NTU

Nanyang Technological University SINGAPORE2

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE PROF BERTIL ANDERSSON PRESIDENT, NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITYOn behalf of the entire NTU community, I am very pleased and proud to recognise theachievements of NTU’s Sustainable Earth Peak as we come to the end of our five year initiative(2010-2015). The university’s commitment to world class sustainability research and teachingwill continue under the banner of a new strategic framework known as Sustainable Earth.Our future, however, has been solidly built upon the efforts of the past five years, and in themultitude of ways NTU came together as a community to support and advance our sharedsustainability mission.It is my hope and expectation that in the coming years we will extend these efforts further,expand our valuable Singaporean and international networks, forge ahead with our campusprograms by turning our working and living environments into models of sustainability,and encourage more people at NTU to play new and leading roles. NTU is a microcosm ofthe broader world, and there is still great untapped potential here for breakthroughs insustainability by encouraging more collaboration at all levels: between NTU and the outsideworld; among NTU’s various schools and disciplines; and between NTU’s faculty, staff, andstudents.I am particularly proud and excited by NTU’s leadership role in supporting sustainabilitysolutions for cities. It is by now a familiar statistic that half the world’s population lives incities, and that this percentage will increase to 70% by 2050. The direct implication fromthis is that developing smart and efficient solutions is crucial to provide for human needs inmetropolitan areas. We must learn how to do more with less, to efficiently manage energy andresources, to understand our planet as well as the impacts of climate change, and to makethe most of technology in order to build a future of human opportunity and potential. Inthis, I know Singapore and the whole world will continue to benefit from NTU’s focus on trulymulti-disciplinary sustainability solutions for cities that emphasises the connections betweentechnology, innovation, good governance, and strong economic opportunities. And we’reexcited about the new students we’re training at NTU to be the sustainability and governmentleaders of tomorrow.The challenges that lie ahead for NTU, Singapore, and the whole world are real. I am confident,however, that Singapore will be prepared to meet these challenges. And NTU will continue todo its part, as a global leader in training and educating future thought, business, and governmentleaders with all the necessary tools, knowledge, and desire to become sustainability pioneers.Our five years of effort during the Sustainable Earth Peak should be celebrated! And I addmy encouragement for all of us to keep pressing forward together into a better and moresustainable future. 3

INDEX CLICK THE BOXES BELOW TO GO DIRECTLY TO THE CHAPTERS1 THE 2 SUSTAINABLE PG. 7 EARTH PEAK3 UNDERSTANDING SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES PG. 21 DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABILITY EDUCATION ECO-SYSTEM PG. 614

4 CREATING SUSTAINABLE 5 CITIES & COMMUNITIES PG. 109 5 PURSUING APPLIED SOLUTIONS & COMMERCIALISATION PG. 137 6 EXPANDING PUBLIC AWARENESS & OUTREACH PG. 161

“NTU is today in a very good positionto contribute to the global quest for sustainability.” – Prof Bertil Andersson President, Nanyang Technological University PLAY VIDEO

1 7

THE CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABILITY The concept of sustainability is ultimately rooted in our wish to allow current and future generations of humans the opportunity to build lives of health and dignity. Sustainability is a global issue which requires specific regional and local solutions. The problems we face now are complex and serious, and we cannot address them in the same way we created them. But we can address them. And we are addressing them at NTU. This Sustainable Earth Peak enterprise is about pushing the frontiers of knowledge to support and build a prosperous and sustainable future for NTU, Singapore, and the world. Today, more than 50% of the world’s population is living in urban areas. Within 50 years, 70% or more of all people will live in large cities. Designing the metropolises of tomorrow will require new solutions and innovative thinking. We need to find smart and efficient ways to provide for more people by using fewer resources.8

“Business as usual is not viable, it’s not sustainable.” – Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Foreign Affairs S3 – 8 January 2014MEGA ISSUES OF SUSTAINABILITY Energy Supply and Management Sound Land Use and Its Management Personal and Social Security Basic Human NeedsWater + Food + Shelter + Health 9

