IMPACT OF SUSTAINABLE CITIES ON QUALITY OF LIFE

Abstract

This study investigates the impact of sustainable cities on the quality of life of its residents. It illustrates the outcome when a city positions itself away from being a purely pollutive, economic centre of production into one which embraces the main concepts of sustainable development as stated in the Bruntland report. This study first measures the quality of life of Singaporeans using the domain approach where 11 aspects of life are selected and used for measurement. It then rates how respondents feel their quality of life might be affected should there be an income drop. This is because the pursuit of achieving more environmentally friendly outcomes leads to a direct cut in greenhouse emissions and a reduction in economic output. Subsequently, it identifies how the government can aid the population with various measures that the respondents have voted for in order to better their quality of life from a social and environmental perspective. The survey results from 130 respondents show that generally Singaporeans are satisfied with the various aspects of life. Family life and public safety in particular had the highest mean scores of 4.10 and 4.02 respectively out of a score of 5. The results also illustrate that family life, social life and wealth are the 3 most important aspects that will be adversely affected should there be a fall in income for the respondents. It also identifies the goods that respondents will forgo should there be a drop in income. Their responses were mainly focused on leisure/entertainment and sports/recreation goods that will be the first to be given up with a resultant fall in income. These results are significant because they provide policy makers with a platform to identify which areas Singaporeans need assistance should incomes be affected. The results also allow policy makers to understand what type of public goods are demanded and highly valued amongst the population so that more provision of these types of goods can enhance the quality of life of Singaporeans. Improving these social and environmental needs of the population, in essence, is also achieving the transition towards a sustainable city.