Singapore is a tropical island in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Singapore is a city, a country, and a state. Singapore covers an area of 719 km² and is home to five million people belonging to four main groups: Chinese (majority), Malays, Indians, and Eurasians. Singapore is known as the “city in a garden,” as about half of the island is covered by green spaces (About Singapore, 2023). Singapore is one of the most successful countries in the world and has experienced tremendous economic growth in recent decades, driven primarily by manufacturing, finance and insurance, and wholesale trade (Raihan & Tuspekova, 2022). Singapore is a high-income country with a GDP per capita of USD 82,807 in 2022 (Singapore, n.d.). Singapore’s GDP will reach USD 515 billion in 2022 (World Economic Outlook Database, 2022).

While the nexus literature has tended to focus on the biophysical aspects of the environment, the role of society in strengthening the resilience of the Nexus in question has grown to be underexposed. We argue that people play a crucial role in ensuring the success and sustainability of Nexus solutions. Going beyond implementing Nexus solutions and ensuring their resilience to shocks requires putting people at the center of the Nexus. To illustrate in the context of three challenges — climate change, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss — we present the case of Singapore, where the interdependent relationships between Nexus components are generally well managed. However, the approach is largely top-down, and the public is not sufficiently involved. While the public is consulted to some extent, they are not responsible for the problem, so the effectiveness of certain measures is limited.

This project focuses on the key drivers of resource use (e.g., water) in Singapore and addresses household and industry perspectives for transformative change. A multi-stakeholder approach aims to enable a shift from a top-down to a bottom-up approach for Nexus solutions. To analyze the impact of participation on Nexus solutions, indicators will be developed to quantify the social aspects of the Nexus. Intending to strengthen Singapore’s resilience to the multi-faceted challenges of climate change, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss, we are introducing the Singapore Interactive Nexus System (SINS).

SINGAPORE INTERACTIVE NEXUS SYSTEM (SINS)

This project aims to harness technology to improve Singapore’s resilience to climate change, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss through an inclusive, bottom-up nexus approach that complements existing top-down strategies and promotes cross-sectoral collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

The project includes a public participation platform where residents can submit queries and report issues related to climate change adaptation, water management, and biodiversity conservation, displayed on an interactive 3D map of Singapore. It also includes a cross-sector collaboration feature to promote dialog between government, industry, academia, and NGOs. Real-time monitoring of electricity and water consumption, an incentive scheme to reduce consumption, and educational resources on climate and environmental protection are integral components. In addition, the platform collects data to monitor and evaluate the scheme’s effectiveness, including user engagement, reported issues, and environmental observations.

Many indicators have been defined to track the success of this project and its impact on climate adaptation, water management, and biodiversity conservation.

• Number of residents actively participating in the citizen participation platform (website) by submitting requests and suggestions or reporting problems related to climate adaptation, water management, and biodiversity protection.
• Level of satisfaction and perception of residents regarding their participation in decision-making processes and the platform’s effectiveness in promoting dialog and cooperation.
• Percentage of residents and businesses that actively track their electricity and water consumption via the interactive map and take action to reduce their consumption.
• The average electricity and water consumption reduction per household or industry compared to the baseline level, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and cubic meters (m³), respectively.
• Number of joint initiatives or partnerships formed between the public, relevant sectors, and stakeholders to address climate change, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss.
• Several educational resources and information materials were developed and disseminated through the platform, including brochures, videos, online courses, and interactive tools.
• As measured by surveys or assessments, resident’s and students’ levels of awareness and understanding about climate adaptation, water protection, biodiversity conservation, and their interrelationships.
• Number of educational events, workshops, and community outreach programs conducted in collaboration with educational institutions and NGOs.
• Improve Singapore’s climate resilience as measured by indicators such as reducing vulnerability to extreme weather events, expanding green infrastructure, and improving adaptive capacity.
• Positive changes in biodiversity indicators include increased species diversity, protected habitats, and improved ecological connectivity.

Ultimately, the complex problems of climate change, water scarcity, and biodiversity loss require imaginative and multidimensional responses beyond traditional top-down methods. The example of Singapore, a highly urbanized and densely populated city-state, provides a compelling framework for examining the role of public participation and community-led initiatives in strengthening the resilience of the Nexus approach.

The SINS program is a pioneering strategy that aligns with the nexus idea and highlights the important role of society in maintaining the sustainability and resilience of interconnected systems. Singapore can tackle its immediate environmental challenges while inspiring other metropolitan regions worldwide by promoting citizen ownership, collaboration, and community-led green projects.

Keywords/hashtags: #NexusResilience #NexusInSingapore #PublicEmpowerment #CrossSectorCollaboration #ClimateChange #WaterScarcity

You can check out our entire body of work on our website: https://preview.shorthand.com/L2be21zCJ7tAwquA

Figure 1 Map of Singapore (Furian, 2015)

Figure 2 SINS Logo (Prepared by us)

Figure 3 SMART Objectives Proposed within SINS Project (Prepared by us)

Figure 4 Project Alternatives Proposed by Group 3 in NEXUSNet Training School (Further information in the link provided) (Prepared by us)

Figure 5 Cost-Benefit Analysis for SINS (CBA) (Prepared by us)

Figure 6 Project Implementation Plan for SINS (Prepared by us)

Figure 7 Possible SINS Interface, Displaying Public Input (Prepared by us)

Figure 8 Aerial View of Singapore (Stoop, 2020)

References

About Singapore. (2023, October 19). Government of Singapore. Retrieved October 23, 2023, from https://www.mfa.gov.sg/Overseas-Mission/Washington/About-Singapore#:~:text=Singapore%20is%20a%20sunny%2C%20tropical,a%20nation%20and%20a%20state

Furian, P. H. (2015, December 11). Singapore island political map with capital Singapore, national. . . iStock. https://www.istockphoto.com/se/vektor/singapore-political-map-gm500588682-80855401

Raihan, A., & Tuspekova, A. (2022). The Nexus between economic growth, energy use, urbanization, tourism, and carbon dioxide emissions: New insights from Singapore. Sustainability Analytics and Modeling, 2, 100009. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.samod.2022.100009

Stoop, M. (2020, July 21). aerial view of city buildings near body of water during daytime. Unsplash. https://unsplash.com/photos/aerial-view-of-city-buildings-near-body-of-water-during-daytime-As_WAg_6BPg

World Economic Outlook Database. (2022, October 11). International Monetary Fund (IMF). https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/weo-database/2022/October/weo-report?c=576,&s=NGDPD,PPPGDP,NGDPDPC,PPPPC,&sy=2022&ey=2027&ssm=0&scsm=1&scc=0&ssd=1&ssc=0&sic=0&sort=country&ds=.&br=1