Keep calm and save energy

The second day of the 9th Macao International Environment Co-operation Forum focused on technological applications of waste management and possibilities in the sector for creating business opportunities.
In the day’s keynote presentation – ‘Enhancing Waste Management through Internet Plus’ – Swiss Professor Walter R. Stahel underscored how the Internet and a sharing economy can help benefit from secondary waste materials (recycling) to release itself from a dependence upon virgin materials.
“Resource management can bankrupt any nation; if virgin resources are scarce re-using is essential, so Macau can only take advantage [of] the re-using and sharing of services like cars, washing machines, anything,” Stahel told Business Daily.
As Founder-Director of The Product-Life Institute in Geneva and as Laureate of the Mitchell-Prize Competition on sustainable societies Stahel has long preached his ‘reuse, repair, remanufacture and upgrade technologically’ philosophy and in his seminar showed how it can be applied to cities like Macau.
“A change in local mentality could help create jobs, keep money in Macau and reduce waste,” he said.
The director pointed to Uber as an example of replacing a non-necessity or purchase like buying a car with a practical and functioning option like carpooling or ride services.
“The car industry is not fighting with arguments, they are fighting with emotion. If you can convince consumers that what they need is function in mobility, which has worked in Europe and the United States, [you will be successful]” he said.
A further recommendation by the Swiss professor to the Macau Government is to tax any waste of resources and not direct funds to sustain unemployment, claiming it can stifle innovation.
Regional co-operation
Also present for the environmental conference was the CEO of CESL Asia, António Trindade, who pointed to the poor state of Macau’s performance in terms of waste management, energy consumption and improving environmental standards. The CESL head also echoed Stahel’s beliefs that Macau shouldn’t add more automobiles to its system, and should turn to more energy-efficient models, with cleaner combustion.
Waste management was also a focus of the second seminar of the day: Solid Waste Management Policies and Technology in the Pan-Pearl River Delta. Moderated by the Secretary-General of the Guangdong Association of the Environmental Protection Industry (China), it included the participation of Mr. Hong Cheong Fai, representative of the Macau Association of Environmental Protection Industry, together with environmental protection representatives from Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi and Ghizou provinces as well as Hong Kong, in accompaniment with the ‘9+2’ policy for interregional development.
“We need to promote hazardous waste management through a strong accountability system and more inter-department co-operation,” said Ni Zhongmin, Chairman of the Jiangxi Association of Environmental Policies, in a session that showcased different methods of cleaning the Pearl River Delta of food, building and construction waste.
The Environmental Forum hosted by the Macao SAR Government, attracted exhibitors from 20 countries and regions, 156 from the Macao SAR, presenting solutions sharing methods for environmental industry development. Last year’s convention clocked 9,600 visitors over three days, with this year’s edition predicted to surpass that number.