In yet another example of a list where Singapore takes first place, the Lion City has earned the top spot once more—taking the title of most sustainable Asian city. Around the globe, Singapore take’s the fourth spot.
Singapore’s top sustainability ranking in Asia is according to a study conducted by Design & Consultancy firm Arcadis. Among the top 20 in the list, only two other cities in Asia included are Hong Kong and Seoul, which are in 9th and 13th place respectively. Most of the cities that took top spots on the list are located in Europe.
Cities were given marks according to three sub-indices, People, Planet and Profit. In terms of Profit, Singapore had the highest global score due to high levels of economic output, a result of its Smart Nation vision. According to Arcadis, the nation’s core enabler is connectivity, in terms of internet speed, broadband, or mobile.
“With the right digital infrastructure in place, Singapore is well-positioned to embrace digital transformation and the rise of the digital economy.”
Furthermore, top marks in the Profit sub-index are also due to an attractive financial environment for investors as well as the high employment rate.
On the downside, cities like Singapore and Hong Kong, because of land scarcity, have the problem of affordable housing. But the report stated that the government of Singapore has begun to look for solutions through implementing cooling measures, thus giving rise to the expectation that housing will become more affordable.
As for the Planet sub-index, Singapore came in next to Seoul, in second place among cities in Asia. The Lion City spearheads efforts in terms of urban cycling and electric vehicle incentives, as well as has air that’s cleaner and access to clean water. Many other cities in Asia received marks in the lower quartile for this sub-index.
Singapore Country Head for Arcadis, Tim Risbridger, says, “The government’s effort in tackling environmental challenges are proving effective, improving Singapore’s water quality, air quality and, essentially, livability.”