PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

Sustainability has been the highlight issue in the building and construction industry, especially in recent years. Of which, environmental sustainability is of important concern due to the coupled effects of environmentally unsustainable practices in the industry and Singapore's land scarcity. As such, there is great urgency in improving environmental awareness and knowledge, and implementing more sustainable practices in the industry. This study focuses on Environment Impact Assessment in Singapore, in particular the aspect of public participation. Using the case study of Cross-Island Line (CRL), it aims to find out the current public participation situation in Singapore's EIA. Through survey and interviews conducted, the public knowledge, opinion and considerations, and willingness to participate in EIA will be investigated. It is observed that there is a low level of awareness of and willingness to participate in the CRL and its EIA. Also, while the public is generally pro-environment, they are less willing to sacrifice convenience for the environment. Further, the interviews with expert consultants provided some strategies to enhance public participation. These strategies include educating the public through engagements like environmental courses and guided talks. The idea of introducing guidelines and regulations was also proposed. However, as this study is limited to the CRL case study, more studies need to be conducted to gain more comprehensive insights into the public participation situation. Thereafter, practical studies could be carried out on the recommended strategies for further improvements to enhance public participation.