“For a small country like Singapore whose only resource is its people, it is of paramount importance that our NGOs and our people are empowered and motivated to play their part for sustainable development in Singapore.” – Choi Shing Kwok, Permanent Secretary, MEWR S3 – 8 January 2014 PLAY VIDEO10

SUSTAINAPORE AND NTUSINGAPORE, LEADING THE WAY TO THE FUTURESingapore and NTU are in unique positions to becomeglobal leaders in addressing sustainability challengesand developing applied sustainability solutions. Tobegin with, the nation is committed to finding workablesustainability solutions, new technologies, managementsystems and governance structures. There is also a growing understanding in Singapore, across universities, and the private and government sectors, that there will be significant economic opportunities to be had through becoming a global sustainability leader. For example, Singapore offers strong opportunities for cutting-edge sustainability research and test-bedding technological and political sustainability solutions. At the same time, the island city-state is an early warning sensor for the world that is emerging. Many of the environmental impact challenges and constraints faced here will (sooner rather than later) be confronted elsewhere. NTU is very much part of the nation’s ongoing sustainability story. Here, and across Singapore, we are creating Sustainapore. 11

2030NATIONAL GOALS Singapore’s master planning applies RESOURCE USE AND EMISSIONS comprehensively to all aspects of sustainable development, including – Singapore intends to reduce its Emissions nation-wide campus operations and Intensity 36% by 2030 from 2005 levels, education. and stabilise emissions with the aim of peaking around 2030 – Singapore’s Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat. – To improve energy intensity by 35% in 2030 to 2005 levels. – To raise adoption of solar power in energy system-350 MWp by 2020. – Potential contribution of renewable electricity to 8% of peak electricity demand by 2030. – Long term water consumption target of 147 litres/day/capita in 2020 and 140 litres/day/ capita in 2030. – Commitment to become zero waste nation. – Target to have national waste recycling rate of 70% by 2030.12

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT– Come together for a greener Singapore- Community Development Council’s Green Plans, Education and awareness and green volunteerism.– Promote Corporate Social Responsibility- Sustainability Reporting. EDUCATION AND RESEARCH– Deepen understanding of the environment, develop capabilities and find new innovative solutions.– Distil, create and share knowledge on liveable and sustainable cities. CAMPUS OPERATIONS – 80% of all buildings to be Green Mark certified by 2030. – Increase public transport mode share from 64% in 2013 to 75% by 2030. – Promote pilot programmes for electric vehicle car sharing. 13

NTU, LEADING SUSTAINABILITY Young and research intensive, NTU is one NTU is tackling some of the world’s of the fastest-rising Asian universities key environmental and economic in global and Asian rankings. With the sustainability issues associated with largest university campus grounds in increasing urbanisation. The outcomes Singapore, it is home to more than of NTU’s efforts are pivotal and will help 33,000 undergraduate and postgraduate Singapore to set global sustainability students as well as thousands of academic standards for the future. faculty and university administrators. These efforts are linked to excellent Backed by a clear national framework economic opportunities and will contribute for Singapore’s sustainable development, towards making Singapore a leading NTU’s Sustainable Earth Peak of nation for providing sustainability-related Excellence is working closely with products, technologies, information, policy Singapore’s sustainability goals to help solutions and management structures. lead the way with new and innovative approaches and solutions that are increasingly needed in Southeast Asia and in the rest of the world.14

1No. PLAY VIDEOIn Asia For Research, 13th In GlobalCitation and Impact University Rankings (2nd In Asia) Source: QS WUR 2015 NTU is home to The World’s Fastest world-class research Rising Asian University and teaching centres College Of Science with colleges of Engineering, With Award-winningBusiness, Science, Humanities, Arts Faculty and World- class Laboratories and Social Sciences. World Leader The World’s In Research and Largest Applied Solutions Engineering For Sustainable Energy, Water, College Technology and Water ResourcesManagement, Electromobility and with 6 Schools Focused on Clean Technology Technology and Ranked No. 1 In The Innovation World For Industry Income and Innovation 15

