Green report card

Singapore is clean and green but is the Garden City eco-friendly enough?

By Lionel Seah

BEFORE the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio, the colour green was just another shade for most Singaporeans.

Paws for thought as commitment to the green cause is crucial if we do not want to eat dead fish washed up on shore by the recent phenol-oil spill here.

But these days, green is a lifestyle leaning, an environmental movement. Like most countries, Singapore has caught on to green - and brown and blue - politics, with various degrees of success. Brown and blue politics refer to the optimal management of waste recycling and the marine and coastal environments, respectively.

The seed for turning an under-developed isle into a Garden City was planted with the set-up of the Ministry of Environment (ENV) in September 1972.

ENV, in the face of rapid economic development, implemented pollution control and instituted infrastructure to deal with waste disposal.

Throughout the years, Singapore has shown how resolve and new technologies can offer remedies to environmental problems.

Examples abound, such as the decade-long clean-up of the Singapore River and the progressive greening of the island.

And according to waste statistics and recycling rates released by the ENV, Singapore has been recycling at least 40 per cent of its total domestic and industrial waste since 1996.

In May, Singapore topped a poll of the cleanest countries in Asia, beating Japan, by the Hongkong-based Political and Economic Risk Consultancy.

Singapore was ranked eighth this January in the GIN-DEX world survey, which measures carbon emissions, water pollution, commercial energy use and industrial output.

But despite all these, our eco-report card has seen a few red marks.

A Newsweek report this year ranked Singapore as one of the 10 worst countries, out of 50, along with Bangladesh and Uganda, for its environmental record.

The country was also placed 25th out of 45 developed countries in terms of energy efficiency by the World Economic Forum last year.

Howard Shaw, 31, senior manager of the Singapore Environment Council, however, points out the inherent flaws of such polls.

'As a tropical country, Singapore expends much energy on airconditioners. We are a city-state, with no natural resources or rural hinterland and quite a large population base. In theory, it sounds logical that we are heading towards environmental disaster. But it isn't true.'

Even then, there remains a group of eco-minded individuals which shares the sentiment that Singapore may not be as eco-friendly as it seems.

Angie Ng, a retired teacher with three grown-up kids, points out: 'Look at the amount of plastic bags we use at supermarkets, and styrofoam and plastic cups, utensils and plates at food courts. Those are all non-biodegradable waste.

'People need to realise that extra work is needed to help save the planet. Convenience is not always a blessing.'

Rita Zamzamah Mohamed Nazeer, 21, an undergraduate at the National Institute of Education and a member of the Nature Society of Singapore, says awareness of such ecological issues is low here compared to the more developed countries.

She says: 'My friends and I would like to recycle waste but we don't know where recycling bins are located. Information like this should be made readily available.'

Thomas Lim, 20, a full-time national serviceman, on the other hand, believes that Singaporeans rely too often on a top-down approach when it comes to environmental management.

'Singapore has remained clean and green only because we have a severe fine system,' he says. 'There's so much litter in certain parts of East Coast Park.

'We are green because we fear the law, not because of a commitment to the cause.'

Serena Chow, 22, an arts undergraduate at the National University of Singapore and a member of the Nature Society, believes mindsets need to be changed.

She says: 'We should care for the environment not because of rankings, but out of true respect and concern for the environment.

'We can't afford to always evaluate things in short-term, monetary value.'

5 things which turn others green

singapore the garden city:

There are more than 33 parks, four nature areas, the Botanic Gardens and a network of park connectors islandwide, all managed by the National Parks Board.

implementation of policies to control motor vehicle emissions:

Phased out lead petrol by 1998, followed by the progressive implementation of the vehicle quota and road pricing systems to keep Singapore roads relativelycongestion-free.

ENV and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology announced earlier this month that rebates will be extended to natural gas vehicles, as well as green vehicles like the Toyota Prius.

the annual clean and green week:

Established in November 1990, it aims to promote public awareness of environmental issues.

Clean and Green Week this year starts on Nov 3.

env environmental blueprints:

The proposed Green Plan 2012 is to be framed with help from focus groups, and headed by Mr Chia Wee Boon, managing director of Hewlett Packard Singapore, Nominated MP Simon Tay, and Professor Leo Tan, director of the National Institute of Education.

The plan aims for adequate clean air, water and land here in the long term.

environmental funds:

ENV will set up a $20-million Innovation for Environmental Sustainability Fund over the next five years, for the purpose of providing funding for innovative projects that will help Singapore attain our goals of environmental sustainability.

5 things we can do better

more greenery Jazmyn Chelliah, a consultant psychologist: 'We could do with a lot more greenery, such as small parks or roof-top gardens, in the city.'

education Angie Ng, a retired teacher: 'We need to start cultivating eco-values in children from a young age in schools.'

improve on the park connector network Clive Briffett, lecturer at the School of Design and Environment at NUS: 'The park connector scheme should be made more extensive, to go over and under roads. Alternatively, have more bicycle lanes.'

mandatory environmental impact assessment reports Briffett: 'There are hardly any comprehensive EIA reports done for proposed development sites. Presently, developers do a limited amount of on-site ecological assessment reports but it's insufficient for proper evaluation.

cut down on air-conditioning Chelliah: 'Tropical buildings should be designed with more natural ventilation and such that it relies on natural lighting.'