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PolyU-led key study on air PM2.5 pollution and health awarded the RGC Theme-based Research Scheme funding

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 3 August 2022 – A key research on air fine particulate pollution and health led by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s (PolyU) Prof. Xiang-dong LI, Dean of Faculty of Construction and Environment, has won a HK$44.5 million funding in the Theme-based Research Scheme 2022/23 (Twelfth Round) of the Research Grants Council (RGC).

The project, titled “Unravelling the Black Box between Air Pollution and Public Health for Transformative Air Quality Management”, seeks to identify the toxic components and emissions sources that contribute to the acute toxicity of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) which aggravate two index diseases of the pulmonary and cardiovascular system, namely chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and ischemic heart disease.

Based on solid evidence yielded, the study will recommend effective, practical and cost-effective approaches to manage air quality and public health in Hong Kong and around the world.

Prof. Xiang-dong Li, who is also Chair Professor of Environmental Science and Technology, Ko Jan Ming Professor in Sustainable Urban Development, and Director of Research Institute for Sustainable Urban Development, said, “The completion of the planned project may lead to a revision of the Air Quality Health Index algorithm and the associated ‘Health Advice’, and a review and updates of the Air Quality Objectives in Hong Kong. The findings will also be conveyed to other national and international bodies to influence future policy formulations on air quality in different parts of the world.”

Prof. Li leads a multi-disciplinary team of over a dozen researchers from PolyU and other universities to conduct the study, several of them are advisors for the World Health Organization. The team will organise regular workshops to discuss important health issues associated with PM2.5 with potential stakeholders in expert groups.

The research team leverages latest advances in environmental toxicology and molecular epidemiology to overcome the scientific challenge of identifying the toxic components of PM2.5 and their associated sources. Through an existing PM2.5 global monitoring network, the team will select multiple cities that have distinct natural and socioeconomic conditions for the study.

The study will also consider different carbon emission reduction scenarios toward the goal of carbon neutrality, and the health benefits resulting from mitigating both air pollution and climate change.

Over the longer term, the integrated approaches established in this research could inform future studies on the chronic effect of PM2.5 on health for identifying ways to regulate its long-term effects related to lung cancer and neurodegeneration.

Prof. Li’s project is one of eight outstanding research proposals awarded in this latest round of RGC funding totalling HK$306 million.

Hashtag: #PolyU

Media OutReach Newswire Strengthens Distribution Network in Australia

Guarantees up to 23 online news postings in Australia

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 3 August 2022 – Media OutReach Newswire, Asia Pacific’s first global newswire strengthened its distribution in Australia by partnering 23 Australian media to provide guarantee online news posting in the country. With the new additions of the online content partners, Media OutReach Newswire is the only global press release distribution company that offers the most online news posting for press release distribution to Australia.

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“Media OutReach Newswire constantly invests in strengthening press release distribution results for our clients country-by-country in both online news media partnership as means to provide guarantee news posting and in building journalists and editors database. The 23 guaranteed online news posting strengthens our capabilities in delivering quality news releases that are interesting to the Australian readers and supports our clients in building their communication success in Australia,” Jennifer Kok, Founder and CEO of Media OutReach Newswire said.

For Australia, Media OutReach Newswire has a comprehensive distribution network that owns a database of more than 14,000 journalists and editors who actively opened their clients’ press releases covering 340 news beat and over 7,500 publications for Australia. Its extensive journalist database includes national, regional, and local town media. Among the popular news beat categories are arts and culture, business and finance, cryptocurrency, ESG, Fintech, healthcare, mining, pharmaceutical, retail and consumer products, technology, travel & hospitality and so on.

Media OutReach Newswire partners with reputable media partners within Asia Pacific and internationally to provide guarantee online news posting as the online news posting helps our clients to have immediate visibility online. This online visibility not only is important in building brand trusts with their clients and stakeholders but also with search algorithms to influence organic search ranking. For any press release distribution, Media OutReach Newswire provides a minimum of 130 online news posting to authentic news websites across Asia Pacific and internationally.

