Government Organizations

It is undeniable that Singapore government is indirectly the main contributor to environmental consequences in Singapore, as they were the ones who rapidly came out with plans to urbanize and boosts Singapore’s economy and attractiveness.

Through my research, Singapore have been working on their green efforts since the 1960s, despite undergoing rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. Unfortunately, albeit the government’s efforts through the years, it was brought to awareness that there is an increasing concern over global environmental issues in the 1990s. Additionally, there is a growing population that expects higher standards of living. Thus, a major policy review was carried out, and Singapore government came out with,

THE SINGAPORE GREEN PLAN.

 

The Singapore Green Plan (SGP) was issued in May 1992, and it was the country’s first formal 10 year plan to balance environmental and developmental needs.

 

The plan focuses on:

  • Air and climate change
    • Maintain the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) for ambient air within the “good” range for 85% of the year
    • Reduce the ambient Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) level
  • Water
    • Increase catchment areas
    • Increase the supply of water from non-conventional sources, such as desalination and water reclamation
    • Reduce per capita domestic water consumption
  • Waste management
    • Increase the overall waste-recycling rate
    • Strive towards “zero landfill” and “close the waste loop”.
  • Conserving nature
    • Establish more parks and green linkages.
    • Set up a National Biodiversity Reference Centre.
  • Public health
    • Increase community ownership to sustain a high standard of public health.
    • Maintain low incidence of vector-borne and food-borne diseases.
  • International environmental relations
    • Intensify collaboration with partners at regional and global levels to tackle environmental challenges.

Singapore has thus far, made great progress towards the targets which above focuses on.

In April 2009, the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Sustainable Development launched another national framework to guide Singapore’s sustainable development efforts till 2030. It is called,

THE SUSTAINABLE BLUE PRINT.

“How is Sustainable Singapore Blue Print different from SGP?”

The Sustainable Singapore Blueprint 2015, sets higher targets than those in the SGP 2012 and introduced several new initiatives. It outlines the national vision and plans for a more liveable and sustainable Singapore, to support the diverse needs and growing aspirations of Singaporeans. This provides everyone with a plan for action, in hopes that everyone will take this opportunity to work together to create a better home and environment for us to live in.

 

“Besides future targets and plans, what about problems such as flash flood in Singapore that needs to be solve as soon as possible?”

Outline for 12 waterways in Singapore

 

PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency, have raised requirements for the minimum land reclamation levels and platform and crest levels in 2011. It is under the revised Code of Practice on Surface Water Drainage for redevelopment and new development sites.

The new requirements would provide additional flood protection for buildings and key infrastructure, to minimise the chances for flash flood and catering to intense rainfall events due to consequences of rapid urbanization.