Since independence, Singapore has embraced sustainability as a fundamental principle of our development. This will be even more pertinent in an increasingly carbon- and resource-constrained world. Despite our land and resource limitations, we have pursued innovative policy and technological solutions to achieve sustainable development. For example, Singapore has successfully closed our water loop through the recycling of used water using advanced membrane technologies to produce NEWater, an ultra-clean, highgrade reclaimed water.
Earlier this year, the Government launched the Singapore Green Plan 2030 as a whole-of-nation sustainability roadmap. Led by five ministries working in concert, the Green Plan sets out concrete sectoral plans and ambitious targets over the next 10 years which will
transform how we live, play, work, commute, and more. This will strengthen our efforts to implement the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement, and positions us to achieve net-zero emissions as soon as viable.
The Green Plan has five pillars: (1) City in Nature, where we will create a green, liveable, and sustainable home for Singaporeans, and build up our carbon sinks by extending nature throughout our island; (2) Energy Reset, where we will use cleaner energy and increase our energy efficiency to lower our carbon footprint; (3) Sustainable Living, where we will make keeping our environment clean and saving resources and energy a way of life in Singapore; (4) Green Economy, where we seek green growth to create new jobs, transform our industries and harness sustainability as a competitive advantage; and (5) Resilient Future, where we build up Singapore’s climate resilience and enhance our food security.
The implementation of the Green Plan will require partnerships across all sectors and in particular, international collaboration, as no one country or company has all the solutions. In this regard, I am pleased that the Singaporean-German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (SGC) has released this insightful publication on the Green Plan and sustainability opportunities in Singapore for German companies. Singapore and Germany have long enjoyed extensive cooperation in trade and common interests in sustainable development.
For example, German companies have been actively contributing to Singapore’s environment and water sectors over the years, and more recently, the Plastics Recycling Association Singapore (PRAS) was established through the SGC’s support. As this book shows, there are many more opportunities for companies to provide solutions in these areas and others such as energy efficiency, mobility, and urban agriculture.
German companies are well placed to contribute to sustainable solutions in these sectors through innovative and advanced technology. There is much potential for collaboration to further green the economy in Singapore, which can also serve as a gateway to access sustainable business opportunities in the South-East Asia region.
I congratulate SGC on this publication and hope it will inspire readers to consider the opportunities in sustainability. I look forward to German businesses introducing new and innovative solutions and collaborating with Singaporean firms to realise the objectives of our Green Plan. Let us work together to achieve a sustainable future for all.
Desmond Tan
Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment