Asian cities face major eco-crisis

Delwin Keasberry, Programme Manager (Brunei) Asia Inc Forum delivers his address during the National Environment Conference at Mutiara II, Radisson Hotel yesterday. Picture: BT/Yusri Adanan

Eleena Teoh
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Friday, April 19, 2013

ASIAN cities are among those facing the greatest risk of climate change, said the programmes manager of Asia Inc Forum.

Speaking at the National Environment Press Conference yesterday, Delwin Keasberry said: “We hope that by putting out a dialogue at the National Environment Conference (NEC) and bringing in speakers who can share insights and best practices, more people will realise the vulnerability of the future of the planet so that we can put in more time and resources into coming up with solutions together.”

Keasberry said the NEC aims to encourage individuals and organisations to re-think, re-design and renew as it explores how Brunei can adopt a more pro-active role in addressing the global challenge of climate change at the domestic and international level.

Keasberry said seven out of the 10 cities most at risk from global warming are in the Asia-Pacific region.

“The most vulnerable is Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, followed by Manila and Bangkok. Kolkata and Mumbai are ranked seventh and eighth respectively,” he said.

Climate change, he said, was not something that should be taken lightly because it will impact individuals and businesses — society’s livelihood.

“Twenty million Bangladeshis would be displaced by a one metre rise in sea levels by 2050.”

He pointed out that over 60 per cent of the region’s population works in agriculture, fisheries and forestry, which are most at risk of climate change and that a “decrease in fresh water availability could affect more than one billion people by 2050”.

He also said that for every 10 per cent rise in food prices caused by climate change affecting agricultural crop yields, 64 million Asians will be pushed nearer to poverty.

Manager of Corporate Sustainability at HSBC Liza Kamarudin said during the conference that HSBC Brunei would once again take part in this year’s NEC.

“Globally, HSBC is a well-known advocate of action on climate change, and HSBC in Brunei also supports this cause by incorporating environmental concerns into the way the bank conducts its business and by ensuring the sustainability of the environment and its business as well.”

Liza went on to say that the NEC’s theme this year: “Responding to Climate Change: How can Brunei Darussalam make a difference?” is in keeping with the bank’s ongoing efforts to spread awareness on climate change.

“Tackling climate change requires a concerted effort between government bodies, businesses and also members of the public. With this conference, we hope that there will be further understanding and that those who attend will benefit from it.”

Health, Safety and Environment Manager at Total Michael Dale, in an interview with The Brunei Times, said the oil and gas giant was committed to reducing emissions.

“Whatever we do, we try to minimise our emissions. In fact, we actually measure our level of energy efficiency.”

Dale said each operator was set stringent energy limits and that Total in Brunei was already meeting those challenging targets.

“We continue to look for ways to be more efficient. Through the NEC, we can discuss what else we can bring to Brunei,” he said.

“Globally, we are in renewables with (specialisation) in solar power generation. We are going to use that expertise and bring it here, kick off a study with Institut Teknologi Brunei and find out the feasibility of installing solar power at Total in Brunei.

According to a press statement from HSBC CEO in Brunei Todd Wilcox HSBC invested US$100 million investment in the HSBC Water Programme — in partnership with Earthwatch, WaterAid and the World Wide Fund for Nature — that was launched last year. He said the programme was aimed at combating the urgent threat of climate change by inspiring action by individuals, businesses and governments worldwide.

In conjunction with the Public Works Department, that bank also participated in last year’s World Water Day.

The Sixth National Environment Conference will take place at the Empire Hotel and Country Club on June 4.

The Brunei Times

Source: http://www.bt.com.bn/news-national/2013/04/19/asian-cities-face-major-eco-crisis