THE SUSTAINABLE EARTH PEAK A 360º PROJECT Our sustainability efforts are motivated by the question of how a great university like NTU can address the grand global challenges of tomorrow while remaining academically excellent. This is the essence of NTU’s Sustainable Earth Peak: to focus and develop our collective abilities as a university, as researchers, and as educators; to support sustainable development; and to commit ourselves to tackling some of the world’s most pressing environmental impact challenges. This combination of thought leadership, research excellence, education, outreach efforts and applied solutions is making NTU a global leader in sustainability. S$1.5 BILLION IN DEDICATED SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH FUNDING16

SEED MONEY GRANTSThe Sustainable Earth Office administered seed money grantsand an annual call for proposals during the first four years ofthe Sustainable Earth Peak, to provide an opportunity to theNTU research community to develop unique collaborationsbetween different groups and disciplines for projects todevelop sustainability solutions for cities.S$ 1,723,519 We typically fund the initial discussion and development phase of projects with:In Funding In The Period 2012 – 2015For A Total Of 36 Projects 1. aspirations to explore new fields in sustainability by pulling together different disciplines; and/or 2. developing collaborations with a strong interdisciplinary sustainability focus. Teams were encouraged to actively pursue genuine new ideas, concepts, processes and/or creative ways of utilising existing knowledge and generating new knowledge to improve the sustainability of future cities.RESEARCH EDUCATION CITIES SOLUTIONS AWARENESS 17

CONTINUED EFFORTS IN SUSTAINABILITY “ With a strong network inside and outside of NTU, yes, we will be able to reach our goal and, one day, be the greenest campus in the world.” Prof Subodh Gautam Mhaisalkar, Executive Director, Energy Research Institute @ NTU and Technical Committee Member of EcoCampus Reduction In Waste Generation Intensity (Waste generated/capita) -14% -35% By 2020, We Are Working 2011 2014 2020 Towards A 100% Carbon- free Shuttle Vehicles and Campus Fleet We have Successfully By 2020, we hope to Implemented Mandatory increase the number Sustainability Course For of sustainability All Undergraduates related courses for undergraduate and graduate education18

By 2020, we plan for: We Have Deployed100% Buildings 5 MWp Solar PV at Campus buildingsGreen Mark Certified50% BuildingsGreen Mark Platinum RankingCurrently, we have 18 Green MarkCertified Buildings and 14 Platinum. Reduction In Water We Will Engage Consumption Intensity 10,000 Students in Sustainability (Water use/gross floor area) Awareness and Outreach Activities20112014 Per Year2020 -5% -35% Reduction In We will develop aEnergy Intensity sustainability policy document -7% -35% stating NTU’s vision, mission and goals towards sustainability by end of 20162011 2014 2020 19

“ We need to pay greater attention to working together, I repeat, together across our respective disciplines and countries. As the next big scientific breakthrough is almost certain to be found in the interstices between disciplines and cultures.” – Prof Bertil Andersson President, Nanyang Technological University PLAY VIDEO18

2 21

COMPLEX SUSTAINABILITY22

Under the five-year strategic blueprint (NTU 2015), NanyangTechnological University (NTU) has been developing FivePeaks of Excellence with Sustainable Earth identified as the“peak of peaks.” For five years, Sustainable Earth Peak (SEPeak) has supported and advanced sustainability researchand programming across the university’s many departmentsand disciplines. In this relatively short timeframe, NTU nowhas many thriving sustainability programmes, initiatives,and international platforms, and more than S$1.5 billion indedicated sustainability research funding. In fact, SE Peak now encompasses all of NTU’s disciplines (engineering, social sciences, business, healthcare, and the natural sciences), including two Research Centres of Excellence with the Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS) and Singapore Centre For Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), and two translational research institutes with the Energy Research Institute @ NTU (ERI@N) and the Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute (NEWRI). NTU embraces the philosophy that education and research are integrally related and mutually reinforcing. The SE Peak created numerous platforms, collaborations, and opportunities over its five years, to both demonstrate and develop NTU’s position in sustainability thought leadership. 23

