[Author Name(s), First M. Last, Omit Titles and Degrees]
[Institutional Affiliation(s)]
Introduction. 3
Rationale/ Background..3
Challenges of sustainable growth in Singapore.4
Approaches to sustainable growth.6
Outcomes of sustainable growth7
Lessons from Singapore economic success8
Models of development in Singapore.9
Conclusion..10
Reference11
How would Singapore achieve strong and sustainable economic growth
Introduction
Singapore is among the world's most commercial countries, with the fourth-largest financial centers and five of the busiest ports. Singapore has over the years developed extensively from a position in the third world to a position in the first world.It is within five decades by due to prioritization of the economic concepts in a very competitive economy and perusal of environmental sustainability. The above aspects are vital in order to attract more investors and enhancement of the qualities of life. Singapore has been and still is a resource-constrained, and imports most of its food, natural resources, and water. The positive impacts are recognizable by the international ratings. For instance, the Economist Intelligences Unit’s Asian Green City Indexes Study in 2011 ranked Singapore as Asia's greenest metropolis. It is particularly for the ambitious environment targets and the efficient approaches to achieving these targets (Haze White, F; Stallones, L; Last, JM. ,2013). It is vital to note that Singapore is an island city-state, which has its shares of existing environmental and economic challenges. It is especially with the air quality and quantity levels, partly due to the regional trans-boundaries. (Haze White, F; Stallones, L; Last, JM. ,2013).
Rationale And Background
One of the first Singapore Green Plans were first released in the year 1992 by the Ministry of Environment. It was followed in the year 2002 by the newest 10-year national plans, to develop national approaches of integrated plans and pay closer attention to the details. In the year 2009, the Ministry of t Environment and the Water Resources (MEWR) and Ministry of National Developments (MND) released a Sustainable Singapore Blueprint (SSB). Singapore has for many years had a broad mix of diverse standards and regulations, price systems, technology demonstrations projects, consumers’ awareness programs, information managements. And many other policies across the environmental issues which include air qualities, climate changes, energy efficiencies, waste, water, nature conservation and the public health. It showed the outline of a 5-year plan to make Singapore region a lively and livable city state. And lay down key strategies for the sustainability of the region's development in long-term
Singapore has over the years pursued greener growth actively. The National Climate Changes Strategies of 2012 placed emphasis on the green growth opportunities in the region. Singapore has and still is developing Cleantech hubs. And other opportunities in cleaner and green energy (e.g. solar), water and waste technologies, urban managements, green ICT, clean mobility’s, amongst many others.
Challenges To Sustainable Economic Growth In Singapore
In order to make sure that Singapore continues to prosper and grow, the region should continue to upgrade its ambitions and innovations towards the approaches towards sustainability.
Development in Singapore is coming at a cost of Environment. It must not be the case. If the nation ignores the environment, it will suffer in entirely different way.
Growing population in Singapore is becoming a problem as it becomes difficult to provide the people with resources and cater to their needs.
The cities are very vulnerable to drastic changes in environment. It is creating a problem in Singapore economic development.
Approach To Using In The Sustainability Of Growth And Strategies
In the year 2008, Singapore set up Inter-Ministerial Committees on Sustainable Developments (IMCSD), co-chaired by the then Minister of National Developments and Minister for Environmental and Water Resources. The Sustainable Singapore’s Blueprints were launched by IMCSD in the year 2009, set out the sustainable development goals to the year 2030. The famous SSB outlined strategies with which to achieve the twin economic growth objectives and better living environments. It includes the ambitious targets for the energy efficiencies; water consumptions; local air qualities; utilization of public transportation; blue and green spaces, including parks spaces and water catchments areas; and the green buildings. The Government commits More than $1 billion over the past five years. From the year 2009 for the support of initiatives under this SSB which is currently under review and will be documented any time (Haze White, F; Stallones, L; Last, JM. ,2013).
Singapore’s uses of land plans in the next 40-50 years to come have outlined in the Concept Plans, which are reviewed in every decade. The long term plans translate into Master Plans that guide the developments over the next 10-16 years to come. Currently, Singapore has prepared underground master plans, to develop shopping, transportation links, and many other facilities under which the existing surfaces developments to ensure rooms for growth in the region's future. Singapore’s has established long-term transportation plans which are outlined in the regions Land Transport Master Plans of the year 2013. The plans have an outlined measure to increase the connectivity, improvement of transport services and creation of more inclusive and livable communities in Singapore.
Singapore has for many years had a broad mix of diverse standards and regulations, price systems, technology demonstrations projects, consumers’ awareness programs, information managements. And many other policies across the environmental issues which include air qualities, climate changes, energy efficiencies, waste, water, nature conservation and the public health.
Singapore policy portfolios generally consist of diverse measures and instruments that target many goals which include:
Air Quality – this involves regulatory measures for the mobile and stationary pollutants sources; pollutants co-regulations by the government, industries, and the consumers.
Transport - electronics road pricing (form of conventional charging in the central city regions), pathways and cycling networks. It also includes vehicle quota systems (i.e. auctioning of certificates of entitlements for vehicle ownerships), dense and integrated public transport systems which consist of mass rapid transit systems and bus networks.
Climate Changes – through demonstration projects on the renewable energy (e.g. testing of the various solar technologies within the public housing precincts), R&D investments and establishments of research. They are institutes dedicated to the energy research, climate study and research, risk assessments, and adaptation planning.
Energy Efficiency - promotions of energy efficiencies, set minimum standards, 80% of buildings within Singapore in order to achieve the Green Mark Certifications by the year 2030.
Water – sources of water from local catchments; desalination and recycling of water; improves water efficiencies through water efficient homes programs. Mandatory submissions of water efficiencies management plans for the larger water users; application of international water standards; providing education to those living around water catchment areas. And long run marginal pricing systems to encourage the water conservation & reflection on the scarcity and value of the water. (Rogers, P., K.F. Jalal, and J.A. Boyd, 2007).
Wastes - incineration; encourage participations in recycling; promotes innovative technologies to recycles and reduce wastes; infrastructure supports for recycling; and voluntary Singapore Packaging Agreements.
Nature Conservation - reforestation and outreach programs for the students; nature recreational master plans; 10% of land areas committed as green spaces, of which half is gazette natural reserves.
Provisions of green and blue spaces - enhances Singapore’s physical environments through the provisions of greenery and the green spaces, cleaning and opening up the water bodies used in the regions for recreation activities.
Public Health - It improves cleanliness and hygiene’s of public places; controlling of vector-borne diseases; prohibition of smoking in public places. It also includes public educations; monitoring and improving indoor air qualities; research healthy indoor environments. (Rogers, P., K.F. Jalal, and J.A. Boyd, 2007).
Singapore has for many years emphases on the sustainability includes efforts to address the climate changes, and the whole government approaches taken. The Inter-Ministerial Committees on the Climate Changes, chaired by the Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister. The Committees support by National Climate Changes Secretariat, which was established in the year 2010, as dedicated set-ups under the regions Prime Minister's Office. It was to help ensure effectiveness in coordination of the Singapore’s domestic and international plans, policies and climate change initiatives (Pezzey, J; M. Toman ,January, 2002).
Singapore has multiple programs and initiatives which address the climate changes, which are a reflection on the National Climate Changes Strategies of the 2012 documents, which include:
Carbon Emissions based Vehicle Schemes (CEVS) that encourages the adoptions of lower emission vehicles
Fuel Economies Labeling Schemes (FELS) which enable consumers to make better-informed decisions on vehicle purchases
Mandatory Energy Labeling Schemes (MELS) for households appliances, such as refrigerators and air-conditioners in the year 2008, clothes dryers in the year 2009 and televisions in the year 2014
Minimum Energy Performances Standards (MEPS) for the refrigerators and the air-conditioners in the year 2011 and clothes dryers in year 2014
Tighter Minimum Energy Performances Standards (MEPS) for households’ air-conditioners and the refrigerators in the year 2013
The Energy Conservation Acts (ECA) which require energy intensive corporations in the industries and transport sectors to appoint energy advisors and managers. It was to monitor and report their energy uses and greenhouse gas emissions, and submits energy efficiency improvement plans
Reforms in the fuel mix to shift from fuel oils to natural gas for power generations (about 90% of electricity generate from the natural gas)
R&D innovations energy technologies, like Energy Innovation Programs Office (EIPO), Energy National Innovations Challenges (ENIC) and Solar Energy Research Institutes of Singapore (SERIES). Others are Energy Research Institutes at the Nanyang Technological University (ERI@N)
Green Buildings Master Plans which comprises regulatory requirements for the minimum environmental sustainability’s standards within the buildings. The development of the green rating tools, incentives schemes, research programs, capability developments roadmaps and the outreach efforts. Climate changes studies to ensure proper understanding of potential effects and the impacts of the physical environments of Singapore (Pezzey, J; M. Toman, January, 2002).
