Impact of Expanding Population on Environment in Singapore

This article highlights a main problem for Singapore. The emphasis on economic growth to ensure our survival, is often at odds with eonvironmental concerns. Too keep the economic engine running, there is a need to expand our population size to 6.9 million by 2030 and this means more land is needed, with the consequence that nature has to make way for development. Remarkably, 47% (or about half) of Singapore's land area is covered in greenery, though most if it are artificial parks or landscaping rather than natural forestry (think Gardens by the Bay). The concerns raised by the NMP is not without validity. Think the Bukit Brown saga last year (try search for an earlier post I did on this last year) With the destruction of the forests, the habitats of animals are also destroyed.
But to the govt's credit, Khaw Boon Wan did promise that by 2030, at least 85% of all residents will find a park within 400m of their homes. Nevertheless, the reality in Singapore is that mother nature always takes a back seat in the face of economic survival. It is always the rights of Singaporeans that come first, then foreigners, then Mother Nature. While we do not set out deliberately to disregard the rights of animals, these are often overridden when they clash with the rights of man.

Sample Qn:
1) To what extent are the rights of animals protected in your country? (Cambridge 2012)
2) 'The key criterion for good government is how well the economy is managed.' Is this a fair assessment? (Cambridge 2012) [shouldn't the govt's report card on environment be factored in as well, esp carbon emissions? what about the creation of a liveable environment? Can you imagine Singapore being just a concrete jungle with skyscrappers and factories all around with nary a patch of greenery in sight?]
3) 'Environmental concerns and economic growth cannot co-exist.' Do you agree? (Cambridge 2011)