Sustainability on campus

Inspiring a greener and better world through design

As climate change intensifies, with rising temperatures and unprecedented levels of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gas pollution, sustainable solutions are critical. One of the most impactful and sustainable strategies to combat this global threat is through the power of nature—planting trees and restoring lost biodiversity.

In Singapore, trees are a vital yet often overlooked resource. Trees are not just silent sentinels but active champions of our environment. They sequester carbon, produce oxygen, support diverse ecosystems, and provide cooling shade that mitigates the urban heat island effect.

Organic shade

The organic shade these green canopies offer is more than just a respite from the sun. Unlike built structures, which can trap heat, the organic shade from trees absorbs solar radiation, significantly reducing heat stress and cooling the air around us. This natural cooling effect is crucial as our cities grow denser and hotter.

Flowering trees and shrubs, in particular, play a vital role in enhancing biodiversity, creating habitats for a myriad of species, and adding vibrant life to our cityscape.

In April 2024, the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) embarked on a meaningful journey with the tree-planting initiative “Trees for a Better World,” collaborating with Mapletree Investments, who generously donated 250 trees. These trees, carefully planted across the verdant SUTD campus, were selected with a science- and nature-based approach.

Improving biodiversity

The design of the planting area incorporates flowering trees with sturdy trunks and thick foliage, complemented by flowering shrubs to create a layered effect that supports various flora and fauna. For example, the rare and migratory birds were part of the landscape in the Sompah area. With new construction, their sightings have reduced. We hope that designing and planting these flowering trees and shrubs will enhance the ecosystem and attract the rare birds back to the area. For example, the Buffy Fish Owl was a resident of the Somapah area which lost its roost tree in the neighbouring JTC land when it was cut down for the solar farm. We hope that the SUTD trees will attract the Buffy Fish Owl to roost on campus.

This event was more than just a planting activity; it signified the launch of two long-term research projects on the thermal comfort of organic shade and biodiversity mapping that includes a review flora and fauna sightings within 0.5 km of campus and conducting surveys for birds, insects (butterflies, bees, dragonflies etc.), mammals, reptiles & amphibians on campus. This will enable us to establish a biodiversity baseline as reference for future recommendations to enhance biodiversity value of SUTD campus. The SUTD community was invited to engage in and contribute to these ongoing efforts, fostering a collective commitment to safeguarding our environment.

Together, we are not just planting trees; we are designing and cultivating a future where nature and urban life coexist harmoniously—a future where every tree planted today will help build a greener, cooler, and more vibrant world for generations to come.