THE RESEARCH ECO-SYSTEM OF NTU ERI@N Energy Research Institute @ NTU ERI@N was officially launched in June 2010, bringing together all energy related research activities within NTU. With more than 150 researchers from various backgrounds working in the areas of wind/marine renewables, batteries, fuel cells, green building technologies, solar calls and solar fuels, maritime clean energy, and electromobility, ERI@N is fostering a multidisciplinary environment for scientists, engineers and social scientists to interact and promote relevant energy solutions and policies for the future. NEWRI Nanyang Environment & Water Research Institute Launched in March 2008, NEWRI represents NTU’s efforts over the last two decades to be a committed and active participant in this vibrant and progressive Singapore’s Environmental and Water Technology (EWT) R&D landscape. Operating with 8 coordinated units NEWRI has developed to become a global research and technology partner providing coherent research activities for development of innovative environmental solutions. ICRM Institute of Catastrophe Risk Management Understanding, communicating and managing catastrophic risk requires comprehensive methodologies for risk quantification. ICRM will be the first multi- disciplinary risk management research institute of its kind in Asia and amongst a handful of such centres in the world. The Institute will focus on catastrophe triggered insurance/reinsurance risks, sovereign risk, societal risk and some non- traditional risks. It will play a lead role in NTU’s new wave of integrative research efforts and its strategic vision of Sustainable Earth. College of Engineering College of Science The S. Rajaratnam School Of (COE) (COS) International Studies (RSIS)24

CLICK ON THE ICONS TO LEARN MOREEOS Earth Observatory Of SingaporeEOS is NTU’s first Research Centre of Excellence for Earth sciences, focusingon tectonics, volcanology and climate change. It was launched in February 2009with S$150 million from the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Ministryof Education (MOE). EOS aims to establish “a sustainable man/nature paradigm”through an indepth exploration of Earth processes that manifest as naturalhazards, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, and climate change.SCELSE Singapore Centre For Environmental Life Sciences EngineeringEstablished in February 2010 as a Research Centre of Excellence by Singapore’sNational Research Foundation and the Ministry of Education, SCELSE’s goal is tobecome a world leader in the field of biofilm research. At SCELSE, researchersare working to deliver an advanced understanding and informed control ofcomplex microbial communities. The ultimate goal of the centre is to understandthe biology of microbial biofilms and to translate this knowledge into conceptsand solutions for a sustainable environment, so as to benefit human health andtechnical systems.COMPLEXITY INSTITUTEThe Complexity Institute at Nanyang Technological University came intoexistence in April 2014, with the goal of becoming a global centre for complexityresearch. It is a centre for transdisciplinary research and teaching on complexityand complex adaptive systems. It studies how interactions within a system and itsenvironment generate its dynamical patterns of behaviour.College of Humanities, Nanyang Business Lee Kong ChianArts, and Social sciences School School Of Medicine (NBS) (HASS) (LKCMedicine) 25

SCHOOL OF ADRIAN YEO WINSCIVILAND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING WATERMARK AWARD(CEE) NTU researcher Dr Adrian Yeo is one of the nine winners for the Watermark Award 2010 for his research in membrane technology. During the 2004 tsunami, Dr Yeo was studying for his PhD at NTU and invented a simple membrane filter. 175 sets of these filters were brought to Indonesia to produce safe drinking water for the victims. Over the last six years, he led students to visit rural areas of Indonesia, Cambodia and Myanmar. He requested that the students tap on local resources to modify the membrane filtration technology, or think of new ways to resolve the drinking water issues for the locals. In 2009, he set up MINT (Membrane Instruments and Technology) at NTU, and won the Don Quixote Fund. WEE KIM WEE SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION (WKWSCI) NTU IN DEVELOPING NATIONS26

