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Strategies for sustainable
growth in Singapore
Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Republic of Singapore
F
or Singapore, the green economy is about sustainable
development. This means growing the economy while
protecting the environment in a balanced way. Singapore
practised sustainable development before the term became
widely used. While pursuing economic growth to better the lives
of our people, we also recognized the importance of safeguard-
ing our living and natural environment.
Singapore is a small island with limited water supplies and no natural
resources. We import most of the food and water we consume, as
well as the resources and materials our industries need. Forty years
ago, Singapore faced overcrowding, poor living conditions and a lack
of infrastructure. Yet we have overcome our constraints, achieved
economic growth and developed into a modern city. Through imagi-
native city design, careful planning and judicious land use, we house
about 5 million people today in a clean and green city, with one of
the best urban environments in the world. This transformation was
achieved with the support of people and businesses.
Our efforts at sustainable development have been
guided by three principles:
• Long-term integrated planning – from energy to
transportation and waste management, policies
are crafted with a long-term and holistic view of
Singapore’s needs and circumstances
• A pragmatic and cost-effective approach – to
achieve the twin goals of promoting economic
growth and maintaining a good environment.
Measures adopted to achieve long-term goals
might incur short-term costs, but we pace the
implementation and provide help to temper the
short-term costs to businesses and individuals
• Flexibility – economic growth and a good
environment are long-term goals, so we must be ready
to adjust to changes in technology and the global
environment. We invest in building our capabilities
today to better respond to the challenges of tomorrow.
S
ustainability
P
olicies
, P
rogrammes
and
their
E
conomic
I
mpact
Singapore has won international recognition for its holistic approach to the environment
Image: MEWR Singapore