan, which hosts APN Secretariat and a major financial contributor to the APN, is keen on implementing mitigation measures in local scale, including CO₂ emission reduction in public and commercial sectors by way of regulatory, economic and informational measures to encourage energy-saving.

Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Kansai Research Centre (IGES/KRC) is the Hyogo-based research institution, which conducts research activities on “Business and Environment” including experimental study on low carbon technology transfer in Asia.

The APN, IGES/KRC, and the Hyogo prefecture can benefit from a communication event on low carbon development, which facilitates mutual understanding on the latest technology, knowhow, legal framework and life style with regard to low carbon development. It is also important to hold the event from the view point of redistribution of APN’s outcomes to Hyogo prefecture which supports APN for more than 12 years.

Renewable energy technologies are innovative and promising technologies to achieve low carbon development both in developed and developing countries in Asia. Various types of renewables such as solar, wind power and biomass energy are being and will be disseminated in Asian countries through policy arrangement such as regulatory schemes, target setting and economic incentives including Feed-in-Tariff.

Objective

This symposium aims to provide the latest information on renewable energy technologies that are introduced in Japan and Asian developing countries to the public, and to exchange views among participants on gaps, lessons and solutions to achieve low carbon society both in Asian countries.

Organised by:  Institute for Global Environmental Strategies(IGES), Hyogo Prefectural Government, Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research (APN)

Date:  18 February, 2012 Monday 13:30～17:30 (Reception starts at 13:00)

Venue:  The Ballroom at ANA Crowne Plaza Kobe, Kobe, Japan >>Direction

Japanese-English interpretation available / Admission free

Capacity:  150 seats

Registration: Please contact Ms. Natsuki Niimi (APN　Secretariat)  via e-mail : info@apn-gcr.org

Deadline:  31 January 2013 (Registration will be closed when applicants reach capacity)

Announcement

AGENDA

13:30     Opening Remarks, Toshizo Ido(Governor, Hyogo Prefecture)

13:40     Keynote Speech, “Practical use of renewable energy, and a fix-price acquisition system”, Dr. Kazuhiro Ueta, Professor, Graduate School of Global Environmental Studies & Graduate School of Economics, Kyoto University,

14:10     Guest Speech 1, Dr. Bundit Fungtammasan, Vice President for Research, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Thailand

14:30     Guest Speech 2, Dr. Hamdani Saidi, Professor, Director of UTM International Campus, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

14:50     Coffee Break

15:00     Good Practice Presentation 1,  “Practical use of the renewable energy by a storage battery system”, Mr. Kaihei Kuwata, Group Manager, Panasonic Energy Company
15:20     Good Practice Presentation 2, “Introductory promotion of the photovoltaics of Hyogo Prefecture”, Mr. Eiji Endo, Director, Global Warming Solutions Division, Hyogo Prefectural Government
15:40     Good Practice Presentation 3, “The woody biomass power generation system by forest unused material”, Mr. Makoto Takizawa, Director, Green Thermal Co. Ltd.

16:00     Panel Discussion, Coordinator: Professor Yutaka Suzuki, Director-General, IGES Kansai Research Center, Panelist: Professor Ueta, Dr. Fungtammasan, Dr. Saidi, Mr. Kuwata, Mr. Endo, Mr. Takizawa, Dr. Akio Takemoto (APN Secretariat Director)

17:30    Closing Remarks, Professor Yutaka Suzuki, Director-General, IGES Kansai Research Center

For more information: http://www.apn-gcr.org/2012/12/20/apn-iges-hyogo-symposium-2/

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Japanese Updates: Results of FY 2011 Survey of the Implementation of the Agricultural Land Soil Pollution Prevention Act by Ministry of the Environment (25 Dec 2012)

Results of FY 2011 Survey of the Implementation of the Agricultural Land Soil Pollution Prevention Act

December 25, 2012

The MOE compiled the results of the FY 2011 Survey of the Implementation of the Agricultural Land Soil Pollution Prevention Act. The survey results consists of the continuous monitoring reports submitted by the prefectural governors. Under the Act, each governor shall continuously monitor the condition of agricultural land soil pollution caused by specific harmful substances (cadmium, copper and arsenic).

Summary of the survey results:
(1) As a result of the continuous monitoring, 5 areas exceeded the regulatory standards for specific harmful substances (cadmium).
(2) There was no newly designated Countermeasure Area.
(3) There were 2 Countermeasure Areas where the designation was canceled (1 complete cancellation and 1 partial cancellation).
(4) There was no Countermeasure Area where a new Countermeasure Plan was formulated.
(5) At the end of FY 2011, 6,781 ha out of 7,575 ha including Countermeasure Area have completed measures.

