Singapore

Ensuring cities in Asia are more sustainable and able to mitigate climate change is a difficult task, but Singapore has ideas that can be shared with its neighbours, says Tai Lee Siang, group managing director of architecture company Ong&Ong Group and the first Asian chair of the Board of Directors at the World Green Building Council (WGBC). In an e-mail interview with Climate Challenge, Tai…

It is also working towards stabilising its emissions with the aim of peaking around 2030. How this ambitious plan going to be achieved is detailed in the Climate Action Plan released on July 10. “There is tremendous potential for the private sector to play a major role in our journey towards mitigating and adapting to the devastating effects of climate change. The Singapore Sustainability Academy…

The plan was outlined in two booklets, jointly titled Climate Action Plan, announced yesterday by President Tony Tan Keng Yam at the opening ceremony of the World Cities Summit, Singapore International Water Week and CleanEnviro Summit Singapore at Marina Bay Sands. "The Climate Action Plan outlines bold steps that Singapore is taking to achieve our 2030 carbon mitigation plan, as well as to strengthen our…

Under Singapore's plan, commercial and industrial power users can purchase solar-generated power from the power grid. The power is generated through rooftop solar panels owned and operated by Singapore's Sun Electric, the first solar company given an electricity retail license, it was announced at an event held by Sun Electric and Singapore's electricity regulator, the Energy Market Authority (EMA). Building owners can agree to…

The 26-year-old was among 20 young Singaporeans at the Paris Climate Conference last month, where she delivered a passionate speech calling for all nations to adopt a legally binding agreement to keep the global temperature increase below 1.5 degrees Celsius. "Action, not empty promises, will save our populations from starving, dying of thirst, and perishing in floods," she told country representatives and non-governmental organizations…

Singapore played a key role in facilitating discussions in Paris. This was possible because countries recognized our longstanding commitment and efforts to achieve green and sustainable growth. We have shared our experiences with other countries to enhance global capability. Almost 11,000 officials from developing countries have been trained in climate change issues in Singapore. Following public consultations early this year and prior to the…

Minister of Foreign Affairs and head of the Singapore delegation, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, told the final plenary session that Singapore was proud to be part of a major global agreement in which all nations will play a part in limiting the pace of climate change. "It is not often in the lives of politicians, diplomats or [members of] civil society to be present at…

Giok P. Chua, 63, told Yahoo Singapore his new invention, “Growow”, will ensure carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by increasing the probability of a tree being successfully grown. “For most of the trees you plant, for out of 100 seeds, only about 5 grow. My system makes sure that if you plant 100 seeds, 100 seeds will grow,” he explained. Saying trees are overly…

When its landmark solar power contract with a local supplier starts in January next year, Apple will be the first company in Singapore to rely entirely on solar energy. The deal of an undisclosed amount was signed with Sunseap, one of Singapore's largest providers of solar energy, which manages solar installations on more than 800 buildings. In an exclusive interview with The Straits Times…

A team comprising 40 Singapore Armed Forces’ and Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) officers returned home on Saturday after more than 10 days battling forest fires in Palembang, Indonesia. In response to media queries, MFA said the Government intends to enhance bilateral, regional and international cooperation to tackle the fires, and will continue to take legal action against errant companies responsible for the haze…

"In economic terms, we are very challenged when it comes to alternative forms of energy - hydro-electric - it's not really feasible for us," Mr. Shanmugam said, speaking at a Nee Soon GRC grassroots event on Sunday (Oct 18). "So we are really dependent on carbon. But we have to make sure we use it efficiently, and we have to try and make sure…

But it's a very different story today. The world's most densely populated country now collects rainwater from two-thirds of its land, recycles wastewater and is even developing technology that mimics human kidneys to desalinate seawater. "In about a lifetime, we have transformed Singapore," said George Madhavan, an engineer who has worked for the national PUB water agency for 30 years and is now communications…

Natural gas now makes up 95.5 per cent of Singapore's fuel mix, up from 74.4 per cent in 2005, according to the latest statistics from the Energy Market Authority (EMA). Petroleum products' share this year has been whittled to 0.7 per cent, down from 23.1 per cent in 2005. This will put Singapore in a better position to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, experts say…

Organized by the Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) from July 22 to July 24, WES emphasize the role of engineers from across the world in shaping innovative and technological solutions on sustainable urban development for global climate resilience. “With so many challenges in front of us, the message is clear: We need more engineers and we require them to be innovative and competent,” said…

In particular, our "water story" has won numerous accolades internationally. It is remarkable how we have managed to attain self-sufficiency in water with the addition of two new sources of water: Newater and desalinated water. Such innovations have put us in the international spotlight for water management issues. We won the coveted Stockholm Industry Water Award in 2007 for being the first country to…

In a written answer to a Parliamentary question from MP Christopher de Souza, Dr. Balakrishnan cited results from Phase 1 of the Second National Climate Change Study, which concluded in early 2015. The study found that without mitigation actions, mean temperatures in Singapore could increase to 32°C, he said. “The actual extent to which these temperature increases are realized in Singapore will depend on…

The Stephen Riady Geosciences Scholars Fund will be used to aid in the education of students pursuing PhD geoscience degrees at NTU. NTU’s Earth Observatory of Singapore was founded in 2009 as a national Research Centre of Excellence to conduct fundamental research on earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis and climate change across Southeast Asia. The income from the endowed fund will support research proposals by EOS…

He said: “I started as an engineer in the Building Technology Department, and conducted research and development on vertical greenery systems. I worked with the project director on the construction of Treelodge at Punggol, HDB’s first Eco-Precinct. During the course of HDB’s research and development projects, engineers are able to apply what they have learnt in school, such as project management and communication skills.”…

Singapore submitted their target plans to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) on Thursday, July 2, in preparation for the upcoming global talks to be held in Paris on December 2015. The said meeting aims to reach out to countries and establish commitments that can help to alleviate global warming and prevent its dangerous consequences in the future. The targets that…