Sustainable Development Business Group (SDBG)

1. What is Sustainable Development and what are the sectors that this is applicable?

A: According to the Brundtland Report (1987), Sustainable Development is defined as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Sustainability addresses two issues:
(1) Needs & (2) Limitations.

More importantly, in our business context, Sustainable Development refers to the achieving of sustainability through the use of energy efficient solutions and/or clean & green technologies. It also covers research & development of alternative energy sources that are less harmful to the environment in comparison to traditional sources such as fossil fuels. Some examples of Clean Energy include solar power, wind energy, fuel cells, hydropower, and biomass.

As Sustainable Development is an all-encompassing area, sustainability is an area that is applicable to almost every industry and sector that we operate in.

2. Why Sustainable Development?

A: The convergence of high oil prices, climate change concerns and energy security interests has fostered a surge of interest in clean energy and sustainable development. Singapore has identified several sectors for focused development, including solar, fuel cell, biofuels, energy efficiency, and other green urban and eco-city solutions. Hence, opportunities are tremendous for companies venturing into this fast emerging industry.

3. About SDBG

A: SBF Sustainable Development Business Group (SDBG) is formed as an interest group for member companies interested in adoption and/or commercialization of clean, efficient and green solutions spanning clean energy and sustainable development. It is to connect members to various industry verticals, technology partners, link them to business leads in the clean energy and sustainable development sector and facilitate them in tapping into available schemes, incentives, and sources for funding for their clean energy and sustainable development plans.

SDBG will work with various organizations to facilitate members in their adoption or commercialization of clean and green solutions in areas such as Energy Efficiency, Green Building and Facilities Management, Environmental Management, Waste Recycling, Green IT & Data Centre, Sustainable Water Solutions, Sustainable Manufacturing and Sustainable Business Practices.

4. Why SDBG?

A: As the Apex business chamber in Singapore, SBF has joined forces with our strategic partners to facilitate awareness-building of green issues, as well as the formation of communities to connect businesses to the opportunities in this sector since 2007.

Amongst SBF's 15,000+ member companies, more than 90% are potential adopters of clean energy and energy efficiency solutions. Many of the big users of power and energy are from sectors such as construction and property, manufacturing, banking & finance, telcos, transport and logistics, data centres, etc, which can benefit from clean energy and energy efficiency solutions that reduce business costs and the adverse impact on climate change.

SDBG therefore provides a valuable platform where member companies can source for potential partners, projects and funding, and at the same time, serve as an information hub in the area of sustainable development.

5. Why the change from Clean Energy Business Group (CEBG) to Sustainable Development Business Group (SDBG)?

A: The Clean Energy Business Group (CEBG) was first established in January 2009, to provide SBF members a platform to facilitate business in the broad clean and green energy sector as well as to complement SBF�s current strategic thrust towards community formation to create more businesses for member companies. The repositioning of the group from CEBG to Sustainable Development Business Group (SDBG) is a timely measure. With the increasing needs of businesses not just in the area of clean energy but also other energy efficient and sustainable solutions, its formation enables the group to reach out to an even wider range of industries and businesses. The aim for its change is therefore to include all areas in and/or related to sustainable development, with the ultimate goal of benefiting as many SBF members as we could.

6. How would SDBG differ from the previously formed CEBG?

A: The formation of SDBG would complement instead of differing itself from the former CEBG. Areas under sustainable development that were not covered under CEBG will now be worked on and pursued under SDBG. Similarly, SDBG is a timely evolvement of CEBG into a more comprehensive platform in the area of Clean, Green & Energy Efficiency Solutions for SBF members.

7. What are the objectives of SDBG?

A: The objectives of SDBG are:-

i) to connect members to various industry verticals, technology partners, link them to business leads in the clean energy and sustainable development sector and facilitate them in tapping into available schemes, incentives, and sources for funding for their clean energy and sustainable development plans.

ii) work with various organizations to facilitate members in their adoption or commercialization of clean and green solutions in areas such as Energy Efficiency, Green Building and Facilities Management, Environmental Management, Waste Recycling, Green IT & Data Centre, Sustainable Water Solutions, Sustainable Manufacturing and Sustainable Business Practices.

8. Who is eligible to join the SDBG?

A: Membership of the SDBG is open to:

SBF companies with adoption and commercial interests in the clean, efficiency and green sectors.
Non-member companies interested to participate will be required to join as associate members of SBF.

9. Profile of SDBG members

A: In its pioneer year, at least 100 companies, mainly from manufacturing, property development, facilities management, and environmental management sectors had been targeted by the Clean Energy Business Group (CEBG), the former entity of the SDBG.

The SDBG will accept other companies including smaller early or growth stage companies, such as local Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) which will benefit from SDBG activities and may later become our members.

10. Are there any fees/costs involved in joining the SDBG?

A: Membership fee of $100 is currently waived off for the first membership year 2009.

11. What are the benefits I can expect by joining the SDBG?

A: These benefits include, but are not restricted to:

Priority or exclusive invitation to SDBG and SBF activities, to join as speakers or participant, or company showcase.
Enjoy lower participation fees for events which are also opened to non-members.
Members can tap on SBF's Global Business Division (GBD) and its Middle East Business Group (MEBG) and China Business Group (CBG), etc. to gain access to various overseas markets.
SDBG will be able to link members with other fellow SDBG members that are able to provide them support/consultation in the areas of business feasibility studies, business requirements specifications, project ROI studies, funding needs analyses and the liaisons for regulatory approvals, for their clean energy plans.
Gain access to support from the Clean Energy Test-Bedding Community (CETC), a joint initiative by SBF�s SDBG and Temasek Polytechnic (TP)�s Fuel Cell Community (FCC). Through CETC, companies can gain access to technical support in their clean energy project test-bedding and implementation /commercialization.

(To find out more about Clean Energy Testbedding Community, please visit http://cetc.sbf.org.sg)
Receive assistance in gaining access to existing and future available sources of funding for their clean energy project implementation and consultancy needs.
Ability to tap on SDBG support infrastructure including a web portal which will provide an online version of the Singapore Sustainable Development Industry Directory and highlight business and collaboration opportunities.

12. What are the activities/events that SDBG will be organizing?

A: Activities and programs, organized to deepen members' understanding of the business sector and offer opportunities to network with key business, industry and government agency contacts, include: