Topic 2

Question 1

What is sustainable development?

Answer 1

-meets the needs of the present population by achieving high standards of living for all
-ensures the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
-United Nations Sustainable Development Goals were introduced to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which aims to achieve high standards of living n peace for current n future generations.

Question 2

How can urban neighbourhoods achieve economic sustainability?

Answer 2

-high enuf population density helps to support local businesses
-sufficient demand for goods & services
-bus interchange is located next to a train station, no need to build additional infrastructure to connect them, lowers cost of development.

Question 3

How can urban neighbourhoods achieve social sustainability

Answer 3

-sense of shared identity fostered by having shared community spaces to promote regular social interactions
-builds resilience & positive relationships between residents, reduces misunderstandings & conflicts
-the Residents’ Networks was set up to promote neighbourliness & community cohesiveness amongst residents.

Question 4

How can neighbourhoods be sustained environmentally?
(Ample protection for nature)

Answer 4

1. Ample protection for nature
   -provides adequate shelter n food for a wider variety of wildlife to thrive, maximises biodiversity in an urban neighbourhood
   -The existing 44 Nature Ways in SG connects areas of high biodiversity across SG.

Question 5

How can neighbourhoods be sustained environmentally?
(Having facilities that support waste minimisation n recycling)

Answer 5

2. Having facilities that support waste minimisation n recycling
   -waste recycling can be encouraged thru neighbourhood-scale recycling activities organised by the residents/town council
   -Town Council put up posters/banners to educate n encourage residents to recycle properly.

Question 6

How can neighbourhoods be sustained environmentally?
(Energy n water-efficient design approaches for buildings n landscapes)

Answer 6

3. Energy n water-efficient design approaches for buildings n landscapes
   -buildings n landscapes designed to be energy- n water-efficient to minimise the use of resources
   -water harvested from rain is used for block washing of void decks n corridors to reduce overall water consumption

Question 7

Why are urban neighbourhoods regarded as ecosystem?

Answer 7

-An ecosystem is a geographic area where living communities n non-living environments interacts with each other to form a bubble of life
-A man-made concrete canal in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park was transformed into a naturalised river allowing more organisms to thrive in this aquatic ecosystem.

Question 8

What are provisioning ecosystem services?

Answer 8

-refer to the tangible resources that ppl can get from ecosystems such as food, water, wood.
-provided by nature n can be obtained through means such as agriculture activities and fisheries.
-food is grown in urban community gardens focused on planting edibles on rooftops@Tampines’ HDB blocks.

Question 9

What are cultural ecosystem services?

Answer 9

-refer to intangible benefits ppl obtain from ecosystems, including aesthetic experiences, educational opportunities n recreational activities.
-improves ppl’s physical n mental health n foster social belonging n grp identity, strengthening their sense of place.
-The Bukit Timah Nature Reserve is a site for residents to engage in recreational activities such as hiking, as well as a space which provides educational opportunities, such as when Geog students engage in fieldwork.

Question 10

What are regulating ecosystem services?

Answer 10

-refer to the benefits obtained from the regulation of various ecosystem processes.
-regulating local climate:
Trees in Bishan-Ang Mo Kio can lower surface n air temp b y providing shade
-Regulating water flows:
The vegetation cover in B-AMKP can reduce surface runoff by retaining water in the soil(water flow regulation)
-regulating local air quality:
The trees n plants play an important role by removing pollutants from atmosphere

Question 11

What are supporting ecosystem services?

Answer 11

-refer to services that r necessary for functioning of soil formation, pollination n photosynthesis.
-In urban neighbourhoods, animals like wild bees play a significant role in crop pollination which is vital as it ensures that crops r able to reproduce to provide food for animals n humans.

Question 12

What are hazards?

Answer 12

-refers to a process, phenomenon, or human activity that may cause loss of life, other health impacts, property damage, as well as social n economic consequences
-classified as natural/man-made
- earthquakes, volcano eruptions, traffic hazards, high rise littering

Question 13

What are fire hazards n their impacts?

Answer 13

-occur in both residential n non-residential areas
-common causes: unattended cooking, faulty electrical appliances n wiring which can ignite nearby flammable materials, results in fire
-In 2021, a total of 358 fire cases due to unattended cooking reported in SG

Question 14

Health impacts on fire hazards

Answer 14

-ppl suffer from burn injuries if they r unable to evacuate in time n severe burn injuries may lead to disabilities/deaths
-a total of 3 fire fatalities n close to 200 fire injuries in SG in 2021

Question 15

Property damage(impacts in fire hazard)

Answer 15

-can destroy commercial/residential properties which leads to economic losses of as goods, furniture n important documents may be destroyed
-further costs may also be incurred after the fire is over as money is required to repair n rebuild the properties that were damaged in the fire.

Question 16

What are air pollution hazards?

Answer 16

-occurs due to presence of contaminant/pollutant substances in air that don’t disperse properly n hence interfere with human health, welfare/produce other harmful environmental effects
-industrial n motor emissions: increase in car ownership—increase in air pollution hazards—vehicles produce significant amounts of exhaust emissions such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide n other pollutants

Question 17

What are health impacts on air pollution?

