Urban System Studies Cleaning a Nation Cultivating a Healthy Living Environment

The story often told about the cleaning and greening of Singapore is that it was done mainly for the purpose of attracting international business and investments. In the city-state’s early days as a newly independent country in the late 1960s, Singapore’s rapid industrialisation and economic development plans were carried out in conjunction with its cleaning and greening efforts. However, it is less well-known that the political leadership prioritised public cleanliness for the well-being of citizens, so that they could enjoy a higher quality of life. The simple wisdom that health leads to happiness had been applied to the entire nation.