26th Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards - Ms Grace Fu

Good afternoon.

1.      It is my pleasure to join you today to celebrate the 26^th Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards (SEAA), and also to mark a major milestone — the 30^th anniversary of the Singapore Environment Council (SEC)

Looking Back at SEC’s Journey

2.      Over the past three decades, SEC has played a pivotal role in galvanising action across society. From launching the Singapore Green Labelling Scheme in the early 1990s, rallying the society to support the eco-certification of products and organisations, to fostering generations of environmentally conscious educators and students through its School Green Awards, SEC has remained a steadfast advocate and partner for environmental sustainability.

3.      In recent years, SEC’s relevance has grown. The organisation expanded its audit and training capabilities, deepened its industry partnerships, and helped Singaporeans become more informed green citizens. The expansion of its eco-certification schemes continues to set robust standards for green business practices in sectors from hospitality to manufacturing facilities.

4.      Let us also not forget, SEC’s Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards have been gathering exemplary role models from the business community and inspiring the society to continue their sustainability journey as we gather here today to celebrate these achievements together. Congratulations on three impactful decades, and we look forward to many more ahead.

Global and Local Context

5.      This year, as Singapore celebrates its 60^th birthday, we reflect not only on our own national transformation, but also on the global context. Around the world, momentum for climate action has been uneven.

6.      We have witnessed periods where major economies retreated. From the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris Agreement to the revisions of climate policies in my parts of the world. Rising geopolitical tensions, the imposition of tariffs, have cast uncertainty over international cooperation.

7.      Singapore, as a small island state is impacted by these developments. Our existence depends on global actions to combat climate change. We must, therefore, seek alternative pathways towards international collaboration on mitigation and adaptation.

8.      Allow me to highlight some examples:

• First, through the Coalition to Grow Carbon Markets, Singapore is working alongside the Governments of Kenya and UK to develop high-integrity carbon markets. This collaboration will unlock private sector finance at scale and accelerate decarbonisation across borders.

• Second, Singapore has strengthened its collaboration with UK through the Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership, or FAST-P, a Singapore-led blended finance initiative. As announced during the UK Foreign Secretary’s visit in July 2025, UK has pledged £70 million to FAST-P. This pledge will support low-carbon energy projects across the region, bolstering energy security and climate resilience.

• Third, civil society can also play an important role to build bridges across borders. I’m encouraged that SEC itself has advanced international partnerships. Its mutual recognition agreements, such as with counterparts in Korean and India, are paving the way for greater alignment in sustainability certifications, giving businesses greater confidence as they operate regionally and globally.

9.      These examples demonstrate that even amid global uncertainty, Singapore and our partners are choosing cooperation over fragmentation. Showing that by working together, we can turn climate ambition into tangible impact.

10.    I would like to paraphrase Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s recent National day rally speech. Amidst the very challenging geopolitical circumstances, Singapore is not a helpless bystander. We can play an active role in shaping the world that we want to see, so that we can benefit from a better world. And this is exactly what we're doing in all parts of Singapore, whether it's the government, political level, whether it is the businesses at the industry level, MAS, banks, financial sectors, are taking the lead. Or even organisations like the SEC, where we can cooperate on certification, where we can find interoperability, so that, it's easier for our businesses to expand beyond Singapore, into the region and to the world. This is how we can get momentum back on track, to a more sustainable, a more environmentally friendly business environment.  

Government and Industry Efforts at Home

11.    Our international collaborations are matched by our efforts at home. The government continues to invest in policies and programmes that support a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. Efforts that are strengthened by close partnership with our private sector.

• For businesses, the Energy Efficiency Grant has been expanded to support more sectors — from manufacturing and food services to construction and maritime. This allows companies, especially SMEs, to adopt energy-efficient equipment and reduce operational costs and carbon footprint.

• For households, we have enhanced the Climate Friendly Households Programme, encouraging eligible HDB and private households to adopt more energy and water efficient household products like refrigerators and shower fittings, making green choices both affordable and accessible.

• This year, together with the Singapore Green Building Council, we also launched the "Go25 National Movement", which encourages energy-saving behaviour in offices and commercial buildings by setting air-conditioners to 25°C or above. It is a simple act with real savings, and more importantly, it shifts workplace culture towards sustainability. For building owners and businesses, I encourage you to take the Go 25 pledge on the Singapore Green Building Council’s website and join us in setting the right temperature and adopting optimal cooling practices.

• Complementing these public initiatives, the Singapore Business Federation has established the Singapore Emission Factors Registry. For those that are not involved in reporting, this is a software, to help track the carbon footprint, especially for scope three reporting. Together with the Singapore Business Federation and some other leading companies in Singapore, they decided to sponsor this project of coming up with our own Emission Factors Registry, to make carbon reporting a lot less painful. This provides companies with reliable, internationally aligned data for carbon accounting, strengthening the credibility of corporate disclosures and enabling recognition across borders.

12.    These combined efforts reflect a shared determination to embed sustainability into the DNA of Singapore, across government, industry, and everyday life.

Celebrating Achievements

13.    Today, we gather to recognise and honour the organisations that are leaders in our sustainability movement. Your achievements reflect not only technical excellence and innovation, but also deep commitment, leadership, and perseverance.

14.    All of you here represent the best of what Singapore’s sustainability movement has to offer. We see a rich diversity of winners — different sectors, different sizes, and at different stages of your environmental journey. Together, you showed that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to sustainability. Whether in events management, education, or community engagement, each winner has shown that meaningful environmental impact can be achieved in any field.

A Collective Future

15.    As we reflect on Singapore’s 60-year sustainability journey, we express our gratitude to those who paved the way before us. What we enjoy today did not happen by chance, it was the result of long-term vision, bold decisions, and the collective determination to build a clean, green, and liveable home.

16.    Looking to the next 60 years, we envision a Singapore that is not only smart and sustainable, but also inclusive and resilient — where every decision considers its environmental impact, and where every organisation sees climate action not as a cost, but a contribution to long-term shared prosperity.

17.    Together, let us build a Singapore that thrives — not just for the next 60 years, but for generations to come.

18.    Thank you.