Latest news with #AmyKhor
AsiaOne
17-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
New campaign to urge S'pore home, business, building owners to set air-cons at 25 deg C, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — A new campaign to urge home, business and building owners to turn up their thermostats was launched on May 16. Called the Go 25 movement, it encourages Singapore residents to set the indoor air-conditioning temperature in their homes, offices and buildings at 25 deg C. The campaign is an initiative housed under Go Green SG 2025. According to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), buildings account for more than 20 per cent of Singapore's carbon emissions, and air-conditioning is a key contributor to building energy consumption. This in turn creates a vicious circle where hotter cities demand more cooling, which generates more emissions and heat, further raising ambient temperatures, said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE). BCA also noted that approximately 60 per cent of electricity consumption in non-residential buildings is attributed to cooling systems, with mechanical ventilation accounting for an additional 10 per cent. Overcooling — which happens when spaces are cooled with air-conditioning beyond the comfort range — increases electricity usage, accelerates climate change and exacerbates the urban heat island effect. The urban heat island effect occurs when densely built areas experience higher air temperatures than undeveloped rural areas. "Achieving our climate goals requires the collective efforts of everyone. Each of us has a personal responsibility to protect and steward our shared environment, for ourselves as well as our future generations," said Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor at the launch of Go Green SG 2025 on May 16 at Changkat Primary School. The launch of the third edition of Go Green SG — a month-long campaign packed with activities for the public, schools and organisations to participate in — was attended by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and the Environment Baey Yam Keng. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam interacting with (from left) Changkat Primary School pupils Khayra Nyla Khairil Nizam, Foo Jun An and Srikaarthika Chidambaram, who helped draw some of the characters in SG60 Go Green SG storybook. PHOTO: The Straits Times Running till June 29, the campaign aims to rally the public to make Singapore a green, liveable and climate-resilient nation. Led by the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) and MSE, and supported by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and BCA, the Go 25 movement has three key initiatives: A pledge, a personality quiz and an industry guide. The pledge encourages building owners, businesses and organisations to commit to sustainable cooling, which also includes the provision of cooling alternatives like fans, and encouraging relaxed dress codes among tenants and occupants. A downloadable toolkit that includes poster templates, social media assets and information sheets is available for pledge-takers to encourage stakeholders and others to "Go 25" as well. An online personality quiz titled Go 25 Indoor Comfort Quiz was also created to teach users about their ideal temperature profile and the benefits of higher indoor temperatures. The insights gathered will be consolidated into a report that will be published in June. The report will outline the average temperature preference of Singapore residents, basic energy savings potentials, and quick actions for business owners and building managers to refer to. Changkat Primary School's Eco Hub during the launch of Go Green SG 2025 on May 16. PHOTO: The Straits Times The toolkit and quiz can be accessed at Finally, an industry guide developed by SGBC and BCA on how to raise indoor ambient temperature while maintaining occupant comfort will be published in the third quarter of 2025. Baey hopes that with more than 95 per cent of government buildings already adopting Go 25, the Government will be able to set an example for businesses and organisations across Singapore. A study by Ngee Ann Polytechnic's Centre for Environmental Sustainability found that every degree raised in air-conditioning temperature, between 23 dec C and 25 deg C, yielded up to 12 per cent in cooling energy reduction, with no reported increase in occupant discomfort. The study was commissioned by MSE and SGBC, and conducted between January and April. NEA data also found that for every degree raised by households, approximately $13 of savings could be achieved every year. "Building owners and businesses can... supplement air-conditioning with hybrid cooling solutions such as ceiling fans, and engage their tenants and occupants on sustainable cooling," Dr Khor said. "We can also dress light when going to air-conditioned places such as shopping malls, opt for fans over air-conditioning at home, and encourage our family and friends to do the same." The Go Green SG launch event featured booths by SGBC and CapitaLand on their energy-saving and green building initiatives, as well as booths by NEA, PUB and the Singapore Food Agency. Through sustainability