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Urbanisation done right may be positive: Dr Balakrishnan

SINGAPORE — Urbanisation is an unstoppable trend but it is not necessarily bad for the environment if cities are planned with the right principles, values and perspectives, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan today (Nov 17).

Singapore CBD skyline. Photo: Wee Teck Hian

Singapore CBD skyline. Photo: Wee Teck Hian

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SINGAPORE — Urbanisation is an unstoppable trend but it is not necessarily bad for the environment if cities are planned with the right principles, values and perspectives, said Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan today (Nov 17).

The unit cost of providing water, electricity, education and culture opportunities is also lower in cities, noted Dr Balakrishnan, who was speaking at the opening ceremony of the second Singapore Technologies Endowment Programme — National University of Singapore (STEP-NUS) Sunburst Environment Programme.

For example, he cited an example of how compact, dense and well-planned cities spend less on building infrastructure to provide piped water and electricity to everyone.

“If you are an environmentalist, if you want to conserve resources — urbanisation is a good thing, it’s not a bad thing because it allows us consume less resources...,” he said.

Other major threats to our environment raised by Dr Balakrishnan include climate change, haze and the depletion of natural resources. Haze is a “special case of pollution”, said Dr Balakrishnan, adding that that real problem with pollution lies with people’s values.

For instance, those who burn forests benefit from the profits of producing palm oil. However, the subsequent haze and damage to the environment will be felt by others.

The solution lies in getting the politics and economics right, he added.

The STEP-NUS programme allows students from Singapore and across Asia — aged between 13 and 15 — the opportunity to take part in a five-day programme where they are able to attend lectures delivered by leading scientists in biodiversity, conservation and sustainability. Over 150 students in the programme will also make study visits at Sungei Buloh Nature Reserve and St John’s Island, among other places.

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