More than hope needed to build a sustainable future

2019 was the year that sustainability went mainstream. From the global climate strike and the rise of Greta Thunberg on the world stage to high-profile reports from the UN, sustainability has been recognised as the most pressing imperative facing humanity and the planet. In 2020, the question is no longer whether or even when we need to embrace sustainability, but how.

If the status quo continues, the impact on Singapore and across Southeast Asia is projected to be particularly acute. Left unaddressed, climate change could reduce South-east Asia's gross domestic product by 11 per cent by the end of the century, according to projections from the Asian Development Bank.

As these figures show, putting sustainable policies into practice is essential to mitigate the impacts of a changing climate. However, sustainability efforts must go beyond the environment to balance the interconnected environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainable development.