Singapore has hired a Chief Sustainability Officer as it looks to find a way to reach Net Zero. The country has previously announced a goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, but getting there has proven to be easier said than done. Lim Tuang Liang was hired for the new role and fully understands the challenges that lie ahead.
“There are no pathways, but pathfinders, because the entire trajectory, all the way down to the solution level, is still unclear,” Lim told the Business Times. “We have a lot of challenges from technologies in terms of maturity, in terms of cost.”
Lim will oversee efforts to speed up Net Zero ambitions by coordinating strategies with public sector agencies and the government. He will also look to implement the Singapore Green Plan 2030 that is targeting increased solar energy deployment, a 30 percent reduction in waste sent to the landfill and several other goals.
Perhaps the biggest obstacle standing between Singapore and Net Zero is carbon capture, utilization and storage. According to the Chief Sustainability Officer, the country may have to work with regional partners to capture and sequester some of the carbon dioxide as it does not have facilities capable of handling this.
Prior to Singapore naming him its first Chief Sustainability Officer, Lim served as Chief Science and Technology Officer at the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.
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Interesting Analysis
Singapore hiring a Chief Sustainability Officer is further proof that Net Zero won’t be reached by simply setting targets and hoping stakeholders figure out how to reach them. There must be greater cooperation and coordination across the board with someone guiding this.
However, hiring someone to look after these efforts does not guarantee success. Lim has already admitted that the roadmap for Singapore to reach Net Zero does not exist yet, although parts are in place.
Questions remain as to what exactly can be done to make this goal a reality. However, Singapore has both the tools and mindset to make it happen. The key will be to find a sustainable approach that works for everyone involved.
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