Balancing High Density & Liveability – A Sharing at the National University of Singapore’s Sustainable Futures Forum

The NUS Sustainable Futures Forum held on 6 May 2025, marked the launch of NUS Sustainable Futures (NUS SF), a university-wide initiative which brought together experts from the research ecosystem to advance interdisciplinary and cross-sector collaborations in addressing climate change challenges.

Under the theme "Accelerating science translation through Public-Private-People partnership", the forum, a partner event of Ecosperity Week 2025, featured four insightful panel discussions.

CLC’s Director for Research, Dr Limin Hee, participated in the panel discussion "Inclusive Cities for a Sustainable Future: Community, Health, and Social Capital". The panel, moderated by Associate Professor Yuan Chao, Co-Director of Integrative Urban Solutions under NUS SF, explored the complex relationships between social capital, microclimate, and health impacts in urban environments. With a particular focus on vulnerable urban communities, the discussion examined how cities can integrate climate adaptation strategies with social resilience to enhance urban well-being.

Dr Hee shared the panel with distinguished experts:

• Mr Chiu Wen Tung, Group Director (Research & Development) from the Urban Redevelopment Authority

• Professor Yu Qin from NUS's Department of Real Estate

• Adjunct Assistant Professor Amanda Zain, Deputy Director of the Centre of Sustainable Medicine at NUS

• Professor Emeritus Dr Schubert Renate from ETH Zurich's Department of Humanities, Social and Political Sciences

Key Insights from CLC’s presentation

Dr Hee shared insights on Singapore's distinctive urban development challenges, focusing on the delicate balance between high density and liveability within limited land constraints. She outlined Singapore's key challenges - ensuring resource security, accommodating an ageing population's needs, and creating additional living and working spaces despite land limitations.

Drawing from CLC’s Liveability Framework, she explained Singapore's approach through three core outcomes: High Quality of Life, Competitive Economy, and Sustainable Environment. She highlighted how trade-offs in achieving these outcomes are becoming increasingly complex, using the example of green infrastructure which, while enhancing social and recreational spaces, often competes with urban development needs.

To address these challenges, Dr Hee described Singapore's implementation of integrated solutions combining sustainability, climate adaptation, and social resilience. She highlighted the Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters (ABC Waters) Programme as a prime example of maximizing green and blue spaces, demonstrating how urban planning can simultaneously enhance water quality, create vibrant social spaces, strengthen climate resilience, and build community bonds.

The success of these integrated approaches depends heavily on robust supporting systems, particularly Integrated Master Planning and Development. She cited the Long Island project, initially proposed in the 1991 Concept Plan, as an example of long-term planning that addresses multiple objectives from coastal protection to recreational opportunities.

Dr Hee concluded by emphasising the crucial role of collaborative ecosystems in delivering integrated urban solutions. She explained how well-designed spaces can serve multiple purposes - from promoting wellness to supporting biodiversity and reducing urban heat – but was achievable only through effective stakeholder collaboration toward shared goals.

For more information on CLC’s refreshed Liveability Framework, please refer to ‘Building Liveable and Sustainable Cities: A Framework for the Future’ e-publication, here.

Contributed by: Geraldyne How, Senior Assistant Director, Research