Hashtag: #MediaOutReachNewswire #MediaOutReach

About Media OutReach Newswire

Founded in 2009, Media OutReach is the first global newswire founded in the Asia Pacific region with offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and with its headquarters in Hong Kong. Media OutReach constantly invests in its distribution network and post release report to deliver an authentic service that connects clients to journalist, build online visibility, empower their SEO and social media.

Media OutReach Newswire is the only company that owns its distribution network across 25 countries in the Asia Pacific; possessing a database of more than 140,000 journalists, 400 trade categories, 65,000 media titles, and has partnership with more than 500 real media to provide guarantee real online news posting for their clients’ news releases.

With proprietary technology at its core, Media OutReach disrupts the newswire industry by delivering multimedia and multilanguage directly to journalists and provides post release reports that offer reporting options that helps PR professional to reports efficiently and quickly. With its ownership of its distribution, their reports include insights into journalists accessing the news by publication and country.

In 2021, Media OutReach was named “the Most Important and Influential Asian PR Distribution Service provider for Asia Pacific Region” by TMCnet, the world’s leading trade online media website covering communications and technology. Media OutReach was also named “2021 OPPO Partner of the Year” by OPPO Global, the world’s leading smart device manufacturers and innovators. For more information, please visit

Wildfire Burgers Partners With Private Dining Chef To Launch Fatfuku Cheeseburger

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 3 August 2022 – Wildfire Burger is partnering with private dining chef, Annette Tan to launch, for a limited time only, Fatfuku Cheeseburger.

Available only in the month of August, Fatfuku Cheeseburger will be launched in collaboration with private dining chef Annette Tan, who is not only an established chef but also an author who has written several food-related books and articles in Singapore and the surrounding regions. Known as @fat_fuku on various social media platforms, together with Wildfire Burgers, Fatfuku Cheeseburger, which is made using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients will consist of a brioche bun fully stacked with a Wagyu beef patty, chilli padi beef cheek marmalade, American cheese, coriander pesto, kaffir lime leaf, and sambal belachan mayo in between them. The highlight of the burger is the chilli padi beef cheek marmalade which consists of various ingredients, such as chilli padi, kicap manis, and dark soy sauce, among others. It is lightly seared before it is left to braise for up to 8 hours, thus achieving its melt-in-your-mouth and rich flavour profile.

Annette Tan, who has amassed over twelve thousand followers on social media, has been in the food industry for many years. Specialising in Peranakan and Eurasian cuisine, she has showcased local produce through private dining experiences for the past 15 years. Not only that, but she has also contributed her recipes to various newspapers and magazines, as well as consulted on menus at bakeries and restaurants all around Singapore. With the upcoming National Day, Wildfire Burgers’ intention to introduce local flavours has led them to partner with Annette. The use of contrasting flavours and textures certainly pays tribute to Annette’s specialty in both Peranakan and Eurasian cuisine.

This is not the first time Wildfire Burgers have partnered with chefs outside their kitchens. They previously have partnered with Butcher’s Block, a famous restaurant in Raffles Hotel, in creating a collaborative burger called Garum Cheeseburger which consisted of some of the finest Irish beef. Wildfire Burgers have also released seasonal burgers such as Uni Ebi Burger, Korean Army Stew Burger, and Manjimup Black Truffle Eggstarter, all of which are inspired by flavours from all over the world. Through such partnerships and seasonal releases, Wildfire Burgers hope to introduce new and unique flavours and experiences to their customers.

Wildfire Burgers is a multi-award-winning burger joint that was launched in 2015. They then expanded to China, opening 38 outlets across five cities. After opening three successful outlets in Singapore, Wildfire Burgers took a brief hiatus from 2019 to 2020, reinventing its menu. Today they can be found at two key locations, offering a fantastic spread of burgers for lunch and dinner. They also provide burger delivery wherever you are in Singapore. The secret to their deliciously smoked burgers is the use of a Binchotan charcoal-fired INKA grill, which allows their chef to create unrivaled smoky flavours at up to 450 degrees Celsius.

