The 2024 Macao International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (2024MIECF) opened on March 28th. This event, organized by the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, took place at the Venetian Macao. One of the highlighted projects at the forum was the application of atmospheric water generation technology. Dato’ Sri Prof. NG Tat-yung who is a steering committee member of UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on Environment and the inventor of atmospheric water generation system, with Datin Sri NG Tsz-yan Irys who is an international committee member of the high-level conference on UN’s Water Action Decade and the chair of Atmospheric Water Generation Technology Limited attended the event.
Atmospheric water generators reduce a lot of plastic waste, said Dato’ Sri NG Tat-yung
According to Professor Dato’ Sri NG Tat-yung, Macau consumes over tens of millions of tons of bottled water each year, and the recycling rate of plastic bottles is low. The resulting plastic waste poses a burden on the increasingly severe environmental issues. Air-to-water technology represents a revolutionary innovation in obtaining water resources from the air. Small-scale devices can produce 10 to 60 liters of high-quality drinking water per day, making them suitable for households, offices, restaurants, hotels, entertainment venues, and other drinking water environments. The use of air-to-water devices eliminates the transportation costs and carbon emissions associated with traditional water sources, aligning with Macau government’s waste reduction policy at the source and encouraging residents and businesses to change their consumption habits and reduce the use of plastic products.
Macau’s bottled water supply relies on imports. Currently, Macau purchases about 700,000 boxes (barrels) of packaged water, totaling 8,000 tons, from Zhongshan each year, accounting for about 70% of the Macau market share. The bottled water imported from Zhongshan is mainly in small bottles, of which 70% is by OEM, branded for Macau companies, with different bottle shapes and trademarks, appearing in major casinos and business districts in Macau.
As a tourist city, Macau has more than 30 million visitors every year. The tourism, gaming and convention industries are developing rapidly, but at the same time, the amount of solid waste generated is also growing rapidly. Plastic is one of the top three “physical components of municipal solid waste” in Macau. According to the “Macau Environmental Status Report” from 2017 to 2019, the city’s “amount of discarded municipal solid waste” and “per capita municipal solid waste disposal” are on an overall upward trend, with the former increasing by nearly 1.8 times in ten years. Compared with Singapore, Hong Kong, Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and other places, Macau has the largest “per capita municipal solid waste disposal”, but Macau is the region with the least population and the smallest area. In 2019, Macau’s waste resource recycling rate fell significantly, to only 16.8%.
Focus on air-to-water technology
In response to the current Macau International Environmental Protection Cooperation and Development Forum and Exhibition, AirWater Tech Ltd demonstrated atmospheric water generation technology application and solutions to the public. It attracted the attention and visits of Macau Environmental Protection Bureau Director TAM Wai-man, representatives of the six major gaming companies and industry experts. Professor Dato’ Sri NG Tat-yung, SSAP the inventor of the atmospheric water generation system and Dr. Datin Sri NG Tsz-yan Irys the chairman of AirWater Tech Ltd attended as the officiating guests. Macau Environmental Protection Industry Association, Guangdong Environmental Protection Industry Association, Hong Kong Environmental Protection The “Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Green Innovation Conference Macau Station (Keynote Conference)” hosted by the industry association. Dr. Johnny IP, Vice President of HeavenSprings, served as the keynote guest and introduced the business and atmospheric water technology of the company. with the theme of “Revolutionary Water Solution: Atmospheric Water Technology”.
Plastic waste has caused serious harm to the environment, ecosystems and human health. In order to solve this problem, we need to take actions, including reducing the use of plastic products, promoting recovery and recycling, and promoting sustainable alternative materials. Here are some of the main hazards of plastic waste:
- Marine pollution: A large amount of plastic waste flows into the ocean every year. It is estimated that up to 12.7 million tons of plastic waste enters the ocean every year. These plastic wastes have caused serious damage to the marine ecosystem and affected the survival and reproduction of marine life. Marine organisms accidentally eat plastic waste, causing injury or even death.
- Ecological damage: During the degradation process of plastic waste, harmful chemicals will be released, causing pollution to soil and water sources, and endangering the health of terrestrial ecosystems. In addition, plastic waste can clog waterways and sewer systems, causing flooding and environmental pollution.
