3 Responses to the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint
May 4, 2009 by Eugene
Filed under Government and Policies, Singapore
The Sustainable Singapore blueprint report, “A Lively and Liveable Singapore: Strategies for Sustainable Growth”, was published last week by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development (IMCSD). The strategies in the report were based on the rationale of “The Singapore Way”, which is described as follows:
For Singapore, sustainable development means achieving both a more dynamic economy and a better quality living environment, for Singaporeans now and in the future.
We need the economy to grow. This creates jobs, raises our standard of living, and yields the resources that we need to safeguard our environment. But we must grow in a sustainable way, or else a high GDP per capita will be achieved at the expense of our overall quality of life, and cannot be maintained over the longer term. Protecting our environment safeguards a high standard of public health for our people, and makes our city attractive to Singaporeans and foreigners alike.
We think there are probably three different responses to the Sustainable Singapore blueprint report.
Well Done and Pragmatic
One response from the group of people who accept and agree to “The Singapore Way” is that the IMCSD has done a commendable job in coming up with the recommendations and strategies for making Singapore a lively and liveable global city in 2030. Among many other strategies in the blueprint, Singapore would:
- Reduce our energy intensity (per dollar GDP) by 35% from 2005 levels by 2030
- Improve our recycling rate from 56% in 2008 to 70% in 2030
- Reduce total domestic water consumption from 156 litres per capita per day in 2008 to 140 litres per capita per day by 2030
- Target 80% of our existing building stock (by GFA) to achieve at least Green Mark Certified rating (minimum level of energy efficiency) by 2030
- Reduce energy consumption in the common areas of new estates and mature estates by 20% and 30% respectively
- Implement a large-scale solar test-bed for public housing spanning 30 precincts islandwide
- Achieve a modal share of 70% of journeys made during morning peak hours via public transport by 2020
- Provide 0.8ha of park land per 1,000 persons by 2030
- Implement a National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan to research, document and conserve biodiversity in Singapore
- Develop a City Biodiversity Index with international partners to promote biodiversity conservation efforts among cities globally
They applaud the comprehensive policies and bold targets to reduce energy and water consumption, reduce waste generation, increase green spaces and biodiversity, reduce business costs and increase R&D.
Although there is no mention of carbon reduction targets, it is understandable to them as according to “The Singapore Way”, the government will not increase business or household costs, and jeopardise our economic competitiveness. Singapore will be pragmatic.
It’s the Environment, Stupid
The second response is from a group of people who do not really agree with “The Singapore Way” because it seems that economic growth is taken as the central goal with the environment playing a supporting role. This is what they believe:
We see [today] a society and a Government whose primary objective is still the achievement of economic growth as conventionally understood and measured, with as much social justice and environmental protection as can be reconciled with that central goal. We envisage a society whose primary goal should be the wellbeing of society itself and of the planetary resources and environment that sustains us all, with economic objectives shaped to support that central goal rather than the other way around. – Blueprint for a Green Economy, Quality of Life Policy Group
They want to see policies that benefit the environment and society in the long run, even if some costs are incurred in the short-term. They hope to see a focus in the qualitative and not quantitative improvement of lives. They are not saying that we should return to caves and stop the economy, they are just trying to bring a greater focus back to the environment, which is actually sustaining the economy rather than the other way round.
No Comments
The third response is a non-response from the group of people who are not interested in a sustainable Singapore, or the group that are more concerned about other issues like Aware, swine flu and the rojak food poisoning, or the group of people who don’t care what the government has to say on anything.
What’s your response to the Sustainable Singapore blueprint that will guide us till 2030?
Image credit: Wordle.
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