Debate on President’s Address: Grace Fu on individuals, groups and generations as ‘stewards’ of the environment
To keep Singapore going and sustainable for future generations, its people must adjust the way they live as a society and grow their economy, said Sustainability and the Environment Minister Grace Fu. Speaking in Parliament on Thursday (Apr 20), she stressed the need to re-examine and reaffirm Singapore’s social compact at three levels. These are how one relates to others, between groups and between generations. She urged Singaporeans to normalise good habits and sustainable behaviour. “We owe it not just to our environment but also to one another to keep our shared home clean, green and safe,” she said. Ms Fu pointed out that while the full impact of climate change may not hit Singapore yet, it is clear that the country needs to make the investments now to secure a brighter future for the next generation. She said the inter-generational social compact is clearly illustrated in Singapore’s approach to coastal protection and food security. She stressed the need for the current generation to make long-term investments in capability building. These include research and development to enable Singapore to sow the seeds for a broad spectrum of innovation and technological solutions to thrive in a more uncertain world, innovations in sustainable novel foods, as well as planning and building long-term for coastal protection and investing in energy-efficient water treatment technologies. Ms Fu said these will ensure that Singapore can remain resilient to climate change into the future. She said as “caretakers” and “stewards” of the country, Singaporeans are “not helpless bystanders”. They must have the grit and determination and believe in the need to place environmental stewardship alongside socioeconomic growth and development, she said. Singapore must also invest in infrastructure and capabilities that the future generation can benefit from, as well as make difficult trade-offs. “As we face the new challenges ahead, let us continue to translate our convictions into actions. When we work together, as we have in the past, we can create a sustainable Singapore in the decades to come,” she said.
To keep Singapore going and sustainable for future generations, its people must adjust the way they live as a society and grow their economy, said Sustainability and the Environment Minister Grace Fu. Speaking in Parliament on Thursday (Apr 20), she stressed the need to re-examine and reaffirm Singapore’s social compact at three levels. These are how one relates to others, between groups and between generations. She urged Singaporeans to normalise good habits and sustainable behaviour. “We owe it not just to our environment but also to one another to keep our shared home clean, green and safe,” she said. Ms Fu pointed out that while the full impact of climate change may not hit Singapore yet, it is clear that the country needs to make the investments now to secure a brighter future for the next generation. She said the inter-generational social compact is clearly illustrated in Singapore’s approach to coastal protection and food security. She stressed the need for the current generation to make long-term investments in capability building. These include research and development to enable Singapore to sow the seeds for a broad spectrum of innovation and technological solutions to thrive in a more uncertain world, innovations in sustainable novel foods, as well as planning and building long-term for coastal protection and investing in energy-efficient water treatment technologies. Ms Fu said these will ensure that Singapore can remain resilient to climate change into the future. She said as “caretakers” and “stewards” of the country, Singaporeans are “not helpless bystanders”. They must have the grit and determination and believe in the need to place environmental stewardship alongside socioeconomic growth and development, she said. Singapore must also invest in infrastructure and capabilities that the future generation can benefit from, as well as make difficult trade-offs. “As we face the new challenges ahead, let us continue to translate our convictions into actions. When we work together, as we have in the past, we can create a sustainable Singapore in the decades to come,” she said.
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