Sixty years after its independence, Singapore has turned into an inspiring role model for all countries that seek growth and prosperity. This island, which was born poor, with limited resources, and outcast or rather expelled from the Malaysian Federation, has become within a few decades an Asian giant with an experience that is respected and admired by the world.
Some countries may be able to achieve success and flourishing investments, become major financial centers, and join the ranks of rapid urbanization and powerful countries in the world. But, if we look at the list of these countries, we will most likely find them to be the same countries that top the planet in terms of environmental footprint, and they are the same countries that consume the most fossil fuels and natural resources, and produce the most carbon emissions.
Singapore Sustainable Economic Model
The idea of achieving a good balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability has become a major challenge, as if they are two contradictory things that are difficult to come together, until the Singaporean experiment was completed. It has proved the exact opposite; no growth can be sustainable if we neglect the environment; and there can be no environmental sustainability without economic growth.
In the light of the climate crisis, Singapore can be seen as a realistic embodiment of the concept of a “utopia” in the age of global warming. Then, how did “the lion” city achieve this difficult equation?
The Soft Approach
Singapore is a city with limited natural resources and limited land, so it has implemented a planning and management approach based on efficient use of available resources with sustainable consumption, or what is known as the “soft approach.”
The twentieth century witnessed a harsh approach to obtaining resources and building huge infrastructure in all countries of the world, depriving nature of its resources with complete disregard for the environmental consequences. In contrast, the soft approach relies on efficiency in use and the search for new sources and supplies with careful and wise consumption.
The soft approach, described by Dr Amy Khor, Singapore’s Minister for Transport and Sustainability, on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ official website, saying: “Since the early days of our nation-building, careful thought has been given to how to manage our scarce resources and achieve economic growth, while maintaining a good quality environment for our people, through long-term planning and an integrated approach to urban management.”
While many countries focus on short-term goals such as economic development, Singapore has succeeded in preserving the environment while developing the economy by changing the mindset, making efficient use of limited resources, and achieving the long-term goals of building a sustainable and livable city based on a healthy economy, according to a press interview by the former Minister for the Environment and Water of the Republic of Singapore, Masagos Zulkifli.
Water Crisis Management
Through the water file, we can see how Singapore has translated the soft approach into practical and sustainable strategic solutions to deal with the scarcity of natural resources, most notably water shortages.
First: The environmental reality
Singapore is one of the most water-stressed countries in the world due to a lack of natural water resources such as rivers, natural springs or glaciers, as well as limited land to collect and store rainwater, according to Singapore's Ministry of Sustainability and Environment.
Second: The strategy of National Four Taps
After independence, Singapore was a developing country with muddy rivers, polluted canals and uncontrolled seage. Singapore planned to become self-sufficient in water, food and energy and to create systems that could withstand stress. The government laid out a plan that would run from 1965 to 2060, says Cecilia Tortajada, a professor of environmental sustainability at the University of Glasgow in the UK who
studies water policies around the world.
Through careful planning and innovation, Singapore has built a strong, diverse and sustainable water supply over the years through the National Four Taps plan, according to the official website of the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment in Singapore.
1-Collected rainwater
Rainwater is an important source of water in Singapore, so it has been keen to benefit from every drop of rain; two-thirds of the country’s area is used to collect rainwater and then direct it through a network of more than 8,000 kilometers of drains and canals until it reaches 17 tanks to store the water before it is treated for drinking.
The country plans to increase the area allocated for rainwater collection to 90% of Singapore's land area in the coming decades.
2-Imported water
Singapore has been importing water from Malaysia since 1962. The agreement gives Singapore the right to withdraw and use up to 250 million gallons of raw water per day. In return, Singapore is committed to supplying the Malaysian state of Johor with treated water, up to 2% of the water it imports. The agreement expires in 2061.
3- NEWater
Water recycling is the most sustainable and cost-effective way to increase Singapore's water supply, allowing every drop of water to be reused endlessly. There are currently 5 NEWater or recycled water plants in Singapore.
It is produced from wastewater treated with highly efficient technologies, it is ultra-clean and safe to drink. The treated water passes more than 150,000 scientific tests, making it fully compliant with the WHO's guidelines for drinking water quality, according to Singapore's Ministry of Sustainability and Environment.
Due to its high quality and exceeding international standards, part of this water is used in the manufacture of chips, an industry that requires water of higher quality and purity than drinking water.
4-Water desalination
As an island surrounded by ocean water, desalination is a natural choice, and the country continues to invest in research and development to improve the economic viability of desalination. Singapore has made significant technological advances in desalination, and now has 5 desalination plants in operation.
The International Water Association report confirms that high-quality treated water and desalinated water have allowed Singapore to be more resilient to climate variability.
Singapore's current water demand is around 430 million gallons per day, with households consuming 45% and the rest coming from the non-domestic sector. Total water demand could double by 2060, driven by economic and population growth. Treated and desalinated water plants are set to meet up to 85% of Singapore's future water demand.
Future plans
In support of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the latest Singapore Green Plan 2030 was launched in February 2021, with 5 key pillars:
Transforming Singapore into a Natural city
- Green Economy
- Sustainable Living
- Energy Reset
- Resilient Future
The plan includes planting one million new trees, quadrupling solar energy production, reducing waste by 30% and making about 20% of schools carbon neutral.
All new cars will be powered by clean energy starting in 2030, with the railway network and bicycle network expanded and new pedestrian paths implemented, in addition to supporting the green economy to reduce industrial emissions.
In conclusion, Singapore has turned “environmental conservation” into a magic solution to all its issues and files, not only economic and developmental but also social. What can bring together 6 million people of different religions, races and cultures all living on a small island that has recently gained its independence?
The answer is the environment. Since independence, the country has launched several public campaigns calling for environmental cleanliness and public health, with the aim of uniting the people around a single cause and instilling a sense of belonging to a heterogeneous society like Singapore.
The slogan of the first of these campaigns was "Plant Trees and Keep Singapore Clean", so that it became known as the "Garden City", and it occupies advanced positions in green city indicators, and it is striving to be the greenest city in the world.
Nothing can stand in the way of Singapore's clean and sustainable environment, even a small piece of chewing gum was banned in 1992, to reduce waste to a minimum within the "Lion City"; that island which is seeking environmental perfection and a sustainable future.