You can taste Fatfuku Cheeseburger, which will only be available for the month of August in limited quantities daily, at both Wildfire Burgers outlets located at 1557 Keppel and Bencoolen Street for $19, be it dine-in, takeaway, or delivery. For more information on Wildfire Burgers and their extensive spread of burgers, desserts, and drinks options, do visit https://www.wildfireburgers.com/ or their socials at WildfireBurgers.SG.

Hashtag: #WildfireBurgers

First Lao Sci-Fi Film, “The Long Walk,” to Shine on Netflix

The Long Walk (Bor Mi Vanh Chark), a Lao science fiction/drama film, will be the first Lao film to be available on Netflix, where it will begin streaming on 15 August.

Food Expo and four concurrent events kick off next week; Presenting all-new pavilions; 90% of exhibitors accept consumption vouchers

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach2 August 2022 Organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), the highly anticipated HKTDC Food Expo, HKTDC Home Delights Expo, HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo and HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair will run from 11-15 August at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Under the overarching theme “Living a New Style“, the four fairs will present close to 1,000 exhibitors, featuring a wide array of global gourmet foods and various new products. In addition, the International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM), organised by the Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association (MCMIA) together with the HKTDC and eight scientific research institutions, will be held at the same venue on 11 and 12 August to deliver professional Chinese medicine insights into the industry.

The 32nd Food Expo, the eighth Home Delights Expo, the sixth Beauty and Wellness Expo and the 13th Hong Kong International Tea Fair will open at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 11 August, running alongside the International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products. Sophia Chong, HKTDC Acting Executive Director, introduced key highlights of the five events at a press conference today


Introducing details of the five events at a press conference today, Sophia Chong, HKTDC Acting Executive Director, said: “The Food Expo is an eagerly awaited annual event in Hong Kong that has been well received by the public for more than 30 years. This year, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), we have invited 13 star chefs to conduct cooking demonstrations of 25 dishes as one of the key highlights. The second phase of the Consumption Voucher Scheme and the recent opening of the Exhibition Centre MTR station will help attract more people to attend the concurrent events and enjoy a one-stop shopping experience.”

The Food Expo offers a wide range of products for those who enjoy indulging in a variety of international cuisines, including Ethiopia Sidama (natural) coffee beans, ice cream with no added sugar and Thai green curry vegan chicken


Food Expo (11-15 August) – a global culinary journey

The 32nd edition of the Food Expo presents the Public Hall, Gourmet Zone and Trade Zone to showcase the finest international cuisines. The Gourmet Zone will be open to the public for four days (11-14 August) and will feature 90 exhibitors presenting the best of Asian and European cuisines, desserts, organic foods, fine coffee and more. A new theme, Beer Cheers, will enable the public to explore quality beers from a number of local craft breweries.

The Public Hall, with more than 430 exhibitors, is a five-day international culinary extravaganza where the Premium Food zone will feature more than 20 renowned brands, including Maxims, Tai Pan, Nissin, Sau Tao, Tao Ti, WH Group, On Kee Dry Seafood and newcomers, such as BGS. In addition, a number of organisations are setting up group pavilions to promote quality goods directly to consumers, including Hong Kong & Kowloon Provisions, Wine & Spirit Dealers’ Association x Nam Pak Hong Association, Beverage and Food Community, Hong Kong People and Brands, Korean Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Food Science and Technology Association, Hong Kong General Chamber of Wine & Spirits and the Hong Kong Wine and Spirits Association . Overseas group pavilions set up through local representatives, including the Agricultural Trade Promotion Center, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chongqing Municipality from Mainland China, plus the Aomori Prefecture of Japan, Japan External Trade Organization and Indonesia, will present local specialities and different culinary cultures.

Food and beverage specialities at the Food Expo include cold brew coffee made with single-origin Ethiopia Sidama (natural) coffee beans, ice cream with no added sugar, and LEAVES Sarawak 3-layer milk tea from Malaysia. Given the growing popularity of vegetarian food, the expo has also sourced a wide range of sustainable and healthy vegetarian options, including Thai green curry vegan chicken, plant-based golden nuggets and plant-based crab cakes.

