SDGS & STAKEHOLDER PARTNERSHIPS

Each one of us matters, has a role to play, and makes a difference. Each one of us must take responsibility for our own lives, and above all, show respect and love for living things around us, especially each other.

Knowing is the key to caring, and with caring there is hope that people will be motivated to take positive actions. They might not care even if they know, but they can’t care if they are unaware.

The EU and Singapore are strong partners and are working closely together to enhance economic and trade cooperation for a green, digital and sustainable recovery.

Denmark and Singapore share green ambitions and goals for sustainable urban development – from vertical indoor farming to advanced water treatment to smart city solutions and even maritime decarbonisation.

Our ambition is to be seen as partners for cutting-edge multi-disciplinary solutions that can build a better future for all. Therefore, we think it is more about co-creating and pioneering solutions for global challenges. We do not think it is just about narrow national interests; we think global and we want to be a partner. We find Singapore very open to this and wants to be number one in a very positive way. I like that attitude. Another thing I admire here is the quick pace of implementation once a decision is taken. That is something that is really unique to Singapore and we can learn a lot from. I think both countries see themselves as ‘Smart Nations’ and we can collaborate in areas ranging from self-driving car systems to the recycling of urban waste.

I found comprehensive strategic planning on issues of fundamental concern to Singapore – water, housing, use of urban space and management of the environment… 45,000 Brits have made their homes here in Singapore, and there are 4,000 British businesses. More want to come and trade or expand here. These include businesses and universities who offer cutting edge technology and world class research and leading unparalleled industry expertise in climate change in the environment, infrastructure, finance, engineering, education and the arts. These strong UK-Singapore partnerships sit alongside a wealth of potential opportunities for even more collaboration.

I don’t want to over-generalise. But women tend to “do it all.” The women who have broken through to get to this level have powerful, persuasive personalities. They know how to listen, but they’re also decisive. They’re big assets to the process.

Every generation of Singaporeans must see ourselves as stewards of our nation. Our youth, especially, play an important role in shaping the future of Singapore.

It has been said that: We did not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we merely borrowed it from our children. Our pioneer generation worked hard to leave us with the clean and liveable Singapore that we enjoy today. It is now our turn to take action together to ensure that our children and grandchildren will inherit the shining jewel that is Singapore.

It is not uncommon for many women to define their own identity and their roles with reference to how they care for others, how they serve others, and how they work for the benefit of others. And these roles include being a daughter, being a wife, being a mother, being a grandmother, being a caregiver, being an employee in an organisation, being a volunteer, and so forth. I think that many women very often put the needs of those whom they love, whom they care for or whom they serve, above that of themselves. So I think that there is indeed wisdom, sometimes, in pausing and reflecting to better understand ourselves, and to refresh ourselves and renew the source of energy for the journey ahead.

As the world moves towards a low-carbon energy future, Singapore’s efforts to decarbonise the energy sector is a top priority. We will continue to push for a cleaner energy mix to achieve our decarbonisation goals. I believe this transformation presents a wonderful opportunity for us to push boundaries, innovate and develop new technologies to propel our energy sector forward and shape Singapore’s energy future.

We don’t have any time to waste to ensure our planet is liveable and our communities thrive, and I look forward to working with all stakeholders to make SGX and in turn Asia’s financial ecosystem a thought and action leader in sustainability and sustainable finance.

Women’s Leadership is increasingly indispensable as we seek solutions for a more sustainable human future. It is leadership that can help us break out of our silos and move towards more integrated and long-term thinking. It is leadership that can harness the idealism of our youth to evoke that vibrant spirit to move us forward together for an inclusive, sustainable and prosperous future. Congratulations to the Singapore Sustainability Academy and the Women4Green network initiated by CDL.

In many ways we’re making real progress in the world… but in one area we’ve actually gone backwards in 2018, and that’s in gender equality. For me, this is a really important thing that we should work on around the world.

The big issue and one thing to remember… we’re facing a gap of three trillion dollars if we want to achieve SDGs so the one thing we are doing to actually mobilise the corporates and the businesses around that is for them to start investing with an SDG lens towards projects or aligning their business strategy to SDGs in mind… shifting from an awareness to actual implementation.

The commitment for robust global cooperation to meet the climate challenge now needs to be acted not just on the climate frontlines but by urgent action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen climate resilience, and support the most vulnerable in adapting to inevitable climate impacts.

South-East Asia is a primary source and victim of plastic, where it is choking seas and threatening ecosystems and livelihoods. If we want to solve the marine litter problem globally, we have to solve it in this region.

The issue I am seeking to highlight is this: to keep the world under +1.5°C of warming we need to change the global portfolio, and yet the invested portfolio is only a small part. It could involve engaging with the public sector – not only on legislation and regulation, but also on the management of state-owned assets.

