Singapore Green Plan
Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) | |
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The Singapore Green Plan (SGP) was created in 1992 to ensure that the economic growth model of Singapore does not compromise the environment.[1] The SGP sets out the strategies, programs and targets for Singapore to maintain a quality living environment while pursuing economic prosperity. The focus areas in the SGP are led by a main coordinating committee and respective action program committees. Since 1992, the SGP has been continuously updated to ensure its relevance, releasing SGP 2012 in 2002 and SGP 2030 in 2021. The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) are correlated or mapped to the SGP.[2]
SGP 2012 encompassed six focus areas: Air and Climate Change, Water, Waste Management, Nature, Public Health and International Environmental Relations. SGP 2012 was led by the
SGP 2030 encompassed five focus areas: Energy Reset (scope includes solar energy, green transport and green buildings), Green Economy (scope includes decarbonisation and adoption of energy efficient technologies), City In Nature, Resilient Future (scope includes coastal and flood defences, food security and urban heat) and Sustainability Living (scope includes zero waste, eco-stewardship and green commute).[3] SGP 2030 is led by five ministries: Sustainability and the Environment (MSE), Trade and Industry (MIT), Transport (MOT), National Development (MND) and Education (MOE).
Milestones
The major milestones in Singapore's green journey include the following:
1967: Initiated "Garden City" to turn Singapore into an urban city with abundant lush greenery and a clean environment.[4]
1992: Initiated the first SGP, a ten-year plan in May 1992. Presented the SGP at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (a.k.a. Earth Summit) in June 1992.[5][6]
2002: Added environmental targets to the SGP. Released the second SGP (SGD 2012) to chart the course of the next ten years. Presented at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in September 2002.[7][8]
2005: Consulted stakeholders from the general public, civil and private sectors through surveys and a public exhibition.[9]
2006: Revised the second SGP (SGD 2012 2006 edition).[9]
2008: Formed the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainability Development in January 2008.[10]
2009: Mapped out the plans to maintain sustainability and set higher targets until year 2030 in the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint in April 2009.[11]
2021: Released the third SGP (SGP 2030) to chart the course of the next ten-years in February 2021.[12][13]
Stakeholder Engagement
3-P Partnership
Cooperation between Singapore's People, Private and Public sectors is essential to forge an environmentally aware and responsible Singapore.[14]
People sector: Efforts by the individual are valuable since they can participate in environmentally friendly acts such as recycling, consuming environmentally friendly products and sorting out recyclables from their own trash. These efforts are strongly supported by non-governmental organisations like the
Private sector: Efforts by industries and companies towards establishing environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and materials to reflect their degree of responsibility as corporate residents of Planet Earth. Taking on efficient environmental measures in companies' operations greatly reduces pollution and saves valuable resources.
Government: Represented by
Non-government and government organisations have held a myriad of programmes, inspiring and pushing to make environmental caring a lifelong interest and commitment.
A few examples include:
Organisation | Program |
---|---|
National Environment Agency | Clean & Green week[15] |
National Parks Board | Plant-A-Tree (PAT)[16] |
Singapore Environmental Council Thumbs Up for Earth | "How Green is Your School?" |
Green Volunteers Network | Ubin Day[17] |
Nature Society (Singapore) | Seashore Life Programme[18] |
Waterways Watch Society | Envirofest |
Habitat Forum | Focus Discussion Groups |
CapitaMall | Asia Green |
Clean air
Singapore constantly monitors and review its
.Prevention and monitoring
Malaysia referred to the
Education
Greater environmental awareness through education has been strongly championed by Singapore's Ministries, especially Haze Management Measures.[21] A sense of ownership by the public will lead to less pollution and reduce the need for enforcement.
Strategies taken up in ensuring clean air:
- Stringent emission standards for the registration of new vehicles;
- Stringent standards on fuel used, such as low sulphur content of 0.005% or less by weight, commonly known as ultra-low-sulfur diesel(ULSD);
- Requirement for all in-use vehicles to undergo mandatory periodic inspection and pass the smoke emission test;
- Enforcement against smoky vehicles on the roads;
- Educate vehicle owners on proper vehicle maintenance to prevent smoke emission
Energy
Energy efficiency
Household appliances are labelled according to their energy efficiency levels, encouraging customers to buy energy-efficient appliances and to reduce utility cost. These energy labels are part of the Green Label Scheme.
To reduce
Pursuing clean energy and reusing energy
Singapore set its target to increase import of natural gases from
The first compressed natural gas (CNG) refuelling station in Singapore opened on 22 April 2002 and by the end of 2002, SBS Transit operates 12 CNG buses serving Jurong East and Jurong Island.[23]
Since 1 December 2005, it is compulsory for all diesel-driven vehicle in Singapore to use only
Singapore also embarked on a project aiming to recover waste heat from the petrochemical plants on Jurong Island to power a centralised cooling system for the Jurong Industrial Estate, in which high-grade heat is used to generate electricity and lower-grade heat is channeled to be used for other process needs.