The Trade Zone (11-13 August) will feature more than 100 exhibitors and multiple group pavilions, including a number of provinces from Mainland China, such as Zhejiang, Hubei as well as the Sichuan online pavilion, and more. Featured products include Shaoxing Huadiao wine from Zhejiang, wild camellia oil from Hubei and truffle wine from Sichuan. The three-day exhibition is open to both industry buyers and public ticket holders.

To celebrate the HKSAR’s 25th anniversary, 13 star chefs will perform cooking demonstrations of 25 dishes. They include Executive Chef Ho Wai-sing of The Royal Garden Chinese Restaurant, Chinese Chef de Cuisine Ho Chun-hung of Hyatt Regency Hong Kong, Sha Tin, Founder of Hung’s Delicacies Lai Wai-hung and Executive Chef Will Leung of 1111. In collaboration with the Environment and Ecology Bureau’s Committee on Reduction of Salt and Sugars in Food, and the Centre for Food Safety, the expo will invite famous chefs to demonstrate “less salt and less sugar” recipes to encourage healthy eating in the city. Other activities being held during the expo include seminars on food technology and the introduction of restaurants from the EatSmart Restaurant Star+ Campaign.

Home Delights Expo (11-15 August) – building the ideal smart home

The eighth Home Delights Expo will showcase a wide range of smart home products, kitchen appliances, kitchenware, tableware, furniture and household products. The Avenue of Delights will feature nearly 40 exhibitors and several lifestyle brands, including Towngas, ZWILLING JA Henckels, Rasonic, A-Fontane, Tiger, German Pool and Zhang Xiao Quan. In addition, the expo will present various innovative products, including an ultra-small window cleaning robot (Wi-Fi version), an EMS and heating soother with eight connectors, an intelligent ionic 3D oscillating air circulation fan,a smart healthy pot, and more.

This year, the Hong Kong Furniture and Decoration Trade Association pavilion will showcase home design elements that integrate technology in various living situations to create the ideal smart home. In addition, the Creative Corner will introduce several innovative products from local start-ups, including handmade wooden frame glasses, a European birch grinder, and an iced tea candle.

Beauty & Wellness Expo (11-15 August) – revitalising beauty inside and out

The sixth Beauty & Wellness Expo will showcase a wide range of beauty and fitness products. In addition to the four major pavilions hosted by the Federation of Beauty Industry HK, Hong Kong Hair & Beauty Merchants Association, International Beauty & Health General Union, and The Cosmetic & Perfumery Association of Hong Kong Ltd, there will also be new pavilions formed by the Hong Kong China Federation of Bodybuilding & Fitness Limited and International Beauty Professionals Validation Association. The expo will feature a wide range of products for those looking for a healthy lifestyle, including an organic juicy makeup remover, an aroma bubble bath bomb and a total body portable gym. Several exciting events will be held during the expo, including a talk by diet therapy, health and beauty expert Yoko Tsang on the new normal for skincare.

International Tea Fair (11-13 August) – celebrating the art of tea

The 13th Hong Kong International Tea Fair brings a variety of exceptional products, such as Yunnan Taetea and Hong Kong-style milk tea home brew sets. The fair also features the Hubei pavilion, bringing its famous local teas to the city. KamCha will also share his valuable insights into brewing Hong Kong-style milk tea.

This year, both the Hong Kong International Tea Fair and the Trade Zone of the Food Expo will adopt EXHIBITION+, the brand-new hybrid exhibition model, allowing global food and tea buyers to simultaneously conduct business through the physical exhibition and online platform. Exhibitors and buyers who cannot attend the fairs in person can actively browse AI-recommended leads, search partners proactively, and send meeting requests for video conferences through Click2Match, the smart business-matching platform, up to seven days before the fairs.

