OP-ED CONTRIBUTOR
By Sunviana Sunaryo
Businesses around the globe are currently facing two of the most detrimental crises of the 21st century – a financial crisis and an environmental crisis. I believe focusing only on financial concerns will be a big historic mistake. Hence, global environmental issues and promoting sustainable economic growth should be an imperative worldwide agenda, constituting an important topic for discussion in many forums, organizations and cooperation, including Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
The essay begins by delving into the status quo related to climate change in the Asia-Pacific region. The environmental crisis will outlast the serious economic downturn that worsens the financial crisis in the region. Significant loss of marine, agricultural and industrial revenue and additional environmental costs will be both big burdens and obstacles for APEC economic activities.
To address the problems, this essay proposes APEC 5 GREEN steps. These include:
? Generating Climate Change Research in the Asia-Pacific Region
? Reinforcing Green Investment Officer
? Encouraging Green Investment and Funding
? Establishing Annual Asia-Pacific Green Economy Conference
? Navigating the Right Path for the Next Green Business Leader
APEC is beyond regional cooperation, it plays a global role and I am firmly certain that APEC can translate the environmental crisis into lucrative business opportunities. These strengths and opportunities can successfully tackle all major weaknesses and threats to the APEC 5 GREEN steps proposal. These will be briefly discussed through a SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat) analysis. Afterwards, this essay shows economy benefits that APEC 5 GREEN steps will bring to Asia-Pacific economies.
Finally, the essay comes to the conclusion that APEC 5 GREEN steps are convincingly feasible steps to enhance the role of APEC in promoting sustainable green economy and simultaneously facilitating lucrative business in the region.
Businesses around the globe are currently facing two of the most detrimental crises of the 21st century – a financial crisis and an environmental crisis. I believe focusing only on financial concerns will be a big historic mistake. Hence, global environmental issues and promoting sustainable economic growth should be an imperative worldwide agenda, constituting an important topic for discussion in many forums, organizations and cooperation, including Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
The essay begins by delving into the status quo related to climate change in the Asia-Pacific region. The environmental crisis will outlast the serious economic downturn that worsens the financial crisis in the region. Significant loss of marine, agricultural and industrial revenue and additional environmental costs will be both big burdens and obstacles for APEC economic activities.
To address the problems, this essay proposes APEC 5 GREEN steps. These include:
- Generating Climate Change Research in the Asia-Pacific Region
- Reinforcing Green Investment Officer
- Encouraging Green Investment and Funding
- Establishing Annual Asia-Pacific Green Economy Conference
- Navigating the Right Path for the Next Green Business Leader
APEC is beyond regional cooperation, it plays a global role and I am firmly certain that APEC can translate the environmental crisis into lucrative business opportunities. These strengths and opportunities can successfully tackle all major weaknesses and threats to the APEC 5 GREEN steps proposal. These will be briefly discussed through a SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threat) analysis. Afterwards, this essay shows economy benefits that APEC 5 GREEN steps will bring to Asia-Pacific economies.
Finally, the essay comes to the conclusion that APEC 5 GREEN steps are convincingly feasible steps to enhance the role of APEC in promoting sustainable green economy and simultaneously facilitating lucrative business in the region.
***
Sunviana Sunaryo is an Indonesian student currently studying at Prasetiva Mulya Business School. Her essay won the third prize at the 2009 APEC Essay Competition. The full essay can be downloaded
here.