Answer 17

-respiratory infections, heart diseases n lung cancer
-nitrogen dioxide is emitted in areas of of high vehicle traffic
-high levels of exposure to ND may lead to higher risks of asthma of children, cause lung function decline in older adults.

Question 18

What are traffic hazards?

Answer 18

-common causes: speeding, red-light running, drink-driving
-often caused by irresponsible motorists who put other road users n themselves in risk
-In 2021, a total of 969 speeding-related traffic accidents n 153 accidents caused by drink-driving

Question 19

Health impacts of traffic hazards

Answer 19

-ppl may suffer from serious injuries when involved in traffic accident—lead to disabilities/death
-In 2021, a total of 100 traffic accidents in SG results in fatalities, 8 by drink-driving
-elderly pedestrians n motorcyclists typically account for a high percentage of traffic accidents resulting in injuries/death

Question 20

What is environment stewardship?

Answer 20

-refers to actions taken by individuals/groups to protect, care for/responsibly use the environment to pursue environmental &/or social outcomes
-helps to build sustainable urban neighbourhoods by seeking to conserve natural resources, preserve the existing natural environment n repair the damages n reverse the negative impacts caused by humans to ensure its sustainability these r practised by individuals, organisations n/or gov

Question 21

Env stewardship achieved thru promoting volunteerism:

Answer 21

-among neighbourhood residents to share knowledge with others abt the importance of healthy ecosystems
-NParks promotes volunteerism in communities thru ground-led activities such as Friends of the Parks. Participants may gain greater community ownership n stewardship of parks in their neighbourhoods.

Question 22

Env stewardship achieved thru contribution of partnership of public n private sectors:

Answer 22

-diff stakeholders may hv diff perspectives, resources n expertise to enhance the environmental stewardship efforts, hence it’s crucial for them to come tgt to steward the env
-to ensure that recycling is optimised, public agencies like National Environment Agency should continue to engage residents on the importance of waste recycling as well as how n what they should recycle
-residents play a vital role in the proper recycling of their waste, public agencies enhance awareness n education, while private stakeholders provide recycling facilities. Thru this partnership, environmental stewardship efforts can be enhanced n sustained

Question 23

What is disaster risk?

Answer 23

-refer to the likelihood of damage to properties, injuries, n deaths from a disaster in a given period of time
-product of the interaction between 3 main factors:
~nature of hazard:characteristics of hazard
~vulnerability: conditions determined by physical, social, economic n environmental factors, which increase the susceptibility of ppl n their belongings to the impacts of hazards
~exposure: situation of ppl n their belongings located in hazard-prone areas
-to determine disaster risks, we cannot consider these factors in isolation. It’s the interaction of all factors that determines disaster risks

Question 24

What is disaster risk management?

Answer 24

-refers to plan n actions that r implemented to prevent new risks from happening, reduce existing risks n manage disaster risks
-strengthens community resilience
-aim to reduce:
~a neighbourhood’s exposure to hazards,
~the vulnerability of ppl n properties to hazards
~SG has a comprehensive disaster risk management plan.The main agency responding to disasters is the SCDF. Town Councils also have the responsibility to cooperate with other gov agencies in securing public safety n preventing disease/injury

Question 25

What is disaster risk management?

Answer 25

-strategies primarily focus on:
-improving residents’ emergency preparedness to respond to natural n technological hazards
-SCDF conducts a Community Emergency Preparedness Programme which focuses on key lifesaving skills n important emergency procedures
-implementation of monitoring n warning systems
-SCDF has a Public Warning System which is a network of sirens placed at strategic points thruout the city. It warns the public of imminent threats that may endanger lives n property such as natural n man-made disasters

Question 26

What is community resilience?

Answer 26

-refers to the ability of a community to resist, adapt to n recover from impacts of disasters in a timely n efficient manner
-can be developed by:
-strengthening relationships among residents n raising their awareness of potential hazards
-developing residents’ ability to organise themselves n equip themselves with resources to resist, adapt n recover from a disaster

Question 27

Strengthening of relationships among residents n raising their awareness of potential hazards
(What is community resilience)

Answer 27

-Disaster risk management plans in neighbourhoods may only be effective n sustainable if there is widespread support n long-term participation from them
-they r encouraged to get to know their neighbours so that they can depend on one another during an emergency
-The People’s Association organises a wide range of community activities(Chingay!)aimed at fostering positive relationships amongst residents living in the neighbourhood
-it’s important to note that neighbour relations r highly diverse, varying from 1 grp to another n may also occasionally be problematic

Question 28

Developing residents’ ability to organise themselves n equip themselves with resources to resist, adapt n recover from a disaster
(What is community resilience)

Answer 28

-they can be involved in an inclusive planning process that involves community leaders, civil society organisations n the gov
-when they actively participate in projects to minimise potential hazards in the neighbourhood, they can better understand the risks n adaptation options to communicate to the planners n gov
-the total defence framework is an all-round response to threats n challenges involving everyone in SG. It emphasises that everyone has a part to play, individually n collectively, to build a strong, secure n cohesive nation.