Water
Water supplies
Two measures that Singapore Green Plan 2012 focus on are to increase Singapore's water catchment area and to diversify Singapore's source of water supply. Singapore plans to increase the land surface for water catchment from half to two-thirds and link up reservoirs in Singapore to maximise the yield of the various catchment areas. To ensure sustainability, Singapore is moving increasingly towards
The
Consumption
The 2006 revised Green Plan targets to reduce per capita domestic water consumption to 155 litres/day by 2012 and to work with the 3P sectors to increase awareness of the importance to conserve, value and enjoy water, developing a sense of shared ownership of the country's water resources.
Waste management
Singapore Green Plan 2012 set a goal of having "zero landfill", which aims to
Recycling
In 2022, the overall recycling rate increased to 57% largely due to the increased amount of construction and demolition waste. The non-domestic recycling rate increased to 72% (from 70% in 2021) while the domestic recycling rate fell to 12% (from 13% in 2021).[24] NEA attributed the low domestic recycling rate (the lowest in more than a decade) to higher shipping costs associated with transporting materials overseas for recycling.[25] Although the recycling blue bins are located within proximity of the HDB blocks, 40% of the collected items cannot be recycled due to contamination.[26]
In 2001, Singapore's recycling rates were at about 44% of its total waste. SGP 2012 targets to increase the country's overall recycling to 60% by 2012. To meet this target, the National Recycling Programme was launched in April 2001 to collect
Incineration and landfill
With the increase in recycling, SGP 2012 aims to reduce the need for additional
Successes: Between 2000 and 2005, Singapore’s overall recycling rate rose from 40% to 49% with
Public health
Food hygiene and control
Foodshop Grading System
Every food stall is graded based on criteria like housekeeping, cleanliness,
Environmental Cleanliness
NEA uses
To educate the public, NEA launched the "Singapore, Litter Free" campaign in 2002 to encourage event participants to keep the site litter-free by disposing litter into bins. Large-scale public events with similar litter-free message include the
Mosquito-borne disease
In 2004, NEA launched a ‘Mozzie Attack’ programme in April 2004 together with grassroots organisations and Community Development Councils where volunteers organised exhibitions, door-to-door visits and talks to spread the message of preventing.
In 2005, the Government launched ‘Campaign Against Dengue’ to raise awareness and rally people behind the anti-dengue fight. Every household received the ‘10-Minute Mozzie Wipeout’ pamphlet on basic measures to take against mosquito breeding.[30] Volunteers were mobilised to search and get rid of Aedes mosquitos breeding ground in over 10,000 HDB blocks and private estates, more than 1,000 mosquito breeding sites were eradicated and 8,500 potential breeding spots were identified.
The number of dengue cases per week fell from a high of 713 in September 2005 to 62 in January 2006.
Nature conservation
Through the use of careful planning in the Concept Plan 2001,
In 2005,
Nature areas
With the promotion of Sungei Buloh Nature Park and Labrador Nature Park to nature reserves in 2001, Singapore then had
Chek jawa
In January 2002, the government announced that land reclamation would not be done on the island and will be deferred as long as the land is not needed for other development purposes.[32]
Sungei buloh wetland reserve
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve was announced to be one of the two parks gazetted as nature reserves on 10 November 2001. As of 2006, reforestation efforts led by NParks starting in 2001 have reforested 71.6 hectares of land in the wetland reserve, Pulau Ubin and the Central Nature reserves.
Bukit timah and central catchment nature reserve
Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and core areas in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, are protected by strict conservation practices to sustainability and attract biodiversity research. Avenues such as new hiking trails and the HSBC Treetop Walk allows access to the forest canopy which was originally inaccessible by conventional means.
Labrador nature reserve
One of the few rocky shores left on mainland Singapore, the beach at Labrador Nature Reserve has a rich biodiversity of marine flora and fauna amidst the mixture of rocks, mud and patches of coral growth.
Impact of development
Singapore enforces strict[clarification needed] Pollution control measures on local companies and factories. They are required to comply with regulations pertaining to air pollutants, Effluent discharge and noise pollution. Quantitative risk assessment studies and extensive[clarification needed] plans relating to management and disposal must also be done on hazardous and toxic chemicals.[33]
International co-operation
Asean co-operation
Singapore played a key role during planning and implementation of the Strategic Plan of Action on the Environment or SPAE (1999–2004),[34] strategising common plans and environmental programmes aimed to realise the ASEAN Vision 2020. Over the years, Singapore has been actively supporting the ASEAN Vision 2020,[35] covering concern issues such as forest fires, transboundary haze, coastal environment and biodiversity within the Asia-Pacific region.
Collaboration with neighbouring countries
Singapore initiated many regional environmental programmes, relating to water and waste water engineering, environmental technology and urban transport planning and design, solid waste and wastewater management, pollution control, coastal and environmental management.
