Singapore’s Minister for Sustainability and the Environment, Grace Fu (pictured) makes it a point to check the thermostat everywhere she goes — and that includes the official residence of the country’s President, the Istana.
She checks to make sure the temperature is set no lower than 25 degrees centigrade, as ruled by the National Environment Agency under her charge.
Ms Fu sees this as a key part of her role — reminding the Public Service to place sustainability at its core.
Already, her newly-renamed Ministry (it was previously the Ministry for Environment and Water Resources) is reviewing guidelines to make sustainability a part of the Government’s procurement decisions.
“Anything the Government would do, from [making] investments to building [infrastructure] we will want them to consider sustainability,” Ms Fu said.
“For example, if I want to build a school, university, [or make] any major capital investments, I think Public Service would want to think about its carbon footprint, its energy efficiency, its water efficiency, its waste recycling facilities,” she said.
Ms Fu said sustainability was not a new concept for Singapore, citing how the republic, which has no natural water resources, had dealt with the issue of scarcity.
However, the Government’s attitude has changed over the years.
“For one thing, the awareness of, and momentum toward, sustainable development is much stronger,” the Minister said.
“Now even corporate entities are beginning to realise the importance of sustainable business,” she said.
In the public sector more Ministries were incorporating sustainability as a key part of their planning.
“For instance, the Transport Ministry had earlier declared its ambition to phase out internal combustion engine vehicles by 2040.” Ms Fu said.
“So unlike other countries, we don’t have a sustainability or green budget, but actually I think you can find elements of it in many Ministries.”
By 2030, she hopes recycling rates will go up, research and development efforts will pay off in terms of creating new jobs and companies, and that Singapore will be a cleaner, greener place.
Singapore, 1 December 2020
