Sustainable Development and Urban Environment

Singapore’s Housing Development Board (HDB) has recently announced the plans of developing a new estate. The new development named Tengah, will be built within a forest fringe and the new estate will be incorporating the neighbouring forest’s ecosystem. With 42000 new homes, the surrounding greenery would be continued within the estate centre, boasting a car-free central area. Even though the estate is still currently in early stages of development. Singapore has proven that estates can be designed with sensitivity to its surrounding. Being in a tropical area, Singapore has incorporated the lush greenery and used it as a periphery for the estate. Not to mention the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions with the estate being car-free. This eco-friendly and sustainable estate could be a stepping stone for Singapore’s HDB to further push the idea of an environmentally sustainable estate. With future developments to have a sustainable benchmark, and progress further from that.

On 2013, Singapore passed a white paper named Population White Paper (PWP). The Population White Paper projected an increase of 1.6 million people, capping the increase at 6.9 million. This drastic increase of population was partly due to policies passed limiting the number of children in households middle this century. Singapore’s current population of approximately 5.6 million, has seen severe effects. Overcrowding, lack of jobs for locals, lower wages, and increasing property and vehicle prices. After moving to Sydney, the drastic effects of the PWP can be felt. Vehicle and property prices are considerably lower compared to Singapore, people generally has an easier time securing a job. The PWP was passed in consideration of boosting Singapore’s economy with a stronger work force. However, this as in turn sacrificed the social sustainability of Singapore. The PWP is a good example of a poorly thought out motion by the government, and with little to no considerations about the d...

As a Singaporean, I’ve grown up around a city that has been progressing fast with its new technological advances over the years. The difference from my childhood days in the 90s to its current standing. In Singapore everything and everywhere is automatized. With newly implemented systems, even hawker stores are going cashless. The country also has car parking payment systems that are integrated within the car itself. This payment system also allows easy toll payments. Singapore’s addition of technology it its development has been growing exponentially and has proven itself as a leading nation. After moving to Sydney, I’ve realized a similar development within the city. However, Sydney is still lacking in certain aspects of technological advances compared to Singapore. Not to mention, certain rural areas of Australia has significantly less development. Smart cities have benefitted many and greatly increases the convenience of many people. With the fast pace of technological adva...

Not many students around the world can proudly say that their institutes are helping to save the planet. UNSW has reached an agreement with Maoneng Australia and Origin Energy to have 100% of their energy needs supplied by photovoltaic solar energy. This energy agreement will allow UNSW to go fully      energy carbon neutral by 2020. This initiative coupled with UNSW’s prominent standing as a world leading university not only allows the university to benefit the environment but most importantly sets an example for universities and institutions world wide to strive for a more sustainable future. This creates opportunities for other institutes to have a case study as the university progress forward with the initiative. Other practices and institutes other than universities can also start thinking of different beneficial initiatives that could benefit sustainability as a whole. Environmental sustainability is a collective effort and not only requires brilliant ini...

We have seen an increase in debates over years about male privilege. In Australia’s context, are genders truly equal? Needless to say, there are certain sectors in the workforce that shows dominant numbers in one gender. Aged care, child care, and health and community sectors has a higher number of females working within the sector. Australian women also account for 68% of primary carers for older people and people with disability. These numbers show females are often considered as caretakers. As a western society, the roles of a male and female has been inherited generation and generation leading to these numbers. With the current generation we are living in, I believe females have the opportunity to move out of the western stereotype, to not have the role of a caretaker burdening her. As a male, I often take for granted the assurance of safety as I walk through a quiet street at night. However, females do not have this similar privilege. Worrying about rape, harassment, and robbe...

As a Singaporean, I’ve grown up in a relatively safe country. From a young age, worry about safety for staying out late has never been an issue. There were also no neighborhoods that were known as unsafe and worrying about being a victim of crime was unlikely.   Sydney’s city has relatively achieved a great deal with safety. The past half a year residing here I have yet to experience any crime within the main CBD. I was told by some friends about certain neighborhoods to avoid but ultimately, safety in Sydney was not a huge issue. Looking at countries like Brazil, Mexico, and even certain parts of the United States, many people do not have the privilege as many of us here in Sydney, or Singapore. With high homicide rates, theft, violent crimes, rape, and many other criminal activities happening within the cities. This is extremely unfortunate and detriments the social development of the city. I believe such issues requires more than a government police that is predominant i...