With the intensifying effects of global climate change, transitioning to a net-zero world may be a daunting but a necessary mission that requires collective and concerted efforts from individuals and organisations around the world. This is affirmed by the leaders at the last G-20 Summit held in 2022, highlighting the importance of accelerating net-zero ambitions, with climate change being the longer-term threat to food and energy security, and scaling up sustainable financing.

The Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) is also paying heed to the Singapore Green Plan 2030, a nation-wide movement to advance the national agenda on sustainable development. The plan has set the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 by reducing waste and carbon emissions. The plan involves all sectors of society including infrastructural development, research and innovation and training programmes. It is designed to strengthen Singapore’s economic climate and resource resilience, improve the living environment of Singaporeans and create new business and job opportunities.

IES therefore decides to set “Transitioning to a Net-Zero World” as the theme for this year’s Charles Rudd Distinguished Public Lectures.

We are honoured to have Mr Desmond Lee, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration as the Guest-of-Honour and Mr Lim Tuang Liang, Government Chief Sustainability Officer, delivering the keynote address at the CRDPL 2023. At the event, there will also be two panel discussions which will inspire engineers, businesses, students and the public to develop a greater understanding of this transition. We aim to create deeper conversations that lead to wiser decision-making for a more sustainable future for Singapore.

The Charles Rudd Distinguished Public Lectures is a key activity under the IES Green Plan 2030 which was launched on 17 Jan 2023, as an engineering-centric action plan to support the Singapore Green Plan 2030.

This Public Lecture is a series of activities organised by IES to commemorate the World Engineering Day (WED) for Sustainable Development 2023. WED is an official day proclaimed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to occur every 4th of March to celebrate engineering and the contributions of the world’s engineers for a better, sustainable world. IES also organised the inaugural IES Green Festival 2023 at the Science Centre Singapore on 4 March 2023 in conjunction with the WED celebration.

Join us at the lectures, to gain valuable expert insights into the challenges and opportunities accompanying Singapore’s net-zero journey and to make better decisions to contribute to a better future.

Dalson Chung
President
The Institution of Engineers, Singapore