The complete survey results can be accessed on the following website (Japanese only): 
http://www.env.go.jp/press/file_view.php?serial=21234&hou_id=16134 

Source: http://www.env.go.jp/en/headline/headline.php?serial=1900

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Events: No Impact Week at ADB (14-18 Jan 2013)

No Impact Week at ADB

ADB Headquarters, Manila, Philippines : 14 January 2013 - 18 January 2013

• 
  Background
• Objective
• How It Works
• Target participants

Background

From 14-18 January 2013, ADB will hold No Impact Week -- our contribution to the No Impact Project campaign that seeks to reduce our environmental impact and make our operations -- and ourselves -- more carbon neutral.

Objective

To raise awareness about the impacts of our institutional and individual behavior on the environment, health, and well-being of our communities and ultimately effect long-term change.

How It Works

Each day of the week has a specific theme:

Monday, 14 January - Trash: Stop making trash

Tuesday, 15 January - Transport: Switch to more sustainable transport

Wednesday, 16 January - Food: Eat local, eat less meat

Thursday, 17 January - Energy: Conserve energy

Friday, 18 January - Water: Consume less water

Participants sign-up will be asked to sign-up for the No Impact Week challenge and commit to activities based on each day's theme. Each day builds on the day before, so by Friday participants will have tried to consume less and make more sustainable choices n their energy, food, water, and transportation.

Target participants

All ADB staff, consultants, and contractors. External guests will be invited to observe. These include but are not limited to:

• university students and professors,
• representatives from the private sector,
• NGO's,
• and local governments.

Schedule of activities: http://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/no-impact-week-activities.pdf
For more information: http://www.adb.org/news/events/no-impact-week-adb

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Publication: PM2.5 air pollution blamed for "more than 8,000" deaths in four Chinese cities (Greenpeace, 19 Dec 2012)

PM2.5 air pollution blamed for "more than 8,000" deaths in four Chinese cities

Zhou Wei

19.12.2012

Deaths associated with fine particulates in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xian hit 8,570 this year according to a new report from Greenpeace.

Greenpeace calculates economic losses associated with premature deaths caused by PM2.5 in four cities at US$1 billion this year. (Copyright: Greenpeace)

 Around 8,570 people died prematurely in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xi’an in 2012 due to the air pollutant PM2.5 – fine particulate matter linked to asthma and lung cancer – according to a new report from the environmental campaign group Greenpeace. 

The study, “Dangerous breathing”, which was released on 18 December, also calculated economic losses associated with the deaths at 6.8 billion yuan (US$1 billion). 

Greenpeace climate and energy campaigner Zhou Rong toldchinadialogue that her team commissioned Peking University’s School of Public Health to carry out the research, the first that has aimed to measure premature deaths, health hazards and economic costs caused by PM2.5 pollution in Chinese cities.

The researchers selected Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Xi’an – a city from each of China’s key geographical regions – as the focus of the study. They then looked at both PM2.5 monitoring data covering the period 2004-2009 and statistics on deaths caused by respiratory and circulatory diseases for the same period, using the results to estimate annual death rates.

Another report published this month by the Health Effects Institute, a once-a-decade collaboration by 450 experts around the world, puts air pollution as the fourth-biggest health risk factor in south-east Asia.

The report found that PM2.5’s negative impacts to date have far exceeded previous estimates. In 2010, the pollutant caused 3.2 million premature deaths worldwide, of which 1.2 million occurred in south-east Asia, according to the report. This is up significantly on figures for the year 2000, when the authors estimated there were 800,000 premature deaths linked to PM2.5. 

Zhou Rong said: “The growth and severity of PM2.5 pollution in recent years is directly related to the rapid rise in coal consumption. Even though cities like Beijing and Guangzhou are leading the way in coal reduction in absolute terms, efforts by cities alone are insufficient when it comes to tackling the harsh reality of air pollution spreading to the regions. Areas with serious PM2.5 pollution should really face up to the daunting task of controlling coal consumption.” Improving air quality in a timely manner will directly benefit public health, Greenpeace says in its report. 

On December 14, the Beijing municipal government published emergency interim proposals for tackling severe air pollution in the city after the Air Quality Index (AQI) registered more than 200 heavily polluted days in the capital.

The plan categorises heavily polluted days under three bands – heavy, severe and extremely severe – and stipulates measures to be taken in response to the severity of pollution on any given day, including steps to protect public health, reduce emissions to recommended levels and enforce emission reduction. 

Translated by chinadialogue volunteer smc

Link to the full report and detail (Chinese): 

http://www.greenpeace.org/china/zh/publications/reports/climate-energy/2012/dangerous-breath/

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