Eco-Nation of Tomorrow: A Developer’s Vision have come a long way since then. This is but one of the many examples of the positive changes that we, as a nation, have achieved over the past few decades. However, getting every stakeholder to agree on this vision of an eco-nation is no mean feat. This is why I believe in the urgent need for engaging the public, private and people sectors (3P) in building Singapore’s eco-nation of tomorrow. I am confident that collaboration using our nation’s unique 3P model will offer the best solution in realising this vision.
Government’s efforts in forging a greener tomorrow – the 3P model The government, through statutory bodies such as the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), Building and Construction Authority (BCA) and the National Environment Agency (NEA), has made tremendous efforts towards improving and sustaining a clean and green environment in Singapore. BCA, for example, has spearheaded initiatives to shape a safe, high-quality and sustainable built environment. In 2005, BCA initiated the Green Mark Scheme to drive the local construction industry towards more environmentallyfriendly buildings. Its intention is to promote sustainability in the built environment and raise environmental awareness among developers, designers and builders from project conceptualisation to design and construction. It has also introduced many schemes over the years to incentivise building owners and tenants to make energy efficiency a priority. In 2010, BCA set up a $15 million Sustainable Construction Capability Development Fund to develop capabilities of the industry in adopting sustainable construction methods and materials. In 2014, BCA launched the third Green Building Masterplan, which aims to green 80% of Singapore’s buildings by 2030. In 2013, there were more than 1,600 green buildings, comprising about 21% of the total building stock. The government’s target, while lofty, is not impossible to achieve. Such government initiatives, together with the collaboration and capabilities of the private sector, have led Singapore to take a great leap forward in terms of sustainable building design, with the use of technology to reduce environmental impact during construction. For example, two innovations were introduced for the first time in Singapore during the construction of the BCA Green Mark Platinum-rated Green Gallery at the Singapore Botanic Gardens Heritage Museum. The zero-energy gallery was built with a fully237