We've heard it all before, more so now during the inaugural Singapore International Energy Week.

Sitting in the Stamford Ballroom of the Raffles City Convention Centre, my jacket buttoned tight around me against the frigid air-conditioning, I thumb the standard issue plastic mineral water bottle - courtesy of the organiser - and wonder, "Why can't they use a pitcher of water instead?"

Wouldn't that be more eco-friendly than hundreds of plastic bottles, albeit recyclable ones? But I digress.

Maybe it's because I've been to my fair share of environmental conferences, where speakers often paint an urgent picture of a world choking on the carbon emissions her inhabitants have produced. But everytime I walk out I wonder, how much of what is said is hot air?

There is currently between 350 to 400 ppm (parts per million) of carbon floating up in the air - hitting 450ppm would mean a temperature change of about 2 degree Celcius - doesn't sound like much? But enough to drastically alter climate systems around the world.

What can we do? Cut carbon, duh.

But saving the environment is not as easy as it sounds and perhaps the biggest obstacle to action is politics.

That's because it involves governments and companies, neither of which will take lightly to having to reduce output or spend more to plant a tree elsewhere to offset their carbon.

But that doesn't mean that delegates aren't trying.

If speakers for the first day of IEW are anything to go by, round table discussions during the five-day event are going to be spirited and inspirational.

Over 2,500 delegates will be in town to brainstorm possible green solutions, exchange tips on best practices, and showcase technologies. And hopefully, at the end of it all - go home with a concrete plan to improve the environmental situation in their country.

More funding for clean R&D will be announced, and perhaps some deals signed for tieups - many of which will likely take years to bear fruit.

So that's a good start.

But is that enough?

I don't know.

I hope so.