Proceedings W113 - Special Track 18th CIB World ... - Test Input

water sources, a key component of Singapore‟s current water policy, will be helpful in tackling thelikely rainfall reduction due to climate change. Specifically, Singapore has been successful, and isimproving, in the recycling of used water to produce water that is safe enough to consume (alsoknown as NEWater); it is also developing desalination.NCCS notes that increase in global temperature will have profound effect on Singapore, which is atropical island. For example, extreme heat might result in the increase of air-condition usage in theisland. Thus, it notes that innovative measures are needed to reduce or change the use of airconditionersin buildings and facilities, as they are one of the most energy-intensive mechanicalsystems utilized in cities. One way is to ensure that renewable energy resources are used to power theutilities; another approach is to increase the energy efficiency of these mechanical systems, eitherthrough a change in the design of the technology or improvement in the operation and maintenance ofthe systems.. In recent years, Singapore has also begun to explore more extensive use of passivemethods to reduce the heat island effect and the need to use mechanical ventilation systems. Anexample is the deployment of urban greenery in the city and modification of building layouts anddesigns to reduce the cooling load of buildings (for example, through the use of building materialswith better thermal properties and lighter-coloured building surfaces).Singapore‟s public health and medical policies have always addressed the control of tropical vectorbornediseases, particularly dengue fever. Dengue patterns are affected by many factors, includingclimate. According to NCCS, NEA is currently studying the link between climatic factors such astemperature, humidity and rainfall with dengue cases. Further, the government has put in place acomprehensive mosquito surveillance, control and enforcement system, which includes a review ofbuilding designs to reduce potential breeding habitats, including forbidding the use of roof gutters innew buildings except in special circumstances.3.3 Singapore’s sustainable development blueprintIn February 2008 the Singapore Government set up an Inter-Ministerial Committee on SustainableDevelopment (IMCSD) to formulate a clear national framework and strategy for Singapore‟ssustainable development in the context of the emerging domestic and global challenges. Thecommittee was co-chaired by the Minister for National Development and the Minister for theEnvironment and Water Resources and consisted of three other ministers in charge of the subjects ofFinance, Transport, and Trade and Industry respectively (MEWR, 2009). In April 2009 the IMCSDreleased the Sustainable Singapore blueprint report, “A Lively and Liveable Singapore: Strategies forSustainable Growth” (Singapore Blueprint). The strategies in the report were based on the rationaleof “The Singapore Way”, which is described as follows (MEWR, 2009A):“For Singapore, sustainable development means achieving both a more dynamiceconomy and a better quality living environment, for Singaporeans now and in thefuture.8