News

Arup joins Singapore engineers and architects as pioneer signatories of Construction Declares

Arup has joined Singapore engineering and architectural consultancy firms in signing up to Construction Declares Climate and Biodiversity Emergency – a global petition uniting the construction and built environment industry.

It is both a public declaration of the planet’s environmental crises and a commitment to take positive action in response to climate breakdown and biodiversity collapse.

Singapore is the first Asian country to join Construction Declares and Arup is a member of the first group of structural engineers and architects to sign the petition.

Shaping a better world with social purpose has always been the foundation of Arup’s philosophy and work. We are proud and motivated to support Construction Declares in Singapore as one of the first signatories. ”

Tan Yoong Heng Tan Yoong Heng Principal | Singapore Country Leader

“The climate emergency is the most serious issue of our time, and buildings and construction play a major part – accounting for nearly 40% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions while also having a significant impact on our natural habitats,” according to the signatories.

“This climate declaration is a call to action for everyone working in construction and the built environment to meet the needs of our societies without breaching the earth’s ecological boundaries.

“This will demand a paradigm shift in our behaviour. If we are to reduce and eventually reverse the environmental damage we are causing, we will need to re-imagine our buildings, cities and infrastructures as indivisible components of a larger, constantly regenerating and self-sustaining system.”

It is important that engineers and architects come together and commit to put positive environmental outcomes at the core of our working practices. I hope this initiative will inspire others in Singapore and the region to strive for a more sustainable and resilient future. ” Tan Yoong Heng Tan Yoong Heng Principal | Singapore Country Leader

The Singapore office joins Arup signatories including Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom that have announced their support for Australian Engineers Declare, Canadian Engineers Declare, and UK Structural Engineers Declare.

The 11 other firms that signed the local petition are DP Engineers, RSP, Web Structures, WSP, CSYA, DP Architects, Forum Architects, Guz Architects, HASSELL, SCDA and WOHA.

The declaration statements can be found on Singapore Structural Engineers Declare and Singapore Architects Declare.