Whether we win or lose, or (will) be able to really achieve that goal of 1.5C (2.7F) – that battle will be waged at the city level… Cities are (being) reinvented, re-imagined, redesigned. I think that’s where the future will be defined. It’s the seed of innovation and economic activity.

Sustainability is the next frontier for business and finance.

The natural world can exist without us, but we cannot live without the natural world. We need to find ways to live in harmony with nature and wildlife. We have to protect, restore, and enhance our natural world before it’s too late.

Practising the 3 A’s – Awareness, Attitude shift and Adoption – is the perfect route to sustainability. When we take a conscious effort to connect with nature and resources everything will undoubtedly start to fall in place. These practices are key to being a catalyst to actuate sustainability and Circular economy.

I don’t think diversity should be called diversity. It’s a big business opportunity.

The salient value of the sustainability reporting process lies in its ability to ensure that organisations consider and disclose the impacts of their business practices, including consideration of longer-term opportunities and risks.

Leveraging the power of impact networks has never been more important to raise awareness of development issues and diverse ecosystem players have the opportunity to be part of the solution.

Despite construction still being a traditionally male-dominated industry, more than 50 percent of the CEOs running established Green Building Councils are women.

To prevent further devastating climate change, we need these passionate and dynamic women to inspire people around the world to take action. They are the catalysts for change we need to cut greenhouse gases and limit the planet’s rising temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Some of the most dynamic women in our network are working in developing countries – which have significant challenges: the pace of urbanisation; political instability; poverty and pressure on natural resources including water. I consider these women climate champions, and I believe they offer real hope for the future.

Women bring a different perspective to the global challenge of climate change. Women often play pivotal roles in bringing the community and families together, and are thus perfect agents of change. My role in the Singapore Green Building Council has allowed me to make a difference to the buildings that we spend most part of our days in. Building green not only reduces the impact to the environment but also has a positive impact on human health. The Women4Green platform is a great way to bring women together to make a difference to our environment.

We want our children to not just go to malls, but also to have places that let them run about and be close to nature.

Singapore is a great example of a city that has undergone world class urban planning and development.

The power of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) to influence capital deployment has been increasing over the years. Climate change, concerns over health and well-being are some of the important issues related to ESG and impacting real estate.

We encourage (rather urge) everyone to play a part in building a more equal, just and sustainable world. No one can do everything, but everyone can do something.

The global race is on to build back better–and no nation, community or company can go it alone. From the farm and the streets to governments and C-suites, leaders at all levels of society need the tools, the incentives, and the resources to respond to the
convergence of climate, social and economic issues we face today.

Women4Green highlights two important global issues – climate and women’s opportunities for economic participation. Business value is invariably created when companies integrate climate, environment and society into their business governance. Companies who include the other half of the workforce into their talent pool enlarge their resources to bring value creation within reach. The activities of the Women4Good network will extend public understanding of these universal truths, advancing the day when climate and women’s economic participation are as natural as we now regard universal suffrage and education to be – part of everyday life.

Research has made clear that increasing women leadership roles in both the public and private sector leads to better outcomes for challenges such as hunger and malnutrition, climate change and inclusive growth, yet women are often marginalised in the economic and political spheres where key decisions are made.

This is why I’ve dedicated Eco-Business to reporting on these issues; it’s my hope that more women will realise their full potential and participate more in their local workforce and communities. Initiatives such as the SSA and the Women4Good network are great steps in that direction, providing support and resources for the wider community to achieve both the Global Goals and gender equality.

We connected the dots between energy and climate change, looked at raising awareness among companies, and assisting the growth of the sector into an industry.

Changing the paradigm in terms of how our cities live and build with water – as they’re also facing a changing climate – is the number one challenge.

Not only is a 1.5C world our best prospect in terms of protecting our planet and our livelihoods, the actions needed to help get us there would bring such positive benefits to our buildings, our health and our communities. It’s a choice, but it shouldn’t be a hard one.

You can’t achieve ambitious climate goals without the metals that go into the electric vehicles and innovations necessary for a green revolution.

Singapore imports over 90 per cent of its food and throws out 30 per cent of it, yet 10 per cent of our population is ‘food-insecure’, thanks to rising prices. It made Nicholas and me question if there was a better way to do this… We genuinely believe that when one eats well, they can then focus on other aspects of their lives. Therefore, we hope that more people can jump on the bandwagon to help us reduce food wastage and fight hunger.

Mindful food consumption really begins with the education of the individual. The quantity, provenance and the types of food we eat are all personal choices. Apart from having an impact on our personal health –  these choices are also consequential to global food sustainability and food security.

If climate change were a religion, it would incite fear, guilt and shame with little recourse to salvation.

Our strategy is no longer about price, product and promotion. We care more about people, the planet and progress.

