Sustainability transitioning in a developmental state: an analysis of Singapore’s climate change mitigation and adaptation policies

ABSTRACT

The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment Report argues if the world is to avoid the catastrophic effects of climate change from heating above 1.5^o, all nations will have to undergo expedited sustainability transitions. In addition, nations will need to undertake adaptive transitions within their built form, economies, societies, and component systems to ameliorate the now unavoidable effects of climate change. This article examines intersectoral government policy responses to climate change in Singapore. The Singapore government accepts the science of climate change the many vulnerabilities the nation has to it. Therefore, the government has initiated polices to both reduce the nations greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the potential effects of climate change. The analysis shows that Singapore’s development state governance structures and path dependence places it in a good position to successfully undertake an expedited sustainability transition and adapt to its potential effects. However, there are sectors where the government is relying upon unproven technologies to affect change. This is likely to prove a significant challenge.

KEYWORDS:

• Singapore
• climate change policy
• developmental state
• energy systems
• transport systems

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Michael McGreevy

Michael McGreevy is a research fellow at the National University of Singapore. He has a PhD in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia. His current research is the areas of urban complexity and urban environments as social determinates of health.

Eng Seng Chia (Aaron)

Eng Seng Chia (Aaron) is currently an Associate Professor in the Industrial Systems Engineering and Management Department and NUS Cities, both belonging to the College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore. His current research interests are in large scale systems especially urban systems spanning from energy, transport, education and health to smart, sustainable and resilient cities.