The Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries for the Decade 2011-2020 was adopted, along with the Istanbul Declaration, by the Fourth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Istanbul, Turkey, on 9-13 May 2011. The Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA) charts out the international community’s vision and strategy for the sustainable development of LDCs for the next decade with a strong focus on developing their productive capacities.

Based on this MOU, the four companies will start feasibility studies on multinational power grid interconnection in the Northeast Asia region and jointly conduct business evaluation studies. The four companies will then request relevant governments to support and form business structures to realize the proposed plan.

The $100 million Green Mark Incentive Scheme for Existing Buildings (GMIS-EB) scheme was first launched on 29 April 2009. It aims to encourage developers and/or building owners to adopt energy efficient retrofitting design, technologies and practices in their existing building to achieve a significant improvement in the building energy efficiency. BCA has enhanced this scheme which now provides for a cash incentive for the costs of supply and installation of energy efficient equipment and professional services to improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings. N.B. The GMIS-EB Health Check will be extended with effect from 29 Apr 2014 and shall last for a period of 5 years or expire on such earlier date, as determined by BCA. The enhanced GMIS-EB cash incentive for upgrading and retrofitting has expired with effect from 28 April 2014.

A sum of $20 million was set aside on 'Green Mark Incentive Scheme (GMIS)' on 15 December 2006 for a period of 3 years or when the fund is fully committed (whichever is earlier). This is to help accelerate the adoption of environmentally-friendly green building technologies and building design practices.

To encourage the private sector to develop buildings that attain higher tier Green Mark ratings (i.e. Green Mark Platinum or Green Mark GoldPlus), BCA and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) has introduced a set of Gross Floor Area (GFA) incentives on 29 Apr 2009. For developments attaining Green Mark Platinum or GoldPlus, URA will grant additional floor area over and above the Master Plan Gross Plot Ratio (GPR) control. The extended GM GFA Incentive Scheme is with effect from 29 Apr 2014 and shall lasts for a period of 5 years or such earlier date, as directed by BCA.

These Regulations were issued as provided for by section 49 of the Building Control Act. They were put in place to require a minimum environmental sustainability standard that is equivalent to the Green Mark Certified Level for new buildings and existing ones that undergo major retrofitting. This regulation took effect from 15 Apr 2008. Projects that are submitted for URA planning permission on or after 15 Apr 2008 will be subject to this requirement.

The BCA Green Mark Scheme was launched in January 2005 as an initiative to drive Singapore's construction industry towards more environment-friendly buildings. It is intended to promote sustainability in the built environment and raise environmental awareness among developers, designers and builders when they start project conceptualisation and design, as well as during construction. The Scheme provides for specific Certification Standards and specific BCA Green Mark Schemes based on the kind of building. Attached are also the Terms and Conditions of the BCA Green Mark Scheme.

The intent of this Certification Standard for Existing Buildings (referred to as “Standards”) is to guide owners of existing buildings to improve the minimum sustainability standards of existing buildings and establish environmentally friendly practices in the operation and retrofitting of existing buildings.This Standard sets out the requirement for assessing the environmental performance of a building development. It provides the assessment criteria in determining the level of environmental performance of a building development .

The Seventh National Development Plan 2006-2010 (7NDP) is the result of inclusive consultation among Government agencies and community working together. The Plan will help ensure economic prosperity, ecological sustainability, social integrity, and greater democracy for current and future generations. The 7NDP establishes four priority development areas and sets 12 specific goals and 88 targets that will guide decision-making and investment over the next five years. The structure of the Seventh National Development Plan is as follows: Part I: Principles, Vision and Goals; Part II: Economic Development Part III: Spatial Development; Part IV: Social Development; Part V: Governance; PART VI: Financing, Implementation and Monitoring.

The third National Environment Action Plan (NEAP 3) of the Government of the Maldives sets out the agenda for environmental protection and management in the Maldives for the five year period 2009 – 2013. This plan is targeted to achieve measurable environmental results that matter to the people of the Maldives. The six strategic results of NEAP3 that are expected are: resilient islands; rich ecosystems; healthy communities; safe water; environmental stewardship; and a carbon neutral nation.