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Greening of
Industry Network establishes Asian center.
The Environmental Research Institute at Chulalongkorn University in
Bangkok, Thailand, has agreed to serve as the Asian base for the
international Greening of Industry Network. The Network's mission is to
stimulate, coordinate, and promote research of high quality and relevance to
ensure that industry activities are consistent with building a sustainable
future.
For the past six months, the US-AEP Policy Group has worked with the
Network to identify an Asian center to complement the activities of the
Network's two existing centers: Clark University in the United States and
Twente University in the Netherlands. US-AEP led a U.S. team that
held early February meetings in Bangkok with the Network,
Chulalongkorn University, prominent Thai industries, NGOs, and government
officials. This team consisted of Halina Brown of Clark University and the
Network; Methi Wecharatana of the New Jersey Institute of Technology; as
well as US-AEP representatives John Butler and Brenda Bateman (Policy
Group); Julie Haines and Suzanne Young (Clean Technology and Environmental
Management); Kitti Kumpeera (Urban Environmental Infrastructure
Representative, Bangkok); and Satit Sanongphan (Deputy
Technology Representative, Bangkok). These meetings concluded with strong
support of Chulalongkorn as the Asian base. US-AEP has pledged financial and
logistical support for the Network's new node; in return, Chulalongkorn is
providing office space to Ms. Young, US-AEP's representative for greening
the supply chain.
The first joint activity between US-AEP and the Network at Chulalongkorn
will be a regional workshop, held in June at the university, to incorporate
environmental considerations into the region's economic recovery strategies.
The workshop has received the co-sponsorship of Thailand's Ministry of
Science, Technology, and Environment; Pollution Control Department;
Department of Industrial Works; and the Federation of Thai Industries, as
well as the Philippines' Environmental Management Bureau, the United Nations
Environment Program (UNEP), and the Asian Productivity Organization. Several
additional workshops are currently under development.
Michigan
firm brings recycled building panels to Bangladesh.
NewHouse R&D of Ann Arbor, Michigan--sponsored by
Schoolcraft College of Livonia, Michigan--was recently awarded a US-AEP
Environmental Technology Fund grant for an ongoing project in
Bangladesh. The company is using its water-based polymer technology to
create building panels from renewable fibers, which serve as a substitute
for materials that are more costly or damaging to the environment. NewHouse
is test-marketing 12 "NewHouse Shelters" made from cellulose waste products
in Bangladesh, as well as building panels for other products. The project is
partially financed through Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, which provides credit
to the poor. The bank's founder and Managing Director Muhammad Yunus,
commenting on the NewHouse project, said, "We are interested in the
opportunity presented by [NewHouse's] polymer technology... This panel could
be useful for several applications in Grameen-designed houses." The
Environmental Technology Fund is managed by the National Association
of State Development Agencies.
Training
courses further CTEM goals.
US-AEP's Environmental Exchange Program (EEP) has scheduled four courses
for 1998 that support the program's Clean Technology and Environmental
Management (CTEM) goals:
Additional courses will be announced later in 1998. EEP is administered
by the Institute of International Education (IIE). Contact John Speicher for
more information via fax: 202-326-7709 or e-mail:
eep@iie.org
CSG
receives 21 proposals for SEI grants.
The Council of State Governments (CSG), which administers US-AEP's
State Environmental Initiative (SEI) program, has received 21 proposals from
state governments for this year's round of grants. Proposals reflect
state-sponsored projects that further US-AEP goals in Clean Technology and
Environmental Management (CTEM). States submitting proposals this year
include Alaska, California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada,
Rhode Island, and Washington. Countries that have been targeted for projects
are India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri
Lanka, and Thailand. In mid-April, the SEI Advisory Committee will vote on
acceptance of the proposals, and those selected will receive matching grants
of up to $150,000. Now in its fourth year, SEI provides an incentive for
states to share policy strategies and technologies with US-AEP focus
economies. To date, 18 SEI grants have been awarded to 18 states with
partners in nine Asian economies. |
