Environment | Forum discusses sustainable development

Officiating guests and delegates at the 5th International Forum on Clean Energy

The 5th  International Forum on Clean Energy, hosted jointly hosted by the International Forum for Clean Energy (IFCE Macao), by the China Economic Development Research Association, and by  China Energy News, was convened yesterday.

In the two-day conference, nearly 200 government officials, energy experts, academics and industry figures gathered together to discuss the hot issues and problems regarding the development of a clean energy industry.

Yang Chonghui, vice chairman of China Economic and Social Council, said in his speech that energy transformation is “not only an economic and market issue but also a political and strategic issue.”

On September 2015, the protocol “17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development” was adopted by world leaders at a UN summit.

Thomas Gass, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, asked the leaders “to implement these goals, which are a shared vision of humanity.”

Ambrose So, director-general of IFCE Macao, said in his welcome speech at the opening ceremony that “energy saving and emission reduction are not only the responsibility of nations and governments. They also require a common understanding by the general public and collective support from all members of society.”

When talking to the media, So said that this year’s forum is different from the last four in terms of theme. This year’s theme is Clean and Efficient Use of Energy.

“Carbon emissions equal trash, and organizing this conference created so much trash,” said So. According to him, organizing the conference represents five tonnes in carbon emissions. “We encouraged participants to make donations in order to plant trees in mainland China, so that these trees will completely absorb these emissions in the next ten years,” explained So.

The ceremony also included an awards session to reward the leading people and enterprises that were committed to clean energy in 2016.

Moreover, the forum also published two blue books on clean energy: Report on the Emission Reduction of Green House Gas and Development of Carbon Market (2016) and Report on Development of Clean Heating and Building Energy Efficiency (2016).

The forum also held an IFCE Theme Summit, among other seminars related to energy industry. Julie Zhu

Jai Alai renovation to be completed this year

Sociedade de Jogos de Macau (SJM) chairman, Ambrose So reported that SJM’s Jai Alai complex – a renovated gaming property in the central area of the Macau peninsula – will be finished within this year, although he is uncertain about whether the casino will be open this year or not. So says that more time is needed for Macau to judge whether the gaming industry will continue to recover next year.

“We hope that the gaming industry’s revenue can remain stable or have a slight increase,” said So, “so that the industry and society can both feel a little bit secure and steady.” In regard to the gaming industry’s future, So stated that all parties involved hope to spend more efforts on non-gaming aspects. He believes that Macau’s gaming revenue this year can reach MOP200 billion.