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GLOBAL economies may have taken a beating in the past 12 months, but the crisis could have the unintended outcome of prolonging the life of Mother Earth, a new survey shows.
According to a study commissioned by German technology conglomerate Siemens, investments in more environmentally friendly technologies are set to increase as green shoots of growth emerge after a year-long recession.
The study polled 270 industry specialists from the government and private sectors, including more than 200 based in the Asia-Pacific region.
Some 86 per cent of respondents said that they believe the economic crisis will stimulate investment in greener technologies in the near future.
About 75 per cent of them also said that the events of the past year will create new models for managing the environment and economy.
The survey findings were released at the ongoing Apec Summit in Singapore.
For example, a new approach mooted by respondents is to consider the 'triple bottomline' impact of economic development, the report said.
This means that beyond social and financial benefits, the environmental impact of policies and business decisions should also be taken into consideration.
Nine out of 10 survey respondents also said that they think the stimulus programmes put in place by governments worldwide will be directed at activities that will pave the way for a greener future.
Emerging regional economies, in particular, have the opportunity to 'leapfrog' their developed counterparts by diving straight into eco-friendly technologies and policies, said Siemen's board member and chief sustainability officer Barbara Kux. She was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the Apec Summit.
'We don't just face a financial crisis. We face a sustainability crisis,' she said.
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