10 - Working with People and the Community

Summary

Let us resolve today to do our part, no matter how modest our contribution may appear. Let us bear in mind that the quality of our living environment will depend not only on grand future decisions but on many modest decisions we take each day.

Minister for the Environment Mah Bow Tan, at the Closing Ceremony of the Clean and Green Week, 12 November 1994

While most people want a good and clean environment, many may not be sufficiently motivated to act in the interest of the public good to achieve such an outcome. Government intervention is, therefore, necessary to ensure that there is adequate provision of environmental goods and services, as well as to shape individual and organizational decisions to be in line with the desired environmental outcomes. In addition to government investment in environmental infrastructure and government provision of basic environmental services such as public cleansing, other levers which the government employs to ensure a quality environment are the enactment of legislation, coupled with effective enforcement, to make sure that minimum standards are complied with, and the provision of incentives to influence behaviour.

That said, government action alone is insufficient to deliver and sustain a high-quality environment. For instance, while the government can provide infrastructure such as recycling facilities or information on the water or energy efficiency of household appliances, these will come to nought if the public does not use the infrastructure or make informed decisions in support of the environment. Ultimately, the public has to appreciate the importance of the environment and play its part in contributing towards achieving a good environment. This requires not just awareness about environmental challenges, but a mindset and behavioural change towards shared ownership and responsibility.

The Ministry's approach towards working with people and the community is encapsulated in the phrase “3P Partnership”, where the 3Ps represent the Public, Private, and People sectors or the various stakeholders in the environment. The premise of 3P Partnership is that environmental sustainability can only be achieved through a multi-stakeholder approach. The desired outcome of 3P Partnership is to build a community that takes ownership of the environment and is willing to contribute to achieving a good environment. 3P Partnership comprises three key thrusts: (i) communicate, (ii) engage, and (iii) empower.