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Jun 28, 2021 We are glad to share that our Managing Director, Er Tan Seng Chuan, will be speaking at a webinar organised by NUS’s Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering on “Climate Change – An Opportunity for Engineer” on 9 July 2021, 3–4 pm. In the talk, Er Tan will share his perspective as an engineer in light of Singapore’s and global efforts to address the issue of climate change through transitioning to a low-carbon economy. The following is the abstract of the webinar: Over the years, Singapore has been demonstrating its commitment to support international climate action and low-carbon future. In its enhanced 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and Low-Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS), Singapore government outlines its ambition to facilitate a well-managed transition to a low-carbon economy, and subsequently contribute to a more sustainable future. Supporting initiatives such as the Singapore Green Plan 2030, Climate Impact X (CIX) and Emerging Stronger Taskforce have been launched to create a conducive environment for green growth. However, what will it take to make it happen? In this presentation, Er. Tan will discuss the trends in industry sectors that are shifting with the increasing prevalence of low-carbon initiatives. Global sustainability policy, drivers, and implication of rising climate initiatives across various area, including Energy, water, waste, environment, agriculture and Food, infrastructure, and Land Use. He will also discuss the challenges and opportunities for engineers as we transition to a low-carbon economy. You can register for the webinar here. See you at the Zoom webinar!

May 24, 2021 Many Singapore residents must be familiar with the practice of fangsheng on Vesak Day. Also known as jiwitte dana, it is a traditional Buddhist practice of mercy release of captive animals to receive good karma. Although fangsheng may seem like an act of compassion towards the animals, mercy release actually brings more harm than good to the animals. Jeopardizing lives of released animals Unlike their wild counterparts, animals bred in captivity are reliant on human care and lack the essential skills or natural instincts necessary for their survival. As a result, many animals struggle in unfamiliar environments and eventually perish soon after release. Even in the case of wild-caught non-native animals, they may be unsuited to our climate which decreases their survivability upon release. Furthermore, animals released into the wrong habitats (e.g. freshwater aquatic species released into the sea) may suffer painful deaths. A Lovebird on the loose in a neighbourhood (source: TAC staff’s photo) Endangering our local biodiversity Besides threatening the released animals themselves, the practice of mercy release opens a pathway for the introduction of invasive species into our local ecosystems. In cases where non-native animals do survive and thrive in the wild environment, they may compete with our native biodiversity for resources. The more aggressive species may eventually outcompete our native species. Moreover, released animals might carry harmful diseases or microbes that our native wildlife has not built an immune response to, thus further endangering our native biodiversity. Notable non-native species introduced into Singapore’s waterbodies include the Red-eared Slider, American Bullfrog, and Australian Red-claw Crayfish. A Red-eared Slider basking in the sun How, then, can we be compassionate to animals? There are plenty of alternative ways to carry out acts of kindness towards animals that will benefit them. Here are some of them: Donating Contributing to animal shelters and other animal welfare organisations through donations is a great way to aid shelters in providing the best care for animals in need. Volunteering If you are looking for more than simply donating to animal shelters, volunteering at the shelters allows you to provide care and love for the animals. Those who like to go for nature walks would enjoy volunteering for beach or forest clean-ups, which can help our native wildlife by keeping natural areas clean and litter-free. You can also aid in the restoration of habitats that support wild animals by participating in tree planting activities. Act Responsibly Finally, the easiest way to show kindness to animals this Vesak Day is to choose not to partake in mercy releases. Let us celebrate our traditions responsibly on Vesak Day! References Ahyong, S. T., & Yeo, D. C. (2007). Feral populations of the Australian Red-Claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus von Martens) in water supply catchments of Singapore. Biological Invasions, 9, 943-946. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-007-9094-0 Human Society International. (2019, April 2). Retrieved May 19, 2021, from Human Society International: https://www.hsi.org/news-media/mercy_release/ Magellan, K. (2021). Prayer animal release: An understudied pathway for introduction of invasive aquatic species. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management, 22(4), 452-461. Ng , T., & Yeo , D. C. (2012). Non-Indigenous Frogs in Singapore. NATURE IN SINGAPORE, 5, 95-102. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236278498_Non-indigenous_frogs_in_Singapore

