Sentosa Singapore is aiming to be carbon neutral by 2030. To identify and work with to testbed sustainable technologies and concepts
Sentosa Singapore is aiming to be carbon neutral by 2030.
The 500-hectare island resort which is managed by Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) Singapore says it will “identify and work with technology partners to testbed sustainable technologies and concepts on Sentosa, while also bringing on board some 200 businesses within Sentosa to work towards the aspiration of island carbon neutrality”.
SDC will focus on key priorities such as:
Working with businesses in Sentosa to establish an island-wide baseline carbon profile
Decarbonising energy systems in Sentosa
Closing the waste loop, such as reducing food waste
Greening travel options in Sentosa
Enhancing Sentosa’s digital architecture to optimise and control resources
Increasing awareness on sustainability and sustainable practices amongst Sentosa’s visitors
As part of SDC’s collaboration with various partners, SDC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with investment company Temasek “to harness Temasek’s expertise and network of companies in studying and test bedding sustainability solutions”.
SDC and Temasek “will identify opportunities for sustainability testbeds in Sentosa Singapore to lower the resort island’s carbon footprint”.
The two say that the intention is to “leverage smart infrastructure to first detect and analyse energy usage, before using the data to engage users and influence consumption patterns, with the goal of reducing wastage.
The partnership will also explore new ways to deploy cooling solutions on Sentosa Singapore island and minimise waste going into Singapore’s incineration plants.”
As part of the initial steps towards Sentosa’s carbon-neutrality goal, SDC is also engaging the island’s businesses, including hotels, restaurants and attractions such as its marina club and golf club, on a whole-of-Sentosa carbon profiling initiative.
The insights on carbon emissions will set the island-wide carbon profile baseline and guide future carbon mitigation and abatement efforts by various stakeholders on Sentosa.
The island has several hotels, themed attractions, and Singapore’s first integrated resort, Resorts World Sentosa, which operates South East Asia’s first Universal Studios theme park. The Sentosa Golf Club
Gavin Weightman, General Manager, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa said:
“Over the last few years, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sentosa Resort & Spa has been focused on reducing our carbon footprint through investments in smart design to reduce the consumption of energy, and tapping on alternative sustainable energy sources such as solar-powered air-conditioning.
“We are also focused on food waste management and have adopted technology to track, analyse and effectively minimise food waste through our food preparation process. As we embark on this collaboration with SDC, we look forward to utilising the details of the carbon profiling report to elevate the resort’s sustainability efforts, while also working closely with SDC to achieve Sentosa’s carbon-neutral goal by 2030.”
Ong Ee Leong, Vice President of Operations and Projects, Cockpit International – the owner of FOC Sentosa said:
“The carbon profiling initiative by SDC is an important pillar in helping businesses on Sentosa move towards our collective goal of carbon neutrality by 2030. Sustainability is a key area of focus for FOC Sentosa, with sustainable elements – such as the use of sustainable wood, and retaining and building around the trees in the area – incorporated into the building design.
“Other initiatives include sourcing produce from sustainable sources, reducing food waste and single-use plastics, as well as using organic fertilisers for plants within the premises. The insights garnered from the carbon profiling process helps us obtain a better understanding of the areas to zoom in and focus on, in order to further reduce our carbon footprint.”
Ms Thien Kwee Eng, Chief Executive, SDC, said:
“Sustainability is a key priority and integral design principle in SDC’s journey to create great guest experiences and safeguard Sentosa’s value proposition for generations to come. Thus, even as we refresh our offerings amid changing guest preferences and needs, we will remain firmly committed to environmental sustainability and protecting our island charm, and ensure that our offerings are sensitive to our rich biodiversity and heritage. We look forward to collaborating with Temasek, businesses on Sentosa, and other stakeholders on achieving our collective goal.”
“We are delighted to partner SDC on its decarbonisation efforts as it works towards becoming a more sustainable tourist destination. The challenge of greening an existing development such as Sentosa is great, but so is the potential impact.
“Today, cities contribute to some 75 per cent of global carbon emissions, with transport and buildings being among the largest contributors. Sustainability is at the core of everything we do at Temasek, and we are glad to be able to leverage our network and partnerships to innovate and help accelerate a sustainable transformation in Sentosa,” said Dr Steve Howard, Chief Sustainability Officer, Temasek.
Originally published at Business Traveller