By 2030, life in Singapore will become greener as sustainability initiatives change the way people work, learn, and play.
Five Singaporean ministries launched the Singapore Green Plan 2030 on February 10, a plan that will help guide the nation towards a more sustainable future over the next decade.
This wide-ranging blueprint involves all sectors of society, from infrastructure development and research and innovation to training programs.
Its goal is to unite the entire country in an effort to transition to a more sustainable future, aligning with the global momentum of “building back better” as nations recover from the economic impact of COVID-19.
The five ministries supporting the plan are the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of National Development, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, and the Ministry of Transport.
“This comprehensive plan will enhance Singapore’s economic, climate, and resource resilience, improve the living environment for Singaporeans, and bring new business and job opportunities,” the ministries said in a joint statement.
They added: “This will affect every aspect of our lives, from how we live to how we work and play, as we work together to make Singapore a greener and more livable home.”
The ministers from the five ministries shared broad details of the Green Plan in a 15-minute video, with each speaking about the areas they are responsible for.
Related Articles:
The plan has five key pillars — City in Nature, Sustainable Living, Energy Reset, Green Economy, and Resilient Future.
A Greener Future
Under the Green Plan, at least 20% of schools will be carbon-neutral by 2030.
Adults will also work in green buildings, as there are plans to raise sustainability standards for buildings by then.
This includes reviewing the existing “Green Mark” scheme, which certifies buildings as “environmentally friendly,” and supporting the development of cost-effective green technologies to improve energy efficiency.
The government will encourage people to commute in greener ways — the length of cycling paths will be tripled, and the rail network will be expanded from the current 230km to 360km.
All this infrastructure will be built in a green city, as more initiatives will be rolled out to help nature weave its way into the heartlands and into the hearts of residents.
For example, more plants will be planted along roads to reduce ambient temperatures, and more nature parks will spring up in the coming years.
By 2030, the amount of land for nature parks where people can go hiking or bird-watching will be increased by more than 50%.
Even Jurong Island, a haven for fossil fuels, will be transformed into a “sustainable energy and chemicals park” under the Green Plan.
Behind the scenes, research and innovation will continue to help Singapore harness low-carbon alternatives, such as using hydrogen as a fuel, and new projects like the Enterprise Sustainability Programme have been launched to help Singaporean businesses develop capabilities in this area and promote the country as a sustainable tourism destination.
The ministries said more details about the Green Plan will be announced in next week’s Budget and the subsequent Budget debate.
The Green Plan was first raised in Parliament on February 1 by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, following a robust debate in the House on a motion filed by six PAP MPs calling for Singapore to deepen and accelerate efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that while Singapore may be a small country with few natural resources, it can still press on with technological and policy solutions for sustainable development.
He added that the Green Plan will build on Singapore’s sustainability efforts over the past decades and help the country fulfill its commitments under the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“We will do our part to tackle climate change,” he said. “We need to protect Singapore for our future generations. We will work together to make Singapore a bright green spark for the world.”
Climate policy observer Nor Lastrina Hamid from Singapore Youth for Climate Action said that while many of the initiatives listed in the Green Plan had been announced previously, she was encouraged by the involvement of multiple ministries in the plan.
She noted that sustainability involves many areas, and having ministries work together helps to pool resources.
She added: “I am also optimistic about the commitment to transform Jurong Island into a sustainable energy and chemicals park. Given that Jurong Island is home to many petrochemical companies, this also makes me curious about what the plans for Jurong Island will be in the coming years.” She will be closely watching developments in the area.
Given that the Green Plan is a nationwide effort, Ms. Lastrina said she hopes for more regular engagement between the Government, civil society and the public to help the plan come to fruition.
Related Articles:
For further enquiries, please get in touch:
WeChat: sgleokwek
Telegram: sgleokwek
WhatsApp: Message us
