Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Singapore

MEWR News Release: 23/2005

Date Published: 22 Apr 2005

1      Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, today announced the start of a three-yearly review of the Singapore Green Plan 2012 at the International Water Forum, held at the RELC International Hotel.

2      Three Focus Groups, each comprising nearly 20 members from the 3P (Public, Private and People) sectors have been formed to undertake the review. The review starts in April and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Aim of three-yearly review

3      The Singapore Green Plan 2012, released in 2002, mapped out the strategic directions for Singapore to preserve, protect and enhance the environment and water resources for the next 10 years. Since then, many of the programmes in the SGP2012 have been successfully implemented.

4      The three-yearly review of the Singapore Green Plan 2012 helps ensure that the plan and related efforts remain robust in the face of emerging environmental challenges. Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim said: "We hope that through this review, all of us would become more aware of the environmental challenges that we face as a nation, and be more proactive to do our part so that together, we can meet these challenges and ensure that we have a sustainable environment for our future generations."

Focus Groups Participating in the Review

5      To reach out to a wide spectrum of Singaporeans, the review will include in-depth Focus Group discussions with professionals, interest groups, grassroots leaders, industrialists, businessmen and the academia, etc.

6      The three Focus Groups have started deliberating on three areas of focus: Air, Water, as well as Clean Land, Nature & Public Health. The Focus Group discussions will take place from April to July 2005. Online consultations and public forums may be held in the process to get further feedback from the public.

7      The Focus Groups will submit their recommendations in August to the SGP2012 Coordinating Committee, chaired by Permanent Secretary (Environment and Water Resources). The committee comprises representatives from the 3P (People, Private and Public) sectors.

Co-Chairpersons of Focus Groups

8      The Focus Group on Air is co-chaired by Dr Geh Min, Nominated Member of Parliament and President, Nature Society Singapore, and Mr Warren Fernandez, Foreign Editor, The Straits Times.

9      The Focus Group on Water is co-chaired by Mr Lee Tzu Yang, Chairman of Shell Companies in Singapore and Vice-president, Asia Pacific, Shell Global Solutions and Chairman, Water Network, and Mr Eugene Heng President, Waterways Watch Society.

10      The Focus Group on Clean Land, Nature & Public Health is co-chaired by Mr Heng Chiang Meng, President, Singapore Environment Council, and Ms Loh Wai Kiew, Chairman, Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore (WMRAS) and CEO, SembCorp Environmental Management. Details of the six co-chairpersons are given in Appendix 1.

Public Feedback

11      Members of the public who wish to give their feedback and views towards the review can write to the SGP2012 Secretariat at:

Email: mewr_sgp@mewr.gov.sg
Fax: (65) 6731 9456
Mail: Attn: SGP2012 Secretariat
Corporate Communications Department
Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources
Environment Building
40 Scotts Road #23-00
Singapore 228231

12      Public feedback received will be given to the relevant Focus Group for its consideration. For more information, please call 1800-738 4622.

Singapore Green Plan 2012

13      Launched in August 2002, the Singapore Green Plan 2012 (SGP2012) is Singapore's 10-year blueprint towards environmental sustainability. With a highly focused and action-oriented approach, it sets out Singapore's response to the challenges of sustaining a quality environment while pursuing economic progress.

14      Jointly formulated by partners in the 3P (People, Private, Public) sectors, the SGP2012 outlines a series of major targets in six functional areas - Waste Management, Conserving Nature, Clean Air, Water Supply, Public Health and International Collaboration. In addition, targets have been set in two cross-cutting areas - namely Community Partnership, and Innovation. Six Action Plan Committees comprising of members from the 3P sectors were set up to implement the Action Programmes under the SGP2012.

International Water Forum

15      The inaugural International Water Forum (IWF) is held at the RELC International Hotel from 22 to 24 April 2005.

16      Organised by the National Youth Achievement Award Council, the IWF brings 150 youth leaders from the Asia-Pacific region, including Singapore, together to discuss issues pertaining to water.

17      The IWF is supported by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the PUB. Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, is the Guest-Of-Honour for the Opening Ceremony on 22 April 2005. Find out more about the IWF at http://www.nyaa.org

~ End of News Release ~

For Media Enquiries, please contact:

Serene Tng
Assistant Director, Corporate Communications
Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources
DID: 6731 9285
E-mail: serene_tng@mewr.gov.sg

Lim Wee Ling
Corporate Communications Executive
Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources
DID: 6731 9506
E-mail: lim_wee_ling@mewr.gov.sg

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix 1

Information on the Focus Group Co-Chairpersons

1. Focus Group on Air

Dr Geh Min (MBBS, FRCS, FAMS) is an ophthalmologist by profession. She is a nature lover and a committed conservationist of both our natural and man-made heritage. She is presently serving her 5th term as President of the Nature Society (Singapore) and has sworn in as a Nominated Member of Parliament on 29 November 2004 with serving term from 1 January 2005 to 30 June 2007.

