March 2016

BEC Monthly Features

19 May 2016: BEC EnviroSeries Conference – A Resilient and Low Carbon Hong Kong – Transforming Awareness into Actions

The upcoming BEC EnviroSeries Conference will focus on understanding Hong Kong’s carbon footprint and looking at actions in relation to specific sectors, including energy generation as well as the built environment – buildings and infrastructure.  We will bring together industry experts, policy makers, business leaders and academics to discuss strategies and solutions for enabling Hong Kong economy to have a high level of energy security, to be competitive, and to support a global shift to net zero emissions.

For details and registration, please visit BEC website (http://bec.org.hk/events-current/bec-enviroseries-conference-2016). Please contact Ms Phoebe Hung (T. 2784 3968 | E. phoebe@bec.org.hk) if you would like to sponsor and support the Conference.

BEC's Submission on the Electronic Road Pricing Pilot Scheme

On 18 March 2016, BEC made a submission to the Transport Department in response to the Electronic Road Pricing (“ERP”) pilot scheme. BEC welcomes the Hong Kong SAR Government’s plan to launch the ERP pilot scheme in Central and its adjacent areas. BEC considers that the scheme is an important step forward in terms of improving the liveability and efficiency of Hong Kong, as there is a substantial body of evidence that shows ERP brings benefits in terms of air quality, carbon emissions and addressing congestion.

The full submission can be accessed at BEC’s website at: http://bec.org.hk/files/images/Resource_Centre/Submission/BEC_Submission_-_ERP_Pilot_Scheme.pdf.

 

BEC Upcoming Event

28 April 2016: BEC Leadership Networking Series

Mr Paul Davison, Managing Director of Proteus Environmental Communications (Hong Kong) Limited, will demonstrate how businesses should engage with the general public on environmental issues on two levels, including how to increase awareness of environmental issues and initiatives to improve sustainability, and how to engage with host communities affected by environmentally focused infrastructure developments. Mr Julian Cope, Managing Director of Bid Academy, will explain the concept of a bid lifecycle outlining where and when opportunities occur for bidders to increase their likelihood of success, which could help transform the way that tendering companies manage their bids.

For registration and enquiry, please contact Ms Joey Hui (T. 2784 3958 | E. joey@bec.org.hk).

 

BEC News

BEC Joins the Paris Pledge for Action

The Paris Agreement at the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties last year saw global consensus and pledges on the need to reduce emissions. L’Appel de Paris (“The Paris Pledge for Action”) is an opportunity for non-state entities to support the objectives of the Paris Agreement and commit to implement it.  By joining the pledge, signatories are aiming to ensure that the ambition set out in the agreement is met to limit global temperature rise to less than 2°C. As a signatory to the Pledge, we at BEC aim to reduce our own carbon footprint while encouraging members and Hong Kong business community to support these commitments. For more information on the Pledge, please visit its website at: http://www.parispledgeforaction.org.

BEC Supports Earth Hour 2016

On 19 March 2016, BEC lent its support to Earth Hour 2016 by switching off non-essential lighting at its office from 8:30pm to 9:30pm. Besides, BEC also encouraged tenants at BEC Headquarters to participate in this meaning event.

 

BEC Pass Events

4 March 2016: Road Transport and Logistics: How to Save Costs and Reduce Emissions?

The half-day workshop brought together business leaders and industry professionals from Hong Kong and overseas to discuss and identify ways to minimise vehicle emissions. Ir TC Yee, Chair of BEC Transport and Logistics Advisory Group, delivered opening remarks and set the scene for fruitful discussions during the workshop.

14 March 2016: BEC Industry Visit to Energizing Kowloon East Office

During the visit, Ms Winnie Ho, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Energizing Kowloon East Office’s (“EKEO”), explained the pedestrian and traffic improvements already made in the area, as well as proposals to provide seamless connections between activity nodes and major transport nodes in the area. Participants also joined a tour to Kwun Tong area guided by Mr Raymond Leung, Works Consolidation Manager of EKEO. They learned more about EKEO’s achievements to date, as well as its challenges and opportunities.

BEC Partnership Programme

30 March 2016: Inter-school Low-carbon Living Micro-film Competition Award Presentation Ceremony

At the award presentation ceremony held at BEC Headquarters on 30 March 2016, BEC announced the winners of its “Inter-school Low-carbon Living Micro-film Competition”. The Competition aimed to enhance local secondary students’ awareness of climate change and promote the practice of low carbon living. It was also one of the major activities under “BEC Low-carbon School – Eco Expo Asia 2015” programme, funded by the Environment and Conservation Fund and the Environmental Campaign Committee.

