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Known for its gorgeous airport, hot weather, shopping malls, modern architecture, and street food, it’s no surprise that Singapore is one of the most popular travel destinations in the Asian continent. However, while travelling is harmful to the environment, it is impossible to stop travelling completely, since the positives of vacationing (mental health benefits, physical benefits, cultural experiences, family bonding) can not be denied. Instead, there are many ways to reduce one’s carbon footprint when exploring new destinations.

As an extremely modern city, some of Singapore’s environmental issues are industrial pollution, lack of freshwater resources, and waste disposal problems. Despite this, Singapore is a rather environmentally friendly country, with its carbon emissions ranked 126th highest out of 142 countries as a result of its many recent sustainability pledges and plans. For example, 95% of Singapore’s electricity is generated by natural gas, the much cleaner and environmentally friendlier fossil fuel as opposed to the previously used fuel oil and the island has also started controlling and monitoring the number of vehicles that are produced each year. Singapore has also started integrating sustainability into its tourism, the city has pledged that its hotels will all begin tracking their carbon emissions by 2023 and reduce them to net zero by 2050, and achieve international recognition for sustainable hotel stock for at least 60% of their hotels by 2025. The country also has tourist attractions including those centred around conservation. Mandai Reserves allows people to sponsor a tree and receive a special plaque with their name on it, you can also volunteer with planting trees, and sponsor artworks which will be placed in locations to create social spaces for conversations about the importance of wildlife and conservation.

There is also a variety of mundane things one can do in Singapore to reduce their carbon footprint. The Island is infamous for its convenient and extensive bus and MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) systems, taking one of their public transportation services instead of a taxi or a rental car can help reduce one’s impact on the climate. You can also reuse hotel towels and shampoo so they do not need to be replaced every day. Singapore is also home to thousands of creatures, no matter how friendly they seem, take care to not feed them for the sake of their ecosystem and their own well-being. Many websites also provide a travel carbon footprint calculator, which may educate people on the impact of their travels. Researching how to travel sustainably in certain areas one is specifically travelling to is also a great way to be environmentally conscious.

Works Cited
Hays, Jeffrey. “ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN SINGAPORE: GLOBAL WARMING, SUMATRAN FIRES. RECYCLING AND THE ILLEGAL ANIMAL TRADE | Facts and Details.”, https://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Singapore/sub5_7a/entry-3795.html.
Isham, Kathryn. “Importance of Taking a Vacation.”, June 15, 2021, https://www.allinahealth.org/healthysetgo/thrive/importance-of-taking-a-vacation.
“National Circumstances.”, https://www.nccs.gov.sg/singapores-climate-action/overview/national-circumstances.
“Singapore Airport.”, https://pixabay.com/photos/jewel-singapore-airport-changi-5213953/.
Singapore Hotel Sustainability Roadmap.
“Singapore Skyline.”, https://pixabay.com/photos/singapore-singapore-river-skyline-430643/.
“Singapore—our City in Nature.”, https://www.visitsingapore.com/travel-guide-tips/about-singapore/city-in-nature/.
“Singapore’s Emissions Profile.”, https://www.nccs.gov.sg/singapores-climate-action/singapore-emissions-profile/.
“Sustainable Tourism in Singapore.”, https://www.monsterdaytours.com/post/sustainable-tourism-in-singapore.

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