Essay About Singapore

Greenest City

Nowadays, most of people feel that the environment is becoming worse. But a country, which though small (in size and population) and hasn’t more nature resources has built their country like a garden. That is right it is Singapore, which is known as 'Garden city'. I have traveled to Singapore twice, and I wonder how this country built their city like a garden. By asking some local friends and searching information, I found the secret of the greenest city. Singapore succeeds in protecting their environment because the government and people cooperate together.

The people and the Singapore government know that their small country lacks nature resources and can't compete with other countries. Because of this reason, the Singapore people try to give an unpolluted and beautiful homeland to their offspring. Singapore did the first thing to promote the people's environmental awareness. For instance, all of the students in the Singapore have a class of environment. Singapore government wants their citizens to know how to protect environment from younger because a good habit is easy to build in the younger ages. On the other hand, you can easily find handbook with some tips on how to protect the environment in the community. Because of the awareness change, Singapore people know to pick up even a piece of paper in the road; the forest coverage rate is more than 30% and the green plant coverage rate more than 70%. This statistics is founded in the truth that Singapore is not only a country but also a city. Many foreigners to Singapore have the same first impression which they are visiting a beautiful garden. That Singapore got this honor because the Singaporeans awareness changed here.

When you lack something, you will appreciate it more. Despite lack of resources, this small country's people know how the resources are used as far as possible. The Singapore government signed the law about the national discharge standard of sewage, and they want to make sure that the sewage can't pollute sea. There is no fresh water in Singapore, so they collect the rain water and use it. The rain water used rate is 70%. The sorting dumpsters can see around neighborhoods, supermarkets, schools and companies. All the rubbishes were collected and sorted, because that rubbish will be used again. The percentage of rubbish being recycled has reached 40%. The people know that reducing the pollution and recycle rubbish are little things can be done for everyone every day.

Furthermore, the transportation is also affect people's life. Like the discharge standard of sewage, the vehicles are required to have lower emissions. The high emission cars aren’t allowed to use by law. The Singapore government discourages people using their private cars. Instead, the government spends a lot of money to develop public transit. People can easily take the subway or bus ever where. Because of government's subsidy, the fares are very cheap. At the same time, the government develops electric cars which use electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Because of the government's transportation policy, Singapore has solved the traffic jam problem, reduced the air pollution and also provides the convenient public traffic to people.

When I read the news about China or other developing countries’ pollution crisis, I always ask the question, “can people protect our environment while developing a good economy?” I believe that Singapore gives us a model to think about deteriorating environmental problems. I like Singapore, not only as beautiful country but also the people's awareness of protecting their homeland. People should leave a clean and unpolluted earth for our future generations.