Mr Christopher Ngoi, a first-year Bachelor NANYANGof Accountancy student at Nanyang BUSINESSBusiness School in 2011, was among the SCHOOLseven winners from around the worldwho embarked on the tour after clinching (NBS)the inaugural ToptoTop Global ClimateSolution Award. The award, which received GNBSLSOTUBDEANTLWCINSLINIAMUGAUTRAEL400 submissions, required students to SOLUTION AWARDsubmit an essay and poster on climate-change solutions. ToptoTop is a non-profit organisation led by explorer DarioSchwörer under the patronage of theUnited Nations Environment Programmeand the Swiss government. It was startedin 2002 with the goal of trekking to theseven peaks and sailing in the seven seaswithout the use of a motor. The ToptoTopglobal climate solution expeditions aimto inspire youth by sharing with theminnovative solutions for sustainability.Assoc Prof Arul Chib from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communicationand Information is recognised as one of the leading scientists in his fieldwith a specialisation in mobile phone healthcare. He travels extensivelyto developing countries, researching and developing solutions to deliverhealthcare and education needs, while teaching at NTU. In 2011, he wasawarded the prestigious ProSPER.Net-Scopus Young Scientist award inICT for his work on sustainable development. Part of the award took himto Germany for six months to work with the Ludwig Maximilian University. 27

WHAT IS THE IMPACT AND POTENTIAL OF ECONOMIC ACTORS AND HUMAN BEHAVIOUR ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY? Economic production and consumption choices, along with human behaviour (rational or otherwise), are primary contributors to environmental impact challenges and climate change. Therefore, an important area of research is the examination of human impacts on the environment in the context of psychological, cultural and operational factors to positively influence people, economic actors, and corporate leaders towards more sustainable behaviours.28

Slash and burn cultivation in Sumatra, causes a SUMATRAyearly environmental pollution that also affectsits neighbouring countries. But the supply anddemand of palm oil includes many stakeholdersinside and outside of Sumatra. 29

SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES (HSS) ENERGY CONSUMPTION, HUMAN CAPITAL AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN ASIA: THEORY AND EVIDENCE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Asst Prof Chang Youngho FUNDING Ministry of Environment Tier 1 Fund Project30

This project aims to construct a theoretical framework that takes intoconsideration the roles of human capital and energy consumption in theendogenous growth model. The plausible mechanisms through which humancapital affects energy consumption are: – R&D effect - human capital promotes the research and development of new energy-efficient technologies or helps a nation catch up with the existing advanced technologies. – Awareness effect - people’s awareness of the importance of energy saving strengthens with human capital increase. – Transition effect - human capital promotes economic transitions from less energy intensive to more energy intensive activities. – Crowding effect - human capital investment crowds out energy consumption used in the production.The predictions derived from the theoretical model are subsequently testedusing data from Singapore and the whole of Asia. Through this project, weaim to fill in the gap in the economic growth and energy consumption nexusliterature where the role of human capital is ignored, and provide new insightson energy and human development policies in the Asia region. 31

NANYANG SEED BUSINESS MONEY SCHOOL GRANT Asst Prof Judith Walls and PhD (NBS) student Eunice Ng from NBS, near a small Mongolian mine.THE ENVIRONMENTALGOVERNANCE AND IMPACTOF MINING COMPANIES INMONGOLIAPRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORDr. Judith WallsCOLLABORATORMs. Gana Wingard (Denver Zoological Society) MONGOLIA HOSTS THE LARGEST UNTAPPED COAL RESERVE IN THE WORLD.32

