ABSTRACT
The green turn as an outcome of the environmental movement spearheaded by Green-peace, Friends of the Earth, and other global institutions has transcended scientific concerns about permanent climate change and planet destruction to pervade the cultural imagination. The construction of high-rise apartment blocks on estates constructed by the Housing Development Board was an important symbol of Singapore’s transition to modernity. An extensive program of the greening of Singapore was a crucial component of his development agenda after independence. Greening raised the morale of people and gave them pride in their surroundings. The greening of Singapore was intended to change cultural practices and help to create a modern nation in a postcolony; it was designed to produce a more sustainable and livable urban environment; and it was about attracting investment by demonstrating Singapore’s efficiency and control. The paradox of Singapore is that it maintains an obvious commitment to a sustainable environment while at the same time continuing its dependency on consumption.
