Britain needs $15 billion green bank

What about an Asian green bank? Even more far fetched?

A “green bank” funded by new consumer levies; the sale of emissions permits to industry; and institutional and retail interest in new investment products will help plug the gap, according to the Green Investment Bank Commission.

Read more at Reuters.

S$8 Million Fund in Singapore for Eco Causes

We applaud the NEA’s efforts to encourage participation in eco-innovation. If you have a great green idea, make it happen!

green team

Singapore, 22 April 2009 – The National Environment Agency’s S$8 million 3R (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) Fund was officially launched by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, at the 3R Seminar today.

Now open for applications, the 3R Fund will co-fund up to 80% of the qualifying costs of new waste minimisation and recycling projects, subject to a cap of S$1 million per project. The Fund will help organisations overcome the start-up costs for facilities, and offset part of the cost of technologies to further increase recycling. With this funding, the recycling industry has a better chance of achieving critical mass in the collection of recyclables for economic scale of operation. Singapore companies and organisations can use the fund to minimise waste especially in waste streams with low recycling rates such as food, plastic and glass, as well as to introduce recycling in waste streams such as used household batteries, which are currently not recycled.

The Fund complements NEA’s current 3R initiatives, which include the National Recycling Programme, Singapore Packaging Agreement, provision of recycling bins in public places, mandatory recycling receptacles in condominiums, schools’ recycling programme, public awareness and education programmes, development of the waste recycling industry, as well as building capabilities in waste management and recycling. Read more