The Garden City
Summary
Singapore is responding to climate change by combining domestic action with international cooperation, recognising that global warming is already affecting lives through extreme heat and unpredictable weather. Beyond cutting its own emissions and aiming for net zero by 2050, Singapore works with other countries to unlock funding for greener projects through initiatives such as the Coalition to Grow Carbon Markets, which promotes high-integrity carbon markets — systems that allow companies to offset unavoidable emissions using credible, well-regulated carbon credits. It also supports climate projects in Asia through FAST-P (Financing Asia’s Transition Partnership), a blended finance scheme that combines public and private money to fund renewable energy, cleaner transport, and waste management where capital is scarce. In the region, Singapore backs energy transition efforts through TRACTION, convened by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, which explores using transition credits to help phase out coal plants responsibly. Together, these efforts show how Singapore acts as a facilitator and partner, using cooperation and finance to help countries decarbonise and build a more sustainable future.
Application
By positioning itself at the centre of global climate cooperation, Singapore is able to accumulate soft power: the ability to influence others through credibility, leadership, and shared values rather than force. Lacking natural resources or significant hard power such as military might, Singapore instead shapes international norms by convening coalitions, setting standards for high-integrity carbon markets, and mobilising climate finance, thereby becoming a trusted partner for both developed and developing countries. This role allows Singapore to punch above its weight on the global stage, not by coercion, but by demonstrating competence, foresight, and moral leadership.