ICMCM (11-12 August) – experts discuss Chinese medicine based new drug innovations

The Modernized Chinese Medicine International Association together with the HKTDC and eight scientific research institutions have joined together to present the latest International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine & Health Products (ICMCM), providing invaluable Chinese medicine information and insights for industry participants. This year’s theme is “Innovative Drug Development and Clinical Research in Chinese Medicine”, featuring 17 keynote speakers, including experts from the United States, Australia, Austria, Germany, Japan, Mainland China and Hong Kong, who will discuss research results and share successful cases of integrating Chinese and Western medicines. The conference will run in a hybrid format with physical and online sessions to facilitate exchange of ideas among participants and the speakers.

Support for consumption voucher payment and daily lucky draw

With the second phase of the Consumption Voucher Scheme to be disbursed before the fairs, the HKTDC has been encouraging exhibitors to use electronic payment systems. A survey of exhibitors at the four fairs conducted by the HKTDC showed that more than 90% of them will accept at least one consumption voucher payment method for the convenience of the public. In addition, the new livestreaming sessions, created in partnership with livestreaming platform LOOPLIVE, will have key opinion leaders (KOLs) broadcast live about highlighted products and shopping privileges on the LOOPLIVE app before and during the fairs.

The “Buy-more-get-more Lucky Draw” will be held daily during the exhibition period with prizes including household products, skincare products, gourmet food, health products and fitness classes. Spending HK$200 or more on a single receipt gives visitors one entry into the lucky draw, with a maximum of five entries per receipt. The HKTDC has launched the “August Happy Buy” website, keeping the public up to date on the latest shopping news and various flash sales, including a HK$1 chicken pot, abalone noodle gift boxes and snowy durian mooncakes. Attendees can also download some 200 e-coupons in advance to enjoy all the special offers at the exhibitions.

Safety arrangements for visitors

Safety is a top priority for the HKTDC, and various measures will be put in place to protect participants against the pandemic, including requiring everyone entering and staying in the fairground to wear a mask; not allowing eating, drinking and sample tasting in the fairground; setting up temperature-screening stations; providing hand sanitiser at multiple locations around the venue; and stepping up the cleaning and disinfection of exhibitors’ booths and the venue itself. All exhibition visitors will be required to use the LeaveHomeSafe mobile app to scan the venue QR code and present their Vaccine Pass at the fair entrance.

Physical ticket sales for the August exhibitions will not be available at the fairground to avoid cash usage and minimise contact. Visitors can pay with their Octopus card at the entrance toll booths to gain entry. To spread the flow of visitors and encourage the public to visit the exhibitions during non-peak hours, the HKTDC has introduced morning and night admission tickets at special prices. Details of the ticketing arrangements can be found below.

Photo download: https://bit.ly/3OOBM8h

Opening dates and times of August exhibitions:

Date

HKTDC Food Expo Public Hall, HKTDC Home Delights Expo, HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo:
11 to 15 August (Thursday to Monday)

HKTDC Food Expo Gourmet Zone:
11 to 14 August (Thursday to Sunday)

HKTDC Food Expo Trade Zone, Hong Kong International Tea Fair:
11 to 13 August (Thursday to Saturday)

Opening hours

11 to 14 August: 10am-10pm
(HKTDC Food Expo Trade Zone and the Hong Kong International Tea Fair will end at 6pm on 13 August)

