Forum features cutting-edge solutions to cut down on carbon emissions
The need for Asia-Pacific to develop advanced solutions to address soaring CO2 emissions across the region grows more pressing by the year. A 2015 Asia Development Bank study, for example, estimates that unless rapid mitigation measures are taken, climate change could result in GDP dropping by 11% across South-East Asia by 2100.
A recently signed agreement has the potential to spread state-of-the art technologies to countries throughout Asia-Pacific, particularly developing ones who are often hardest hit by the effects of climate change.
UNESCO in coordination with the Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), the Korea-Thailand Chamber of Commerce (KTCC) and the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programme in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP) organized the second Asia-Pacific Business Forum on 7-8 March to discuss the implementation of KIGAM’s newly developed CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage) technologies which hold promise in addressing climate change in the region.
The CCUS technologies optimize the recycling of industrial waste and reduce CO2 emissions through:
■ The transition to ‘green cement’ using the ‘fly ash’ of coal power plants. The new cement is both durable and strong, and emits considerably less CO2 (traditional processes are major sources of CO2 emissions in the region.
■ Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) technology reusing the CO2 emitted from flue gases to fabricate waste paper pulp.
A main focus of the Asia-Pacific Business Forum was to establish international cooperation networks between relevant industries, universities and institutes. KIGAM, UNESCO and CCOP reached an agreement to share the CCUS technologies with developing countries in the region and enhance international cooperation via international climate change funds.
This video offers more information on KIGAM’s technology.
