News Room

Er Lee Bee Wah
Director-General
President
The Institution of Engineers, Singapore; and,
Chair
ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations

Excellencies and Distinguished guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

       I am pleased to be here at the opening of the 27th Conference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations.  This Conference marks an important milestone for the engineering profession in ASEAN, as we make a concerted effort towards long-term sustainable development and a better quality living environment for our fellow citizens.

Global Challenges and Need for Sustainable Development
2     In recent years, we have seen growing evidence of the adverse effects of climate change, with several extreme weather events in ASEAN and the rest of Asia.   According to a recent report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)¹, Asia is one of the regions in the world most vulnerable to climate change.  We hear and read, with greater frequency, media reports of extreme weather events in this region, bringing destruction to human life and property.

3     Besides climate change, we are also facing a rapidly growing population. The world population is expected to grow from 6.8 billion today to over 9 billion by 2050.  A large proportion of this increase will be coming from Asia. Within ASEAN, our population will grow by 30%, reaching more than 750 million in 2050.  By 2050, cities will be home to more than 70% of the world’s population. This rapid rate of urbanisation will put tremendous pressure on the global demand for food, energy, water and other resources.

4     Given these challenges, sustainable development has become a necessity. It requires governments to play an active role. It also requires corporations and individuals to evaluate how we can all contribute to sustainable development.  Today, I would like to focus on the role of engineers in our drive to greater sustainable development.

Role of Engineers in Sustainable Development
5     Traditionally, engineers have played a crucial role to support national development and economic growth.  The buildings that we live and work in, and the infrastructure that we rely on in our daily lives are designed and constructed by engineers. Much of the public infrastructure that has enhanced the quality of our living environment can also be attributed to the work of engineers.  For example, engineering solutions to supply water and proper sanitation have helped prevent the spread of diseases in many parts of the world, and also reduced the impact of human activity on the environment.

6     As many of the cities in Southeast Asia continue to grow and experience rapid urbanization, engineering projects will become more complex in the future These cities will require deeper underground works, higher structures, more complex and larger scale infrastructure works for transportation, sanitation, and energy supply.  This is particularly so for land-scarce Singapore.

7     Consequently, engineers have to innovate and adapt to our changing needs. For example, the buildings in Singapore and also in many parts of the world have grown from simple functional buildings to "smart" buildings which are integrated with IT systems. The latest evolution is towards “Green” Buildings” - buildings that are environmentally sustainable and energy efficient.  I believe that engineers will play an instrumental role in the development of green building technology.

8     In addition, engineers will also need to work across disciplines and re-engineer processes to achieve greater synergy. In the building sector, civil, electrical and mechanical engineers are working closely together in the development of green buildings, and in the near future, carbon-neutral buildings.  We will also need to rely on engineers with new fields of expertise, such as those in the area of environmental engineering, to inject new insights and enable us to make a quantum leap improvement in our ‘greening’ efforts.

Sustainable Development (SD) for Singapore
9     In Singapore, sustainable development is a key national priority, given our scarce resources and limited land. We launched the Sustainable Development Blueprint in April this year. It maps out strategies to achieve both economic growth and a quality living environment. I am delighted that many engineering professionals, as well as organisations such as the Institution of Engineers, Singapore, contributed to the formulation of this Blueprint, and in particular, the green building initiatives.

10    Singapore’s journey in sustainable development did not commence only in recent years.   It has been a key policy principle since our independence in 1965.  Singapore has consistently pursued policies and measures aimed at achieving a good balance between economic growth and a quality living environment.  While Singapore has rapidly modernised and developed over the years, we have put in place measures to protect our environment and developed Singapore into a ‘Garden City’.

11    Singapore’s national development over the years would not be possible without the contributions of our engineers. From the design and construction of our housing estates, the provision of sanitation systems and clean water supplies, the cleaning up of our rivers and the development of efficient transport systems, our engineers have played a vital role in transforming Singapore into the modern metropolis it is today.

12    Let me cite two engineering projects, which have made sustainable development possible in Singapore.  First, in the area of water management, we have successfully developed NEWater, which is the treatment of used water into safe drinking water.  This has in turn spun off a whole new industry that has not just benefited Singapore but many cities around the world, which are short of potable water.

13    Second, Singapore has recently launched the Zero Energy Building, the first in South-east Asia to be retrofitted from an existing building. This building has incorporated some of the latest green technologies and will showcase how we can enhance the energy efficiency of our existing buildings.

14    Going forward, Singapore needs to continue building up its pool of engineering expertise to create innovative urban solutions for Singapore, and for cities around the world. To do so, we have adopted a three-pronged approach.

Build Engineering Expertise in SD
15    First, we must continue to attract talent into the engineering profession. Just as engineers were vital to our national development, engineers are also key to achieve breakthroughs in sustainable development. Leading firms and institutions in ASEAN, including those in Singapore should, like their counterparts around the world, recognize this and look into ways to groom their engineering talent.

16    Second, we should enhance our capabilities in research and development to support our drive towards sustainable development. The institutions of higher learning, research institutes, and industries can work closely with one another to explore innovative solutions that are suited to our tropical climate. Successful solutions can then be widely applied across the ASEAN region.

17    In the area of R&D, government agencies in Singapore have taken the lead to test-bed innovative technologies. One example is the $31 million solar test-bedding programme that will involve 30 public housing precincts nationwide. This project will help us to determine the most effective design of our flats that can maximise the use of solar technology and pave the way for wider use of solar installations in our buildings.

18    Third, we should encourage greater collaboration among engineers within ASEAN. Sustainable development is a shared goal throughout the world and requires much cooperation and concerted effort.  Today’s conference is an ideal platform for the sharing of experiences and best practices in the areas of urban management and environmental sustainability across ASEAN.

19    In particular, the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations (AFEO), comprising engineering institutions from all ten ASEAN nations, can play a key role in forging effective partnerships and catalyse innovation on sustainable development solutions for our nations.  This will enable us to achieve greater economic development and at the same time, conserve our natural environment.

Second World Cities Summit
20    Next year, Singapore will be hosting the second World Cities Summit from 28 to 30 June. The theme for the World Cities Summit 2010 is “Liveable and Sustainable Cities for the Future”. We will discuss the challenges and solutions to leadership and governance, building eco-friendly cities and fostering harmonious and sustainable Communities. We expect leaders and policy makers, mayors, business leaders, representatives from international organizations and experts from various parts of the world, to come together and identify practical, scaleable and replicable solutions to challenges faced by cities today.

21    The inaugural Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize would be presented at this summit.  It is an international award that recognises outstanding urban initiatives by individuals or organisations that display foresight, good governance and innovation in tackling the many urban challenges faced by cities.  Other key highlights include the World Mayors' Forum where Mayors and Governors will discuss solutions for liveable cities, and also a “Sustainable Cities of the Future Exhibition” showcasing urban solutions.

22    I would like to invite you to join us at the Summit to exchange ideas on building liveable and sustainable communities, and explore solutions for the future of our cities.

23    I wish all of you a successful conference, and a pleasant and rewarding stay in Singapore.

24    Thank you.

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¹ The report titled “Mega-Stress for Mega-Cities A Climate Vulnerability Ranking of Major Coastal Cities in Asia” was published in Nov 09 The report highlighted the susceptibility of 11 major Asian cities, including Singapore, Hong Kong, Manila, Dhaka, etc, to the effects of climate change.