CleanEnviro Summit Singapore and Singapore International Water Week 2024 conclude with transformative insights and strengthened global alliances

This year's CleanEnviro Summit Singapore (CESG) and Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) brought together stakeholders from governments, academia, industry and international organisations to share best practices, co-create innovative environmental and urban water solutions, and generate new business opportunities.

Hosting over 30,000 attendees, CESG 2024 from 19 – 21 June and SIWW2024 from 18 – 22 June saw the announcements of strategic partnerships, calls for tender and for research grants, and facilitated numerous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signings towards building a greener, more climate-resilient and sustainable future amidst resource scarcity globally.

To this end, CESG 2024 and SIWW2024 have paved the way for several significant initiatives, rallying the industries to take ownership to tackle environmental and water challenges. These include:

SIWW2024

· Launch of the Singapore Water Centre by the World Bank Group in partnership with the Singapore Government, to leverage Singapore's expertise and knowledge in urban water management to support the water sector in countries in the region and beyond.

· Signings of more than 10 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) at SIWW2024. Among them is a MOU between PUB and Aarhus Vand, a Danish water utility, to advance knowledge exchange and knowledge transfer, especially in the areas of innovation, energy-efficient used water treatment, resource circularity and climate resiliency.

· Announcement of a tender for the development of a 55 megawatt-peak (MWp) floating solar photovoltaic (FPV) system at Pandan Reservoir. This project will see the installation of floating solar panels on the reservoir's surface, adding to Singapore's renewable energy capacity, while ensuring there continues to be adequate space for recreational water activities in the Pandan Reservoir.

· Announcement of a tender to expand Changi Water Reclamation Plant. In line with PUB's efforts to invest in used water infrastructure, the expansion, estimated to cost about S$2 billion, will raise Changi WRP's used water treatment capacity by up to 96 million gallons per day (mgd).

· Announcement of the second tranche of research projects under the Coastal Protection and Flood Resilience Institute (CFI) Singapore and the launch of an open Request-for-Proposal (RFP) by PUB to seek innovative solutions to support Singapore's coastal protection and flood management efforts.

The Sustainability Summit on 19 June at CESG 2024, themed "Towards a Net Zero City" convened industry leaders to discuss strategic policies, innovations, and international collaborations for advancing low carbon transitions and addressing environmental challenges. Plenaries focused on accelerating climate action and decarbonisation ahead of COP29, highlighting resource resilience and key sustainability issues across the Asia Pacific region. In her opening address, Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, reiterated Singapore's commitment to sustainability and the importance of sustainable practices to secure a vibrant and healthy future for generations to come.

Climate adaptation is a new key pillar of SIWW2024, specifically the issue of addressing coastal and flood resilience. Ms Grace Fu, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations, made the call for closer partnerships between the public and private sectors in addressing coastal and flood risks at the inaugural Coastal and Flood Resilience Leaders Summit on 20 June. Serving as a three-way intermediary between the industry, institutes of higher learning, and government agencies, the Singapore Water Association will be launching a new Coastal Protection Chapter to foster collaboration among companies and support the implementation of coastal protection infrastructure.

In a world increasingly defined by pressing environmental challenges, the managing directors of both events echoed the pivotal role of collaborative platforms such as CESG and SIWW, to continue to move the dial for global sustainability and water management.

"As we progress towards our national and global sustainability goals, we continue to navigate the complexities of climate change and sustainability. This is why platforms such as CESG are crucial in forging pathways for collaboration and innovation. Together with our global partners, we will be able to innovate new solutions and technologies that not only mitigate environmental impacts but also set new benchmarks for global sustainability practices," said Mr. Kwok Wai Choong, Managing Director of CESG.

"As a unique global platform that brings together governments, cities, utilities, and industry from the region and the world, the 10th edition of SIWW marked a significant milestone as one of the most successful editions yet. We are confident that the knowledge sharing, thought leadership, and strategic collaborations that came forth from the event will continue to drive actionable solutions towards solving the world's most pressing urban water and associated climate challenges," said Mr. Ryan Yuen, Managing Director of SIWW.

The next edition of SIWW and CESG will return in 2026.