The Environment In Asia Pacific Harbours

Urbanization has reached unprecedented levels in the estuarine and coastal zone, particularly in the Asia Pacific region where mega-cities and mega-harbours are still growing. This book demonstrates the different solutions and pitfalls, successes and failures in a large number of ports and harbours in the Asia Pacific Region, and shows how science can provide ecologically sustainable solutions that apply wherever the growth of mega-harbours occurs.

Urbanization has reached unprecedented levels in the estuarine and coastal zone, particularly in the Asia Pacific region where mega-cities and mega-harbours are still growing. This book demonstrates the different solutions and pitfalls, successes and failures in a large number of ports and harbours in the Asia Pacific Region, and shows how science can provide ecologically sustainable solutions that apply wherever the growth of mega-harbours occurs.

Sustainability Matters is a compilation of some of the best research papers by students from the National University of Singapore's multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary graduate programme in environmental studies, the M.Sc. in Environmental Management [MEM]. This collection is for the period 2012/2013 and 2013/2014. Entitled Sustainability Matters: Environmental and Climate Changes in the Asia-Pacific, this is the fifth compilation by the programme, and comprises 18 of the best research papers completed during this period. The papers have been edited for brevity. They analyse the many challenges to effective environmental management covering countries including Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and the US. Issues examined include biodiversity conservation, environmental impact assessments, energy, food security, sustainable business practices, public housing, environmental education, and climate change. The first compilation, Sustainability Matters: Environmental Management in Asia was published in 2010 (World Scientific) and comprised the best papers from 2001/2002 to 2006/2007. The second, Sustainability Matters: Challenges and Opportunities in Environmental Management in Asia was published in 2011 (Pearson), and comprised the best papers from 2007/2008 and 2008/2009. The third and fourth compilations (World Scientific) comprised the best papers from the period 2009/2010 to 2011/2012. The papers are edited by five staff members from different disciplines in the MEM programme: Lye Lin-Heng, Victor R Savage, Kua Harn-Wei, Chou Loke-Ming and Tan Puay-Yok. Contents:Preface and Acknowledgements, Lye Lin-Heng, Chair, MEMMessage from Goh Swee-Chen, Chairperson, Shell Companies in SingaporeMessage from Tommy Koh, Chairman, MEM Advisory Committee, NUSMessage from Heng Chye-Kiang, Dean, School of Design and Environment, NUSAbout the AuthorsAbout the Supervisors and EditorsIntroduction: Environmental and Climate Changes in Asia: Lessons in history and game changers in economics, politics and scientific research (Victor R Savage, Lye Lin-Heng, Kua Harn-Wei, Chou Loke-Ming & Tan Puay-Yok)Biodiversity:Understanding Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Occurrences in Manila Bay, Philippines (Rosa Celia Poquita-Du & Peter Alan Todd)CITES Legislative Implementation: Lessons from and for ASEAN Member States (Denise Cheong & Lye Lin-Heng)Environmental Management:Assessment of Protection against Sea Level Rise: A Case Study of a Coastal Area in Singapore (Efstathios Giannoustas and Jesuthason Thampapillai)Water Scarcity to Water Security: How Can Asian Cities Achieve a Sustainable Transition? (Maitreyee Mukherjee, Dennis Wichelns & Namrata Ravindra Chindarkar)Plastic Bags in Singapore: A Critical Examination of Issues in Sustainability (Marra Lin Teasdale-Hensby & Lye Lin-Heng)Environmental Impact Assessment Laws of Malaysia and Hong Kong: Lessons for Singapore (Nidhi Mehra & Lye Lin-Heng)Singapore's Fresh Pork Supply: Food Security and Environmental Impacts (Lim Chien-Fang & Victor R Savage)Green Business:Sustainable & Responsible: The New Face of Indian Businesses (Himadri Mahajan & Audrey Chia)Effectiveness of Sustainable Business Practices: Case Studies of Ready-Made Garment Companies of Bangladesh (Tayef Quader & Audrey Chia)Integrated Policy Design Through Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment: A Case Study of Cotton Garments (LCSA Of Cotton T-Shirt) (Thida Tun & Kua Harn-Wei)Sustainability Issues and Strategies of Biofuel Development in Southeast Asia (Mallika d/o Naguran)Urban Studies:Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing: Can It Work for Independent Rental Owners (Julia Emerson & George Ofori)The Potential and Benefits of an Incentive System to Promote Environmentally Friendly Behaviour in Residents of HDB Flats (Koh Kai-Jie & Grace K M Wong)A Review of Environmental Education in Singapore — Towards a Change in Approach (Ang Guorong Albert & Audrey Chia)Environmental Literacy among Secondary Three Students in a Singapore Secondary School (Loo Hui-Min & Harvey Neo)Climate Change:Possible Market Mechanisms for the Post-Kyoto Regime (Ellen May Zanoria Reynes)Past and Contemporary Proposals on Differentiation and Equity: Shaping the 2015 Climate Agreement (Melissa Low & Lim Lei-Theng)Mitigating the Environmental Impact of Aircraft Emissions through an Economic Theory — The Endowment Effect (Zhang Qiang) Readership: Graduate students, academics and researchers in environmental management/science. Keywords:Environment;Management;Sustainability;Asia;Corporate Environmental Management;Biodiversity and Planning;Marine Environment;Environment and Economic Development;Energy Sustainability;Renewable Energy;Urban Pollution and Waste Management;Sustainable Infrastructure;Transportation;Recycling;Urban Studies;Green Business

