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SMEsPavingtheWayTowardsSingaporesNetZeroFutureBymostaccountsthestoryofSingaporehasbeenaremarkableoneFromhumblebeginningswithoutnaturalresourcesorindustrySingaporehastransformedintoaglobaleconomicpowerhousewithafirst-classeducationsystemthrivingindustriesinnovativeinfrastructureandoneofthehighesthomeownershipratesintheworldatabout89%ThisremarkablejourneyofgrowthandresiliencehasbeenunderpinnedbystrategicgovernanceanemphasisoninnovationandacommitmenttoimprovingthelivesofSingaporeansWiththatsaidlikemanyothernationsSingaporenowfacesanexistentialchallengeinaneramarkedbyclimatechangeandincreasinglysevereweathereventsAsalow-lyingisland-stateSingaporeisparticularlyvulnerabletothethreatofrisingsealevelsmakingclimateadaptationanurgentpriorityTheUNSustainableDevelopmentReport2024highlighted thisbyidentifyingkeyareas whereSingapore facessignificantchallengesinitsprogress towardsomeofthe17SustainableDevelopmentGoals(SDGs)particularlySDG12(ResponsibleConsumptionandProduction)andSDG13(ClimateAction)InresponsetothesechallengesSingaporehasimplementedtheSingaporeGreenPlan2030launchedinFebruary2021KnownsimplyastheGreenPlanthiscomprehensiveblueprintforsustainabledevelopmentrepresentsacoordinatedmulti-ministrypublicsectoreffortdriveninpartnershipwiththecommunityandprivatesector TheGreenPlanoutlinesclear targetsacross fivepillarsCityinNatureEnergyResetSustainableLivingGreenEconomyandResilientFutureThesepillarsreaffirmSingaporescommitmenttoachievingnet-zeroemissionsby2050inlinewiththeParisAgreementwhileenhancingfoodandwatersecuritybuildingclimateresilienceandgreeninginfrastructureandindustryTheRoleofSMEsinSingaporesNetZeroJourneyAchievingtheseambitiousgoalsrequiresparticipationacrossallsectorsbutthekeytonet-zerolargelyliesinthehandsofsmallandmedium-sizedenterprises(SMEs)Thisisbothamatterofscale–SMEsmakeup99%ofSingaporesenterprisesandemploy72%oftheworkforce–andamatterof6
