Meet Lim Tuang Liang, SG’s First Government Chief Sustainability Officer

Singapore is taking seriously its climate target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

On Dec. 30, 2022, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) announced in a press release that they’ll be establishing a new position called Government Chief Sustainability Officer (GCSO) to drive the city-state’s sustainability efforts.

The position, which took effect on Jan. 1, was appointed to Lim Tuang Liang to help “realise a sustainable, resource-efficient and climate-resilient Singapore.” He was also concurrently appointed as the MSE Deputy Secretary for Special Duties.

Lim is now overseeing the Public Sector Sustainability Office (PSSO) and Sustainability Partnerships Office (SPO) to develop and coordinate strategies with public sector agencies for GreenGov.SG, as well as spearheading partnerships with stakeholders to further drive the national sustainability agenda.

The Singapore Green Plan 2030, or simply the Green Plan, is a 10-year “whole-of-a-nation movement” that sets ambitious green targets to strengthen the city-state’s commitments under the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and Paris Agreement. It’s Singapore’s way to take a firm stand on building a green and sustainable home for its citizens and providing a resilient future in the face of climate change.

Lim, who was appointed as MSE’s Chief Science and Technology Officer (CSTO) prior to his new role, is not new to public service. He used to be the Chief of Staff of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Executive Director of the Innovation and Enterprise Group of the National Research Foundation Singapore (NRF), where he was in charge of the integration of multi-domain research and developments to meet Singapore’s strategic national needs.

In an interview with reporters earlier this month, the 51-year-old officer said he has reached out and have been communicating with different agencies to better understand what they do and the issues they’re facing, including how to address them efficiently.

A good example, as reported by CNA, is the instalment of solar panels. While these systems are a common sight in public buildings and flats, determining where and how many can be installed involves the strategic decision of the GCSO. This is to make sure that the solar panels won’t become fire hazards or obstructions to firefighters in case a fire breaks out.

With a role that plays a heavy part in charting Singapore’s sustainability efforts, Lim said he sees himself as a conductor. “The policy planners compose the music, individual agencies playing their sections (implementing), and as the conductor, I oversee the different parts to ensure coordination and harmony to bring out the best in every part,” he was quoted as saying via a CNA report.

“If we address the agencies' challenges in the journey, it will help us to understand the challenges that the rest of the society will face,” he added.