In Parliament on Feb. 1, the Government Parliamentary Committee on Sustainability and the Environment moved a motion calling for greater efforts in addressing climate change issues.
In response to the motion, several Members of Parliament (MPs) made their recommendations in support of the motion.
A significant portion of Workers Party MP Gerald Giam s speech focused on how Singapore can build a green economy and workforce.
Green economy
Giam suggested that the government can introduce measures to speed up the transition.
These include introducing new funding and programmes to create jobs and stimulate economic activity in green industries, providing financial support to households and businesses to switch to cleaner energy sources as well as grants, loans and tax relief to promote green transport, clean energy research and circular economy.
There has been much attention on Dover Forest recently after media reports revealed that the 33ha patch of greenery is slated for housing development.
An environmental baseline study was conducted in 2017 and made public last December so that members of the public can provide their feedback on it.
The feedback window closed on Jan. 16, 2021 (last Saturday).
Public outcry
The forest, which has remained untouched for the past 40 years, is home to 120 species of plants and 158 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, snails, and insects.
There was a subsequent outcry among nature lovers and residents to protect Dover Forest, with a petition garnering over 29,000 signatures in less than a week.