She is a board member of The Nature Conservancy's Asia Pacific Council and the Water Network of Public Utilities Board. She is also on the Board of the Singapore Environment Council and heads the Environment and Health Functional Committee of the South-West Community Development Council.

Mr Warren Fernandez is the Foreign Editor of The Straits Times. He has served on several national committees, including the Remaking Singapore Committee, the Singapore 21 committee and the Cost Review Committees. He is now a member of COMPASS, the National Education committee, the Finance committee of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and the Hwa Chong Junior College Alumni Association.

2. Focus Group on Water

Mr Lee Tzu Yang is the Chairman of the Water Network and a PUB Board member since 1 April 2003. Mr Lee is currently the Chairman of Shell Companies in Singapore and Vice-president, Asia Pacific, Shell Global Solutions.

Mr Eugene Heng is a member of the Water Network and the Chairman of the Waterways Watch Society which is a special volunteer group tasked to bring people together to monitor, restore and protect the aesthetics of our waterways. Mr Heng had also served as a PUB Board member from 1 April 2001 - 31 March 2005.

3. Focus Group on Clean Land, Nature & Public Health

Ms Loh Wai Kiew is presently the President and CEO of SembCorp Environmental Management Pte Ltd (SembEnviro). In addition to sitting in as a Board Member of NEA, Ms Loh was voted as the Chairman of the Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore on 7 September 2001.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng is the Chairman of the Singapore Environment Council. He is an Advisor and a Board Director of LKN-Primefield Ltd, the company promoting less paper usage through its digital AXS network. He also sits on the boards of several other public-listed companies. He was a Member of Parliament from 1984 to 2001. He was much involved with environmental issues as an MP; having held the chairmanship of the Government Parliamentary Committee (Environment) from 1997 to 2000, and member till his retirement from active politics in 2001.