15 August: 10am-6pm

Venue

Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai
Admission

  • HKTDC Food Expo Public Hall, HKTDC Food Expo Trade Zone, HKTDC Home Delights Expo, HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo, HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair: HK$25
  • The above exhibitions plus the Food Expo Gourmet Zone: HK$40
  • Morning admission tickets: (entry before noon on 11, 12 and 15 August, Thursday, Friday and Monday): HK$10 (pay directly by Octopus for admission at the hall entrances only)
  • Note: Morning admission ticket-holders can pay a top-up fee of HK$15 for admission to the Gourmet Zone on the same day.
  • Night admission tickets (entry after 6pm on 11, 12, 13 and 14 August, Thursday to Sunday): HK$10 (pay directly by Octopus for admission at the hall entrances only) Note: Night admission ticket-holders can pay a top-up fee of HK$15 for admission to the Gourmet Zone on the same night.
  • Concessionary price for persons with disabilities: HK$10 (top-up fee for the Gourmet Zone on the same day is HK$10) Note: Persons with disabilities need to present a “Registration Card for Persons with Disabilities”, issued by the Labour and Welfare Bureau (pay directly by Octopus for admission at the hall entrances only).
  • Tourist tickets: HK$20 (HK$30 including admission to the Gourmet Zone) Note: Tourists need to present valid travel documents at the fairground to purchase tickets.
  • Free admission for children aged three and under, and senior citizens aged 65 or above (presenting a Senior Citizen Card or valid age proof)
Tickets

  • Tickets are now available at the Hong Kong Ticketing website, purchase hotline and the Box Office at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
  • E-tickets are also available for sale at the 01 Space e-ticketing platform, 7-Eleven stores, Circle K stores, via Neigbuy and the Octopus App.
HKTDC Food Expo

hkfoodexpo.hktdc.com
HKTDC Home Delights Expo

homedelights.hktdc.com

HKTDC Beauty & Wellness Expo

hkbeautyexpo.hktdc.com
HKTDC Hong Kong International Tea Fair

hkteafair.hktdc.com

The International Conference of the Modernization of Chinese Medicine and Health Products (ICMCM)

icmcm.hktdc.com

August Happy Buy website

ecoupon.hktdc.com/food/

Hygiene measures and health tips

https://bit.ly/3S2wokS

Hashtag: #HKTDC #FoodExpo

About HKTDC

The is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises, and to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via and . For more information, please visit: . Follow us on @hktdc and

Country Queen Is The First Kenyan Licensed Branded Series On Netflix

Country Queen, which premiered in 190 countries exclusively on Netflix 15th of July, is the first high-quality drama series from East Africa to reach a global audience! Launching as No. 1 TV Show in Kenya on Netflix for two weeks in a row, the series continues to gain stellar reviews, more traction and global recognition. ____________________________________________________________________

When death awakens a sleepy village, its past threatens to haunt the present.

BERLIN, GERMANY – Newsaktuell – 2 August 2022 – COUNTRY QUEEN is a family drama series set in contemporary Kenya. The new, original drama series, first out of Kenya, is adding to the growing list of dynamic African content. The past and present collide in this David vs. Goliath story when a mining company threatens to destroy the rural home of AKISA MUTUNGA, an ambitious event planner, who is pitted against a deadly businesswoman, whose husband she is entangled with. Akisa finds herself in the midst of a love triangle, as she struggles to find her place in life by finding her true love and lost son.

COUNTRY QUEEN Poster portrait

Issues of land grabbing and exploitation form the tapestry against which the fractured personal lives and relationships of Country Queen’s main characters play out. The fight for land becomes a fight for redemption and truth. The characters have to face the consequences of their own choices. The fictional story carries many elements of truth that speak to a range of issues such as family disputes, land ownership and exploitation that affect millions of people in Africa and worldwide.

Vivienne & Max.

Good Karma Fiction, together with ten up and coming Kenyan writers, developed the narrative. Good Karma Fiction’s managing directors are the show runners of COUNTRY QUEEN. Season 1 was co-financed by German-French channel Arte/ZDF, German Government/DW Akademie, a private investor and Netflix.

https://www.countryqueen.tv/

Hashtag: #CountryQueenKenya

Police Officer in Vietnam Steals Gold, Gives It Away

A uniformed police officer in central Vietnam allegedly robbed a gold shop, then threw the expensive stolen items into the street, saying they were “for the poor.”