I’ve served so many times on committees where I was sure that I was on there because I was ‘the woman’ in the department, or ‘the woman’ in ecosystem science. And that’s no way to engender a lively discussion from multiple perspectives. It’s done by building leadership teams that are energetic and diverse and constant advocates for diverse perspectives.

Individual characteristics of leaders can be really important for corporate sustainability outcomes…When you have a leader that has a value orientation for an environmental or social outcome, we can see that the companies become more engaged.

The health of our planet is a reflection of our own health as a human race. The Earth nourishes, shelters and comforts us. It is our moral duty — and also in our interest — to protect and preserve it.

Sustainability matters for two areas that I’m passionate about. One is in the area of human capital development – I don’t believe any organisation can be considered as sustainable if they don’t grow their own timber. So leaders should be developed in-house and there should be effective leadership development programs targeted at building sustainable leaders at every level. Second,  what is even more crucial is to ensure the right gender balance in getting there. The reasons why we are not seeing enough women on boards is because many companies had fallen short in developing women leaders in their own organisations. I like to see Women4Green work with both men and women champions in leading the way to make this happen.

Just like how it takes a village to raise a child, it certainly does take a collective effort to raise generations of green communities.

Our marine biodiversity is our common natural heritage. As such, NParks has been working on habitat restoration and species recovery efforts, and undertaking research to better understand and conserve our reefs. At the same time, we are glad to see the community coming forward to play a part in conserving them; from collecting information on our marine biodiversity to spreading awareness about the threats to our reefs.

My big dream is to build up marine conservation awareness in Singapore and elsewhere through science communication. I believe that science can be used to change people’s mindsets regarding environmental issues, but science also needs to be relevant and relatable to people. That is why I am making science accessible to people through collaborations, engagements, and science communications – pushing the path to use science to generate societal impacts.

We must aim to become more energy efficient and factor in the cost of climate change cost into our everyday lives, until it becomes part of our habitual nature to be mindful of our actions and how they impact the environment.

Be 100% you, own your leadership style, strengths and stories. Lead with the heart of a servant, but the mind of a warrior. Be as compassionate as you are fearless, be as humble as you are confident.

Sustainability is no longer a choice for today’s business nor communities, it is a necessity. The Singapore Sustainability Academy and Women4Green initiated by the CDL are not merely a platform for sustainability, but also a way to forge partnerships and promote urgency in people to act on climate change. I am truly inspired by their commitment, and it is a great honour to be part of this growing momentum – working towards meeting the global Sustainable Development Goals together.

There is increasing evidence of cost savings and product innovation through adoption of green practices and many companies have started to realise this. Various policy actions such as the Paris Agreement, Task force on Climate related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), SGX sustainability reporting requirements and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are agendas that businesses want to align with and these are helping to drive the green movement.

I truly believe that if each of us were a little more conscious in just a few aspects of our lives we’d be happier, healthier and lessen our burden on the planet.

Our goal is to #makesustainabilitysexy. We want to step away from traditional branding associated with sustainability which tends to be either activisty or too hippie. We love working with creatives who can help us to take a spin on what sustainability is.

Growing up in Singapore, I think we all dedicate our lives to food! I think more than food itself, it was the connection you get to the culture that I find fascinating. How a bowl of Laksa came about, through the crossways of cultures connecting and mixing or what food in S.E.A tasted like before chillies arrived from South America… I wanted to work with food, but that it had to be more than consumption. It had to tell stories and interact with our lives and environment. And that’s what I am dedicated to manifesting.

We need to be connected to ourselves first to have self-awareness and to empathise with other people. It’s because we don’t care, that’s why we have so many problems in the world today.

What can be done? We need to create a community feeling that living green is not an isolated event, but instead being green is an ‘experience’ that works best often at a group level, where one person’s action inspires the community around him/ her and leads to a shift in behaviour patterns.

Youth continue to inspire me… They reinforce my conviction that youth energy and talent, if constructively channelised, will be the most potent weapon in our fight to save the planet.

Currently, women have been increasingly coming forth to give a voice to personal causes such as the #MeToo movement, and to contribute to diversity in the corporate world. We are just starting to hear her voice. Push your own buttons and inspire yourself. Be unique and be true to yourself. And above all, love yourself.

Although we may feel disappointed and emotional about the outcome [of COP26], we should also step back and encourage each other that this is a game that we are all in with no choice. We put our lives on the line to bet for survival, and we must continue to fight, even if others may not be putting in their best effort. That is why you are still reading this article up to now.

Make small changes and the rest will follow. Start with something that you are passionate about – is it climate change, reducing waste, repairing things, or reducing meat consumption? Begin the journey with a group of friends or your family. Support each other along the way because you’ll need all the positive vibes you can get.

I think it is important to have a positive community to help encourage each other on the journey and also for more companies to try sustainable initiatives. There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about.