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ENVISION examines the Zero Waste Masterplan, the plan to defuse the ticking Semakau Landfill's timebomb and as well as the policies and mechanisms driving the change towards zero waste in both Asia and Europe. With the challenge of climate change, what is the future of the landfill with rising sea levels? Today, Semakau Landfill is not only a landfill, free from foul smelling pollution, but also a coastal and marine biodiversity haven. Raising the bund will increase the capacity of the landfill to receive more incinerated waste but can it be done in ways such as by adopting nature-enhanced coastal defence that do not reduce biodiversity but promote it instead?
In cooperating with other countries on the common endeavour to address climate change, the Climate Action Package was launched to offer capacity building programmes to support fellow developing countries to be more climate resilient. This Issue also examines the emerging natural food sources for alternative and sustainable protein supply in the face of climate change and food security.
On the transition towards a regenerative and CE in cities, this Issue provides highlights of NEA's flagship event: CleanEnviro Summit Singapore (CESS) Catalyst 2019 on how businesses could reinvent themselves to go circular.
Recognising the importance of a common metric framework for CE, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) convened 26 global companies to develop an objective and quantitative Circular Transition Indicators (CTI), enabling companies to take a consistent, objective and structured approach to identifying risks and opportunities and prioritizing action. As there is rich biodiversity on and around Pulau Semakau, similar efforts should be made to track and develop the existing biodiversity using science- based approach like the Singapore Index on Cities’ Biodiversity.
2019 had been a busy and fruitful year, in terms of leveraging research and development (R&D) and deploying innovations to help Singapore close the waste loop. The past year had witnessed several significant milestones for NEA, with the announcement of “NEWSand”, the launch of the inaugural Zero Waste Masterplan and passing of the Resource Sustainability Bill. NEA has invested and is collaborating with local and foreign institutions and R&D centres of excellence in closing the waste loop. ENVISION takes a peek into what lies ahead on the innovation front in closing the waste loop.
Singapore is increasing its efforts to combat climate change, and solar energy will be an important asset in its arsenal. Locally, Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS), NTU and Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology have teamed up together in the quest to push the limits of solar cell efficiencies. NEA is working with SERIS, Singapore Polytechnic and recycling companies to develop a cost effective solution for solar panel recycling.
Associated with rapid global industrialisation, the increase in hazardous waste generation has become a relevant environmental problem. The development of more sustainable processes that alleviate such environmental impacts is absolutely necessary. Localising global leadership position in hazardous chemical waste management, Veolia has leveraged more than 40 years of experience in the hazardous waste market in Europe and around the world to establish a flagship facility here in Singapore. This state-of-the-art Hazardous Chemical Waste Treatment Facility can effectively treat difficult-to-manage toxic industrial waste in a circular manner and raising the standard for the Singapore hazardous chemical waste infrastructure.
Community building and effective communication is imperative to addressing environmental issues. More likeminded and passionate individuals and members of the community are partaking in more acts of environmental activism in creating resilient communities in Singapore. Find out how more citizens are driving change from the ground up to bring together people from business, academia, government, NGOs, and members of the community to connect and talk about green issues, collaborate on solutions, and share knowledge with one another. Meet the silent heroes and community builders who have facilitated community engagement through informal events on environmental issues; adopting compost food scraps as part of personal journeys towards a more sustainable and zero waste living and in protecting the environment with their environmental outreach programmes such as Project EARTH, EcoKnight SG and Do the Mozzie Wipeout.
Everyone has a part to play: Advancing towards a Zero Waste Nation requires the partnership of the People, Public and Private (3P) sectors to co-create and implement new solutions.
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