2022 is a special year for NEA, as we celebrate our 20th Anniversary. As the leading public organisation responsible for a clean and liveable Singapore, sustainability has been central to NEA’s mandate since our formation in July 2002.
And today, faced with a multitude of environmental threats, NEA adopts a multi-pronged approach by combining policy changes with stakeholder engagement to encourage sustainable production, consumption and development. Like most sustainable cities, Singapore strives to become a Zero Waste Nation by embracing circular economy across the value chain. To accelerate the adoption of waste and resource management initiatives, NEA administered a $45 million ‘Closing the Waste Loop’ fund to develop innovative solutions that could possibly extend the lifespan of Semakau Landfill.
NEA also plays a vital role in our nation’s efforts to strengthen climate resilience. To meet international obligations to the Kigali Amendment, NEA has introduced measures to reduce the usage and production of hydrofluorocarbons which are potent greenhouse gases (GHG), and shift the industry towards climate-friendly technologies.
Beyond carbon mitigation, NEA also supports Singapore's vision to become a leading centre for green finance through the launch of the Multicurrency Medium Term Note Programme and Green Bond Framework last year, a first by a statutory board in Singapore. The proceeds from the issuance of Notes will go towards funding sustainable infrastructure development projects.
Amid the uncertainty of the pandemic, we held our first hybrid format CleanEnviro Summit Singapore Catalyst in September 2021, facilitating global discourse on sustainable development. The event was a successful lead-up to the flagship CleanEnviro Summit Singapore in April 2022, providing opportunities for public and private sector leaders from around the world to convene and address climate risk and urban waste issues ahead of the 27th United Nations (UN) Climate Change conference.
Looking back, NEA has come a long way in the past two decades. Although the challenges we face today are vastly different, we will forge ahead to create value for our stakeholders, as well as catalyse and support industry-wide, sustainable change.
NEA will continue to play a vital role in safeguarding our environment for future generations, in the next 20 years and beyond.
Mr Lee Chuan Seng
Chairman