This photo taken on April 23, 2019 shows a man walking past wind turbines at the Phu Lac wind farm in southern Vietnam's Binh Thuan province. (MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP)
Collective efforts to promote sustainable development are needed to pursue an Asia-Pacific Green Deal based on Asian values, according to speakers from Myanmar at a webinar.
“The Asia-Pacific Green Deal, to me, is something very inspirational in the sense that it will help us to move forward in a way that every person in the Asia-Pacific can (follow traditional Asian values),” said environmentalist Albert Oung, chairman of the Green Economy Task Force of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Sustainable Business Network.
The Asia-Pacific Green Deal is a holistic approach to provide totally integrated solutions pertaining to policy frameworks on environment, social and economic issues through environmental, social, governance, or ESG, and the 17 sustainable development goals set by the UN
The Asia-Pacific Green Deal is a holistic approach to provide totally integrated solutions pertaining to policy frameworks on environment, social and economic issues through environmental, social, governance, or ESG, and the 17 sustainable development goals set by the UN.
Noting regions like the United States and Europe have their own green deals, Oung said the Asia-Pacific Green Deal is different because it is based on the principle of Asian values that focuses more on people’s livelihood instead of concentrating mostly on economic growth.
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“For regional countries, we all embrace the same values. We hope that we can also inspire others by giving hope to our people … because we have to move on collectively in a united way, in solidarity,” said Oung.
Oung was speaking at a knowledge sharing webinar organized by the Myanmar Green Building Society and the Federation of Myanmar Engineering Societies on Oct 8.
While sustainability is taken as equal to profitability, Oung said international funders and financiers, despite all the challenges the world is facing, are still looking for good projects where they can make continuous and impactful investment while making profits.
Boats travel along the Chao Phraya River as the sun sets in Bangkok, Thailand on April 4, 2022. (JACK TAYLOR / AFP)
Environmentalist Albert Oung explained the idea of the Green Economic Zone, which aims to bring together best practices across disciplines and integrate them to efficiently serve and develop the community by solving problems created by economic development
Oung also explained the idea of the Green Economic Zone, which aims to bring together best practices across disciplines and integrate them to efficiently serve and develop the community by solving problems created by economic development.
The global Green Economic Zone network is expected to be launched in Shenzhen in South China’s Guangdong province next year at the Asia Pacific Business Forum organized by the UNESCAP, Oung said.
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Due to global warming and climate change, buildings can have negative impacts on the environment as well as on people, said Swe Swe Aye, chairwoman of the Myanmar Green Building Society, which was established as an independent organization 2019 with the mission to reduce the negative impact of buildings on the environment.
She said green buildings refer to both a structure and the using of processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building’s life cycle. It is also an integrated process that focuses on the relationship between the built environment and the natural environment.
This aerial picture shows business district in downtown Jakarta, on August 30, 2022. (BAY ISMOYO / AFP)
Swe Swe Aye, chairwoman of the Myanmar Green Building Society, said architectural design concept, effective utilization of energy and water use, healthy indoor air quality, smart materials selection, and the building effects on its site and its environment are the key considerations for the design and development of a green building
“The development of green buildings can help reduce negative impacts on the environment,” said Swe Swe Aye.
She said architectural design concept, effective utilization of energy and water use, healthy indoor air quality, smart materials selection, and the building effects on its site and its environment are the key considerations for the design and development of a green building.
Speaking on the topic of “Approach to Sustainable City, Yangon 2030”, Khin Maung Maung, patron of the Myanmar Green Building Society, said sustainable urbanism means urban design alongside nature, including increasing sustainability through integrating transport and land use, creating sustainable neighborhoods, and high performance building and district energy systems.
For example, in terms of land use, Khin Maung Maung said it is important to make land utilization policy for future generations and set guidelines for building coverage area ratio to create a more pleasant urban environment.
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Pollution control in air, sewage, water, solid waste and flood prevention is also necessary, he said, adding there is also a need to improve the habitation and environs since the urban population in Yangon will be increasing like all mega cities in Asian countries.
Aung Myint, president of the Federation of Myanmar Engineering Societies, shared similar vision. The federation, officially formed in December 1995, now has over 66,000 individual members and 350 corporate members.
kelly@chinadailyapac.com