International Women’s Day: 7 Powerful Voices for Sustainability

Every year on 8 March, the world celebrates International Women’s Day, honouring the achievements of women who have led change, broken barriers, and shaped the future across industries. From science and policy to technology and activism, these women have inspired progress through bold ideas and decisive action.

SP Group shares their vision for a better, more sustainable world. Their commitment to innovation, resilience, and long-term impact aligns with our own drive toward a net-zero future. We examine the insightful words of female leaders who have shown that real change is possible.

1“We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to.”

– Terri Swearingen, Nurse, Goldman Environmental Prize recipient

The global climate crisis is no longer a distant threat; it is happening before our eyes, with rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and diminishing natural resources. The World Meteorological Organisation announced that global carbon emissions from fossil fuels reached a record high in 2024¹ – and are projected to continue rising.

Standing still is no longer an option. As a leading utilities group in the Asia Pacific, SP Group has a larger responsibility to our society. Using our expertise and industry influence, we strive to enable a low-carbon, smart energy future, achieving net zero by 2050 by focusing on three pillars: Net Zero Integration, Sustainable Operations, and Transition Enablers².

2“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”

– Helen Keller, American author and activist

We all have different strengths to bring to the table to drive sustainable change. That is why ‘Teamwork’ is one of SP Group’s core values. We strongly believe that collaboration and the sharing of knowledge, as well as ideas — with not only industry peers but also clients from various sectors — will result in better sustainable outcomes.

One key partnership is with airconditioning company Daikin to create Singapore’s largest industrial cooling system for STMicroelectronics (ST) to reduce its cooling-related electricity consumption by 20% annually, supporting ST’s carbon neutrality goal.

3“All sorts of things can happen when you’re open to new ideas and playing around with things.”

– Stephanie Kwolek, Renowned Chemist, Inventor of Kevlar

Driving change requires going beyond the status quo. SP Group anchors our sustainability strategy on two Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one of them being SDG9, which emphasises fostering innovation.

SP Group actively enhances its digital capabilities to develop efficient and sustainable energy solutions suited for an ever-changing landscape. In 2020, it launched a Concept Lab for brainstorming and refining ideas³. Collaborating with its innovation team and partners, SP Group achieved significant breakthroughs, including Singapore’s first large-scale smart water metering system⁴, managing around 300,000 smart meters island-wide.

4“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

– Margaret Mead, American anthropologist

Small is powerful. SP Group believes that every person can help make a difference in achieving net-zero emissions goals. Did you know that the average Singaporean produces about 8,870kg of carbon dioxide emissions yearly, the amount of carbon dioxide that 440 raintrees would need to absorb?

My Carbon Footprint⁵ from SP app breaks down users’ emissions by category, making it easy for users to see where they can make the biggest changes. SP app also offers tips and ideas on how users can tweak their lifestyles to be more eco-friendly. To make going green more fun, SP app’s GreenUP⁶ encourages users to adopt green habits, which earn points and can be redeemed for exclusive rewards.

5“Lead by example. Don’t ask folks to do something that you aren’t willing to do.”

– Rosalind Brewer

Central to SP Group’s mission is a commitment to sustained giving, adapting to changing needs to create a lasting impact across all social sectors and age groups. Beyond utilities services and sustainability energy solutions, SP Group partners with various philanthropic initiatives, social service organisations and volunteer efforts. Our team of staff volunteers, known as “Heart Workers”, engage in various volunteer activities and actively encourage their colleagues to participate, helping to nurture a culture of community service. In 2023, SP Group’s collective efforts resulted in S$5.3 million in donations and staff volunteering.

6“The global fossil fuel crisis must be a game-changer. So let us not take the ‘highway to hell’ but let’s earn the clean ticket to heaven.”

— Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

The Global Carbon Project calculated that carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels and cement would reach a record 37.4 billion tonnes in 2024⁷, marking a new world record. Although cleaner energy alternatives exist, they are more costly and less accessible, deterring many businesses from switching from fossil fuels.

SP Group is dedicated to the green energy transition, ramping up renewable energy projects in Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Solar photovoltaic (PV) solutions, wind and energy storage systems can integrate with digital energy management technology to provide a reliable, high yield and high-performing solution for companies’ green growth strategy.

In transportation, we’re making electric mobility more accessible, reliable, and seamless for everyone. We’re rapidly installing Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points throughout Singapore, and have created the nation’s biggest fast-charging network. A recent partnership with SingHealth is to progressively install up to 300 EV charging points by 2028 across its institutions, with SingHealth set to become the public healthcare cluster with the largest number of EV chargers in Singapore upon completion.

7“Green buildings are no longer a “good-to-have” situation anymore – they are a must… We must look at how to design and build greener, and it’s not just about getting the green mark anymore.”

– Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer at City Developments Limited (Source)

Buildings account for around 40% of energy-related carbon emissions. To address this, the Singapore Green Building Masterplan aims to convert 80% of buildings into Super Low Energy Buildings (SLEB) by 2030.

The Green Energy Tech (GET®) suite of solutions from SP Group helps industrial and commercial buildings reach super-low energy status. Leveraging EnergyTech, IoT, and AI, GET boosts energy efficiency, improves occupant experience, and supports sustainability. The energy management system can be integrated easily into existing building systems without extensive retrofitting.

GET Control®, a microclimate control system, enabled City Developments Limited to achieve 18% total energy savings and a 15% improvement in occupant thermal comfort during a pilot project for office space in Republic Plaza.

Just as these inspiring women have shown that meaningful change starts with action, SP Group continues to push forward in our journey towards net zero, investing in cleaner energy solutions and building a future where sustainability is not just an ambition but a reality. The path to a better world is not walked alone—it is shaped by those who dare to lead. Today, we celebrate the women who have paved the way, and tomorrow, we continue their work.

Join us in our mission to achieve a greener future.

Footnotes

¹Record carbon emissions highlight urgency of Global Greenhouse Gas Watch, wmo.int/media/news/record-carbon-emissions-highlight-urgency-of-global-greenhouse-gas-watch

²FY2023/24 Sustainability Report, www.spgroup.com.sg/dam/spgroup/pdf/about-us/our-sustainability-commitment/SP-Group-Sustainability-Report-FY2023-24.pdf

³Pushing The Frontiers Of Innovation, www.spgroup.com.sg/about-us/media-resources/energy-hub/innovation/pushing-the-frontiers-of-innovation

⁴SP Group to roll out Singapore’s first large-scale smart water metering system, www.spgroup.com.sg/about-us/media-resources/energy-hub/innovation/sp-group-to-roll-out-singapore-s-first-large-scale-smart-water-metering-system

⁵My Carbon Footprint, www.spdigital.sg/spapp/carbon-footprint

⁶GreenUP, www.spdigital.sg/spapp/greenup

⁷Analysis: Global CO2 emissions will reach new high in 2024 despite slower growth, www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-global-co2-emissions-will-reach-new-high-in-2024-despite-slower-growth/

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