Singapore names country’s first chief sustainability officer

Singapore has established the position of government chief sustainability officer (GCSO) within the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) to drive the Singapore Government’s sustainability efforts. Lim Tuang Liang has been appointed as Singapore’s first chief sustainability officer. Lim will relinquish his current position as MSE’s chief science and technology officer (CSTO) when his replacement is appointed.

The Singapore Green Plan 2030 is a whole-of-nation movement to advance Singapore’s national agenda on sustainable development. It charts ambitious and concrete targets over the next 10 years, strengthening Singapore’s commitments under the United Nations’ (UN) 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Paris Agreement and helping it achieve its net-zero emissions targets. 

Under the Green Plan, the public sector will strive to attain ambitious sustainability targets in carbon abatement and resource efficiency. This is being driven under the GreenGov.SG initiative. The government will also partner with the private sector and community groups to catalyse ground-up initiatives to promote sustainability.

Lim will oversee the ministry’s Public Sector Sustainability Office (PSSO) and Sustainability Partnerships Office (SPO) to work with public sector agencies to develop and coordinate strategies for GreenGov.SG, as well as spearhead the government’s partnership stakeholders, including businesses, civil society partners and individuals. Lim will be concurrently appointed as deputy secretary (Special Duties), MSE.