A few examples include:
- The Singapore Technical Assistance Programme for Sustainable Development, launched in 1997 launch.
- The Third Country Training Programme, signed collaboration with different countries over the years.[36]
- The Small Island Developing States Technical Co-operation Programme, launched in 1999.[37]
Collaboration with inter-governmental organisations
United Nations Environment Programme
Singapore has a long-standing relationship with both the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), participating actively in the "East Asian Seas Regional Programme" of the 1974 UNEP-initiated Regional Seas Programme.
Global Ministerial Forums
Singapore attends both the UNEP's Global Ministerial Environment Forum,[38] which looks at current global issues like Global Environmental Governance, and ESCAP's Ministerial Conferences on Environment and Development, which give environment ministers in the Asia Pacific region a forum to share their perspectives on regional environmental concerns and priorities.
Multilateral Treaties
Singapore is involved in multilateral treaties including the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer,[39] and the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes.[40]
References
- ^ a b Singapore Infopedia (17 August 2016). "Singapore Green Plan". National Library Board.
- ^ Towards a Sustainable and Resilient Singapore (PDF). Singapore: Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2018.
- ^ "A City of Green Possibilities". SG Green Plan.
- ^ ""Garden city" vision is introduced". National Library Board. March 2015.
- ^ Yeo, B.L. (8–9 April 1994). "The Singapore Green Plan" (PDF). AMIC‑ECOS Seminar on Urbanization, Sustainable Development and the Media: Singapore. Singapore: Asian Media Information and Communication Centre.
- ISBN 9789811486852.
- ISBN 981-04-6905-5.
- ^ Lim Swee Say. "The World Summit on Sustainable Development" (4 September 2002) [speech]. transcript, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts. Johnnesburg, South Africa: document no. 2002090401, National Archives of Singapore.
- ^ ISBN 981-05-5352-8.
- ^ "Global Network of National Councils for Sustainable Development and Similar Bodies (GNNCSDS)". MND, MEWR.
- ^ Sustainable Singapore Blueprint (PDF).
- ^ "Singapore Green Plan 2030". SG Green Plan.
- ^ "Singapore Green Plan 2030 Charts Ambitious Targets for Next 10 Years to Catalyse National Sustainability Movement". Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment. 10 February 2021.
- ^ "3P Partnership Fund". GreenBusiness.sg. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015.
- ^ "Clean and Green Week". Singapore Infopedia.
- ^ "Plant-A-Tree Programme : About The Plant-A-Tree Programme". Garden City Fund. Archived from the original on 23 April 2015.
- ^ "Ubin Day 2014: A day dedicated to one of Singapore's last kampungs". The Straits Times. 29 November 2014.
- ^ "Clean Singapore Learning Trail (Beaches)". Singapore Environment Agency. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015.
- ^ "Singapore's Air Quality and Targets". National Environment Agency. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015.
- ^ "Environmental Protection and Management (Air Impurities) Regulations". Singapore Statutes Online. Singapore's Attorney General Chambers.
- ^ "Haze Management Measures". Ministry of Education.
- ^ "Natural Gases". Environmental Protection Agency. 5 February 2014.
- ^ "SBS rolls out 10 more 'greenies'". Wild Singapore. www.wildsingapore.com.
- ^ "Waste Statistics and Overall Recycling". National Environment Agency.
- ^ Muruganathan, Kavickumar (15 May 2023). "Commentary: How to boost Singapore's recycling rates? Improving last-mile delivery is key". Today. Mediacorp.
- ^ "How to Recycle Right". Clean and Green Singapore.
- ^ "Innovation for Environmental Sustainability Fund". National Environment Agency. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015.
- ^ "Public Health" (PDF). Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 April 2015.
- ^ "Dengue Fever Symptoms and Prevention". SingHealth.
- ^ "Objective of Campaign". National Environment Agency. Archived from the original on 19 April 2015.
- ^ The Concept Plan 2001 (PDF). Urban Redevelopment Authority.
- ^ "Reclamation Works at Palau Ubin Deferred". Urban Redevelopment Authority.
- ^ Workplace Safety and Health Guidelines: Management of Hazardous Chemicals Programme. Workplace Safety and Health Council. July 2011.
- ^ "ASEAN Environmental Management Framework" (PDF). Regional Resource Centre for Asia Pacific.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "ASEAN VISION 2020". Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015.
- ^ "TCTP". Singapore Cooperation Programme.
- ^ "Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP) – Small Island Developing States Technical Assistance Programme (SIDSTEC)". SIDSnet. Archived from the original on 8 September 2013.
- ^ "Proceedings of the Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum at its first universal session" (PDF). United Nations Environment Programme.
- ^ "Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer". United Nations Treaty Collection. Archived from the original on 14 October 2019.
- ^ "Basel Convention On the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal". National Environment Agency.