By Fu Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-04-12 07:38

BO'AO, Hainan: Caring, sharing and daring - these are the attitudes needed to turn Asia green, former Philippine president Fidel V. Ramos told a group of young leaders yesterday.

Ramos, who is also the chairman of the board of directors of the Boao Forum for Asia, was speaking at a panel discussion here on the role of young leadership in facing environmental problems in the region.

The young leaders at yesterday's session included State broadcaster CCTV anchor Bai Yansong, IT company NetEase CEO Ding Lei and consultancy McKinsey senior partner Richard Zhang.

Chen Jinhua (right), the newly approved chief consultant to the Boao Forum for Asia, and former Philippine president Fidel V. Ramos, pose for media on Friday at the ongoing forum in Hainan. China News Services

"The important thing is how we educate the poor to improve their awareness of environmental issues," Zhang said.

Millions are expected to migrate to cities, where their consumption of energy and water resources will increase tremendously, Zhang said.

"So environmental awareness is vital," he said.

Citing China as an example, Zhang estimated that by 2030, urbanization will see 400 million farmers being drawn to cities. The resources and infrastructure needed to support them will put enormous strain on the environment.

The government should "lose no time" in designing green strategies to accommodate such development, Zhang said.

"For example, it should provide convenient public transportation to make it more accessible to people," he said.

While agreeing consumption should be a driving force for every country's economy, participants of yesterday's session suggested the public should be educated to practice thrift to help lighten the burden on the environment.

However, renowned pianist Kong Xiangdong said he had reservations over the effectiveness of raising environmental awareness among the rich and well-educated elite of society.

There was huge wastage in the piano industry, he said, as the 3,000 piano factories consume huge amounts of trees.

"And we are still not competitive," he said.

Most alarmingly, he said, families tend to buy the instruments for their children without any real sense of commitment.

"Most of the pianos end up as furniture instead," Kong said.

"It's a terrible waste."

(China Daily 04/12/2008 page3)