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This City in Nature shows how sustainable development is done

Dubbed “the Garden City” in the 1960s by the then prime minister Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore is today considered one of Asia’s greenest urban environments. Aside from being one of just two cities to have primary rainforest on its doorstep, this bucolic city-state plays host to myriad eco-attractions, from the marvel that is Gardens by the Bay – home to the Supertree Grove – to the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve and Unesco-listed Singapore Botanic Gardens. Luckily, for Singaporeans and climate-conscious travellers alike, the community and industry leaders are just as passionate about green living as the government, giving us even more reason to visit this visionary destination.

The world may be facing a climate crisis, but it is still possible to travel in good conscience. Singapore is the destination of choice for the environmentally minded, discovers Lucy McGuire

But as many experts agreed at the discussion panel On the Move, Debates Within the Future of Travel, we shouldn’t have to shelve our passion for travel, so long as we choose our destinations carefully. Led by the thought leadership series SingapoReimagine Global Conversations, the event sparked discussion among industry experts about how we should rethink global travel. Singapore has reimagined the travel experience and is embracing sustainability through its Singapore Green Plan 2030, which tracks ambitious and concrete targets with a view to being significantly closer to net zero by 2030. “Tourism is not always good – it is one of the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, and it can be exploitative if carried out in the wrong way,” said Kavita Prakash-Mani, CEO of non-profit conservation group Mandai Nature. “But without it – during the global pandemic – critical conservation areas were not getting enough money, which meant communities had no income and poaching and deforestation went up. “Poverty is the biggest threat to nature, so putting money into the pockets of communities and conservation causes is vital. At Mandai Nature, our goal is to protect our wild places and wild species, and sustainable tourism stems from that – how do we use tourism for the good of nature, for the good of people and to protect our climate?”

“Singapore has done an amazing job of transitioning from the Garden City to ‘the City in Nature’,” said Prakash-Mani. “Because Singapore is very built-up, we sometimes miss its beautiful pockets of greenery that are being preserved. But through conservation work, there are bird species such as the straw-headed bulbul coming back to our forests, and we are encouraging visitors to explore areas such as the Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve and Clementi Forest to recognise their relevance and therefore help protect them.” One way you can support the region’s wildlife protection is simply by visiting its attractions, such as the Mandai Wildlife Reserve, home to Singapore Zoo, or take an eco-tour of nearby Sentosa, an island resort off Singapore’s southern coast, which is known for its turtle conservation. However, conservationists like Prakash-Mani are hoping that travellers will go a step further. “While eco-tourism is critical, we are embracing conservation tourism, where visitors can directly help with the protection of our wildlife,” she said. “What we do is also community-focused. We work with local people, helping to educate them and getting them involved in the cause.”

Most experts on the panel were keen to stress the multifaceted nature of sustainable travel. “Even though the sustainability conversation has advanced considerably, people often don’t realise it’s not just about nature, it’s about people and it’s about community,” said Condé Nast Traveller sustainability editor Juliet Kinsman. “That’s why our work is community-focused,” agreed Prakash-Mani. “We help educate them and get them involved in conservation, rather than working against them.” Jane Madden, global managing partner of sustainability and social impact at Finn Partners, took up the theme: “When we work with our clients, we focus on ESG [environment, social and governance] which takes a holistic look at sustainability. “Another rule is to be honest and modest. So, it really doesn’t help if businesses are greenwashing or exaggerating their sustainability achievements. We go with transparency in data. As we tell our clients, it’s better to say you’re not there yet in achieving your sustainability goals – outline your goals, rather than overpromise.”

In line with this ongoing aim to walk the walk rather than just talk the talk, the Singapore government has pledged that the city’s hotels will start tracking their emissions by 2023 – the goal being that 60 per cent of them will have an internationally recognised hotel sustainability certification by 2025. Another aim enshrined in Singapore’s Green Plan is to satisfy 30 per cent of the country’s nutritional needs by 2030 – something Edible Garden City founder Bjorn Low is on board with, having spent the past ten years creating urban farming projects and some 260 edible gardens across Singapore.

“I returned to Singapore after working on slow-food producing farms across the UK,” says Low. “That inspired me to bring it back here. Singapore is a very green but very dense city where food production is kept to one end of the island. I wanted to rejuvenate the food-growing industry and get people interested in the slow-food movement.” Inspired by celebrity chefs such as Jamie Oliver and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, both champions of sustainable food production, Low persuaded some of Singapore’s top chefs and hoteliers to create edible gardens at their premises. Having discovered that cultivating a market garden would be too costly, Low sought out disused areas of the city – from a 30,000 sq ft car park roof in the middle of Chinatown, to schools, offices, malls and viaducts – in which to cultivate herbs, vegetables and microgreens. Ten of the edible gardens are currently open to the public and include the Funan Urban Farm at the Funan Shopping Mall and Queenstown Farm, which runs tours and workshops. “It’s been a challenge to convince people, but slowly we’ve attracted a community of like-minded people who want to champion food security,” said Bjorn. “A society-led approach is what we need to achieve our sustainability goals. And the resurgence of participative and immersive tourism is really exciting.”

Singapore in the spotlight

Community spirit

Food sustainability

Singapore is currently open to visitors from the UK. This month, Singapore transitioned to a new Vaccinated Travel Framework, opening its borders to all fully vaccinated travellers for quarantine-free travel, with only a pre-departure test and no testing required while in Singapore. For the latest entry requirements go to safetravel.ica.gov.sg

The panel discussion, Walking the Walk: How To Go Beyond Sustainable Storytelling, was held on March 30, 2022 and led by the Singapore Tourism Board’s thought leadership series SingapoReimagine Global Conversations, in partnership with Intelligence Squared. Guest panellists included Sarah Martin, chief executive officer, Martin Consultancy and Event Specialists; Kavita Prakash-Mani, CEO of Mandai Nature; Jane Madden, global managing partner of sustainability and social impact at Finn Partners; and Bjorn Low, executive director and founder of Edible Garden City.

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A society-led approach is what we need to achieve our sustainability goals. the resurgence of participative and immersive tourism is really exciting

At a time when the climate crisis feels more pressing each day, it can seem like we should be pushing aside our dreams of travelling the world again and embracing the “stay at home” philosophy we have come to know all too well.

Really wild show: a yellow-cheeked gibbon hanging out at Singapore Zoo

Recuperate and relax

If sustainable travel is top of your to-do list this year, why not find out how it’s done with a visit to the City in Nature?

Go to visitsingapore.com now to start planning your trip

Space in the city: discover the Unesco-listed Singapore Botanic Gardens

Half the world away: exploring is fun at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

Above left, Funan Urban Farm is home to an edible garden. Above right, tour the futuristic mall

Towering above: the Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay

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Go to visitsingapore.com now to start planning your trip

A society-led approach is what we need to achieve our sustainability goals. the resurgence of participative and immersive tourism is really exciting