【意見交流園地】Karen Ho / 【Idea Exchange】Karen Ho
發生甚麼事？
巴西亞馬遜地區引發的火災在本周已引起全球關注，更被法國總統馬克龍稱為「國際危機」。亞馬遜被稱為「地球之肺」，因為它的樹木吸收二氧化碳並釋放氧氣，地球上每個人都受惠於一個擁有健康的亞馬遜。它也是地球上最大、最多樣化的熱帶雨林，更是世界上一半以上植物和動物的家園。
什麼是潛在的根本原因？
氣候變化（造成的乾燥天氣、風災和熱浪）、加速地砍伐樹木、棕櫚油、牛肉、大豆和木材都是已知的火災產生最大因素。同時，7月分森林砍伐率已達到了驚人的高位。人們砍伐了一片片的森林，令該地區變得乾旱，再燒掉了樹木殘骸，也可能有人放火以嘗試補充土壤，解釋了火勢蔓延的原因。
它與可持續金融有什麼關係？
挪威最大的投資者、管理著1,700億美元的綜合資產的Storebrand ASA以及KLP養老基金，正在研究哪些公司可能需要對火災造成的任何潛在損害負上責任。他們正在與不同企業商討，並加強研究，以確定誰應對任何潛在損害負責。瑞典政府也正在接觸其養老基金，以確保他們的投資不會引起對亞馬遜地區的環境破壞。
它與我有什麼關係？
如果你是可能直接或間接導致森林火災公司的投資者，你應該意識到你的投資可能存在風險，因為最大的投資者將有意撤資，這將影響他們的融資成本和股價。
全球客戶、銀行和投資者也對可能無法可持續採購的公司施加壓力。看看這份互動報告，了解誰在尋找可持續棕櫚油，這有助你在購買任何產品時作出明智的決定：
亞馬遜正在求救！請捐助Earth Alliance – Amazon Fund 以及 Rainforest Alliance 等慈善機構伸出援手！
香港地球之友一向關注氣候變化以及亞馬遜，以下為本會相關的建議及工作，期望得到你的支持和參與。
- 促請巴西政府必須積極尋求方法處理災情，世界各國長遠亦應改用可持續發展模式，停止開墾亞馬遜雨林。
- 促請政府增加本港的綠化比率，營造一個香港人的「碳匯」。
- 2005年開始本會舉辦《酷森林》，超過9,300名參加者成功登山植樹，在各大郊野公園共種植了83,000棵本地品種小樹苗。《酷森林2020》將於明年春季假大欖郊野公園舉行，本會已為此展開了籌備工作。
- 本會為「賽馬會智慧城市樹木管理計劃」提供樹木培訓。在來年，我們會安排更多中學講座和社區研討會，以加強市民對樹木的認識。
詳情請瀏覽本會新聞稿連結:
http://bit.ly/2lUoQ93
What is happening?
The fire raging across Brazil’s Amazon has become a global concern this week, it was being called as an “international crisis” by French President Emmanuel Macron. The Amazon is known as the “Lungs of the planet”, and everyone on the planet benefits from the health of the Amazon as its trees take in carbon dioxide and release oxygen. It is also the largest, most diverse tropical rainforest on mother Earth and is home to more than half the world’s species of plants and animals.
What would be potential root cause?
Climate change (dry weather, wind and heat), accelerating deforestation, palm oil, cattle, soy and timber are known to be the greatest drivers. Deforestation rates reached startling highs in July. People cut down patches of forest, allow the area to dry out, then burn the remains and might also set fires to replenish the soil.
How is it related to Sustainable Finance?
Norway’s biggest investors, with combined assets under management of USD 170 Billion, Storebrand ASA and pension fund KLP are mapping out which companies may be responsible for any potential damage for the fire. They are talking to companies and intensifying their research to map out who’s responsible for any potential damage. The Swedish government is also reaching out to its pension funds to ensure their investments aren’t contributing to environmental damage in the Amazon.
How is it related to me?
If you are the investors of companies which could directly or indirectly contributing to the forest fire, you should be aware of potential risk of your investment as the biggest investors are going to exit their positions on those companies and it would affect their cost of finance and share price.
Global customers, banks and investors are also giving pressures to companies which might not be sourcing sustainably. Take a look at this interactive report to understand who are sourcing sustainable palm oil so you can make a wise decision when you buy any of your products from them:
Amazon S.O.S. Please help by donating to charities like Earth Alliance – Amazon Fund and Rainforest Alliance !
Climate change is FoE’s major advocacy and we really care about Amazon! We have the following four climate related recommendations and works to combat climate change. We look forward to your continued support and participation.
- We urge the Brazilian Government to actively tackle the disaster. Countries around the world should adopt a sustainable development model to stop deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.
- We urge the Hong Kong Government to increase the green ratio in Hong Kong and create a local “carbon sink”.
- We have organised Tree Planting Challenge since 2005. More than 9,300 participants have successfully climbed and planted 83,000 native saplings in various country parks. We are now preparing for “Tree Planting Challenge 2020”, which will be held in Tai Lam Country Park next spring.
- We have been delivering professional training to the local stakeholders under the “Jockey Club Smart City Tree Management Project”. In the coming year, we will be arranging more secondary school talks as well as community seminars to enhance their knowledge in trees.
Please refer to the link below to view our press release.
http://bit.ly/2lXwQWV
Thank you for your sharing. I am worried that I lack creative ideas. It is your article that makes me full of hope. Thank you. But, I have a question, can you help me?
Your point of view caught my eye and was very interesting. Thanks. I have a question for you.