Apr 29, 2021 Aside from natural riverbanks and beaches, Smooth-coated Otters can now be found in our urban waterways (source: TAC staff’s photo) From wild boars roaming our residential areas to otter families becoming synonymous with our city’s iconic locales, there have been increasing reports of wildlife sightings in urban areas. As boundaries between wildlife and humans seem to increasingly blur, urbanites in Singapore have been encountering more of our wild neighbours. Why are we interacting with more wildlife? Increasingly frequent interactions between wildlife and humans may be caused by several factors. One factor of recent relevance is the increasing number of people choosing to spend their time exploring natural spaces for recreation and to seek solace from the grind of daily urban life, especially in the light of the current COVID-19 situation. Secondly, Singapore’s recent efforts to conserve our native biodiversity, natural habitats, and improve connectivity between these natural areas have brought about ecological successes. This includes the resurgence of wildlife, such as the once locally extinct Oriental Pied Hornbills and the Critically Endangered Smooth-coated Otters. With their populations recovering on the mainland, coupled with their ability to adapt to living in urban landscapes, more wildlife can now be found in heartland neighbourhoods and even in the Central Business District. Oriental Pied Hornbill, once locally extinct, are now thriving on the mainland and can be spotted in our neighbourhoods (source: TAC staff’s photo) However, arguably the most critical factor for increased human-wildlife interactions is that as a result of Singapore’s development over the years, much of the natural habitats have been destroyed, fragmented, and disconnected. This indirectly causes wildlife to interact with humans as they pass through urban areas to reach other fragmented areas. As Singapore continues to expand its developments to meet her growing housing and economic needs, this phenomenon of human-wildlife interaction will only become more prevalent. Singapore’s limited land area means that humans and wildlife must coexist, especially within close proximity to the Nature Reserves, Nature Parks, and other forested areas. The damaging side of human-wildlife interactions Generally, encounters with wildlife end with a picture or two taken and a lasting memory of the fascinating encounter. However, such encounters may also take a turn towards the harmful side. People may behave inappropriately during such encounters, approaching or harassing the animal. Wild animals may then feel threatened and react defensively, especially those with young ones to protect. There have been reports of altercations in recent years, such as an incident in 2017 involving a family of otters with pups in the Gardens by the Bay. The otters were spotted in a pond and attracted the crowd’s attention. During the interaction, some onlookers reportedly gathered within touching distance of the otter family. As a result, a girl was bitten and sustained injuries to her foot. There have been several reports of incidents between humans and wild boars over the past few months (source: TAC’s camera trap photo) Incidents may also occur when wildlife is lured into residential neighbourhoods either intentionally through illegal feeding or unintentionally due to the presence of food waste. Feeding changes animals’ foraging behaviour, influencing them to leave their natural habitat and to lose caution of humans. Wild animals may also become dependent on external feeding, reducing important ecological services they provide while foraging in the wild, such as seed dispersal. Feeding wild animals also leads to an artificial boost of their population sizes beyond what a natural forest can sustain. These factors may lead to a vicious cycle of feeding and dependence, which occasionally results in conflict. Roadkill is another consequence of displacing wildlife from their natural habitat. Uncontrolled movement of displaced wildlife onto roads can put wild animals at the mercy of vehicular traffic. Large animals may also become road hazards that cause accidents, resulting in serious injuries and even fatalities to both humans and wildlife. For rare fauna species already threatened by other environmental issues, vehicular collision may be another threat that exacerbates their risk of extinction. In fact, a report in 2019 found that the main threat faced by the Critically Endangered Sunda Pangolin in Singapore is wildlife-vehicle collision on the road. Long-tailed Macaques waiting for food handouts from passer-by drivers risk injury and death (source: TAC staff’s photo) Ways to de-escalate human-wildlife conflict As human-wildlife conflict can lead to detrimental outcomes such as human injury, loss of biodiversity, and degraded ecological services that biodiversity provides, it is vital that efforts are taken to address this issue. With blurring spatial boundaries between humans and wildlife, it is necessary to ensure that we safeguard and appreciate our biodiversity responsibly. Increasing Public Awareness and Knowledge of Our Wildlife The role we play in avoiding conflict is essential. Education is key – with knowledge on how to behave appropriately around wildlife and a better understanding of their ecology, we can experience safe and peaceful interactions with our natural world. Training Developers and Construction Personnel When developments take place, there is a need to implement measures that reduce the risk of human-wildlife conflict. To minimise and avoid such conflict, developers should ensure that their construction personnel have sufficient knowledge on the wildlife they may encounter at work sites. This can be achieved through biodiversity awareness training programmes. They can also make preparations for wildlife encounters, such as developing response and rescue plans which lay out protocols, appropriate actions to take, and information on which wildlife management agencies and rescues to contact when needed. Safeguarding wildlife during development It is crucial to conduct baseline studies and impact assessments prior to construction. Such studies will help to determine wildlife presence in development sites, identify the species of conservation significance, and assess potential risks to the biodiversity. Wildlife management plans should be developed based on those findings and incorporated into the Environmental Management and Monitoring Plans (EMMP) to mitigate and minimise impacts. In light of risks from uncontrolled wildlife displacement, such as road hazards and roadkill, strategies to minimise these risks should be outlined in wildlife management plans and be implemented prior to and during construction. Such strategies include appropriate procedures and practices such as the erection of proper hoarding along the perimeter of construction sites to prevent wildlife from moving into nearby roads or urban area. Wildlife corridors can also be established to provide safe passages for animals and to act as connectors with designated forested areas outside of developmental boundaries. Another good practice is directional clearance of vegetation in phases, which encourages animals to move towards established wildlife corridors where they can eventually travel into nearby unaffected forests away from roads and urbanised areas. The way forward Human-wildlife conflict is a complex phenomenon with a multitude of contributing factors. As our interaction with wildlife becomes more frequent and evolves, our efforts must also increase to ensure peaceful interactions. Ultimately, to enjoy the fruits of our development and the ecological services which nature and biodiversity provide for us, we must learn to harmoniously co-exist with the animals and nature around us. Kindly submit any inquiries concerning wildlife management to enquiry@tembusuasia.com. References Beatley, T. (2020). The Bird-Friendly City: Creating Safe Urban Habitats. Washington, DC: Island Press. Dickman, A. (2010). Complexities of conflict: the importance of considering social factors for effectively resolving human-wildlife conflict. Animal Conservation, 13, 458-466. doi:10.1111/j.1469-1795.2010.00368.x Khoo, M., & Lee, B.-H. (2020). The urban Smooth‐coated otters Lutrogale perspicillata of Singapore: a review of the reasons for success. International Zoo Yearbook, 54, 60-71. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1111/izy.12262 Newsome , D., & Rodger, K. (2008 ). To feed or not to feed: a contentious issue in wildlife tourism. N.S.W: Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales. Yeo, J.-H., & Neo, H. (2010). Monkey business: Human-animal conflicts in urban Singapore. Social & Cultural Geography, 11(7), 681- 699. doi:10.1080/14649365.2010.508565 Yue, S., Bonebrake, T. C., & Gibson, L. (2019). Human-snake Conflict Patterns in a Dense Urban-Forest Mosaic Landscape. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 14(1), 143-154. Retrieved from http://www.herpconbio.org/Volume_14/Issue_1/Yue_etal_2019.pdf

