Sep 16, 2011

APEC/ASEAN Conference on Green Buildings and Green Growth Emphasizes Cooperation on Standards to Reduce Trade Barriers

The role of standards as facilitators of trade was the focus of the Sept. 11-13 Conference on Green Buildings and Green Growth: Approaches to Encouraging a Positive Green Building Climate. The event took place in the Republic of Singapore and brought together 24 economies and 140 participants from the Asia-Pacific region to promote sustainable building practices.

Since the establishment of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 1989 by 12 Pacific Rim economies, five of which were also founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the two organizations have worked towards a common goal of sustainable economic growth through the promotion of free trade and increased economic integration. The three-day joint conference illustrates the strength of that partnership. 

The event was funded by USAID, and supported by the Singapore Building and Construction Authority. ASTM International  co-organized the conference along with U.S. Department of Commerce. The conference was part of a project overseen by the Commerce Department and ASTM International to build awareness and promote participation in developing the technical requirements that will facilitate trade in the sustainable construction of commercial buildings. A further aspect of the project concerns uniformity in measuring claims regarding sustainable products, case studies, and a workshop held earlier in the year in Washington, D.C. (www.astm.org/GLOBAL/APEC).

"ASTM is pleased to partner with the U.S. Department of Commerce in the development of the concept for this APEC project. The extension of the project to include a second conference, thanks to the support of USAID and the Singapore Building Construction Authority, highlights the vitality of the public/private partnership in this effort, the relevance and importance of standards for green building construction, as well as the trade of related products in the Asia Pacific region," commented Teresa Cendrowska, vice president of global cooperation, ASTM International.

Conference sessions and panel discussions covered the opportunities and challenges associated with green building in the Asia-Pacific region, individual experiences with the development and implementation of sustainable building standards, and efforts to promote sustainable building practices across the entire Asia-Pacific region. Conference delegates were invited to take part in wider discussion of these themes at International Green Building Week events, held Sept. 13-16.

For more information visit www.apec2011.gov.

ASTM PR Contact: Barbara Schindler, Phone: 610-832-9603; bschindl@astm.org         

Release #8957