Mining is a big business in Mongolia, representing Some samples of purple and aqua coloured30% of the gross domestic product and 78% of fluorite that is mined in the Dornogobi region.foreign direct investment. The country hosts thelargest untapped coal reserve in the world, a majorsource of energy for China’s 150 cities of morethan 1 million inhabitants. Nevertheless, the needsof these metropolises have a major impact on thesustainability of the Mongolian hinterland. Thegoal of this research is to assess the environmentalgovernance and impact of mining on Mongolianlandscape and business.Mongolia faces unique challenges since half its Dr Judith Walls’ research pulls together expertspopulation is nomadic and thrives on the land. from business and conservation biology to studyHowever, the government has allocated roughly the impact of mining in Mongolia. On the business5,000 mining and exploration licences that cover front, we have retained an NBS PhD student and28% of Mongolia’s land area. Oversight over mining interviewed 15 mining managers, and collectedis scant, and the environmental impacts are already 51 surveys, to gain insight on their views ofbeing felt in the form of pollution, competition environmental management, obstacles they face,for ground water, and land encroachment. the pressures they experience from peers andMajor mining conglomerates apply reasonable stakeholders, and the environmental strategiesenvironmental mitigation and sustainability they pursue. Our results have been written up andtechniques, but the same cannot be said for small submitted to several top business conferences, andand medium-sized companies. As the world’s last were presented at a workshop for the Academyunfragmented expanse of wilderness, there was a of Management Journal held in Singapore. Onneed to understand how mining activity will impact the conservation biology front, we have hired twoMongolia’s natural environment. Mongolian MSc students who have collected the first three months of data on small mammal and fauna population densities, both on mining sites and control sites. More data will be collected in the coming year before this data is analysed. Ear-tagged jerboa after being measured and re-released into the wild. 33

NANYANG BUSINESS SCHOOL (NBS) THE VIEW FROM NTU PROFESSORS: THE BENEFITS OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Russell Arthur Smith, Former Vice & Interim Dean, Cornell-Nanyang Institute of Hospitality Management SOURCE The Business Times, 21 January 2014 Over the past decade, awareness and adoption of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Singapore and the region have been growing steadily. But there remains misunderstanding over what CSR entails and its intent, particularly among small and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs). Much potential remains for them to realise the reputational and performance benefits of imbuing CSR into their corporate DNA. Indeed, SMEs that embrace CSR branding and management strategies can expect to enjoy enhanced reputation and better performance that, in turn, attracts potential investors and employees. Employee morale will be raised, and this will positively affect productivity. The key to successful CSR involves having a strategic focus that is central to the organisation’s overall business strategy. This helps integrate CSR into daily operations. Setting long-term goals, defined targets and well-marked timelines for CSR projects will help keep CSR central to an organisation’s operations, especially in times of economic downturn or crisis.34

35

NANYANG BUSINESS SCHOOL (NBS) THE VIEW FROM NTU PROFESSORS: GREEN MARKETING FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Khoo Hong Meng, Senior Lecturer SOURCE The Business Times, 20 August 201336

Most of the population is aware of the significant changes taking place inour physical environment as climate change has brought about extremeand erratic weather patterns. As a consequence the idea that over-consumption is harming the Earth and humanity is gaining traction andmarketers’ response to anti-consumerism has been to add a “sustainability”dimension to their strategies: they are trumpeting energy-saving innovationsin home appliances and automobiles, environmentally friendly ingredientsin organic food, fair-trade purchases in fashion and foods, “waste-less”options in biodegradable and reduced packaging. So what has the reportcard been like so far?THE REALITY THE SYMBIOTIC RELATIONSHIPAccording to the 2009 Lifestyle of Health Marketers merely cater to market needs by creating a green-and Sustainability (LOHAS) study, only value proposition that appeals only to socio-ecologically15% of consumers adopt healthy and motivated consumers and then charging a premium. Mostsustainability-driven lifestyles while a Green consumers claim to be aware of green issues and are openBrands survey last year listed the top three to buying green products - except that they are unwillingreasons stopping the majority of consumers to accept trade-offs. Marketers and consumers co-existfrom going green: green products are too symbiotically: companies’ marketing mixes influence consumerexpensive, limited in range and are difficult purchase decisions and consumption outcomes, which in turnto find. affect companies’ marketing strategies.THE SHIFT TO MASS MARKETING THE CONSUMERS’ ROLEMarketers can play a key role in Consumers are the other factor in thecreating a better future. They can green marketing success equation.shape green consumption behaviour They should give green productsby shifting green marketing from a a chance before renouncing themniche strategy to a mass-marketing one. as a marketing ploy to encourageIt will require marketers to move away consumption.from defining value of consumptionfrom an economic perspective, rootedin the company’s interest, to one thatfocuses on the sustainable and long-term well-being of the environment.Consumers should not have to paymore for green product attributes;they should be pre-requisites in theproduct-development phase. 37