Apr 5, 2021 TEMBUSU Asia and all event coordinators wish to thank all participants for joining us on our successful webinar on Road to Zero Waste: Boosting Circular Economy with Mandatory Waste Reporting last Thursday (1st April 2021)! Your valuable inputs, questions and comments have allowed us to grasp a better understanding of the common challenges and struggles that industry players face in the journey to waste reporting and circular economy. We hope that all participants have managed to learn more about the importance of circular economy, the business opportunities it presents, and the regulations surrounding mandatory waste reporting and extended producer responsibility in the region and around the world. For the benefit of those who did not manage to attend the webinar, we have uploaded the webinar recording on YouTube for your viewing. We have also consolidated all the speakers’ slides in PDF format for your perusal below: Er. Tan Seng Chuan: Introduction to Road to Zero Waste PPT Mr. Raphael Veit: EPR Policy as a Resource and Waste Management Tool in the Region PPT Mr. Eric Chng: Singapore’s Initiatives towards Resource Conservation and Resilience: “A Whole Nation Effort” Prof. Seeram Ramakrishna: Waste Reporting: Challenge from the Manufacturing Industry For more information on Extended Producer Responsibility for E-waste Management System and Mandatory Packaging Reporting under Singapore’s Resource Sustainability Act, you can refer to the relevant hyperlinks listed in this post.

