The World Engineers Summit (WES) on Climate Change 2015 was a conference that made a difference in the battle against climate change challenges confronting the world. Held on 21-24 July 2015, the Summit teemed with outstanding content, enlightening speakers and enthusiastic participants, with a singular focus on building sustainable urban development for global climate resilience.

Apart from high-calibre discussions steered by leading authorities and advocates in sustainability, the Summit also rolled out a well-planned series of activities aimed at motivating engineers, researchers, businesses, students and even members of the public to take action in creating a sustainable future.

Key highlights include:

  • the inaugural pre-Summit Industry Roundtable attended by business leaders from different industries to raise and discuss the main challenges and opportunities in climate change adaptation, the role of businesses in climate change mitigation and the role of women in building climate resilience;
  • the plenary session of WES2015 on Climate Change was chaired by Professor Tommy Koh provided an overview of the challenges setting the platform for the four parallel tracks discussion;
  • the WES Expo 2015 which showcased the latest in urban and industrial sustainable technology, products and solutions to the public;
  • the WES Photography Competition to heighten the awareness on the reality of climate change to the public;
  • the WES Technical Site Visits for delegates; and
  • the co-located National Engineers Day, where students participated in the inaugural Energy Innovation Challenge to conceive ideas for alternative sources of energy

On behalf of the WES on Climate Change 2015 Steering and Organising Committees as well as the IES Council, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to the following dignitaries for speaking at and supporting the event:

  • Guest of honour for the opening ceremony of the WES on Climate Change 2015 and NED2015:
    Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs
  • Guest of honour for the WES Gala Dinner & Awards Night:
    Mr Chan Chun Sing, Secretary-General, National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Minister, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)
  • Opening keynote speaker of the ‘Sustainable Development & Infrastructure’ track:
    Mr Lee Yi Shyan, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry and Ministry of National Development
  • Opening keynote speaker of the ‘Sustainable Energy’ track:
    Mr Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry,
  • Opening keynote speaker of the ‘Clean Environment & Water Resources’ track:
    Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, Executive Director, Tembusu Partners Pte Ltd; and
  • Opening keynote speaker of the ‘Resilience & Adaptation against Climate Change’ track:
    Dr Bindu N Lohani, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Japan Distinguished Fellow and Former Vice President for Knowledge Management and Sustainable Development, Asian Development Bank, Philippines.

We would also like to thank all the distinguished guests, speakers and delegates, our supporters and sponsors, members of the WES on Climate Change 2015 Steering, Organising and Technical Committees, and all volunteers helping us one way or the other, as well as the IES Secretariat team for making the event a success.

With all of your support, we have been able to achieve the Summit’s objectives of providing a platform for the exchange of ideas and views on the massive global challenge of climate change, raising the profile of engineers and reaching out to our young to interest them in the profession of engineering.

We hope that the event was fruitful for the delegates and will drive the implementation of newer or better ways of enhancing our planet’s climate resilience.

We look forward to your support of NED 2016 and the next World Engineers Summit in 2017.

See you then!

Er. Tan Seng Chuan
Chairman, Steering Committee
WES 2015 on Climate Change