PEEL Clean Land for World Cities Summit Delegates
June - July 2010

A bridge that spanned from the sunny banks of mainland Singapore to the iconic offshore sustainability showcase, PEEL provided summit delegates access to experiential learning in the truest sense, and a direct connection from ideas learnt to the beauty of reality.

PEEL or the Programme for Environmental Experiential Learning, conducted by the Singapore Environment Institute (SEI), freshened up delegates at the World Cities Summit (WCS) with knowledge building beyond the air-conditioned event halls. Taking place from 28 June to 1 July 2010, this was the second time that Singapore hosted the Summit for top-notch leaders and city planners around the globe.

Among the highlights of this high profile event were the Learning Journeys that brought delegates to various locations of strategic importance in shaping Singapore into a sustainable and liveable city. Two such Journeys took the form of an exclusive PEEL Clean Land Trail that was attended by some 50 delegates from the field of urban planning and development.

The PEEL experience began in the coach as the delegates listened out eagerly to information on Singapore’s integrated solid waste management system, with the learning kit as supporting learning material. Along with that, the PEEL guide also introduced the delegates to the various places of interest in Singapore. Upon their transfer to the ferry ride, the delegates interacted with each other and shared their work experiences, a taste of something light-hearted against the choppy seas outside the ferry.

At the Semakau Landfill, the delegates were briefed on the science and technology behind the world’s first offshore landfill, as well as the concepts and policy systems that led to sanitary landfilling becoming an integral part of Singapore’s waste strategy. The mini-exhibition also expounded these theories and ideas, which enhanced the learning points designed for the Clean Land trail.

The delegates also got to feel the breaths of Semakau as they stepped outdoors to behold and marvel at the ecological paradise created out of the landfilling sites. Despite receiving 2,000 tonnes of incineration ash and non-incinerable wastes daily, the Semakau Landfill remains a major sanctuary to various marine ecosystems, which thrive alongside mangroves and tropical shoreline habitats.

Through PEEL, the delegates had enriched their minds in a fun and innovative way. Back at the Suntec Convention Centre, which was the main venue for WCS2010, the delegates revisited the expo and gained a greater appreciation of the contents displayed in NEA’s booth. Being the training arm of NEA, SEI was featured at the booth via its array of international programmes and enjoyable PEEL trails, and had left a deep impression with many Summit delegates.

SEI is proud to have contributed to this year’s Summit through its unique outdoor learning modes, which proved to be particularly appealing to foreign guests stepping foot into Singapore from different corners of the world. In the years ahead, PEEL is expected to scale a new summit in environmental pedagogy, as it continues to reach out to stakeholders to learn about the environment by going out to be a part of it.

Last updated on 16 Aug 10