Renovating could cut building emissions by nearly 70 per cent, but demolition and reconstruction remains the default pathway – and this is "misaligned with climate realities", according to research by Singapore University of Technology and Design.
High awareness among young Singaporeans fails to translate into everyday green behaviours, with cost a key barrier. The generation known for fuelling fast fashion is less likely than older groups to feel responsible for reducing environmental harm.
The government aims to make the island a regional hub for resource efficiency, in line with a 2050 roadmap for industrial transition as the sector grows faster than European peers.