SINGAPORE, Nov 25 (Bernama) — Singapore’s first carbon neutral event gathered some 500 participants in the city-state on Monday for a series of high-level discussions based on the theme “Transformation, Growth and the Green Economy”.
Singapore’s Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, officially opened the Responsible Business Forum on Sustainable Development (RBF) at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, Marina Bay Sands.
The forum, in its second year, is the first of its kind for a large-scale event in Singapore with government, business and civic society leaders taking part.
Significant efforts were made to reduce resource consumption at the event, and all carbon emissions related to the event will be offset in line with its sustainability focus, making it carbon neutral.
In collaboration with leading carbon reduction projects developer South Pole Carbon, total direct carbon emissions generated by the event relating to delegate travel, electricity and food consumption, waste generation and paper usage at the event venue will be calculated.
Based on the final figure, South Pole Carbon will invest in the equivalent carbon credits into two projects – geothermal power and run-of-river hydro – in Indonesia.
In his opening address, Marina Bay Sands President and chief executive officer, George Tanasijevich said: “Marina Bay Sands is committed to being a responsible corporate citizen and protecting the environment in line with our Sands ECO360 programme.
“The meeting industry is an important and influential industry that can inspire others and lead the way in responsible environment and social practices.
“We hope the sustainable event planning solutions that we offer will drive the industry in that direction in the long run,” he said.
Tony Gourlay, chief executive officer of Global Initiatives, said: “The Responsible Business Forum focuses on bringing business leaders together to accelerate business solutions and policy frameworks for a more sustainable future.”
Business leaders attending the forum underscored the importance of practical solutions for a more sustainable world.
Earlier at a media roundtable, the TEEB for Business Coalition and the IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, launched a landmark project – the Natural Capital Protocol – to develop a framework for valuing natural capital in business decision-making.
On the second day of the forum on Nov 26, the inaugural Responsible Business Young Leaders Dialogue will be held.
Over the next one-and-a-half days, delegates will engage in discussions and action-oriented policy and business commitments across six sectors: agriculture and forestry, palm oil, consumer goods, financial services, building and urban infrastructure, and energy.
The recommendations will be presented to decision and policy-makers at a series of regional meetings in 2013 and 2014.
— BERNAMA
Sustainability Leaders Gather For Responsible Business Forum In Singapore
0 comments:
Post a Comment