challenges organised by CapitaLand, small start-ups and entrepreneurs were able to pitch and develop sustainable technologies that could be implemented in building construction and improvement. An example is Magorium, a home-grown brand that repurposes plastic waste into bitumen, which is used to pave roads. According to Ted Howland, CapitaLand Investment vice-president of group sustainability, Magorium has used plastic waste from CapitaLand malls including Raffles City Shopping Centre and Plaza Singapura in the making of its bitumen. CapitaLand will also be using this bitumen to pave the roads of its upcoming showflats and development projects. "Each of these solutions represents one small but very important step that accumulates and brings us to reaching our 2030 sustainability masterplan targets. It's not about finding that one silver bullet to solve everything, because we don't believe there's one of those," he said. The statutory boards under MSE also organised booths to educate students on their respective histories and milestones in establishing a more sustainable and environmentally conscious Singapore. President Tharman launched Changkat Primary School's newly constructed Eco Hub, which offers pupils a space to learn about sustainability concepts such as circular economy, food security, and biodiversity through experiential learning. The highlight of the interactive space is a wormery. Piloted in 2024, the wormery is looked after by Primary Five and Eco Club pupils who add food scraps collected from the school canteen twice a week to compost boxes. They water the compost mix daily to ensure the composting worms — African nightcrawlers — remain healthy. After four weeks, the vermicompost is ready for use in the school garden. (From left) Changkat Primary School pupils Khayra Nyla Khairil Nizam, Foo Jun An and Srikaarthika Chidambaram helped draw some of the characters in the newly unveiled SG60 Go Green SG e-comic book. PHOTO: The Straits Times A commemorative SG60 Go Green SG e-comic book featuring characters that three pupils of the school helped draw was also unveiled. The book, which traces the Republic's environmental journey over the past 60 years, teaches students how they can keep waterways clean, reduce waste and support local produce. The books will be distributed to all primary and secondary school children from May 16. Organised by MSE, together with some 400 partners, Go Green SG 2025 will feature more than 900 activities, with programmes released gradually over the month. Some of these activities include guided ferry tours of the Southern Islands and a mushroom cultivation workshop. Online registration for Go Green SG 2025 activities opened on May 12. The public can visit to check out the activities currently available. ALSO READ: Mean and green: We take a closer look at the Traffic Police's first electric patrol car This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.
Straits Times
16-05-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Go 25 movement to spur sustainable cooling launched in tandem with Go Green SG 2025
Senior Minister for State Amy Khor speaking during the launch of Go Green SG 2025 on May 16. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Go 25 movement to spur sustainable cooling launched in tandem with Go Green SG 2025 SINGAPORE - A new campaign to urge businesses and building owners to turn up their thermostats was launched on May 16. Called the Go 25 movement, it encourages Singapore residents to set the indoor air-conditioning temperature in their homes, offices and buildings at 25 deg C. The campaign is an initiative housed under Go Green SG 2025. According to the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), buildings account for over 20 per cent of Singapore's carbon emissions, and air-conditioning is a key contributor to building energy consumption. This, in turn, creates a vicious circle , where hotter cities demand more cooling, which generates more emissions and heat, further raising ambient temperatures, said the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE). BCA also noted that approximately 60 per cent of electricity consumption in non-residential buildings is attributed to cooling systems, with mechanical ventilation accounting for an additional 10 per cent. Overcooling – which happens when spaces are cooled with air-conditioning beyond comfort range – increases electricity usage, accelerates climate change and exacerbates the urban heat island effect. The urban heat island effect occurs when densely built areas experience higher air temperatures than undeveloped rural areas. 'Achieving our climate goals requires the collective efforts of everyone. Each of us has a personal responsibility to protect and steward our shared environment, for ourselves as well as our future generations,' said Senior Minister for State Amy Khor at the launch of Go Green SG 2025 on May 16 at Changkat Primary School. The launch of the third edition of Go Green SG – a month-long campaign packed with activities for the public, schools and organisations to participate in – was attended by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Baey Yam Keng. President Tharman Shanmugaratnam interacting with students who helped with the illustration of SG60 Go Green SG storybook on May 16. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Running till June 19, the campaign aims to rally the populace to make Singapore a green, liveable and climate-resilient nation. Led by the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC) and MSE, and supported by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and BCA, the Go 25 movement is mapped out into three key initiatives: a pledge, a personality quiz and an industry guide. The pledge encourages building owners, businesses and organisations to commit to sustainable cooling, which also includes the provision of cooling alternatives like fans, and encouraging relaxed dress codes among tenants and occupants. A downloadable toolkit that includes poster templates, social media assets and information sheets is also available for pledgers to encourage stakeholders and other potential pledgees to 'Go 25' as well. An online personality quiz titled 'Go 25 Indoor Comfort Quiz' was also created to teach users about their ideal temperature profile and the benefits of higher indoor temperatures. The insights gathered will be consolidated into a report that will be published in June. The report will outline the average temperature preference of Singapore residents, basic energy savings potential, and quick actions for business owners and building managers to reference in their operations. Changkat Primary School's Eco Hub during the launch of Go Green SG 2025 on May 16. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI The toolkit and quiz can be accessed at Finally, a guide developed by SGBC and BCA will be published in the third quarter of 2025, which will serve as a technical guide for the processes and considerations needed when raising indoor ambient temperature while maintaining occupant comfort. Mr Baey hopes that with more than 95 per cent of government buildings already adopting Go 25, the Government will be able to set an example for businesses and organisations across Singapore. A study by Ngee Ann Polytechnic's Centre for Environmental Sustainability found that every degree raised in air-conditioning temperature, between 23 and 25 deg C, yielded up to 12 per cent of cooling energy reduction, with no reported increase in occupant discomfort. The study was commissioned by MSE and SGBC and was conducted between January and April. NEA data also found that for every degree raised, approximately $13 of savings could be achieved every year. 'Building owners and businesses can... supplement air-conditioning with hybrid cooling solutions, such as ceiling fans, and engage their tenants and occupants on sustainable cooling. We can also dress light when going to air-conditioned places such as shopping malls, opt for fans over air-conditioning at home, and encourage our family and friends to do the same,' Dr Khor said. The Go Green SG launch event featured booths by SGBC and CapitaLand on their energy saving and green building initiatives, as well as booths by NEA, PUB, and the Singapore Food Agency. Through sustainability challenges organised by CapitaLand, small start-ups and entrepreneurs were able to pitch and develop sustainable technologies that could be implemented in building construction and improvement. An example is Magorium, a home-grown brand that repurposes plastic waste into bitumen, which is used to pave roads. According to Mr Ted Howland, CapitaLand Investment vice-president of group sustainability, Magorium has used plastic waste from CapitaLand malls including Raffles City Shopping Centre and Plaza Singapura in the making of its bitumen. CapitaLand will also be using this bitumen to pave the roads of its upcoming show-flats and development projects. 'Each of these solutions represents one small but very important step that accumulates and brings us to reaching our 2030 sustainability masterplan targets. It's not about finding that one silver bullet to solve everything, because we don't believe there's one of those,' he said. The statutory boards under MSE also organised booths to educate students on the boards' respective histories and milestones in establishing a more sustainable and environmentally conscious Singapore today. President Tharman launched Changkat Primary School's newly constructed Eco Hub , which offers pupils a space to learn about sustainability concepts such as circular economy, food security and biodiversity through experiential learning. The highlight of the interactive space is a wormery. Piloted in 2024, the wormery is looked after by Primary 5 and Eco Club pupils who add food scraps collected from the school canteen twice a week to the compost boxes. They also water the compost mix daily to ensure the composting worms – African nightcrawlers – remain healthy. After four weeks, the vermicompost is ready for use in the school garden. (From left) Upper primary pupils Khayra Nyla Khairil Nizam, Foo Jun An and Srikaarthika Chidambaram illustrated some of the characters in the newly unveiled SG60 Go Green SG e-comic book. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI A commemorative SG60 Go Green SG e-comic book featuring characters illustrated by three pupils of the school was also unveiled. The book, which traces the Republic's environmental journey over the past 60 years, educates students on what they can do to keep waterways clean, reduce waste and support local produce. The books will be distributed to all primary and secondary school students from May 16. Organised by MSE , together with some 400 partners, Go Green SG 2025 will feature more than 900 activities, with programmes released gradually over the month. Some of these activities include guided ferry tours of the Southern Islands and a mushroom cultivation workshop. Online registration for Go Green SG 2025 activities opened on May 12. The public can visit to check out the activities currently available. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Amy Khor to head judging panel for BT's 2025 Sustainability Impact Awards
Dr Amy Khor hopes for awards will guide companies towards responsible growth, helping to reinforce Singapore's role in green finance and sustainable development. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO FILE SINGAPORE - The Sustainability Impact Awards (SI Awards) welcomes a new chief judge to oversee its judging panel in its third run: Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, Dr Amy Khor. The awards, which is jointly organised by The Business Times and UOB, recognise individuals and businesses based in Singapore that have made significant positive contributions to the country's social and environmental sustainability. The Centre for Governance and Sustainability (CGS) at the National University of Singapore Business School is its knowledge partner. 'The awards remind us that sustainability is not a peripheral issue, but a central pillar of long-term economic resilience and societal well being,' said Dr Khor. The current geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties have led to some rollbacks in sustainability climate actions. 'The BT SI Awards play an even more important role in spotlighting the tireless efforts of individuals and enterprises leading the charge in sustainability,' she added. Dr Khor also hopes for the awards to 'serve as a beacon' to guide companies towards responsible growth, helping to reinforce Singapore's role in green finance and sustainable development alongside being an international financial and business hub. BT editor Chen Hui Fen said: 'It is a privilege to have Dr Khor on board as chief judge for the SI Awards. She brings with her a wealth of experience and will add depth to our discussions on how to shape the awards and recognise winners. UOB chief sustainability officer Eric Lim, in welcoming Dr Khor, said her deep expertise and strong commitment to advancing sustainable development will help elevate the impact of the awards and the recognition it brings to the winners. The SI Awards specifically looks out for positive and significant environmental and social impact from initiatives introduced by winners. There are three main categories: large enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and individuals. Under each category, contestants stand to win either of two awards. Individuals stand to win awards for either Impact Leader of the Year or Impact Leader Excellence. Enterprises – both large and small – are recognised as either Impact Enterprise of the Year or Impact Enterprise Excellence. Dr Khor, who announced her retirement from politics in April this year, is known for driving policies related to the circular economy, the Zero Waste Masterplan, single-use bag charge and hawker centres, among others. She led Singapore's Zero Waste Masterplan in 2019, which aimed to send one-third less waste to the Semakau Landfill, in a bid to help it last longer than the projected 2035. Dr Khor also spearheaded the push for diners at hawker centres, food courts and coffee shops to clear their own dirty trays and litter in 2021. Since 2020, she has also served as Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Transport, with a focus on improving the taxi and private-hire car industry. Her prior roles in the Singapore government include that of Senior Parliamentary Secretary and Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources. She was also Senior Minister of State for Health from 2013 to 2020, and Senior Minister of State for Manpower from 2013 to 2015. Nominations for this year's award close on May 16. Those keen to participate can visit the awards website to submit their applications. THE BUSINESS TIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
13-05-2025
- Health
- Straits Times
NTU launches new research facility to study health risks of climate change in the tropics
Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Dr Amy Khor speaking at the launch of the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Health (CCEH) on April 15. PHOTO: NTU NTU launches new research facility to study health risks of climate change in the tropics SINGAPORE - A new research centre that aims to tackle the health risks of climate change in the tropics was launched at Nanyang Technological University on April 15. Research efforts at the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Health will focus on three pillars – air quality, extreme heat, and water supply and quality, said its director Steve Yim. These are issues that are becoming increasingly urgent in South-east Asia due to rising global temperatures and environmental changes, he added. Associate Professor Yim said there is a significant lack of research focusing on tropical regions like South-east Asia, which faces issues specific to the region. These include high humidity, monsoons and transboundary haze pollution, all of which have impacts on human health and well-being. 'South-east Asia is one of the regions most exposed to climate-related health risks, yet remains under-represented in global research,' he said. The centre was officially launched at the Experimental Medicine Building at NTU on April 15. Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Amy Khor was the guest of honour. Dr Khor said Singapore, being a highly urbanised and densely populated city-state, is exceptionally vulnerable to climate impacts on its environment and public health. For example, climate change causes changes in rainfall patterns and a higher likelihood of extreme weather events. This potentially contributes to the increase and spread of various vector-borne diseases, especially arboviruses, which are those spread by mosquitoes, according to the Duke-NUS Medical School. '(The centre's research) will build on findings from Singapore's Third National Climate Change Study to advance our understanding of tropical climate variability and its potential impact on Singapore and the larger South-east Asia region,' she added. The new centre will bring together researchers at NTU who conduct research in the domains of climate and health. These experts come from NTU's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Asian School of the Environment, Earth Observatory of Singapore, Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering, and Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute . Over the next five years, they will be trained in interdisciplinary studies on the health impact of climate change, said Prof Yim. 'By bringing together experts across fields and partnering with regional centres, we will develop practical solutions to help governments, hospitals and communities respond more effectively.' The centre also aims to establish a regional consortium to bring universities and health institutes from Indonesia, India, Thailand, Taiwan and Britain together to study the relationship between human health and climate change in the three research areas. Imperial College London's Medical Research Council Centre for Environment and Health was revealed as one contributing member of the consortium. Local partners like the National Environment Agency and Ministry of Sustainability and Environment are also expected to contribute in supporting the development of evidence-based policies and solutions. Between 2030 and 2050, climate change is expected to cause approximately 250,000 additional deaths per year from malnutrition, malaria, diarrhoea and heat stress alone, according to the World Health Organisation. The direct damage costs to health are estimated to be between US$2 billion (S$2.63 billion) and US$4 billion per year by 2030. Additionally, around 489,000 heat-related mortalities had been reported annually between 2000 and 2019, with an estimated 45 per cent of cases in Asia. Unicef had also in February 2025 reported that more than 100 children under the age of five die each day in East Asia and the Pacific from air pollution-related causes. Research done under the centre would add to pre-existing interdisciplinary research on the climate-health nexus being conducted by NUS entities. This includes the Heat Resilience and Performance Centre and Centre for Sustainable Medicine at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, as well as the Climate, Environment and Health programme by Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health. Existing studies are being further developed under the centre, including one led by Prof Yim, and co-authored by Dr Tao Huang, a research fellow at NTU's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine and the Centre for Climate Change and Environmental Health. The study looks at how heat caused by greenhouse emissions and air pollution combine to affect human health in various regions across the world. The project currently involves the joint collaboration between researchers and PhD students from NTU's Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Earth Observatory of Singapore and Asian School of the Environment. They recently received a grant to collaborate with experts from the National University of Singapore and Stanford University School of Medicine. 'Many government agencies like the National Environment Agency, National Parks Board and Land Transport Authority have also supported us by offering us real-time information like weather-related data, urban morphology and traffic data respectively. We hope we will be able to work with more organisations through this centre to expand on the study,' said Dr Huang. Such studies show how climate change is a multidisciplinary topic that requires the combined knowledge of climate science, environmental science and health science, Prof Yim said. However, he said the different organisations are not working as effectively as they should be with one another. 'We now have to fix this problem. (The centre) thus offers a platform for multiple perspectives to work with each other to understand and tackle issues in a more robust manner, so that we can provide feasible solutions for policymakers,' he said. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Business Times