- Health risks: Microplastic particles in plastic waste can enter the food chain and eventually enter human food and drinking water. Studies have found that humans may eat 39,000 to 52,000 microplastic particles each year. These microplastic particles may have harmful effects on human cells and pose potential health risks.
- Climate change: The production of plastics requires large amounts of energy and fossil fuels, which results in significant greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the incineration and landfilling of plastic waste will also release greenhouse gases, further exacerbating the problem of climate change.
Atmospheric Water Generation Technology Limited (AWG Tech Ltd)
Achieve common prosperity; and quench the thirst of the world
Based on global atmospheric water rights and related patents, ATMOSPHERIC WATER GENERATION TECHNOLOGY LIMITED (AWG Tech Ltd) conducts business in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia markets and countries along the Belt and Road, including sales of Heaven Springs’ atmospheric water generation equipment, air-water beverages, air-water farming, air-water supply and sustainable urban construction with atmospheric water generation, involving home appliances, food and beverages, new agriculture, new energy, environmental protection, real estate and other industry sectors; at the same time, in line with Hong Kong’s policy on developing the status of an international virtual asset trading hub, the company is planning to issue security tokens (STO) and utility tokens such as atmospheric water rights that support the development of the atmospheric water industry.
Build Air-Water Industry, Deploy Global Development
This development model that combines virtuality and reality can leverage the current booming potential of digital finance, use air-water technology as the fulcrum, air-water finance as the driving force, and air-water diplomacy as the platform to drive the commercialization of the air-water industry, effectively promote the formation of air-water economies. Ultimately, we hope that through the practice and popularization of global atmospheric water rights, all stakeholders of water resources such as governments, private sector and end-users will work together to optimize water policies and water resources management, promote the process of sustainable development, achieve common prosperity, and quench the thirst of the world, to help building a community with a common future for mankind.
AWG Tech Ltd is one of ventures in the portfolio on ESG investment of the Global Investment Fund. ST Group Holding limited is the major shareholder. Its individual shareholders are Dr. SO Shu-fai, ComM Director & corporate advisor and former Vice Chairman & CEO of SJM Holdings (00880), and Dr. LO Man-tuen, GBM, JP, Vice Chairman of 10th All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and the Chairman of China Peaceful Development General Summit of Hong Kong Macao Taiwan Diaspora Company Limited (HK).
Global Investment Fund is an arm of the World Trade United Foundation, an UN consultative NGO for financial service. It focuses on industries that are important to economic transformation and sustainable development. Its ventures must have unique competitiveness and highly feasible business models, and their products must be and services have significant growth potential in China and global markets.
The company’s senior management team includes celebrities from all walks of life in science, business and politics: Dato’ Sri Prof. NG Tat-yung, SSAP, the inventor of the atmospheric water generation system and member of steering committee of the United Nations Science-Policy-Business Forum on Environment, serves as the honorary chairman. Datin Sri Dr. NG Tsz-yan Irys, Member of international steering committee of High-Level Conference on Water Action Decade serves as chairman. Dr. SO Shu-fai, ComM, Director & corporate advisor and former Vice Chairman & CEO of SJM Holdings (00880) serves as vice chairman and CEO. Dr. LO Man-tuen, GBM, JP, Vice Chairman of 10th All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and the Chairman of China Peaceful Development General Summit of Hong Kong Macao Taiwan Diaspora Company Limited (HK), and Hon. Bruce ATKINSON former President of Legislative Council of Victorian Parliament in Australia serve as Vice Chairman. Fung Chi-kin, former CAO of BOCI Holdings and former Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange serves as Special Advisor to the Chairman; Roger YUEN Kwong-ming, Fellow of the Canadian Bankers Institute and Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Institute of Economists Chairman, member of the 10th to 12th Shanghai CPPCC, first Head of Citibank Shanghai Branch, and former head of China and Taiwan Private Banking Department of Hong Kong Bank of East Asia, serves as vice president. Hon. Paul TSE Wai-chun, JP, Chairman of the Rules of Procedure Committee and member of the Hong Kong Legislative Council, and Solicitor serves as legal advisor.
