WEF: About Pioneering Green Cities Singapore & Barranquilla

Cities account for roughly 70% of global CO₂ emissions, according to the World Bank.

This high percentage has led to various initiatives being released with the aims to guide cities on the journey to net zero. 

The World Economic Forum reports on how two cities have created green identities through nature-first master planning techniques.

Singapore and Barranquilla in Columbia have utilised help from the private sector with aims to incorporate nature into its infrastructure.

How is Singapore being more green?

In 2021 Singapore Green Plan launched its City in Nature vision, with the plans to create sustainable homes for all citizens by 2030.

The project consists of:

• Conserving and restoring nature 
• Expanding community parks 
• Strengthening the connection between green spaces 
• Raising standards of animal welfare 
• Improving the welfare standards as a whole in Singapore. 

It has managed to preserve 7,800 hectares of green space with the government planning to extend the network by another 1000 hectares within the next 10-15 years. 

Singapore sits at around 48% green coverage, mainly due to this ongoing project.

The green city reports that it is more resilient to climate change as it is made up of large well connected areas that promote biodiversity, combatting urban heat island effects and absorbing rainwater.

The project backs a OneMillionTrees movement, currently having planted more than a half a million trees since 2020, which has been reported to make improvements to air quality and ecological resurgence.

Alongside various environmental benefits the city is expanding into decarbonising the power sector.

Collaborating with EMA and SP Groups the project is developing a Future Grid Capabilities Roadmap outlining the challenges of the Singapore power systems and identifying ways to transform the electricity grid.

Puah Kok Keong, CEO at EMA, said, “Fostering innovation and collaboration with stakeholders is crucial to enhance Singapore’s grid capabilities. 

“By using advanced technologies and building a resilient grid that can address our challenges, we can harness opportunities to advance the transition towards a more sustainable energy future.”

What Barranquilla is doing to improve sustainable aspects of the city?

The Colombian city it has used economic growth to increase access to public healthcare, more public green spaces and high-quality infrastructure.

It launched the Gran Malecón project in 2017 with the aim to develop community and green spaces alongside the Magdalena River; it reports that this has been vital for improving engagement in previous hotspots for criminal activity. 

As the project has expanded it now incorporates larger scale green initiatives like a 650-hectare ecopark. 

It was combined with another initiative, Todos al Parque, that aims to develop sports fields, introduce green areas and appoint park rangers to manage and maintain green spaces. 

The WEF says since the programme started more than 1.9 million square metres of the city’s public space has been recovered. 

The city’s main priority is to balance economic needs with green areas due to space constraints and direct population growth.

Through different innovations the programmes collectively aim to integrate nature into dense urban environments.

Part of the city is currently operated by Puerta de Oro, gaining the area a sustainable tourism certification.

Alex de Bedout, Executive Director of Puerta de Oro says: “The Gran Malecón is one of the district administration's most important milestones in recent years, connecting more than 24 million visitors to the Magdalena River since its opening. 

“The certification undoubtedly validates the collaborative work, the civic culture of the community that visits it, and the operational efforts that already met many of the regulatory requirements, making the destination an excellent candidate to acquire the distinction with the first application process.”

How is collaborating with the private sector helpful for creating a green city?

The WEF reports that private companies in Singapore have helped shape densely populated urban landscapes by integrating sustainable practices and innovative green solutions. 

Companies within Singapore are encouraged to conduct biodiversity assessment, with several flagship projects headed by City Developments Limited identifying 99 native animal species and 31 plant species that require protection.

The WEF also says that the private sector has contributed to the city’s development, due to collaborations with local administrations and developers. 

Developers have been involved in creating subsidised housing and building new green spaces.

The city reports that increased property value from the improvements can be captured and reinvested into urban development, going hand in hand with a sustainable model for growth.

The WEF believes that nature first cities are the way of the future, being able to successfully harness the skills and capabilities of the private sector is crucial in incorporating nature into city's blue prints.