Mar 13, 2021 TEMBUSU Asia Consulting presents to you the fourth entry of our webinar series: Road to Zero Waste: Boosting Circular Economy with Mandatory Waste Reporting! In this webinar, we have invited experts from institutions and sustainability champions from the region to provide unique perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of Waste Reporting. This webinar will cover topics such as the Extended Producer Responsibility, Singapore’s initiatives towards resource conservation and resilience, and the challenges of waste reporting. Some of our esteemed guest speakers include Professor Seeram Ramakrishna, who has had extensive experience in Circular Economy and Sustainable Manufacturing, as well as Mr. Raphael Veit who is a Senior E-waste & Packaging Consultant at SGS. You can access the full Waste Reporting Webinar Flyer for more details and register down below! REGISTER HERE See you there!

Mar 11, 2021 Last Thursday (4 March) celebrated World Engineering Day 2021, where tributes were paid to engineers all over the world for their contribution to the betterment of human lives and sustainable development. Being an engineer himself, TEMBUSU Asia Consulting’s Managing Director Er. Tan Seng Chuan shared his conviction of the increasing importance of the profession to achieve the targets set in Singapore Green Plan 2030. Read the full length of Er. Tan’s thoughts at https://www.todayonline.com/voices/why-singapore-needs-engineering-talents-more-ever.

Mar 11, 2021 Last Thursday (4 March) celebrated World Engineering Day 2021, where tributes were paid to engineers all over the world for their contribution to the betterment of human lives and sustainable development. Being an engineer himself, TEMBUSU Asia Consulting’s Managing Director Er. Tan Seng Chuan shared his conviction of the increasing importance of the profession to achieve the targets set in Singapore Green Plan 2030. Read the full length of Er. Tan’s thoughts at https://www.todayonline.com/voices/why-singapore-needs-engineering-talents-more-ever.

Feb 24, 2021 This month saw Singapore making decisive steps toward sustainable development. In addition to the recent motion calling for climate defence to be added as the seventh pillar of Singapore’s Total Defence, the Singapore Green Plan 2030 was launched on 10 February 2021, which was followed by the announcement of Budget 2021 six days later. These initiatives underline Singapore’s commitment to place climate emergency and sustainability at the forefront, having recognised them as perennial threats to its existence that will not slow down despite other present challenges (e.g. the COVID-19 pandemic testing the limits of Singapore’s public health and economic resilience). The Singapore Green Plan 2030 is part of Singapore’s efforts in strengthening its commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) and the Paris Agreement. The Plan positions Singapore to halve its 2030 peak greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 with the long-term aim of achieving net-zero emissions as soon as viable in the second half of the century. The 5 pillars of the Green Plan (i.e. City in Nature, Sustainable Living, Energy Reset, Green Economy, and Resilient Future) align closely with the work that TEMBUSU Asia Consulting (TAC) does in Singapore and the region, such as environmental studies, park development, circular economy, carbon measurement and verification, food security, and climate change mitigation. In light of this, the Singapore government has allocated funds in the Budget 2021 to enable initiatives under the Green Plan, including the incentivisation of early adoption of electric vehicles (EV) to reduce transport emissions. A S$60 million Agri-Food Cluster Transformation Fund has also been established to support technology adoption by the industry and to reach the 30% self-production target by 2030. Furthermore, Singapore will catalyse capital flows towards sustainable development within and beyond the city-state through green bonds issued for select public infrastructure projects. TEMBUSU Asia recognises and affirms the Singapore government’s endeavours in pushing for the adoption of more sustainable alternatives and solutions. With UN SDGs at the heart of TAC’s work, it is encouraging to see the government’s directions aligning with our business direction and focal areas. For one, TAC has placed a strong emphasis on building strong waste management and circular economy expertise to provide quality consultancy services to clients who wish to improve their waste management or conduct waste monitoring or reporting. Acute understanding of ecology is also an important focus area in TAC as specialized, niche knowledge on ecology and the environment is necessary for the continual development of a city thriving in nature. Lastly, TAC provides carbon services—such as carbon measurement and verification (M&V)—as well as climate mitigation and adaptation services to push for a greener economy and a more resilient future for Singapore. This bold and necessary focus on sustainability and the environment in Singapore spells a promising decade ahead. However, much can still be done in the journey for a greener and more sustainable future. Along with additional support and regulatory pushes from the government, businesses and individuals have to be enabled in their respective capacity to tackle climate challenges. This need can be addressed through increased guidance, education, assistance, and opportunities to facilitate more collaboration between the government and individuals and private sectors to catalyse more initiatives for sustainable development. Furthermore, while the Green Plan has set out significant targets to reduce carbon emissions, they need to be reviewed and revised periodically to ensure that Singapore is on track with the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global warming below 1.5°C. Nevertheless, TEMBUSU Asia is hopeful that the Green Plan 2030 would propel the nation to be more carbon-conscious, with the continuous monitoring of carbon emissions contributing to greater transparency and accountability from Singapore’s industries. TEMBUSU Asia is excited to be at the forefront of progress for the environment and sustainable development. While there are undoubtedly many challenges and obstacles ahead in this line of work, TAC is committed to promoting sustainable development and environmental protection for the region and the world. Infographic source: Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment of Singapore

