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“Towards Sustainable Development & Future Energy”
Press Releases
Borneo Bulletin
Working Together Towards Sustainable Development,
Energy By Zasika Musdi
Bandar Seri Begawan - Total, one of the world's leading oil and gas companies,
yesterday hosted a roundtable "Towards Sustainable Development and Future Energy" at Dewan Muzakarah, International Convention Centre (ICC).
The half-day programme was aimed at creating greater awareness on the
importance of alternative sources of energy and today's living in a way that does not compromise the needs of our future generations.
The roundtable conference was held in association with Asia Inc Forum and
supported by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies, French Embassy and Radio Television Brunei.
It brought together a diverse group of figures from the private and public sectors to
take part in an interactive dialogue, sharing ideas on how the government and local businesses can work together.
In a welcoming remark from the General Manager of TOTAL E&P Boreneo BV, Mr
Louis Heuze, he said at the moment the Brunei branch is revisiting Sustainable
Development and is willing to work closely with relevant government authorities to ensure that the programme will be coherent with the government's aspirations.
Present as the guest of honour at the event was Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah bin Hj Abdul Wahab, Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Resources.
In his keynote address, he posed five questions: What is Sustainable Development
and future energy? What is the relationship between these two areas? Why are
Sustainable Development and future energy a major concern today? What do we
need to do, or rather what is the mechanism that needs to be in place, to meet these
Sustainable Development objectives? And lastly, what can we, as individuals, do to contribute collectively?
In an attempt to answer the first question, Dato Hj Hamdillah continued by defining
Sustainable Development as a term that was coined at the Rio Earth Summit in
1992, and that it is a comprehensive, ambitious objective that requires participation
from many stakeholders and discipline.
He stressed that coherent action between individuals and institutions in the public
and private sectors is necessary and enables the mobilisation of resources, energy and innovative technologies to address the challenges ahead.
“Towards Sustainable Development & Future Energy”
Press Releases
Energy is at the core of the Sustainable Development Agenda, as it plays a key role
in achieving the economic, social and environmental objective of Sustainable
Development. Having access to, and therefore, adequate availability of energy and
services is a prerequisite to achieving the socioeconomic development that is
required to improve the quality of life and satisfy basic human needs. The Deputy
Minister further stressed that an adequate supply of energy is urgently needed in
developing regions, in particular, in the least developed countries, especially in
remote rural areas.
It is also a prerequisite for Sustainable Development in the industrialised world and
in countries with economies in transition, such as Brunei Darussalam. The supply of
energy and services should be secure, reliable and affordable if it were to support
businesses and local employment, and create an environment for new industrial activity.
He then touched on the environmental implications 0f the continuous use of fossil
fuels, which could be seen from the receding glaciers, the depleting snows of
Kilimanjaro, altering global rainfall patterns and the growing drought in China's
Yangtze River Basin, which experts are attributing to climate change. In evaluation, we cannot address Sustainable Development without addressing climate change.
As suggested in the United Nations Report at Johannesburg Summit 2002 on Trends
in Sustainable Development, the increasing population density, especially in Asia,
combined with higher standards of living, particularly in the developing countries, will
pose enormous strains on land, water, energy and other natural resources such as forest resources.
As natural resources become scarce, global tensions may inevitably increase.
During the Heart of Borneo Global Issue Conference held in early March, particular
emphasis was given to the sustainable economic development opportunities, and it
was viewed by His Majesty's Government to be a very important initiative,
particularly for the future of the people living on the island of Borneo.
Borneo is extremely rich in timber, minerals and water resources, which according to
the Deputy Minister needs to be managed to ensure its economic and environmental
sustainability, particularly if this critical water catchments for Borneo is to be maintained.
As of today, he continued, we are embarking on the development of Project
Implementation Framework for Brunei Darussalam, a road map which will address
targets and outputs, programmes and activities, funding, as well as institutional roles and responsibilities.
Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah believes that as individuals, we can do small things that
can make a big difference, referencing in particular to Professor Wangari Maathai,
2004 Nobel Peace Prize Winner's story of 'Hummingbird'.
“Towards Sustainable Development & Future Energy”
Press Releases
Preserving the environment can begin within our own backyard by the planting of
trees, adopting the principle of reducing, reusing and recycling waste, using water frugally, driving small economy cars and switching off the car engine while waiting.
The conference then proceeded with a "The Future of Energy" presentation by Mr
Jean-Michel Gires, Executive Vice President for Sustainable Development and the
Environment of TOTAL, who later led the environmental aspect of an open-forum discussion. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
The Brunei Times
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