Green Pulse Issue 6

Johor Bahru’s Futuristic Forest City

Forest City is Southeast Asia’s largest sustainable mixed-use development with 1,370 hectares of building area. Materialized by renown Chinese developer, Country Garden Holdings, Forest City is marries the concept of smart city and sustainability through multi-layered three-dimensional city planning. Every development in this city will be covered with lush vertical greenery and dense foliage. Forest City is set to be a role model with its futuristic green design and smart technologies; offering a perfect mix of luxury tranquillity, urban vitality and sustainability.

Some of the features explored include automatic irrigation systems and integrated smart building systems. If successful, Forest City can become an example for future developers and city planners to follow. The number of environmentally sustainable ideas embedded in this project is vast, however, the lifestyle of the residents will determine the long-term realization of these concepts. Master planning was done by Sasaki Associates. Deloitte Malaysia and McKinsey provided financial and strategic positioning advice. Huawei provided sustainable smart technology recommendations.

As CDL’s Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), I report directly to our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board Sustainability Committee (BSC). Strategic thinking, anticipating trends and planning as well as effective implementation of ideas are key to my role. With the fast-changing business and sustainability landscape globally and locally, the biggest challenge is to uphold CDL’s sustainability leadership in Singapore and the region as well as maintain CDL’s high profile in global sustainability rankings. Referenced by many global institutional investors, these rankings reinforce our brand reputation and trusted track record.

Many global investors, in particular, Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) funds, have been referring to our sustainability report as a key source of information on our performance for their investment evaluation. Beyond our annual Integrated Sustainability Report, CDL has also taken the initiative to create a dedicated sustainability microsite and provide quarterly updates on our sustainability-related initiatives and key ESG performance in a timelier manner.

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Converting Road Lane to Public Space

The City of Melbourne has unveiled artist’s impressions and a video of its $35 million plan to create new public open space in Melbourne’s most densely populated suburb. Lord Mayor Robert Doyle AC unveiled the plans to create 2.5 hectares of new public open space on Southbank Boulevard and Dodds Street as part of the Eco-City World Summit 2017.

‘In Melbourne and in other cities around the world, governments are looking to turn underutilised roads and car parks into important green space,’ the Lord Mayor said.

World’s Largest Concentrated Solar Power Project

Dubai is going to be home to the world’s largest Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project, costing 14.2 billion Dirhams (USD 3.87 billion). The project comes as part of implementing the fourth stage of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and to support the end goals of Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050.

To be implemented by Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (Dewa), it is expected to generate 1,000 megawatts (MW) of clean energy when completed.

IFLA ASIA-PAC LA Awards

IFLA Asia-Pacific region Landscape Architecture Awards, also known as IFLA ASIA-PAC LA Awards provide an international platform to showcase and promote the achievements and work of landscape architects in the Asia-Pacific region.

The prestigious awards aim to create continuous awareness and recognition of landscape architecture together with like-minded partners and other professions that have played a key role in shaping our cities and environment towards a better future.