2 - 6 November 2009

The future is not necessarily bleak for the developing world in the wake of climate change. Singapore and Norway shared with 26 delegates of 10 participating countries on maximizing economic and growth opportunities against this climatic backdrop in a joint seminar on "Climate Change and Sustainable Energy", conducted at the Singapore Environment Institute (SEI) from 2 to 6 November 2009. The seminar was held under the auspices of the Singapore Co-operation Programme (SCP) under MFA, Singapore, and the Norwegian Embassy of Singapore.

A warm turnout against global warming: Delegates and organizers pooling brains at the exclusive "Climate Change and Renewable Energy" seminar. (Front row fourth from left: Mr Ong Eng Kian, Director SEI; HE Janne Julsrud, Norway Ambassador to Singapore; Mr Koh Tin Fook, Director, Technical Co-operation Directorate, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore)

Cost considerations, reliance on conventional carbon sources, displacement of indigenous populations - the list went on as the delegates started to surface at the panel discussion, the challenges of implementing low emission technologies in their countries. Chairing the panel discussion were Prof Chou Siaw Kiang, Head, Energy and Bio-thermal Systems Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore and Mr Erik Knive, Executive Vice President of Southeast Asia SN Power Invest.

While climate change financing remained the hot topic, there was also strong interest in the area of transfer of expertise and best practices from the developed world, whilst taking note of the need for domestic policy refinement. The issue of energy sustainability was constantly brought to the discussion table, with several delegates sharing their thoughts on diversifying energy sources and making the energy mix more resilient in the wake of changing geopolitical situations.

Sitting tight to get it right:
Delegates and panelists working on grave issues confronting humankind. (From left: Mr Eric Kniver, Prof Chou Siaw Kiang, Mr Tng Yew Beng-Emcee)

There was consensus that there is no silver bullet to the myriad issues the global community has to contend with in the face of climate change, and collective - and informed - actions are critically imperative. The Norway Ambassador to Singapore, Her Excellency Janne Julsrud, aptly put across that developing countries "will - and have the right to - continue to develop and expand". With developed countries increasingly coming onboard to negotiate mitigating actions, the Asian delegation was thus inadvertently encouraged to draw from their experiences in the fight against climate change.

A team of experts was flown in from the Kingdom of Norway to share on an array of topics relating to the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) and Carbon Trading, Financing and Funding of Renewable Projects, Clean Energy Solutions and Applications, and Power Market Deregulation and Energy Security. These topics were complemented by Singapore lecturers, who shared on our efforts to mitigate climate change, thus providing fresh Asian perspectives into energy consumption and sustainable growth.

There was general sentiment that the seminar would go a long way in helping them apply the concepts learnt to take up the challenges of higher energy demand.

Last updated on 16 Nov 09