Environmental Sustainability Singapore’s Journey Loh Ah Tuan Member, Panel of Experts Centre for Liveable Cities, Singapore August 2018

Copyright © Centre for Liveable Cities Singapore Island State Area: 720 sq km Population: 5.6 million No Natural Resources Hot and Humid Weather Map Source: http://math.nie.edu.sg/atcm/images/map03b.jpg Copyright © Centre for Liveable Cities

In the 1950s & 60s … Poverty and Unemployment

Squatter Colony

Street Hawkers

Singapore River

Air Pollution

Rapid industrialization, urbanization, economic development and population increase put tremendous pressure on Environment Water Resources

Today Clean air Clean drinking water from the tap Waste collected daily for disposal High standards of public health

Environmental Sustainability Singapore’s Journey

“A Clean, Green and Good Living Environment ” Vision “A Clean, Green and Good Living Environment ”

Vision Reality

Political Wisdom & Leadership Economic Development Social Progress Environment Protection

Guiding Principles Control Pollution at Source "Polluter Pays" Principle Pre-empt and Take Early Action Innovation/Technology Resource Conservation Environmental Ownership

Key Strategies Environmental Planning Environmental Infrastructure Environmental Legislation & Enforcement Environmental Monitoring Environmental Education

Environmental Planning Land Use Incorporating environmental factors into land-use plan proper siting of developments allocation of land for environmental infrastructure Development and Planning Control Compliance of environmental regulations Pollution control measures in developments

Environmental Infrastructure Integrated Solid Waste Management System Water/Wastewater Facilities

Environmental Legislation & Enforcement Key Environment Legislation Environmental Protection & Management Act and Regulations Environmental Public Health Act and Regulations Sewerage and Drainage Act and Regulations Enforcement Pragmatic approach

Environmental Monitoring Air and water quality monitoring Assess nature and magnitude of pollution Assess adequacy and effectiveness of control programmes Establish trend for review of policies and standards Guide planning future land use, and environment pollution control

Environmental Education Instilling environmental awareness Inculcating environmental ownership Approach Communication Engagement Empowerment Environmental Ownership

Critical Success Factors Communicating Vision Building Environmental Infrastructure Building Capabilities and Capacities Adopting practical, cost-effective and efficient approach

Done well so far….. Not perfect - challenges to overcome higher standards to achieve greater awareness and better behavior

Some way to go before achieving environmental sustainability Performance Sustainability What more can we do? What will Singapore be like in 50 years from now?

Challenges Climate Change Space Constraint Rising Expectations Complacency

Climate Change Vulnerable to Climate Change Low-lying, densely populated More frequent and long-lasting heat wave More frequent and intense rainfall Raising sea level Effects - abrupt, extreme, unpredictable, far-reaching Beyond Mitigation Measures Improve adaptation and resilience to climate change

Space Constraint Land Reclamation 1960: 581 sq km 2017: 718 sq km Need innovative solutions develop more space enhance use of existing space

Rising Expectations Singaporeans Better educated, higher aspiration, greater expectations Growing sense of empowerment Greater awareness of public policies and current issues Questions How to harness the positive side of greater public interest and higher expectations to improve public service delivery? How to nurture a sense of shared ownership of our environment? Need creative efforts to engage stakeholders to achieve shared environmental ownership

Complacency A subtle challenge Years of good living environment Lull Singaporeans into a coma of complacency

Addressing Challenges Singapore’s society, economy and technology continue to transform and evolve making some old approaches inadequate in dealing with emerging issues giving Singapore greater capabilities in meeting challenges involving - doing more of certain things doing other things differently

Going Forward Political Leadership Clear Vision Balancing economics, social, environment Public Service Effective administration Sound economic principles One government approach Private Sector Partnership with government Innovation, opportunities in green economy People Environmentally responsible lifestyle Environmental culture

Going Forward Resource Conservation 3R, energy efficiency, renewable energy Research and Innovation Green Technology Energy Water Climate Change Global Leadership Share lessons and successes

Singapore’s clean environment far from perfect other cities can achieve A model that can be scalable and replicable in other cities

Thank you