CLEAN & GREEN SINGAPORE 2022 LAUNCH CEREMONY, SATELLITE EVENTS & CGS EXPERIENCES

Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies Heng Swee Keat launched the annual Clean & Green Singapore (CGS) campaign at Eunoia Junior College today. Organised by the National Environment Agency (NEA), this year’s CGS features a series of satellite events with ground-up activities such as tree-planting, kayak litter-picking, beach clean-ups, recycling drives, a youth sustainability short film premiere, and local community eco-carnivals. Both in-person and virtual learning journeys were available for the public through the ongoing CGS Experiences programme. The event today featured the traditional tree-planting ceremony with DPM Heng, followed by the presentation of the Environmental Services (ES) Star Awards and Community in Bloom Ambassador Awards.  

2          In his CGS 2022 message, DPM Heng commended three groups of individuals for their contributions to a Clean and Green Singapore:

a)     The Environmental Services (ES) workforce, a group that works tirelessly behind the scenes to safeguard Singapore’s public health and hygiene.

b)     The Community in Bloom Ambassadors, who have helped to promote a gardening culture among residents and facilitate gardening-based community projects.

c)     The many diligent public officers at the forefront of national efforts to build a clean and green home for Singaporeans. DPM noted that 2022 marked both the 50th year anniversary of the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE), as well as the 20th year anniversary of the National Environment Agency (NEA), and wished officers from both MSE and NEA a happy anniversary.

Career Conversion Programme for Sustainability Professionals

3          DPM also announced the rolling out of Workforce Singapore (WSG)’s Career Conversion Programme for Sustainability Professionals. This programme supports Singaporeans to take up in-demand cross-sectoral skills in sustainability as Singapore moves towards a low-carbon economy. The CCP will benefit up to 200 individuals by early 2023.

CGS Satellite Events

 4          In the weeks leading up today’s CGS 2022 event, five satellite events were organised from October to November with partners such as NGOs, interest groups, community groups, industry partners and volunteers. The five events were: 

a)     Project Blue Wave with Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, Dr Koh Poh Koon, conducting a beach and sea clean-up and tree planting activity at Pasir Ris Park on 29 Oct 2022 (Saturday);

b)     Hong Kah North Eco Carnival 2022 with Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Dr Amy Khor launching of a new Eco-Hub at this 13 Nov 2022 (Sunday) community event for residents, featuring a trash-for-groceries recycling drive and booths showcasing green living tips;

c)     Restroom Association (Singapore)’s LOO Awards with Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng presenting awards to 59 outstanding individuals and organisations for achieving exemplary standards of restroom cleanliness, held on 18 Nov 2022 (Friday);

d)     ‘Road to Zero’ Youth Sustainability Film Premiere, a programme in collaboration with Viddsee and FairPrice Group, graced by Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng on 22 Nov 2022 (Tuesday)

e)     Yuhua Clean and Green Singapore 2022 with Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu launching the Bloobox, a recycling container for residents to conveniently set aside recyclables in their homes. A Forward Singapore Conversation was held that day (26 Nov 2022, Saturday)

CGS Experiences

5          CGS Experiences, a series of learning journeys, will continue to offer members of public opportunities to learn about places of environmental interest around Singapore. This year, CGS Experiences will bring participants to places, such as the NEA facility involved in Project Wolbachia, the NEWater plant, and the Marina Barrage. Through these physical and virtual visits, participants will learn interesting facts and be amazed by the science and technology that helped to tackle dengue issues in Singapore, and the unique approach of managing our precious water resources.  

6          CGS Experiences is sponsored by ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. And supported by PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency and NEA’s Environmental Health Institute.

Furthering greening efforts under NParks’ City in Nature vision

7          In recent years, the National Parks Board (NParks) has adopted biophilic design in restoring habitats and has been engaging the community and encouraging active stewardship to sustain our greening efforts. As part of a key strategy of the City in Nature vision to extend our natural capital, NParks opened Rifle Range Nature Park in November 2022, providing important habitats for our biodiversity and more opportunities for Singaporeans to enjoy nature-based recreation. In conjunction with this year’s CGS, members of the public can register for early access to free guided tours of Rifle Range Nature Park presented by NParks and WWF-Singapore (World Wide Fund for Nature Singapore). The tours will be conducted on 10 December 2022, and participants will be able to learn more about Singapore’s natural heritage and biodiversity conservation efforts. Registration is open at https://www.nparks.gov.sg/activities/events-and-workshops/2022/12/cn-rifle-range-nature-park-guided-tour.

8          NParks will continue to engage the community in further restoring nature into our urban landscape through the OneMillionTrees movement by planting a million more trees across Singapore by 2030. Together with the community, over 450,000 trees have been planted to date.             

9          For CGS this year and in support of the OneMillionTrees movement, DPM Heng planted a Pink Mempat (Cratoxylum formosum) tree at Mempat Green of Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park, together with the Mayor of Central District Denise Phua. The Pink Mempat (Cratoxylum formosum) is a native, endangered tree species. They were joined by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu, Senior Minister of State for National Development and Foreign Affairs Sim Ann, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng, Grassroots Advisers, grassroots leaders, students, Friends of Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park volunteers, and Community in Bloom Ambassadors. In total, 35 trees of 11 native tree species were planted at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park for the launch of CGS 2022.

Central Singapore Community Development Council’s programme (CS CDC)

10        Helmed by Mayor Denise Phua, the Central Singapore Community Development Council (CDC) supports the Singapore Green Plan 2030 by promoting a sustainable, green and Zero-Waste district throughout its 23 divisions with “Better Environment @ Central” programmes.

11        Programmes under the “Better Environment @ Central” initiative, such as eco-tips, workshops and learning journeys, encourage Singaporeans to adopt a sustainable Zero-Waste lifestyle by inculcating the 6Rs of key environmental values: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Repurpose, and Recycle.

12        “Pass-It-On”, an online portal supported by CDC, connects givers to beneficiaries by allowing them to donate pre-loved items in good condition. Central Singapore CDC partners Grassroots Organisations to spread the message of repurpose to residents through a series of free sustainability workshops.

13        The Green Action for Communities Workshops, co-organised by the CDC and the Ministry of Sustainability and The Environment (MSE), empower members of public to co-create ground-up action plans that complement each division’s sustainability blueprint.

Environmental Services Star Awards

14        The National Environment Agency (NEA) is awarding 27 individuals with the ES Star Award and another 472 with Certificates of Excellence, in recognition of their exceptional contributions and commitment at the frontline. The recipients received the awards ceremony on 3 December. DPM Heng paid tribute to the workforce for their tireless contributions and hard work in keeping public spaces clean and maintaining high standards of public hygiene.

Community in Bloom Ambassadors

15        Six new Community in Bloom (CIB) Ambassadors were also appointed during this year’s CGS event. The CIB Ambassador Award recognises individuals who have made significant contributions to promote gardening and actively engage with the community to facilitate gardening-based community projects. Launched by NParks in 2005, the CIB programme aims to nurture a gardening culture among Singaporeans by encouraging and facilitating community gardening efforts. Through gardening, individuals can come together to build community bonds and strengthen social resilience in our City in Nature. There are currently more than 1,800 community gardens under the CIB programme across the island and 95 CIB Ambassadors.

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