Human beings have a long historical relationship with the coast. Initially it provided food and security, later forming important locations for industrial and commercial development. Now the emphasis has shifted towards leisure and conservation, although the former functions remain crucial. However, it is only very recently that people have started viewing the coast as a common and valuable resource that requires rational utilisation and scientific management in order to sustain its attractiveness. Of course, enlightened management comes only through understanding of the complicated coastal regions, which enables coastal managers to balance pressures from different sectors and to minimize risks. Scientific knowledge will continue to be the most important basis for resolving the conflicts between coastal users and interest groups such as developers and ecologists. Coastal management has also shifted from traditional restorative or remedial actions towards planned avoidance of other conflicts. Despite rapid advancement in coastal sciences over recent decades, most of the major coastal issues have remained outstanding in the agenda. Control of shoreline erosion and protecting sea level rise continue to be crucial problems facing coastal scientists. Destructive coastal storms still cause tremendous damage, particularly in low altitudes. Wetland and estuary reclamation have led to the loss of the most valuable estuary wetlands which are required to sustain biological productivity and biodiversity. This volume includes papers on marine and coastal pollution, eutrophication, aquaculture, conservation and utilization, coastal wetlands, and coastal zone management.

This book presents lessons learnt from Japan’s past, in relation to coastal waters, industrial pollutants and concentrated urban populations. It examines ecosystem damage and pollution in coastal sea areas and addresses the question: What is the present status of Japanese estuaries from the view point of eutrophication and oligotrophication? The authors describe three typical situations, namely eutrophication problems in Tokyo Bay, oligotrophication problems in the Seto Inland Sea, and the disappearance of hypoxia in Dokai Bay. Readers will learn how legal controls on Total Phosphorus (TP) and Total Nitrogen (TN) loads have played an important role in each of these three bays. They will see that the results of the application of the law differ among the three bays as the characteristics of material cycling are different. The roles of community activities, water related technology development and local characteristics emerge, as responses to problems of environmental deterioration and future tasks are all investigated in this publication. The book will appeal to anyone with an interest in maintaining healthy estuaries, or in coastal water environment affairs and governing systems.

Based on the material presented at a conference organized by the Centre d’Océanologie of Marseille, held in 2008, this text covers a wealth of hot topics related to the way mankind interacts with the marine environment. With the state of our oceans and seas becoming an increasing source of concern worldwide, this timely addition to the debate features the latest research in both France and Japan. The book’s chapters present work on many of the key areas of oceanographic study. The concept of marine biodiversity is treated, in particular how it is affected by human agency and invasive species, many of which have been introduced anthropogenically. Coastal zones are analyzed in detail, with a focus on the interaction between ports and natural environments, and the ecological and economical consequences of this relationship. A chapter on aquaculture looks at ecologically sound management as well as the preservation of resources. New and emerging technologies that aid our observation of the marine environment are covered, as is the physical, chemical, biological and biogeochemical functioning of natural and man-made environments. Featuring work by some of the leading researchers in the field from both France and Japan, this work demonstrates the strength of the links between the two scientific communities, and is an important contribution to the ongoing discussion on the effects of global warming as well as mankind’s impact on the marine environment we depend on for so much.

This book analyses and provides an insight to Singapore’s planning system and practices associated with sustainable development. It takes a reflective approach in reviewing the direction, impact and significance of sustainable development in Singapore planning and the future challenges facing the city-state, which is often looked upon by many developing countries as a model.