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Green Plans in Action: Singapore: Scientific Foundation
Science Behind the Policies
The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) tracks environmental technologies and adopts them in areas that support Singapore's environmental outcomes in a cost-effective way. Together with its two statutory boards, National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Public Utilities Board (PUB), MEWR works closely with local environmental NGOs (More #1) and across the People, Private and Public (3P) sectors on various environmental initiatives. MEWR also works closely with local industry associations (More #2) and local tertiary institutions such as the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University. (More #3) NEA focuses on the implementation of environmental policies, and works closely with other government agencies to monitor and manage Singapore's vulnerability to climate change. With the announcement of Singapore's plan to accede to the Kyoto Protocol in 2006, the National Climate Change Committee was formed to tackle climate change issues. NEA also provides the 3P Partnership Fund to assist organizations, companies and individuals from the 3P sectors to work together in developing innovative and sustainable environmental initiatives.
Knowledge Based Economy
The Research Innovation and Enterprise Council (RIEC) advises Singapore Cabinet on national research and innovation policies and strategies to drive the transformation of Singapore into a knowledge-based economy, with strong capabilities in research and development, and leads the national drive to promote research, innovation and enterprise. RIEC encourages new initiatives in knowledge creation in science and technology, and to catalyze new areas of economic growth. The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) is the key agency fostering the world-class scientific research and nurturance of world-class scientific talent for a vibrant knowledge-based Singapore.
Research & Development
The National Research Foundation (NRF) was formed in 2006 as a department in the Prime Minister's Office to coordinate the research activities of different agencies within the larger national framework and to fund strategic research and development (R&D) initiatives. One of the strategic programs under NRF is Environment and Water Technologies. (More #1) The Biomedical Research Council (BMRC), established under A*STAR in 2000, oversees and co-ordinates public sector biomedical R&D activities in Singapore. The Clean Energy Programme Office (CEPO) was formed in 2007 to develop Singapore as a Clean Energy Hub, and to implement and coordinate the various public programs in Clean Energy. (More #2) The National Science and Technology Board (NSTB) promotes both Science and Technology under the Ministry of Trade and Industry and is responsible for science issues. NSTB administers grant schemes for companies doing research and development in various technologies. Among the major activities is the establishment of a research institute, the Environmental Technology Institute (ETI) to work with both public and private institutions on R&D related to environmental technologies. (More #3)
Biosecurity
The Environmental Health Institute (EHI) was launched in 2002 to conduct applied research for developing innovative and cost-effective ways of combating vector-borne diseases, particularly those transmitted by mosquitoes. EHI communicates with members of the genetic technology of the life sciences laboratories to identify mosquito species rapidly, from a few days in the past to within an hour today. EHI also works closely with other biotechnology laboratories in institutions that are developing vaccines for dengue.
Green Labelling
The Singapore Green Labelling Scheme (SGLS), launched by the Ministry of the Environment in 1992, awards environment-friendly products with eco-labels. This scheme extends to most products but excludes foods, drinks, pharmaceuticals, services and processes. Products that comply with Green Label standards are given the privilege to carry the Green Label logo to distinguish them as environmentally friendly products. The Singapore Environment Council (SEC) is now the Secretariat for the SGLS. (More)
Carrying Capacity
The annual in-flow of natural resources required by any defined population can be called its appropriated carrying capacity. Population increase eventually upsets the balance between people and resources, and is a vital and universal island concern. Since carrying capacity is determined not just by local conditions but also by overall capacity to access resources, there is no agreed limit to population density. Hence islands, like Singapore, support high population densities without compromising lifestyles, because they draw resources from surrounding areas, largely by means of trade. However, this assumes incoming resources are provided by other nations whose resources outbalance their populations.
Ecological footprint
An ecological footprint is the amount of productive land area required to sustain one human being. It is the corresponding area of productive land and aquatic ecosystems required to produce the resources used, and to assimilate the wastes produced, by a defined population at a specified material standard of living, wherever on Earth that land may be located. Globally, there are about 1.9 hectares of productive area per person, but the average ecological footprint is already 2.3 hectares and as of 2003 has exceeded the Earth's biocapacity by about 25%. In 1995, Singapore had an average footprint of 6.48 hectare. However, the Ministry of the Environment disagreed with the average footprint because a major amount of emissions come from Singapore's use as a major transport hub and oil-refining center. The Ministry believed those emissions should be excluded to calculate the average ecological footprint of Singapore. Environment and Water Resources (MEWR), therefore, does not calculate the ecological footprint for Singapore as it does not accurately reflect the environmental sustainability of Singapore due to its unique circumstances as a highly used transport hub.
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