Well-known as a global center of commerce and innovation, Singapore is now leading the way in sustainable transformations. Through the Singapore Green Plan 2030, the Government of Singapore intends to move the country towards a sustainable and resilient future.
The Green Plan is focused on more than just one aspect of sustainability. This initiative has five major elements: City in nature, Sustainable living, Energy reset, Green economy, and Resilient future. Within this article we will take a look at the different initiatives that form part of The Green Plan, and cover Singapore's sustainable efforts.
Singapore's climate resilience strategies
As well as setting new benchmarks in sustainability, Singapore came up with an ambitious initiative called the Singapore Green Plan 2030 in February 2021. This plan is a comprehensive, nationwide effort to push forward Singapore's agenda on sustainable development.
What is the Singapore Green Plan 2030?
The Green Plan is a multifaceted movement that involves the entire nation. It is governed by five ministries and backed by the entire government. It aims to ensure every facet of Singaporean life is sustainable. This includes how people live, work, and play, steering them towards a greener lifestyle.
Five key pillars of the Green Plan
- City in nature: This pillar focuses on bringing more greenery into urban spaces. Through this, the country aims to create more parks and green spaces with a plan to have a park within a ten-minute walk from every house.
- Sustainable living: This pillar encourages the residents of Singapore to live more sustainably. This means producing less waste and achieving more efficiency in resource use.
- Energy reset: Here, the country aims to shift towards cleaner energy sources like solar power. The goal is to boost solar capacity so that more homes get clean energy.
- Green economy: This pillar covers the green growth opportunities to reshape industries. Using sustainability, Singapore aims to become a key player in green finance throughout Asia.
- Resilient future: This final pillar ensures Singapore is armed for future climate challenges. This includes having enough food supply and strengthening infrastructure to ensure the country can meet climate change challenges.
Supporting actions and initiatives
The government has enhanced Singapore's sustainable efforts through several initiatives. One such initiative is the ‘Enterprise Sustainability programme’ which supports the Green Economy pillar of The Green Plan.
The Enterprise Sustainability Programme is designed to strengthen the sustainability knowledge and capabilities within a business, embedding sustainability within the organization.
This will be achieved through:
● Training and development so that employees understand sustainability and to support the progress of companies in this field
● Developing sustainability initiatives that are relevant for different industry sectors, plus improving sustainability across the entire value chain.
● Offering partnership opportunities with service providers to strengthen the sustainability ecosystem
The city-state is also on track to be one of the leading financial centers in green finance, with a target issuance of S$35 billion (US$26.09 billion) worth of international debt securities called "green bonds" by 2030. The money will be used to pay for environment-friendly public infrastructure.
Singapore's sustainability initiatives in green technology and infrastructure
1. Energy efficiency and renewable energy usage
Expanding solar energy use
Singapore's commitment to solar energy is a core aspect of its Energy Reset strategy. The country is expanding their solar capabilities not only on land, but also on water. Sustainability initiatives in Singapore include the Tengeh Reservoir, which now features an impressive floating solar farm that can generate the same amount of electricity as 45 football fields!
By 2030, Singapore aims to produce at least 2 gigawatts of solar energy, enough to power about 350,000 homes annually. The city is also upgrading the grid's reliability with advanced Energy Storage Systems (ESS) to handle the variability of solar power. This ensures that the power supply remains stable and everyone has electricity, regardless of the weather.
Promoting energy efficiency through the Green Mark Scheme
Singapore has introduced the Green Mark Scheme to enhance energy efficiency across the city. This initiative enhances environmental standards for buildings, requiring both new and existing structures to implement sustainable practices and technologies. The goal is to reduce energy and water usage and create a more sustainable urban environment in Singapore.
Biomass and waste-to-energy initiatives
Part of Singapore’s diversified renewable energy strategy includes biomass, waste-to-energy processes, and solar.
The waste-to-energy process involves the incineration of rubbish, which in turn produces steam which can be used to produce electricity. While this process produces GHGs, it offers an option for Singapore to reduce the volume of waste which is sent to landfills. Singapore has four waste-to-energy plants, one such is TuasOne Waste-to-Energy Plant.
2. Sustainable transport
Enhancements to public transport
Given the increasing number of commuters, Singapore is improving its public transport network, so travel will be smoother and pressure on existing lines will be reduced. Both the MRT and bus systems are currently being improved to cope with the increased demand and enhance the quality of service.
They aim to increase the distance covered by MRT lines from 230 to an ambitious 360 kilometres by the early 2030s. Over the coming years, it will become even more convenient to travel between different parts of Singapore without needing a private car as new lines and stations are added each year.
Promotion of electric vehicles
The city has gradually introduced electric vehicles (EVs) and plans to phase out the sale of internal combustion engines in line with its SG Green Plan 2030.
From 2025, no new diesel cars or taxis will be permitted to register with a complete switch to cleaner-energy models by 2030.The government also wants to install 60,000 EV charging points by the same date in support of the switch to EVs and have all Housing Development Board (HDB) towns be made ready for EV use.
