Asian Development Bank (ADB) has setup a new fund which will provide financing for green projects in the Asia Pacific region that can generate carbon credits beyond 2012. The initial fund size is $100 million and could be increased to $200 million if the demand calls for it.

ADB is concerned that since the Kyoto Protocol’s first commitment period expires on 31 December 2012, this could hamper the trading in post-2012 carbon credits. In turn this will affect the interest in developing new clean energy projects and other climate change initiatives in developing countries. And with the lack of long-term price incentives for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, investment trends in green projects could return to normal levels. But with this fund in place, they are hoping that it can stimulate new investments in clean energy projects even before a new international agreement is reached.
Read the rest of this entry »

In the week long Asia Clean Energy Forum sponsored by Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the Philippines. ADB vice-president for sustainable development, Ursula Schafer-Preuss announced that the bank starting 2008 has $1B alloted annually for investing in Renewable Energy Projects.
Read the rest of this entry »

Renowned Philippine Columnist, Mr. Rey “Butch” Gamboa, reported that Eco Securities of Ireland offered a local piggery, Uni-Rich, $12000/year ($4/carbon credit) for their carbon revenues till the year 2012. Uni-Rich gets carbon credits for trapping and using the methane generated from their pig manure to power some of their facilities.

In turn, Eco Securities sells their rights to big banks (Caisse des Depots) at $18/carbon credit. Does it look like a fair trade?, or is there just too much money for the middle man? But if Eco Securities are the one themselves investing in the certification and the methane trapping equipment, then it is a fair trade off. Not to mention that there are yearly monitoring costs that have to be spent to check whether Uni-Rich is indeed following its Green practices of processing their solid wastes.
Read the rest of this entry »

My Good Friend, Abaniko, went up to Ilocos Norte in the Philippines and was able to get shots of the famed electricity generating windmills there.

So that’s how a halved 40 MW Windmill farm looks like? *snicker*

Philippines will play host to a Biofuel forum that will be attended by South East Asian nations. To be held on April 23 to 25 at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Makati. The theme of the forum is entitled: “Unravelling the Policy Issues and Development Challenges on Biofuels”.

The event is hosted by the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARGA) who are headquartered at Los Baños.
Read the rest of this entry »

Multi Awarded, Von Hernandez, has been appointed to head Greenpeace in South East Asia.

Mr. Hernandez is a recipient of a Goldman Environmental Prize in 2003. He has also been honored by Time Magazine, as one of the Heroes of the Environment for 2007. Aside from these accolades, Mr. Hernandez also brings with him over 15 years of environmental activism experience.

Greenpeace is an independent, global campaigning organization that acts to change attitudes and behavior, to protect and conserve the environment, and to promote peace.[source]

[Source]