Climate Positive, Proof Positive Selected climate-positive approaches and proof-positive rating and benchmarking systems for sustainable real estate

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 2 August 2022 – Cushman & Wakefield, a leading global real estate services firm, today released its Climate Positive, Proof Positive —— Selected climate-positive approaches and proof-positive rating and benchmarking systems for sustainable real estate report. According to an estimate by the United Nations, globally, the built environment is responsible for around 40% of energy and carbon emissions. In this context, the promotion of the climate positive concept and sustainable development within the real estate sector is undoubtedly a key step which China could take when looking to achieve its “carbon peak and carbon neutrality” goals in the future.

CWEN08023.jpg

What is climate positive?

Climate positive is an initiative that goes above and beyond. Here, net zero carbon emissions are achieved and surpassed whereby an environmental benefit is produced by eradicating additional carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere.

Buildings can realise climate-positive results in a number of ways, including:

  • The choice of building location;
  • The choice of building design and energy modelling;
  • The usage of eco-friendly, low carbon, reused or recycled materials;
  • The minimisation of material and operational wastage;
  • The maximisation of structural efficiency;
  • The use of building insulation;
  • The regular maintenance of plant, machinery, sensors and devices and ensuring these systems have the latest technology;
  • The use of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction systems;
  • The use of renewable energy;
  • The use of intelligent energy management systems;
  • The maximisation of water use reduction, and;
  • The re-use/renewal of the building upon current-use obsolescence.

Rating and benchmarking systems that are used to positively prove how sustainable real estate is and how sustainable an enterprise is, (and if any are able to achieve a climate-positive outcome), are many. Two systems that have gained market traction recently, however, are:

1. At the enterprise level – The Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)
.
The TCFD system allows enterprises to recognise and disclose climate-related risks and opportunities so as to enable informed decision making for investors, lenders, insurers and other related participants. The use of the TCFD system aids enterprises as they ascertain and handle physical and transition climate risks.

2. At the real estate level – The Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB).
GRESB assesses the environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance of real assets, which

include real estate. In terms of environmental issues, the rating system encourages enterprises to reduce GHG emissions, lessen wastage, and conserve water and energy.

Today, these two systems have gained solid market traction and are widely used by many enterprises to help them achieve their sustainability goals.

Shaun Brodie, Head of Occupier Research, Greater China, Cushman & Wakefield said, “Cushman & Wakefield aims to reach net zero emissions across its entire value chain by 2050. In the context of the ‘carbon peak and carbon neutrality’ objective in China and global warming, there are still some people, enterprises, and localities that may not have the resources or plans in place to lessen their individual carbon footprint, to go carbon negative or even to strive for a climate positive goal. By understanding the concept of climate positive and learning how to implement some of the related ‘green’ rating and benchmarking systems these groups of people and organisations will be best placed to achieve sustainability targets that actually add positive benefit value to the environment now and into the future.”

Alton Wong, Co-head of Sustainability Services Platform, Greater China, Head of Advisory Services, Valuation & Advisory Services, Greater China, Cushman & Wakefield, said, “Since the COP26 meeting in Glasgow in 2021, one significant development has been the formation of a new International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) to develop, in the public interest, an all-embracing global baseline for high-quality disclosure standards to meet the needs of investors. Once used, it will greatly affect the future development of Chinese enterprises.”

Corrine Chen, Acting Co-head of Sustainability Services Platform, Greater China, Acting Head of Project & Development Services, West China, Cushman & Wakefield, said, “The built environment can reduce its emissions by going net zero, but some real estate enterprises today are looking to go climate positive, an initiative that goes above and beyond. Cushman & Wakefield is committed to helping enterprises achieve their sustainability goals.”

Please click here to download the full reportHashtag: #Cushman&Wakefield

About Cushman & Wakefield

Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global real estate services firm that delivers exceptional value for real estate occupiers and owners. Cushman & Wakefield is among the largest real estate services firms with approximately 50,000 employees in over 400 offices and 60 countries. Across Greater China, 23 offices are servicing the local market. The company won four of the top awards in the Euromoney Survey 2017, 2018 and 2020 in the categories of Overall, Agency Letting/Sales, Valuation and Research in China. In 2021, the firm had revenue of $9.4 billion across core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, valuation, and other services. To learn more, visit or follow us on LinkedIn ().