GIEL Topic 2.4 (Building sustainable urban neighbourhoods)

environmental stewardship

actions taken by individuals or groups, to protect, care for or responsibly use the environment to pursue environmental and/or social outcomes 

environmental stewardship actions should …

1. Seek to conserve natural resources

2. Preserve the existing natural environment 

3. Repair the damages and reverse the negative impacts caused by humans to ensure its sustainability 

environmental stewardship can be achieved via :

1. promoting volunteerism among neighbourhood residents to share knowledge with others about the importance of healthy ecosystems

2. partnership involving public and private sectors contributes to environmental stewardships effort

achieving env stewardship : promoting volunteerism

• Allows residents to become more aware of what they can and should do to responsibly use and protect the natural environment 

• Example : NParks promotes volunteerism in communities through ground-led initiatives such as Friends of the Parks. Participants may gain greater community ownership and stewardship of parks in their neighbourhood.

achieving env stewardship : partnership

Different stakeholders may have different perspectives, resources and expertise to enhance the environmental stewardship efforts, hence its crucial for them to come together to steward the environment 

• Example : 

  1. 169 partners (e.g., Starbucks, Watsons, supermarkets, DBS, food centres, provision stores) partnered National Environmental Agency (NEA) on the Say Yes to Waste Less (SYTWL) Campaign since 2019

  2. NEA also engages residents on the importance of waste recycling as well as how and what they should recycle. Residents play a vital role in the proper recycling of their waste, public agencies enhance awareness and education, while private stakeholders provide recycling facilities.

disaster risk

likelihood of damage to properties, injuries and loss of lives from a disaster in a given period of time

disaster risk management

• plans and actions that are implemented to prevent new risks from happening, reducing existing risk and managing disaster risk

• strengthens community resilience

disaster risk management aims to reduce …

1. a neighbourhood’s exposure to hazards

2. the vulnerability of people and properties to hazards

SG disaster risk management focuses on …

1. improving residents’ emergency preparedness to respond to hazards

2. implementation of monitoring and warning systems

SG drm : improving residents’ emergency preparedness to respond to hazards

example : The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) conducts a Community Emergency Preparedness Programme (CEPP). It focuses on key lifesaving skills and important emergency procedures. Through practical hands-on engagements, participants gain a deeper understanding on how they can help others during an emergency.

SG drm : implementation of monitoring and warning systems

example : SCDF has a Public Warning System (PWS) which is a network of sirens placed at strategic points throughout the city. It warns the public of imminent threats that may endanger lives and property, allowing residents to respond quickly.

community resilience

ability of a community to resist, adapt to and recover from impacts of disasters in a timely and efficient manner

community resilience can be developed by …

1. strengthening of relationships among residents and raising their awareness of potential hazards

2. developing residents’ ability to organize themselves and equip themselves with resources to resist, adapt and recover from a disaster

community resilience : strengthening of relationships among residents and raising their awareness of potential hazards

• Plans in neighbourhoods may only be effective and sustainable if there is widespread support and long-term participation from the residents 

• Residents are encouraged to get to know their neighbourhoods so they can depend on each other during emergency 

• Example : the people’s association organises a wide range of community activities aimed at fostering positive relationships amongst residents living in the neighborhood which is evident throughout covid-19 pandemic as residents came together to provide assistance to others in need (distributing mask and food)

community resilience : Developing residents’ ability to organise themselves and equip themselves with resources to resist, adapt and recover from a disaster

• Residents in neighbourhood can be involved in an inclusive planning process that involves community leaders, civil society organisations and the government 

• Residents actively participating in projects minimises potential hazards in the neighbourhood → they can better understand the risks and adaptation options to communicate to the planners and government 

• Example : 

  • Total defence framework is an all-round response to threats and challenges involving everyone in Singapore. It emphasises that everyone has a part to play, individually and collectively, to build a strong,secure and cohesive nation.