In 2004, the Indian Ocean THAILAND earthquake caused Phuket, a PHUKET popular tourist destination, to be hit by the resulting tsunami.38

HOW ARE EARTH SYSTEMS ANDCLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTING SUSTAINABILITY?“A deepening comprehension of our planet processes, resources and historyis needed to cope with the major challenges of a restless Earth: as long as wedo not fully understand how our dynamic planet works, we are susceptibleto disasters.Natural hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions and globalclimate change pose great threats to our rapidly expanding populations allover the world. The devastations of Acehnese and Thai coasts in 2004, ofKashmir and New Orleans in 2005, of southwest Java in 2006, of Sumatraagain in 2007, of Sichuan and Myanmar in 2008, of Haiti in 2010 and of Japanin 2011 are recent examples of our vulnerability and our exposure.”– Prof Kerry Sieh, Director, Earth Observatory of SingaporeAXA - Nanyang Chair in Natural HazardsNTU’s focus on regional and global natural disasters and risks is an integral partof the sustainability challenge. While considering issues like climate change(global warming, threats of sea-level rise, increasing or unpredictable weatherseverity, and ocean acidification) and the undermining of ecosystems key tohuman survival (forests, fisheries and biodiversity) through habitat destruction,eutrophication and chemical pollution, as well as many environmentalimpacts on human health, our study of sustainable development must includeconsiderations of ecological integrity and capacity. Steven Collins / Shutterstock.com 39

THE STUDY OF CHANGES ASIAN TO SEA LEVEL DURING THE SCHOOL OF THE PAST 8000 YEARS ENVIRONMENT PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (ASE) Asst Prof Adam Switzer EARTH OBSERVATORY COUNTRY OF SINGAPORE Indonesia (EOS) A team led by Asst Prof Adam Switzer samples corals in Belitung Island, Indonesia to study changes to sea level during the past 8000 years. The Asian School of the Environment (ASE) and the Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS) study aims to construct a precise sea level history and constrain the timing and nature of sea level fluctuations of the Sunda Shelf surrounding Singapore.40

Photo by Isaac KerlowTHE STUDY OF CHANGES TO Assoc Prof Nathalie Goodkin takes a coralTHE CURRENTS ENTERING THE core off the coast of Taiwan. Her group isSOUTH CHINA SEA BETWEEN studying changes to the currents enteringTAIWAN AND THE PHILIPPINES the South China Sea between Taiwan and the Philippines. The study aims toPRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR better understand how often warm waterAssoc Prof Nathalie Goodkin intrudes into the South China Sea from the Pacific and the intrusions connectionCOUNTRY to El Nino events.China EARTH ASIAN OBSERVATORY SCHOOL OF THE OF SINGAPORE ENVIRONMENT (EOS) (ASE) 41

SCHOOL CLIMATE CHANGE AND FOOD OF HUMANITIES SECURITY IN ASIA PACIFIC: RESPONSE AND RESILIENCE AND SOCIAL SCIENCES PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (HSS) Assoc Prof Md Saidul Islam FUNDING Tier 1 Grant from NTU, and is a “Sustainable Earth” project in NTU’s Five Peaks of Excellence THIS PROJECT HAS TWO INITIAL OBJECTIVES: 1. Assessing the regional initiatives on addressing climate change and food security issues. 2. Assessing current state of and future prospects for mitigations and resilience with regard to climate change and food security issues of the Asia Pacific region vis- a-vis other regions of the world. The project addresses and evaluates the complex relationship between food security and climate change and adopts an inter-disciplinary approach to evaluate the complex nexus between climate change and regional food security in the Asia Pacific. It involves a multi-site study to be conducted on Singapore, Australia, and Bangladesh, which will represent Southeast Asia, the Pacific Island Forum, and South Asia, respectively. This project is especially significant for the relevant regional policymakers, as the current regional cooperation initiatives insufficiently address the dual issues of food security and climate change.42