Singapore has in the years provided tests bedding and demonstrations platforms tin the support of companies and research institutes for the validation of newer technologies in the real world settings. Singapore also has several incentive schemes and programs to promote energy efficiency thisat is below (Pezzey, J; M. Toman , January, 2002):
Outcomes of the sustainable economic growth in Singapore
According to the 2005 reviews of the previous Green Plans, is discovered that targets on the water and air qualities, wastes, recycling and conservation which are met. The evidences suggest that the portfolios of the policies and the practices are in place and have ensured the regions substantially greener concepts. It is fascinating to note that the targets reflected by the 63% public transports peak periods mode shares. It increases from an average of 59% in 2008 to an average of 63% in the year 2012. This target was increased to 75% public transports mode shares by the year 2030. isIt reduces congestion on the roads, improves the air quality, and maximizes the land use by minimizing needs for roads. Energy efficiencies, carbon intensities, and waste managements are also substantially improving the qualities of life in the Singapore region (BCA 2009).
These positive impacts are recognizable by the international ratings. For instance, the Economist Intelligences Unit’s Asian Green City Indexes Study in 2011 ranked Singapore as Asia's greenest metropolis. It is particularly for the ambitious environment targets and the efficient approaches to achieving these targets (haze White, F; Stallones, L; Last, JM. ,2013).
Lessons from Singapore's economic success
Some of the features which enabled the Singapore’s success include the uses of comprehensive regulation mixes, consumer awareness, and education. Singapore has been successful in the application of rigorous approaches to the development tailored solutions for different environmental goal. Singapore's cleaner and greener image has been utilized as critical marketing tools to attract international investments (Pezzey, J; M. Toman ,January, 2002).
Economic concepts
It is interesting to note that the ecological sustainability’s of most human settlements are part of the unique relationships between the humans and the social and environmental attributes. This concept broadens its focus on sustainable developments that includes the domains of the human health. Fundamental human wants and needs like the quality and availability of air, food, water and shelters are ecological foundations for the sustainable developments. It addresses public health risks through the investments in the ecosystems services which are transformative and powerful forces for the sustainable developments which extends to all other species (Edwards, A.R., and B. McKibben ,2010).
Sustainable Agriculture
Sustainable agriculture consists of all environmental farming methods which allow crop productions or livestock without damaging natural or human systems. Specifically, this prevents adverse soil, biodiversity, water surrounding and downstream resources.
Environment
Models Of Development In Singapore
Many development models have different mixes for free markets principles and governments interventions. Out of these successful Asian models, Singapore represents the “average countries. Many developing economies have keenly expressed interest in the learning from other countries experiences. In this regard, these countries offer a variety of programs to lesser developed economies within the non-G-20 countries which enhances the legitimacy of the countries. According to the G-20 leader’s declaration, the development gaps and reducing poverty levels in low-income countries is integral to the G-20’s objectives. The of achieving stronger, sustainable and balanced growths in the global economies (Rogers, P., K.F. Jalal, and J.A. Boyd, 2007).
As the premier global economic forum, the G-20, and its development approach flows naturally from its core mandate of international economic cooperation. Recognizing that economic increase is a necessary condition to achieve sustained and self-sufficient poverty reduction. And is thus a critical component in closing the development gap. The G-20 should also direct on the economic growth aspects of development, particularly the economic growth of low-income countries (Edwards, A.R., and B. McKibben ,2010).
Conclusion
Singapore has over the years developed extensively from a position in the third world to a position in the first world within five decades. It is by due to prioritization of the economic concepts in a very competitive economy and perusal of environmental sustainability. Singapore's intends to use different ecological strategies and models as in the next 40-50 years to come outline in Singapore's Concept Plans, which review in every decade. The long term plans translate into Master Plans that guide the developments over the next 10-16 years to come. In the next 50 years Singapore will be one of the worlds largest economically recognized country.
References
Edwards, A.R., and B. McKibben (2010). Thriving Beyond Sustainability: Pathways to a Resilient Society. New Society Publishers
Pezzey, J; M. Toman (January 2002). "The Economics of Sustainability :A Review of Journal Articles"
Rogers, P., K.F. Jalal, and J.A. Boyd (2007). An Introduction to Sustainable Development. Routledge
Van der Straaten, J., and J.C van den Bergh (1994). Towards Sustainable Development: Concepts, Methods, and Policy. Island Press
White, F; Stallones, L; Last, JM. (2013). Global Public Health: Ecological Foundations. Oxford University Press
World Commission on Environment and Development (1987). Our Common Future. Oxford University Press
