Committee of Supply debate 2022, Day 5: Desmond Lee on 'City in Nature'

From parks, green spaces and eco towns to energy-efficient cooling technologies, smart building systems and enhanced building ventilation - Singapore has made "good progress" so far, said National Development Minister Desmond Lee. Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday (Mar 8), he said there is “much more to do” and Singapore must press on. To push the boundaries of energy efficiency, S$45 million will be pumped into a Green Buildings Innovation Cluster programme to support the research and prototyping of green building technologies. It will accelerate the commercialisation of these solutions through industry partnerships and help grow the local ecosystem of firms with green building expertise. To support Singapore's "City in Nature" ambitions, the Government will invest an additional S$64 million in research and development. To make HDB towns more sustainable, the Government will tap on new technologies and smart infrastructure solutions under the HDB Green Towns Programme. The Government will also continue to restore and enhance habitats, green the city more intensively and enhance connectivity between green spaces. Mr Lee said whether it is making the built environment more sustainable or transforming Singapore into a "City in Nature", Government agencies, industry partners, academics and researchers, nature groups and the community "must work together".