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South-East Asia’s food production costs could go up by 80% in sustainability drive, says Study
SINGAPORE, June 26 (The Straits Times/ANN):While reducing carbon emissions will help manage the extreme weather conditions that have led to food price spikes in South-East Asia, this transition to a lower carbon future could come with its own costs, one think-tank said.
Global forecasting firm Oxford Economics estimated that the costs of producing food could go up by as much as 80 per cent in countries such as Indonesia by 2050, as governments implement measures aimed at achieving net zero.This is if regional authorities do not also introduce initiatives to mitigate the impact to the food supply chain, said Oxford Economics Asian macro consulting head Tom Rogers, during a webinar on Thursday (June 23).
The webinar, hosted by Oxford Economics, discussed findings from a study into the impact of climate change on food prices.The study, commissioned by industry body Food Industry Asia and conducted by Oxford Economics, found that heatwaves in Thailand in December 2014 and in Vietnam in February 2019 contributed to food prices going up by about 6 per cent during those months.
“Those types of extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, and they will become more frequent in the years to come,” said Rogers, who is based in Singapore.
Such extreme weather will be less frequent should the region meet the International Energy Agency’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by the middle of the century, he added.However, governments should protect consumers from the added costs of moving towards sustainable methods.Oxford Economics suggests that the authorities provide support to farmers adopting technologies that improve resilience to extreme weather as well as encourage the uptake of farm insurance, which would allow farmers to restart production more quickly after events such as floods or heatwaves.
The think-tank recommends that they support farmers in adopting measures such as solar panels and the conversion of food waste to energy, which would make them less reliant on electricity from the grid.Protecting consumers from absorbing the costs associated with the move towards greater sustainability is especially important for poorer households, which spend a greater proportion of their income on food.
“We think there is a lot that governments can do about it, we think there are plenty of policy options,” he said.
“There is a need to start the discussion on how best to go about both mitigating short-term impacts of food price volatility and also tackling that cost of transition.”
Rogers noted the study was published in February, before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which impacted energy and food prices across the world.On Thursday, it was reported that Singapore’s core inflation hit 3.6 per cent in May on the back of rising food prices – the highest core inflation rate the Republic has faced since December 2008, when it hit 4.2 per cent.Noting some countries have begun using more coal for energy generation to avoid being dependent on Russian gas, the economist said it remains to be seen whether the conflict will ultimately speed up or slow down the transition to net zero.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