All winning videos will be available on BEC website (http://bec.org.hk/resource-centre/video-gallery) and Low-carbon School Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/LowCarbonSchool) in early April 2016.

Disclaimer: Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material/event do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Environment and Conservation Fund and Environmental Campaign Committee.

 

Services for BEC Members and Companies

Venue Hire at BEC Headquarters

To facilitate the sharing of knowledge and best practices, venues and facilities at BEC Headquarters are available for members and companies for organising events relating to environmental protection and sustainability. To know more about the rates and other details, please refer to the rate card or contact BEC Events and Communications Team (T. 2784 3942 | E. venue@bec.org.hk).

Green Technology Corner Showcase at BEC Headquarters

The Green Technology Corner at BEC Headquarters offers opportunities for members to showcase their green technologies and products to business leaders and sustainability professionals. Please contact Ms Bonnie Ho (T. 2787 3951 | E. bonnie@bec.org.hk) to secure the showcasing opportunity.

BEC IEE Training Courses

BEC Institute for Environmental Education ("BEC IEE") will organise various environmental training courses in April 2016 as follows:

Indoor Air Quality (“IAQ”) Management & Improvement (4th Intake) (18 April 2016) – The course covers an overview of IAQ, different chemical and biological components that affect IAQ, as well as effective ways to manage and improve IAQ. In the interest of promoting awareness of IAQ, BEC members who enroll before 5 April 2016 can enroll with one more application without additional charges.

Towards Sustainability – Best Practice for Sustainable Procurement (22 April 2016) – Sustainable procurement is the process of buying goods and services of a business in a way that meets the needs of the business while brings benefits to the environment at the same time. Sustainable procurement has become one of the key components among businesses in achieving sustainability. The course is suitable for those who are responsible for procurement policy as well as those who engage in procurement on a day-to-day basis. Participants can learn how to implement best practices of sustainable procurement in business operations with a straightforward and cost-effective manner.

GRI Certified Training on Sustainability Reporting G4 (27 and 28 April 2016) – Global Reporting Initiative (“GRI”) is one of the widely used frameworks in preparing sustainability reports to disclose organisation’s most critical impacts to the environment, society and the economy. Co-organised with SGS Hong Kong Limited, this course provides essential knowledge of GRI G4 guidelines, and introduces five phrases of GRI sustainability reporting process. It also provides a hands-on and step-by-step instruction to apply GRI G4 guidelines with interactive learning through case studies.

Visit BEC website now for outlines and schedules of BEC IEE courses. Please contact Dr Veronica Chan (T. 2784 3937 | E. beciee@bec.org.hk) for registration and enquiry.

BEC Members Update

Please join us in welcoming the following new members:

General Members
GlobeScan Incorporated
Route Monkey Limited

Affiliate Member
Heroes2 Foundation Limited

 

BEC Supporting Events

Date Event Organiser
1 December 2015 – 28 February 2017 Smart City Campaign Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation
11 March – 10 April 2016 CIWEM HK Photo Competition 2016 Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management Hong Kong
31 March – 2 April 2016

Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (2016 MIECF)

Macao SAR  Government
8 April 2016

Technical Seminar on Building Energy Simulation – Trends, Technologies and Applications

ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter
15 April 2016

ICE HKA Annual Conference 2016: Sustainable and Resilient Coastal Management Mitigating and Adapting to Climate Change

Institution of Civil Engineers Hong Kong Association
18 April 2016

The HKIE Environmental Division Annual Forum

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers Environmental Division
22 April 2016

Urban Design Conference 2016 – “Betterment of the City”

The Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design
5 May 2016

Integrate 2016 Facility Management Conference

International Facility Management Association Hong Kong Chapter
5 – 7 May 2016

IE Expo 2016 Hong Kong Pavilion (Chinese version only)

Environmental Protection Department of Hong Kong SAR Government
15 – 21 May 2016

CIWEM HK Study Mission 2016

Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management Hong Kong
20 May 2016

HKICS Annual Corporate and Regulatory Update (ACRU) 2016

The Hong Kong Institute of Chartered Secretaries
25 – 27 May 2016

HVAC Design: Level I — Essentials

ASHRAE Hong Kong Chapter
2015 – 2016

Environmental Education Creative Competition 2015

Graphic Arts Association of Hong Kong
2014 – onward

"Let's Save 10L Water" Campaign

Water Supplies Department, Hong Kong SAR Government
2014 – onward

HSBC Water Programme for Industrial Water Management

Hong Kong Productivity Council