Jessica Cheam reports for the Straits Times that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has launched two distinct visions for the city-state. One is to morph into a “smart” metropolis that harnesses technology such as sensors and apps to improve lives. The other is to become a “sustainable” zero-waste city by 2030 with a flourishing “green economy.”
Some might see these strategies as contradictory. More technology could increase energy consumption, which would complicate the zero-waste goal. As far as Lee is concerned, the two are not mutually exclusive. “Being a smart and sustainable city are two sides of the same coin,” Cheam writes.
In fact, Singapore already is deploying innovation in its quest to be more eco-conscious, the article says. This is occurring in the Jurong Lake District, where sensors are used to measure air quality, temperature and other environmental factors. In another example of cross-pollination, the smart city plan is headed by Vivian Balakrishnan, minister for the environment and water resources.
This article originally appeared on Citiscope.org. Citiscope is a nonprofit news outlet that covers innovations in cities around the world.