Update on Sustainable Singapore Blueprint 2015

Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources if he can provide an update on the steps being taken to operationalise the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint 2015 and to realise the Government's vision to create a more vibrant, liveable and sustainable Singapore.

Last year, MEWR and MND released the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint (SSB) 2015. This mapped out the Government's strategies for sustainable development in Singapore, guided by the vision of a Liveable and Endearing Home, a Vibrant and Sustainable City, and an Active and Gracious Community.

Over the next few years, various Government agencies will invest in infrastructure and roll out the policies and schemes contained in SSB 2015. Many of the initiatives are already in progress. For example, to improve our air quality, NEA has tightened the emissions standards of vehicles in recent years and will further implement Euro VI emissions standards for new petrol and diesel vehicles from 1 September 2017 and 1 January 2018 respectively. To achieve a "car-lite" Singapore while bringing commuting convenience to residents, LTA and URA have drawn up plans to make towns more walkable and cyclist-friendly, starting with Ang Mo Kio town. All new Build-To-Order flats will also come with a centralised chute on every floor for recyclables, making it easier for residents to recycle.

Another initiative is the Active, Beautiful and Clean Waters (ABC Waters) programme where a new project at Bukit Batok Canal saw its groundbreaking ceremony last month. Other projects along Kallang River, as well as Sungei Bedok, are also expected to commence this year. These projects complement our continued efforts on enhancing green and blue public spaces for the community and to provide a better living environment for our residents. The Government will be implementing more projects and reviewing more of our policies in

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the coming year and beyond to make Singapore more vibrant, liveable and sustainable.

However, we need more than the Government's efforts to achieve the vision outlined in the SSB. As part of an Active and Gracious Community, individuals, companies and the community must also play a role towards creating a sustainable Singapore. After all, infrastructure, such as more convenient recycling chutes, will become white elephants if we do not utilise them well. We need everyone to take stewardship of our environment and sustainable development. It should be second nature for people, businesses and the Government to come together to care for our common spaces and environment, and champion a sustainable way of life.

To reach out to passionate individuals, non-governmental organisations and companies, MEWR, MND and other agencies have organised many consultations and focus group discussions since last year. Many ongoing projects, such as our more than 700 Community-in-Bloom Gardens and our almost 350 litter-free Bright Spots, see active community participation and rely on a strong community spirit. Companies can also do their part. For example, the RENEW (REcycling Nation's Electronic Waste) programme by StarHub, recycling company TES-AMM and DHL makes it easier for Singaporeans to recycle their electronic products by providing e-waste recycling bins across Singapore. These are just a few examples of some of our efforts in bringing about closer partnerships with the public, private and people sectors. Together, we can be the proud stewards of a liveable home and sustainable city, one that can be enjoyed by many more generations of Singaporeans to come.

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