Since its inception, SMU has remained committed to sustainability.
In the SMU 2025 strategy – unveiled in 2020 – the University highlighted the importance of Sustainable Living and committed to it as a priority area in which to create impact and bring about positive change. To this end, the SMU Sustainability Blueprint has played an important part in guiding all SMU’s actions towards environmental stewardship.
As part of its Earth Day celebrations, SMU has continued dedicating a section in its newsroom to highlighting contributions towards a greener planet through research, thought leadership, achievements, outreach and education efforts.
On 17 January 2024, SMU launched the Urban Institute, a new research institute which will look beyond the development of infrastructure, and consider the socio-cultural aspects of urbanisation, and the balance between urban growth and sustainability.
SMU’s Lien Centre for Social Innovation was also granted US$500,000 by Citi Foundation to pilot solutions for food security in September last year.
Some of the research that has been published by faculty from SMU includes one paper studying the impact that nomenclature and framing have on consumer acceptance of cultivated meat, as well as a study done in partnership with Europe’s leading precision-fermentation company, Formo, examining consumer demand for lab-brewed eggs.
Global recognition for SMU’s green university campus
The University’s efforts in cultivating a greener campus have garnered SMU numerous prestigious sustainability awards in the past year.
Particularly of note is the University’s latest achievement in the 2024 QS Sustainability Rankings – out of nearly 1,400 global institutions which were ranked, SMU was placed in the “Global Top 10 For Environmental Sustainability” in the Environmental Impact category. This assessment was made while considering the aggregated performance of SMU’s strategy and operations towards an environmentally sustainable future.
Besides this, SMU’s state-of-the-art buildings continue to receive global accolades, and remain a shining example of the University’s commitment to integrating sustainable technologies and practices into every aspect of campus development.
SMU received a Certificate of Merit recognising the energy efficient design and operation of SMU Connexion from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)’s Singapore Chapter. SMU Connexion was also awarded the Regional Technology Award 2023-2024 from ASHRAE, as well as an award of excellence from the Council On Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (CTBUH) Awards 2023.
Besides these awards, SMU was also the winner of the Green Innovations: Buildings Award from the Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards by the Singapore Environmental Council and was presented a trophy for Most Innovative Project from the Structural Steel Excellence Awards 2023 by the Singapore Structural Steel Society.
Through its various efforts, SMU is making a significant contribution towards a greener planet. It is important to take immediate action, with every effort making a difference in the world that we leave behind for future generations.
See also: Earth Day at SMU | SMU Newsroom