12-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Senior Minister of State Amy Khor to head the judging panel for BT's 2025 Sustainability Impact Awards
[SINGAPORE] The Sustainability Impact Awards (SI Awards) welcomes a new chief judge to oversee its judging panel in its third run: Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, Dr Amy Khor. The awards, which is jointly organised by The Business Times and UOB, recognise individuals and businesses based in Singapore that have made significant positive contributions to the country's social and environmental sustainability. The Centre for Governance and Sustainability (CGS) at the National University of Singapore Business School is its knowledge partner. 'The awards remind us that sustainability is not a peripheral issue, but a central pillar of long-term economic resilience and societal well being,' said Dr Khor. The current geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainties have led to some rollbacks in sustainability climate actions. 'The BT SI Awards play an even more important role in spotlighting the tireless efforts of individuals and enterprises leading the charge in sustainability,' she added. Dr Khor also hopes for the awards to 'serve as a beacon' to guide companies towards responsible growth, helping to reinforce Singapore's role in green finance and sustainable development alongside being an international financial and business hub. BT editor Chen Hui Fen said: 'It is a privilege to have Dr Khor on board as chief judge for the SI Awards. She brings with her a wealth of experience and will add depth to our discussions on how to shape the awards and recognise winners. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 12.30 PM ESG Insights An exclusive weekly report on the latest environmental, social and governance issues. Sign Up We have other newsletters you might enjoy. Take a look. 'We believe that companies that lead with purpose – mitigating climate risks, valuing people, and operating with integrity – are not just doing good, they're building the future. With Singapore affirming its commitment to the climate cause, and large non-listed companies having to make sustainability disclosures too in the coming years, we hope to promote those that are setting high standards and inspiring others to follow.'' UOB chief sustainability officer Eric Lim, in welcoming Dr Khor, said her deep expertise and strong commitment to advancing sustainable development will help elevate the impact of the awards and the recognition it brings to the winners. The SI Awards specifically looks out for positive and significant environmental and social impact from initiatives introduced by winners. There are three main categories: large enterprises, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and individuals. Under each category, contestants stand to win either of two awards. Individuals stand to win awards for either Impact Leader of the Year or Impact Leader Excellence. Enterprises – both large and small – are recognised as either Impact Enterprise of the Year or Impact Enterprise Excellence. Dr Khor, who announced her retirement from politics in April this year, is known for driving policies related to the circular economy, the Zero Waste Masterplan, single-use bag charge and hawker centres, among others. She led Singapore's Zero Waste Masterplan in 2019, which aimed to send one-third less waste to the Semakau Landfill, in a bid to help it last longer than the projected 2035. Dr Khor also spearheaded the push for diners at hawker centres, food courts and coffee shops to clear their own dirty trays and litter in 2021. Since 2020, she has also served as Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Transport, with a focus on improving the taxi and private-hire car industry. Her prior roles in the Singapore government include that of Senior Parliamentary Secretary and Senior Minister of State for the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources. She was also Senior Minister of State for Health from 2013 to 2020, and Senior Minister of State for Manpower from 2013 to 2015. Nominations for this year's award close on May 16. Those keen to participate can visit the awards website to submit their applications. Other members of this year's judging panel are: - Chen Huifen, BT editor; - Lawrence Loh, director of the Centre for Governance and Sustainability at NUS Business School; - Tan Swee Yiow, president of the Real Estate Developers' Association of Singapore; - Geoffrey Yeo, assistant managing director, capabilities, urban systems and solutions, at Enterprise Singapore; - Theresa Goh, managing founder of coaching services provider 360 Dynamics; - Eliza Tan, senior vice-president; head, initial public offerings admissions; head, sustainable development office, at Singapore Exchange Regulation.
