Singapore, the "Garden City" | Knowledge Hub | Circle Economy Foundation
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Policy case
Singapore, the "Garden City"
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For about five decades since the onset of rapid urbanization and industrialization, Singapore has placed significant emphasis on urban greening (including rooftop and vertical greenery, gardens, and park corridors) and conservation of the island's rich biodiversity as key components of its development approach, setting the foundation for its development as a “Garden City”.

Problem

Space is one of the main challenge of greening a small city-state like Singapore with a land area of only 700 square kilometres and a population of 4.6 million (and still growing). Moreover, green infrastructures could be used for urban food production, in a country where 90 percent of food comes from abroad.

Solution

Through effective urban planning strategies which include the addition of parks and water bodies, skyrise greenery, and introduction of other resource-efficient gardens for food production (including vertical farming and hydroponics), the City has increase its green cover, while supporting Singapore's target to produce 30 percent of its own food by 2030.

Outcome

Between 1986 and 2007, the green cover in Singapore grew from 35.7 percent to 46.5 percent, while incentives to high-tech companies developing resource-efficient farming allow to support Singapore's food security target.

Additional information

Photo by Sergio Sala on Unsplash

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Organisations
Government of Singapore
Location
Key elements of the circular economy
Impacts
Policies
Industries
City Stakeholders
Thematic Areas
Circular City Actions Framework
Tags

Singapore

asia

vertical farming

sustainable farming

community garden