Urban constraints, political imperatives: environmental ‘design’ in Singapore: Fid-Bau Portal

Urban constraints, political imperatives: environmental ‘design’ in Singapore

Savage, Victor R. / Kong, Lily

Abstract Cities are complex ecosystems and, all over the world, they are increasingly confronted with environmental problems such as air pollution, acid rain, smog, water shortages and garbage disposal. It is our contention in this paper that there can be no solutions to these urban ecosystem problems unless the issues are adopted by national governments and urban administrations. We use Singapore as a case study to illustrate how urban development and successful environmental management can occur concurrently, precisely because of the presence of enlightened elites and decision makers and firm government. In particular, we focus in this paper on the urban environmental experiences of Singapore. The nature of environmental changes in the post-Independence years are examined, including the cleaning up and greening of landscapes, the urban planning and resultant transformation to a built-up landscape, and the increasing concern with conservation of the landscape, both natural and historical. We argue that all this has been practically feasible because of the continuing social education and engineering of social behaviour and attitudes regarding environmental issues through mass media, campaigns and legal binds. What lies at the heart of the continuing efforts at social education and engineering? We argue that they stem from a political elite which recognises the constraints facing Singapore and the need to deal with them at national level. Specifically, the government in Singapore has recognised the spatial constraints of an island-state and the dangers of a burgeoning population, particularly in relation to the need to sustain a viable urban ecosystem. They have therefore been conscientious in planning and population control. They have also stressed the importance of remaining economically viable in order to survive and an entire survival and excellence ethos has been inculcated in Singaporeans. This has been translated in urban planning and environmental mangement terms to mean creating and sustaining a city of excellence which is at the same time a model environment city. Above all, they have attempted to inculcate in Singaporeans a communitarian ideology that emphasises Asian notions of nation before community and society above self. It is hoped that such an ideology would, amongst other things, prevent a tragedy of the commons situation.