What this lesson teaches
I can explain why Singapore must keep its economy, society and environment sustainable at the same time.
Syllabus K329, Topic 5.3, Key Question 1. Why is sustainable development important for Singapore?
Make a guess
With little spare land, PUB and Sembcorp needed space for 122,000 solar panels in 2021. Where did they put them?
- On a new island reclaimed for them.
- On the water of Tengeh Reservoir.
- On cleared forest in the west.
Show the answer
On the water of Tengeh Reservoir.
The floating farm covers 45 hectares of reservoir, so it takes no scarce land from homes, industry or nature. It offsets about 7% of PUB's yearly energy use.
A named place with a date or figure, linked to your point, turns a general answer into a developed one.
This lesson collects the 12 named examples from the lessons in this chapter, so you can revise them in one place. Each one is also a recall card below, so you can save the whole set and review it before an exam.
Goals of sustainable development: Marina Barrage (2008).
Planning and urban governance: Land and people (SingStat, NPTD); Tengah, a forest town (HDB).
Environmental resilience: Singapore Food Story 2; NEWater and desalination; Singapore Green Plan 2030.
Economic resilience and skills: SkillsFuture; Jurong Island; Port of Singapore (MPA).
Social resilience and participation: SGSecure.
Future sustainability choices: Tengeh floating solar farm (2021); Electricity imports (EMA).
To use a case, name the place or organisation, give its date or a figure, then say what it shows about the question. One developed case earns more than a list of names.
- Marina Barrage (2008)
- PUB's dam across the 350 m wide Marina Channel serves all three goals. It created a reservoir whose catchment is one-sixth of Singapore, for water supply. Its gates release storm water to the sea at low tide, reducing floods in low areas such as Chinatown. Its calm water and green roof are used for recreation.
- Land and people (SingStat, NPTD)
- Reclamation grew Singapore's land from about 582 sq km in 1960 to about 736 sq km in 2024, roughly a quarter more. About 6.11 million people lived here in June 2025, about 8,300 people per sq km. Every use of land competes with others, so planning must be integrated.
- Tengah, a forest town (HDB)
- Tengah is planned for about 42,000 homes in five districts. Roads run under its town centre, so the centre is car-free, and green corridors run through the town. Homes, transport and nature were planned together from the start.
- Singapore Food Story 2
- In 2019 Singapore set a '30 by 30' goal: grow 30% of its nutritional needs locally by 2030. In November 2025 it replaced that goal with Singapore Food Story 2. By 2035, local farms should supply 20% of the fibre Singaporeans eat (vegetables, beansprouts and mushrooms) and 30% of the protein (eggs and seafood). High-tech farms, such as vertical farms and fish farms, use little land to do this.
- NEWater and desalination
- NEWater, recycled from used water, can meet up to 40% of Singapore's water demand, and desalinated water up to 30%.
- Singapore Green Plan 2030
- This national plan, launched in 2021, sets targets for green buildings, clean energy, more parks and less waste.
- SkillsFuture
- Every Singaporean aged 25 and above receives credit for approved courses, so workers can keep their skills up to date as jobs change.
- Jurong Island
- Built by joining seven small islands, Jurong Island hosts global energy and chemical companies, linking Singapore to world supply chains.
- Port of Singapore (MPA)
- In 2024 the port handled a record 41.12 million containers, measured in twenty-foot units (TEUs). About 90% were transhipped to other places, making Singapore the world's largest transhipment hub. This links the economy to world trade, and to its disruptions.
- SGSecure
- This national movement trains residents to stay alert, prepare for emergencies and help one another after an attack or crisis.
- Tengeh floating solar farm (2021)
- With little spare land, PUB and Sembcorp put 122,000 solar panels on 45 hectares of Tengeh Reservoir. The 60 megawatt-peak farm offsets about 7% of PUB's yearly energy use.
- Electricity imports (EMA)
- Natural gas makes about 95% of Singapore's electricity. Singapore aims to import up to 6 gigawatts of low-carbon electricity from the region by 2035, about a third of its supply. This depends on partners, undersea cables and political will on both sides.
Step by step
Name it
The place, event or organisation.
Prove it
A date, number or specific fact.
Link it
Say what it shows about the question.
Worked example: From a name to a developed point
Weak: "There are real examples, such as Marina Barrage (2008)." Strong: "PUB's dam across the 350 m wide Marina Channel serves all three goals. It created a reservoir whose catchment is one-sixth of Singapore, for water supply. Its gates release storm water to the sea at low tide, reducing floods in low areas such as Chinatown. Its calm water and green roof are used for recreation." The strong version gives the place and the evidence, so it can earn a development mark.
Watch out for this
Naming a famous example is enough to earn the mark.
Examiners credit a developed case: a place, a date or figure, and a clear link to the question.
Check your understanding
Which is the strongest way to use a named example in an answer?
- List several example names, with no details.
- Give the place, a date or figure, and its link.
- Describe the example in general terms, without a place or figure.
Show the answer
Give the place, a date or figure, and its link.
Yes. A located, evidenced and linked case is what earns development marks.