SINGAPORE, Nov 10: Environmental spending is good for Asian business and "green" measures will play an increasing role in the region's growth and policies, according to government officials and corporate leaders meeting here, reports Reuter.

They also told a four-day conference which concluded today that global cooperation on green issues was vital and technology transfers and training would expand.

Some suggested enforce-gem would also have to be

The pest hope for greater uniformity and less confusion may well be some kind of international charter that would enunciate guidelines and prin-

ciples," Charless Holliday, head of Asia-Pacific Operations for US chemicdl giant E-I Dupont De Nemours, told businessmen from 14 nations at the conference.

Tn those cases where a state flagrantly disregarded the principles of environmental protection agreed upon by the community of nations, sanctions could be employed against that state."

Tommy Koh, Singapore's Ambassador at large and Chairman of the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development to be held next June, told the delegates: "Concern for the environment is good for your corporate image and good for

your bottom line."

He said the concept of "sustainable development" was taking root among leading multinationals operating in Asia, backing the idea that economic growth must go hand in hand with, protecting the environment

K Onogawa, senior adviser to Japan's environment agency, said Japan's multi-billion Dollar spending on environmental measures after disasters with mercury poisoning and air pollution in the 1950s and 1960s had not hurt the economy.

The implementation of stringent control measures often results in the development of new technology or innovation of technology which

in the long run may prove beneficial to economic activity," Onogawa said.

He said increased demand for pollution control facilities, creation of Jobs in the new industry, and more efficient plant management were other economic benefits.

F Henry Hablcht. Deputy Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency, said the United Stales would increase environmental technology transfer to Asia through an Information clearing house it would open next June.

"As international trade barriers fall, and as our national economies become more and more interdependent, the world's environmental leaders

have a responsibility to work together."

Pledges so far of about 1.5 billion US Dollars would fund grants to developing nations to fight global warming, water pollution and loss of "biodiversity" In species and soils.

Hablcht praised "encouraging signs" of environniental management In Asia, citing Indonesia's Clean River* Programme, Lead-Free Petrol in Thailand, and Singapore's Waste Management and Traffic Congestion Programmes.

The World bank, which will administer the GEF with two UN agencies, said tn a report circulated at the conference that "degradation of land and forest resources represents

the most serious environmental problem facing Aslan countries."

It said forests in Asia were disappearing at a rate of over three million hectares (7.2 million acres) a year. Scarcity of fuel wood and loss of biodiversity "has already reached unprecedented proportions.' tjsaid.

Heavy reliance on coal for energy, especially in China, India, Indonesia, Thailand and South Korea, is expected to mean a 50 per cent rise In carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide emissions In Asia over the next 10 year*. It said. Asia now account* for 20 per cent of world green house gas emissions.