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Singapore International Chamber of Commerce (SICC) hosted The Signature Series: Ms Grace Fu

Singapore International Chamber of Commerce (SICC)

The Signature Series: Ms. Grace Fu

13 August 2024, 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Suntec Singapore Convention & Exhibition Centre

Delegation from Newcastle Australia recently had the privilege of attending an enlightening dialogue hosted by SICC on how businesses can capture opportunities in the transition towards a green economy to strengthen their sustainability knowledge and capabilities with Ms. Grace Fu, the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-Charge of Trade Relations.

The session provided a dive into crucial topics such as Singapore’s commitment to international climate agreements, its ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.  climate change and its impact and risks on Singapore and the government’s comprehensive approach to mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Minister Fu shared insights on the efficacy of various climate action approaches and emphasized the need for a comprehensive assessment and provided an update on the targets and initiatives of the Singapore Green Plan 2030 a national collaborative effort involving multiple government ministries and agency in 2021.

She highlighted that Singapore has made notable progress in achieving the goals of the Singapore Green Plan 2030 across several key areas:

  • City in Nature: This urban greening initiative focuses on expanding green spaces and enhancing urban biodiversity to integrate nature into Singapore’s cityscape.
  • Sustainable Living: Efforts under this pillar aim to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable lifestyles by focusing on waste reduction and the expansion of the public transport network.
  • Energy Reset: Significant advancements have been made in improving energy efficiency and increasing the adoption of renewable energy sources, particularly solar energy.
  • Green Economy: Singapore is driving green growth to create new jobs (particularly in green services and finance, consulting and reporting), transform industries, and harness sustainability as a competitive advantage in the global market.
  • Resilient Future: Measures are being implemented to bolster Singapore’s coastal and flood defences against the threats posed by rising sea levels.

She concluded that continued efforts and stakeholder engagement are crucial to realising the Green Plan’s ambition by 2030 and Singapore will regularly review and update the plan to meet its sustainability targets.

Our Pro Vice-Chancellor and CEO, Professor Abhishek Bhati, posed an insightful question regarding Singapore’s role in addressing climate change, “How can Singapore be an advocate in mitigating these strategies?” In response, Minister Grace Fu outlined four key approaches: harnessing technological advancements, capital accessibility, developing people (know-how/capability), and fostering international cooperation.

The Centre for Sustainable Development (CSD) at NAIHE aims to play a crucial role in contributing to the Singapore Green Plan through education, research and community engagement. In 2024, we will launch the Masters of Environmental Management and Sustainability designed to equip students for jobs in the green economy. Sustainability topics are incorporated into curriculum and assessments undertaken by students across all disciplines. The CSD emphasizes research on Climate Change and Food Security, as well as focused SDGs such as: 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), 4 (Quality Education), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), 13 (Climate Action) and 17 (Partnership for the Goals) in collaboration with industries and other institutes of higher learning in Singapore. Sustainability initiatives and practices are adopted in our campuses including public seminars, events and student-led initiatives (beach-clean up) to promote environmental awareness and action.