Listening to the Minister of Environment and Water of Singapore Masagos Zulkifli talking about the work of his ministry, I was sadly reminded of the hollow speeches by some Arab ministers of environment. Whereas Zulkifli gave a detailed account of his ministry's concrete achievements in addressing the problems of resource management, environmental protection and pollution control on this small island, almost all Arab minister’s speeches are limited to wishes, generalities, and scores of meetings and reports. Development does not occur by coincidence, but rather is the cumulative result of sound planning and persistence. While the ministry of environment in many Arab countries is still presented as a consolation prize for someone deemed unworthy of a better portfolio, in developed countries it is considered a fundamental ministry that shapes the future.
Singapore has pronounced 2018 as Climate Action Year. As part of this initiative, it hosted a meeting with authors and experts involved in the preparation of the World Environment Outlook, to be issued by UNEP next year. It wouldn’t have been possible to choose a location that is better in line with the theme of the meeting. Singapore provided a vivid example of how a country can meet environmental challenges in difficult natural circumstances while enhancing the wellbeing of its people.
Singapore has an area of 712 square kilometers, making it 15 times smaller than Lebanon, and even smaller than Bahrain, which is one of the smallest island states in the world. Singapore has a population of 5.6 million, which is 30 percent more than Lebanon and 400 percent more than Bahrain. But this high population density did not prevent the island, with limited natural resources, from achieving some of the highest growth rates in the world, by balancing economic progress with nurturing the environment and providing its people with high standard of living. Singapore's GDP per capita exceeds US$53,000, making it among the highest in the world and higher than all Arab countries except one. This holds true for Singapore while it lacks natural resources, but relies on advanced industry and services.
Singapore has a unique and sophisticated urban organization. It is a city within a garden, where green areas are not limited to large parks, but extend to roadsides that are lined by trees for over 3,500 kilometers. Singapore ranked second in the world in terms of green area, with about 30 percent of the land covered by trees. It was preceded only by the US city of Tampa at 36 percent.
A small percentage of fresh water comes from desalination. So where from does this locked island get water? Each raindrop that falls on paved roads and roofs is collected and pumped into large open reservoirs. In addition to strict water pollution prevention programs, all wastewater and sewage is treated and reused.
In terms of waste, 57 percent is recycled, while 43 percent goes to modern incinerators. A small island belonging to Singapore has been allocated to safely bury the ashes of the incinerators and the residues of recycling, with a plan in progress to reduce the amount of waste to reach “zero waste” in 20 years.
Singapore visitors are surprised by the lack of heavy traffic congestion on this small patch of densely populated land. The answer is effective public transport networks, enabling most of the population to do without private cars, including the head of the National Environment Agency, who used a public transport bus to attend our meeting. The city is organized in a way dividing it into communities that combine accommodation, work and leisure facilities, reducing the need for travelling long distances.
Natural resource management and environmental protection are not limited to deterrent sanctions, but include incentives for good practices. They are also supported by effective scientific research and development programs, which have put Singapore in a leading position in R&D.
All these initiatives and programs would not have achieved their objectives without rational policies that adopt transparency and accountability. This is apparent with Singapore’s ranking at a very advanced position in the Global Corruption Index, being sixth among the top 180 countries. This ranks Singapore immediately after Switzerland, surpassing countries such as Sweden, Canada, the Netherlands and Germany.
There are many useful lessons that Arabs can learn from Singapore, the most important of which being combining ambition with planning and realism. Because Singapore's development depends on sound planning, it recognizes that there are limits to the growth that can be achieved with scarce natural resources. Continuing to gain more land by reclaiming the sea is no longer possible due to natural constraints, as well as sovereign issues related to the maritime rights of neighboring countries. In addition, the remaining non-built areas available on land are necessary to maintain the green cover and secure fresh water reservoirs. That is why future plans focus on limiting the growth of population and focusing on enhancing the welfare of citizens.