Empowering Government Officers for Climate Action: Insights from the Sustainability 101 Course for Policy Officers

 

From 15-18 July 2024, the NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions (CNCS) organised a 4-day “Sustainability 101 Course for Policy Officers” at the NUS University Town. This  was the sixth iteration of the course, which has trained 189 government officers so far. The 38 attendees, which was the largest cohort to date, comprised government officers from 16 ministries and agencies, and 35 different departments.

Participants in the Sustainability 101 course in July 2024 comprised 38 government officers from 16 ministries and agencies, and 35 different departments.
Participants in the Sustainability 101 course in July 2024 comprised 38 government officers from 16 ministries and agencies, and 35 different departments.

This executive education program, specifically curated for government officers, is a product of an MOU between the NUS-CNCS and the National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS) from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The programme aims to provide attendees with a comprehensive overview of key concepts in climate science, environmental policy, technological solutions, and financing mechanisms for the green transition so that they can understand how the climate change and sustainability agendas interplay with economic and social considerations in shaping Singapore’s climate policies.

“We are committed to delivering this Sustainability 101 course for government officers to solidify our dedication to cultivating a green talent pipeline for our evolving green economy. We hope this partnership with NCCS will help in fostering collaborations and advancing sustainability agenda across the public service.”

Professor Koh Lian Pin

Director, NUS Centre for Nature-based Climate Solutions

Associate Vice President and Chief Sustainability Scientist, NUS

The MOU signing ceremony between Professor Koh Lian Pin, Director of NUS-CNCS (left) and Ms. Gayle Goh, Director (Planning), NCCS (right). The event was witnessed by Professor Susanna Leong, Vice Provost of Master’s Programmes & Lifelong Education, NUS.
The MOU signing ceremony between Professor Koh Lian Pin, Director of NUS-CNCS (left) and Ms. Gayle Goh, Director (Planning), NCCS (right). The event was witnessed by Professor Susanna Leong, Vice Provost of Master’s Programmes & Lifelong Education, NUS.

The programme saw a strong suite of 18 speakers from the government, academia, civil society and industry, with representatives from the regulatory, corporate sustainability disclosures, and carbon market sectors. Over four days, the participants actively asked questions about the intricacies of existing climate and sustainability policies and whether they are sufficient to meet Singapore’s climate targets. Participants shared that it was eye-opening to learn about the broader context underlying their sustainability-related work and how different agencies and stakeholders have been working together to address climate change.

“This course brought us out of our individual silos to understand the topic of sustainability from a more comprehensive and in-depth perspective, covering modules ranging from financial instruments in the carbon market and nature-based solutions, to civil activism and sustainability reporting methodologies. I have not only gained rich insights into the complexities and challenges across subject matters under the sustainability umbrella but have also identified practical concepts and knowledge applicable to my work. The speakers were well-curated to ensure that we could hear from a diversity of experts from various fields, and the dialogue components allowed participants to exchange views in a safe space. The materials and programme were well-organised, and the course facilitators, who are practitioners themselves, were always well-equipped to address our questions and on hand to ensure the attendees were taken good care of. Regardless of your role in the public service, I highly recommend this course as it will contribute towards your efforts in the ecosystem to shape a more sustainable future for citizens.”

Humphrey Sew, Director (Media Relations & Digital Comms),

Strategic Comms & Outreach Group, Urban Redevelopment Authority

Ms. Melissa Low, Research Fellow from NUS-CNCS, delivered an in-depth lecture on the Paris Agreement and Singapore’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
Ms. Melissa Low, Research Fellow from NUS-CNCS, delivered an in-depth lecture on the Paris Agreement and Singapore’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).

The course included an experiential learning exercise in which participants worked in groups on a case study project over four days to evaluate the effectiveness and trade-offs of certain elements of Singapore’s climate policies and develop a targeted communications plan tailored to stakeholders of the group’s choosing.

A team of participants presented a case study on the engagement strategy for the upcoming COP 29 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
A team of participants presented a case study on the engagement strategy for the upcoming COP 29 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

To offset the carbon emissions associated with running this course, the course organizers purchased carbon credit certificates from a BeZero A-rated nature-based carbon project from Indonesia, retiring 1 tonne of carbon emissions for each participant.

For government officers keen to gain expertise in sustainability, two more runs of this course will take place this year, on 7 - 10 October and 25 - 28 November 2024. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the Continuing Education and Training team: CNCS.CET@nus.edu.sg.