The Government will be investing in infrastructure in a big way and developing long-term plans to protect the country against climate change, Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said yesterday.
But individuals must also change their ways and work towards a more sustainable future.
The Government’s Climate Action Plan, launched in 2016, has seen low-lying roads near coastal areas raised. Changi Airport’s Terminal 5 is also being built 5.5m above the mean sea level. And there are pilot projects involving dikes and new reclamation methods on Pulau Tekong to shed light on how to deal with rising sea levels.
Mr Heng said the carbon tax being applied to this year’s (2019) emissions is an important signal to companies and households to adopt energy-efficient practices.
And the Zero Waste Masterplan, which will be launched in the second half of the year, will look at better management of food waste, e-waste and packaging waste, including plastics, among other issues.
However, individuals must also change their ways, he noted, by adopting the 3Rs: reducing consumption, reusing and recycling.
Start-ups are already tackling the challenge: Two companies, UglyGood and Tria, for instance, have been working on innovative ways to convert food-related waste into useful products, he said.
“Our beautiful living environment can also be enhanced through the smart use of technology as part of our Smart Nation efforts,” he added, giving as examples pneumatic waste collection, the use of district cooling in the Marina Bay area and environmentally friendly buildings. “Today, our shining Little Red Dot can hold its own on the global stage,” he said.
Mr Heng said the long-term transformation of the city must start with Housing Board estates, where most people live.
“Many cities have large tracts that slip into disrepair over time – we must avoid that. We must strive to make every town in Singapore green and liveable by rejuvenating them systematically over time.” he said.
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Source: The Straits Times, 19 February 2019