Development of Green Corridors
Singapore's sustainable efforts focus on developing green corridors to enhance urban greenery and make the most of limited land space. These park connectors link various green spaces across the city, promote active mobility like walking and cycling, and are integral to the City in Nature pillar.
By 2030, the plan is to triple the cycling path network to 1,320 kilometers and encourage more residents to opt for greener, healthier modes of transport.
Real world example: Zuno Carbon and SMRT
Zuno Carbon has partnered with SMRT Corporation Ltd, a leading public transport provider in Singapore, as their selected sustainability partner. Through this collaboration, we assist SMRT in achieving Net Zero emissions.
Our comprehensive sustainability solution helps them:
● Complete an extensive inventory of scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and track ESG metrics.
● Enhance data connectivity across various businesses.
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For more details on our work together, check out our LinkedIn post.
3. Waste and water management
Singapore's Zero Waste Master Plan
Singapore's sustainable efforts include a Zero Waste Master Plan based on the 3Rs—Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. This plan improves the management of waste and involves the transformation of how resources are perceived and used. It does so by encouraging:
● Sustainable production: Encouraging businesses to adopt eco-design and improve resource efficiency.
● Sustainable consumption: Motivating both individuals and companies to reuse, recycle, and choose products with green certifications.
● Sustainable waste management: Integrating circular economy principles to enhance recycling and recovery processes.
The key element of this plan is "circular economy", a system where waste is reduced, resources are recovered, and products and materials stay in circulation as long as possible.
The Zero Waste Master Plan also includes other initiatives such as the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for electronic waste, where producers of electronic products are also responsible for end of life management and treatment. This encourages recycling of electronics through e-waste bins and the proper collection and disposal of products.
NEWater program for sustainable water use
The NEWater program is an advanced and well-recognized recycled water program. Water sustainability is crucial in Singapore, and this initiative plays a key role, covering about 40% of the nation's total water needs.
NEWater,a product of this initiative, is essentially treated wastewater purified through cutting-edge membrane technologies and ultraviolet disinfection to become potable. This success showcases how technology can fully recycle and close the loop on water usage.
Innovations in sustainable drainage systems
In Singapore, handling urban water resources also involves innovative drainage solutions such as the Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) and the Active,Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) program.
SUDSare designed to prevent surface water from flooding and improve water quality by using rainwater absorption features, such as permeable surfaces and green roofs.
The ABC Waters Programme was designed to boost the quality of living spaces and cater to the community's recreational needs, all while enhancing water quality. The name "ABC" sums up the program's goals:
● Active: It's about creating new spaces for recreation and community activities, and helping everyone feel more connected to our water sources.
● Beautiful: This part of the program transforms plain concrete waterways into lively, scenic waterscapes that blend with the city around them.
● Clean: By managing our water resources holistically and educating the public, the program aims to foster a stronger relationship between people and water.
4. Economic impact and sustainability challenges
Socio-economic benefits of sustainability
Sustainable practices also create social and economic advantages, especially under the Green Economy pillar. Communities can adopt sustainable methods to see improved social well-being and job creation, environments benefit from reduced pollution and conserved resources, and economies grow through cost savings and enhanced competitiveness.
Navigating challenges in sustainable development
The hurdle rate is the main challenge, especially with investments in renewable energy projects. Financial investors may expect returns higher than 20%, and in today's environment, it's difficult for RE to generate that level of return."
Chief Investment Officer, Climate Impact Fund
Balancing development alongside your sustainability strategy isn't straightforward. The main challenges include high costs and technological barriers. Developing sustainable solutions often requires significant upfront investments, and the technology needed isn't always readily available or cost-effective. This makes it tricky for businesses and governments to commit to sustainable paths, even though the long-term benefits are clear.
In conclusion, Singapore's Green Plan 2030 presents an opportunity to drive significant environmental change. Engaging in this national sustainability effort involves adopting energy-efficient practices, supporting local supply chains, and embracing innovative environmental projects.
Companies can reduce operational costs and enhance their green credentials by integrating more sustainable technologies.
Zuno Carbon delivers a comprehensive ESG solution that enables companies to accurately measure, report, and track their ESG metrics. Our platform simplifies the complexity of ESG management with tools that streamline data collection and enhance transparency.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What are the five pillars of Singapore's national sustainability movement?
Singapore's Green Plan 2030 has five pillars: City in Nature, Sustainable Living, Energy Reset, Green Economy, and Resilient Future. Each of these areas strives to encourage sustainable environmental activities that are the everyday habits of all Singaporeans.
What is Singapore's sustainability strategy?
The Singapore government is implementing multiple policies, including the Green Plan 2030. The strategy includes:
● The development of a greener economy.
● A more effective management of the natural resources.
● The promotion of sustainable practices
What progress has Singapore made in sustainability?
Sustainability programs in Singapore have resulted in significant achievements: water recycling with the NEWater program, extended solar energy installations, and the introduction of the Green Mark Scheme for buildings.
What is Singapore's global sustainability ranking?
Singapore is regularly featured in global sustainability rankings. The country is also recognized for its good utilization of resources and environmental solid initiatives.
