By Victoria Barker

SINGAPORE has been named one of the top 10 cities of the future, lauded for building strong and principled foundations as well as for its long-term planning, by Ethisphere Institute.

According to the New York-based think-tank, Singapore would have defined itself as a role model in the area of sustainability by the year 2020.

The country is highlighted in the 2020 Global Sustainability Centers list, which is compiled by the company dedicated to research and sharing of best practices in ethics and corporate governance.

The nine other cities on the list are - in random order - Toronto, Cape Town, Hyderabad, Abu Dhabi, New York City, London, Melbourne, Curitiba and Frankfurt.

Besides having populations of over 600,000, the cities were considered based on factors such as environmental practices, arts and culture, law enforcement and transparency, and transportation and housing.

Mr Alex Brigham, executive director of the Ethisphere Institute, said the list was a way of "recognising these 'cities of tomorrow' today".

"In a world of increasing population pressures and depleting natural resources, some cities are proactively adjusting their practices," he said.

Other cities that did not make the list due to their smaller populations, but which are advanced nonetheless, include Copenhagen and Wellington.

It was Singapore's healthy economy that set the nation apart from the rest, said an article in the third-quarter issue of Ethisphere Magazine, the institute's quarterly publication.

"A world leader in anti-corruption, the city has a free-market economy, one of the strongest economies in Asia, based heavily on exports," it said.

And the Singapore Green Plan 2012, a 10-year blueprint on environmental sustainability, is a good example of its efforts to stay ahead. The plan was started in 2002, much sooner than many other cities.

But the Republic is not free from challenges. Mr Stefan Linssen, the managing editor of Ethisphere Magazine, told my paper that Singapore's small size may present a challenge.

"Right now, Singapore is getting pretty full and becoming more difficult to expand in several regards," he said in an e-mail interview, adding that this is "forcing an increasing amount of territorial disputes".

Remaining sustainable also requires a sound financial plan, and this is another area which Singapore excels in.

"The most important factor is having a real plan defined for how the municipality is going to pay for any planned changes.

And, like Singapore demonstrates, it doesn't always have to cost more," said Mr Linssen.

HYDERABAD, INDIA	CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA
Hyderabad makes the list with its growing financial power, owing to its "status as a technology leader" and "willingness to work towards further sustainability".	Being a top tourist destination is this city's strength, said Ethisphere, with "economic growth that will likely continue through 2020 and beyond".
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES	CURITIBA, BRAZIL
With a "comprehensive environmental plan in place and the wealth to implement it", Abu Dhabi wins points in the innovation and investment categories.	Curitiba's transport and housing systems are the city's greatest strengths.
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM	MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
Topping nearly every category in the survey, Ethisphere highlighted London's efforts to cut down its carbon footprint.	Melbourne is a "liveable city", with one of the largest populations of international students in the world.
TORONTO, CANADA	NEW YORK CITY, UNITED STATES
Toronto's low cost of living and crime rate are some of its strengths. The cost of doing business there is lower compared to cities in the US.	Accounting for over 4 per cent of the US GDP, Ethisphere commended the city for "using its economic influence to develop sustainability when planning its own future development".
SINGAPORE	FRANKFURT, GERMANY
A world leader in anti-corruption, Singapore's free-market economy is one of the strongest in Asia.	Frankfurt's high quality of life, economic success and "well-developed environmental initiatives" make it a city of the future.
Photos: ST, AFP, Reuters, Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi, Toronto Tourism

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