Jan 26, 2021 Image Source: The Straits Times, © 2021 Singapore Press Holdings Ltd. Co. Our Managing Director Er. Tan Seng Chuan, who is also the chairman of Chartered Engineering Technologist and Technician Accreditation Board (CETTAB) of the Institution of Engineers, Singapore, opened the launch of the Chartered Engineering Technologist and Technician Certification Scheme last Friday, 22 January 2021. This scheme provides a skills-based route that allows technologists and technicians to gain greater recognition for their skills and experience for progression in their careers, regardless of their educational background. With the implementation of this new scheme, budding engineers can find more opportunities to build their career in the industry. Er. Tan commended this scheme for giving recognition to competent professionals in the industry, encouraging a culture of lifelong learning, and promoting skills-based career progression. He is hopeful that this certification scheme will help to increase recognition and career prospects of Singapore’s engineering community beyond its shores through the Mutual Recognition Agreement with other countries in the region. TEMBUSU Asia Consulting is delighted for the launch of this scheme, which aligns with the United Nations’ SDG #4 “Quality Education” that seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education as well as promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. Read more about the scheme and news of the launch at https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/parenting-education/new-skills-based-certification-scheme-to-help-budding-engineers-build.

Dec 2, 2020 bizSAFE is a 5-step programme governed by the Workplace Safety and Health Council (WSH Council) of Singapore tailored to assist companies to build up their workplace safety and health capabilities. With this, TEMBUSU Asia Consulting is proud that we have been recognized by the WSH Council for achieving the Level 3 certification of bizSAFE. The requirements of such certification include implementing the Risk Management (RM) Plan to address all the highlighted risks in the plan and having an external accredited WSH auditor to verify the RM Plan implementation. This certification is part of our commitment to provide a safe work environment for our employees so that they may formulate innovative sustainability solutions that meet our clients’ needs.

Nov 16, 2020 Recently, the National Parks Board launched guidelines for conducting Biodiversity Impact Assessments (BIAs) for development projects in Singapore. These provide guidance for industry professionals and developers in fulfilling the biodiversity component when conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). We at TEMBUSU Asia Consulting are encouraged by the news and believe that this is an important step for the continued conservation of biodiversity in Singapore. It is our commitment to working towards the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including the preservation of Life on Land and Life Below Water, key components of the SDGs that are sometimes overlooked in developments. You can read more about the Guideline in NParks‘ website. Image Source: NParks

Nov 11, 2020 TEMBUSU Asia is proud to be the co-founder of Asia Sustainability Forum (ASF) which will be held on 20 November 2020 from 3 to 5.30 pm (GMT+8). The forum will discuss how the forms of adaptation and mitigation currently employed by Asian countries affect the development of urban, institutional and community resilience to the consequences of climate change and social issues. Such measures are adopted as the Asian nations strive to strike a balance towards a fast yet sustainable economic development in light of climate change, natural resource scarcity, demographics, and social changes. Through this platform, the ASF hopes to gather market players, practitioners, and sustainability champions in the region to share their unique perspective and passion in the journey of sustainable development. Register for the event at https://www.asia-sustainability.org/rsvp.html.