Dmitry Chulov / Shutterstock.com 43

44

EARTH OBSERVATORY OF SINGAPORE (EOS)THE APPLIED PROJECTSGROUP AND THE IPCC AR5MEKONG RIVER PROJECTThe Earth Observatory of Singapore (EOS) Applied Projects Group(APG) develops customised solutions in geo-risk mitigation forinternational organisations. The group offers consulting services tostakeholders in the public and the business sectors, it aims to linkpolicy and social sciences inquiry with its natural science research.The APG conducted the Mekong River Basin Initiative (MRBI) inresponse to the need for a peer-reviewed publication on climatechange in the Lower Mekong Basin by the Intergovernmental Panelon Climate Change (IPCC). The MRBI identified projects thatexemplify different aspects of adaptation to climate change in theLower Mekong Basin. It evaluated examples of good practices andits key insights and findings were published in a 2012 special issueof the Asian Journal of Environment and Disaster Management. 45

46

HOW TO APPROACHSUSTAINABLE SYSTEMS?“Undoubtedly the main challenges facing humankind includesecuring the availability of clean water and maintaining asustainable environment. Modern urban living has disruptedthe biological processes core to such systems to the levelthat the sustainability of a life-supporting environment is nowthreatened.”– Prof Staffan Kjelleberg, Centre Director and ResearchDirector Microbial Biofilms, Director of Singapore CentreFor Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE)The effects of the mega-issues, like water and food, energysupply, land use, health, and security, have their main impactsin cities and metropolitan areas. Within the framework of globalchange, these effects have been particularly acute in the worldcities, those ultra dynamic metropolises that function as globalleaders in a world increasingly dominated by city-states. 47

FOOD SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES Sustainable Aquaculture AND SOCIAL SCIENCES (HSS) TITLE Global Food Supply: Certify Sustainable Aquaculture? (2013), Science 341(9), pp.1067- 1068 (Bush, S., B. Belton, D.Hall, P.Vandergeest, F.Murray, S.Ponte, P.Oosterveer, M.S.Islam, A.P.J.Mol, M.Hatakana, F.Kruissen, T.T.ThuaHa, D.Little, R.Kusumawati) PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR Assoc Prof Md Saidul Islam co-authored this publication along with 12 other scholars ABSTRACT Aquaculture, the farming of aquatic organisms, provides close to 50% of the world’s supply of seafood, with a value of US$125 billion. It makes up 13% of the world’s animal- source protein (excluding eggs and dairy) and employs an estimated 24 million people. With capture (i.e., wild) fisheries production stagnating, aquaculture may help close the forecast global deficit in fish protein by 2020. This so-called “blue revolution” requires addressing a range of environmental and social problems, including water pollution, degradation of ecosystems, and violation of labour standards. One response to these problems has been the rise of sustainability certification. Reflecting on the launch of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) to oversee sustainability standards, the research argues that, although certification makes a contribution, it also has significant limits and should be considered one approach among many for steering aquaculture toward sustainable production.48

49

SINGAPORE CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL LIFE SCIENCES ENGINEERING (SCELSE) WATER Increasing The Efficiency Of Water Treatment SCELSE is a Centre of Excellence at NTU/ NUS with a dedicated research thrust in sustainable use of water as a limited resource. Through the study of microbial communities and their activities, the centre explores the biological transformation and removal of nutrients like phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) from the liquid waste stream and treatment of used water sludge in anaerobic digesters. We study the emergence of specific bacteria that specialize in nutrient and carbon transformations to devise innovative strategies that can make used water treatment more efficient.50