NTU, four other organisations win EuroCham S’pore awards for sustainable efforts
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DHL Express Singapore managing director Christopher Ong and NTU senior vice-president (administration) Tan Aik Na at the EuroCham Sustainability Awards.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
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SINGAPORE – Eco-friendly efforts by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) to render its buildings zero-energy have earned the college a major environmental award.
The university now has eight zero-energy buildings, with its latest one emitting about 2,500 fewer tonnes of carbon dioxide a year than a normal building. That’s the equivalent of more than 7,000 round-trip flights between Singapore and Hong Kong.
It will also have installed a further 13,000 solar panels
These sustainable investments paid off when NTU was one of five organisations out of 35 nominated to win awards from the European Chamber of Commerce, Singapore (EuroCham Singapore) on Thursday.
The Swedish Chamber of Commerce also honoured, winning the inaugural Green Initiative of the Year award.
This was the fourth year of the EuroCham Sustainability Awards, which recognises companies of both Singaporean and European origins work in environmental, social and governance (ESG) communication, investments, sustainable business innovation, social sustainability and sustainable transportation and logistics.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat told the event where? that Singapore and European businesses can seize new growth opportunities while contributing to both regions’ sustainability goals.
He highlighted three key areas where the private sectors from both territories can help to catalyse decarbonisation.
copy wasnt clear, was he talking about what sing firms can do or both?
One is in carbon markets, where Singapore can be established as a vibrant carbon services and trading hub.
“We welcome companies across the carbon market value chain to set up in Singapore, and use Singapore as a base to expand into the region which has huge potential for mitigation activities particularly in nature-based solutions,” Mr Heng said.
There are already more than 100 companies that use Singapore as a regional gateway to provide carbon services in Asia.
The private sector can also help to provide low carbon solutions, he added, noting: “We are investing in low-carbon technologies such as low-carbon hydrogen and carbon capture, utilisation and storage, which can enable our transition to a net-zero future.”
Green and transition finance is also where Singapore can play an important role as an international financial centre.
“We are keen to work with European partners in developing sustainability-related capabilities in Singapore and growing the range of sustainable finance solutions to serve clients in Asia,” DPM Heng added.
“As a regional business hub, Singapore can be a base for European businesses to connect with partners across South-east Asia and the larger Asia-Pacific region.
“We can also serve as a living laboratory for innovative European businesses to test-bed novel solutions that can be scaled up regionally for wider impact.”
DPM Heng Swee Keat said Singapore and European businesses can seize new growth opportunities while contributing to both regions’ sustainability goals.
ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE
Mr Jens Rubbert, EuroCham Singapore president and judge of the awards this year, commended the quality of applications and said: “There is a good diversification of entries from European businesses and some strong contenders from Singaporean companies.”
DHL Express Singapore won the award for sustainable transportation and logistics. It has electricified about 30 per cent of its daily routes by the end of last year, and will continue to expand its electric vehicle fleet.
It also partnered local parcel locker network Pick Network to consolidate parcels at a single service point, reducing the vehicles’ time on the road.
DHL Express Singapore managing director Christopher Ong said that while challenges such as the lack of suitable electric vehicles to buy and the costs of going green remain, the firm is still pushing for sustainability.
“Transportation is an energy-intensive activity with a large carbon footprint. As such, we are committed to greening our operations,” he said.
Besides the award presentations, EuroCham Singapore also signed an agreement with World Wide Fund For Nature Singapore to deepen collaboration in sustainability, conservation efforts and sustainable finance initiatives.
This partnership also covers advocating for topics such as biodiversity, green finance, renewable energy and circular economy.
The event was attended by European Union Ambassador to Singapore Iwona Piorko, 10 ambassadors and six high-level representatives from various European embassies in Singapore.