- End -


	MEWR News Release: 23/2005 Date Published: 22 Apr 2005 1 Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, today announced the start of a three-yearly review of the Singapore Green Plan 2012 at the International Water Forum, held at the RELC International Hotel. 2 Three Focus Groups, each comprising nearly 20 members from the 3P (Public, Private and People) sectors have been formed to undertake the review. The review starts in April and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Aim of three-yearly review 3 The Singapore Green Plan 2012, released in 2002, mapped out the strategic directions for Singapore to preserve, protect and enhance the environment and water resources for the next 10 years. Since then, many of the programmes in the SGP2012 have been successfully implemented. 4 The three-yearly review of the Singapore Green Plan 2012 helps ensure that the plan and related efforts remain robust in the face of emerging environmental challenges. Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim said: "We hope that through this review, all of us would become more aware of the environmental challenges that we face as a nation, and be more proactive to do our part so that together, we can meet these challenges and ensure that we have a sustainable environment for our future generations." Focus Groups Participating in the Review 5 To reach out to a wide spectrum of Singaporeans, the review will include in-depth Focus Group discussions with professionals, interest groups, grassroots leaders, industrialists, businessmen and the academia, etc. 6 The three Focus Groups have started deliberating on three areas of focus: Air, Water, as well as Clean Land, Nature & Public Health. The Focus Group discussions will take place from April to July 2005. Online consultations and public forums may be held in the process to get further feedback from the public. 7 The Focus Groups will submit their recommendations in August to the SGP2012 Coordinating Committee, chaired by Permanent Secretary (Environment and Water Resources). The committee comprises representatives from the 3P (People, Private and Public) sectors. Co-Chairpersons of Focus Groups 8 The Focus Group on Air is co-chaired by Dr Geh Min, Nominated Member of Parliament and President, Nature Society Singapore, and Mr Warren Fernandez, Foreign Editor, The Straits Times. 9 The Focus Group on Water is co-chaired by Mr Lee Tzu Yang, Chairman of Shell Companies in Singapore and Vice-president, Asia Pacific, Shell Global Solutions and Chairman, Water Network, and Mr Eugene Heng President, Waterways Watch Society. 10 The Focus Group on Clean Land, Nature & Public Health is co-chaired by Mr Heng Chiang Meng, President, Singapore Environment Council, and Ms Loh Wai Kiew, Chairman, Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore (WMRAS) and CEO, SembCorp Environmental Management. Details of the six co-chairpersons are given in Appendix 1. Public Feedback 11 Members of the public who wish to give their feedback and views towards the review can write to the SGP2012 Secretariat at: Email: mewr_sgp@mewr.gov.sg Fax: (65) 6731 9456 Mail: Attn: SGP2012 Secretariat Corporate Communications Department Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources Environment Building 40 Scotts Road #23-00 Singapore 228231 12 Public feedback received will be given to the relevant Focus Group for its consideration. For more information, please call 1800-738 4622. Singapore Green Plan 2012 13 Launched in August 2002, the Singapore Green Plan 2012 (SGP2012) is Singapore's 10-year blueprint towards environmental sustainability. With a highly focused and action-oriented approach, it sets out Singapore's response to the challenges of sustaining a quality environment while pursuing economic progress. 14 Jointly formulated by partners in the 3P (People, Private, Public) sectors, the SGP2012 outlines a series of major targets in six functional areas - Waste Management, Conserving Nature, Clean Air, Water Supply, Public Health and International Collaboration. In addition, targets have been set in two cross-cutting areas - namely Community Partnership, and Innovation. Six Action Plan Committees comprising of members from the 3P sectors were set up to implement the Action Programmes under the SGP2012. International Water Forum 15 The inaugural International Water Forum (IWF) is held at the RELC International Hotel from 22 to 24 April 2005. 16 Organised by the National Youth Achievement Award Council, the IWF brings 150 youth leaders from the Asia-Pacific region, including Singapore, together to discuss issues pertaining to water. 17 The IWF is supported by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the PUB. Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, is the Guest-Of-Honour for the Opening Ceremony on 22 April 2005. Find out more about the IWF at http://www.nyaa.org ~ End of News Release ~ For Media Enquiries, please contact: Serene Tng Assistant Director, Corporate Communications Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources DID: 6731 9285 E-mail: serene_tng@mewr.gov.sg Lim Wee Ling Corporate Communications Executive Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources DID: 6731 9506 E-mail: lim_wee_ling@mewr.gov.sg -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Appendix 1 Information on the Focus Group Co-Chairpersons 1. Focus Group on Air Dr Geh Min (MBBS, FRCS, FAMS) is an ophthalmologist by profession. She is a nature lover and a committed conservationist of both our natural and man-made heritage. She is presently serving her 5th term as President of the Nature Society (Singapore) and has sworn in as a Nominated Member of Parliament on 29 November 2004 with serving term from 1 January 2005 to 30 June 2007. She is a board member of The Nature Conservancy's Asia Pacific Council and the Water Network of Public Utilities Board. She is also on the Board of the Singapore Environment Council and heads the Environment and Health Functional Committee of the South-West Community Development Council. Mr Warren Fernandez is the Foreign Editor of The Straits Times. He has served on several national committees, including the Remaking Singapore Committee, the Singapore 21 committee and the Cost Review Committees. He is now a member of COMPASS, the National Education committee, the Finance committee of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and the Hwa Chong Junior College Alumni Association. 2. Focus Group on Water Mr Lee Tzu Yang is the Chairman of the Water Network and a PUB Board member since 1 April 2003. Mr Lee is currently the Chairman of Shell Companies in Singapore and Vice-president, Asia Pacific, Shell Global Solutions. Mr Eugene Heng is a member of the Water Network and the Chairman of the Waterways Watch Society which is a special volunteer group tasked to bring people together to monitor, restore and protect the aesthetics of our waterways. Mr Heng had also served as a PUB Board member from 1 April 2001 - 31 March 2005. 3. Focus Group on Clean Land, Nature & Public Health Ms Loh Wai Kiew is presently the President and CEO of SembCorp Environmental Management Pte Ltd (SembEnviro). In addition to sitting in as a Board Member of NEA, Ms Loh was voted as the Chairman of the Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore on 7 September 2001. Mr Heng Chiang Meng is the Chairman of the Singapore Environment Council. He is an Advisor and a Board Director of LKN-Primefield Ltd, the company promoting less paper usage through its digital AXS network. He also sits on the boards of several other public-listed companies. He was a Member of Parliament from 1984 to 2001. He was much involved with environmental issues as an MP; having held the chairmanship of the Government Parliamentary Committee (Environment) from 1997 to 2000, and member till his retirement from active politics in 2001. - End -