Public-private partnerships must be 'a lasting marriage, not a short wedding ceremony': Ecosperity Week panel

SMU Associate Professor of Urban Climate Winston Chow was the moderator at Temasek’s Ecosperity Week on June 7 at a panel titled ‘Harnessing Public-Private Cooperation for Zero-Carbon Cities’. Assoc Prof Chow, who posed a question about the feasibility of public-private partnerships, said one of the hurdles for the development of zero-carbon cities is scepticism that the private sector may be driven more by profit, rather than a genuine commitment to sustainability. However, Vinamra Srivastava, Chief Sustainability Officer of CapitaLand Investment (CLI) and a panellist at the event, highlighted the ‘huge opportunity cost’ that the private sector might face if they do not employ sustainability as a driver.