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It's a small, dense, island nation where 100 percent of the population is urbanized. |
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這是個小而密集的島國，百分之百的人口都居住在都市中。 |
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And yet, the city-state of Singapore is the greenest city in Asia, according to the Green City Index, and arguably has few competitors in the rest of the world. |
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然而，根據綠色城市評比，新加坡這個城邦卻是亞洲綠化程度最高的城市，而且在世界其他地區也可以說沒有什麼競爭對手。 |
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As Singapore's population and economy grew, so did its green cover: it was about 36 percent in the 1980s, and it now stands at 47 percent, according to the Centre for Liveable Cities. |
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隨著新加坡的人口與經濟成長，其綠覆率也一同提高：新加坡的綠覆率在一九八０年代約為百分之三十六，現在則來到百分之四十七，宜居城市中心表示。 |
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And while the word "green" can take on a variety of connotations, Singapore appears to encompass them all -- lush environments, renewable energy and future sustainability. |
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儘管「綠化」一詞可以帶有各種含意，新加坡卻似乎涵蓋了那一切──蒼翠的環境、可再生能源以及未來永續性。 |
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"We take steps to ensure our self-sufficiency," says Yvonne Soh, general manager of the Singapore Green Buildings Council. |
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"In Singapore we have a lot of initiatives to promote sustainability." |
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「我們採取措施確保我們能夠自給自足，」新加坡綠色建築委員會主任委員蘇伊芳（音譯）表示：「在新加坡，我們有許多提倡永續性的計畫。」。 |
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That's crucial, as the city-state lacks any form of natural resources. |
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Half of the nation's water supplies are imported from neighboring Malaysia, with the rest sourced from desalinization plants, efficient catchment of rainwater and recycling of sewage. |
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這點極為重要，因為這座城邦缺乏任何形式的自然資源。這個國家的供水有一半進口自鄰國馬來西亞，剩下的則是來自海水淡化廠、有效率地集蓄雨水以及回收污水。 |
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Fuel is also imported to meet energy needs, making alternative energy a national priority. |
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燃料也必須進口以滿足能源需求，因此可替代能源乃是該國的優先要務。 |
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But greenery in the literal sense is also prioritized. |
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不過，字面意義上的綠化也具有優先地位。 |
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"If you build a new development, you have to replace the same greenery you replaced," says Soh. |
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「如果你興建一個新的開發案，就必須把你剷除的植物種回來，」蘇伊芳說。 |
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Singapore is the only country to incorporate green building requirements into its legislation, according to Soh. |
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新加坡是唯一將綠色建築要求納入法律規定中的國家，蘇伊芳表示。 |
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"Environmental protection was not assumed to be at odds with economic development," says Khoo Teng Chye, executive director of the Centre for Liveable Cities. |
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"The government saw that it was an integral part of city planning." |
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「環保並不會被認為與經濟發展互相衝突，」新加坡宜居城市研發中心執行理事邱鼎財表示：「政府認為環境保護是都市規劃當中不可或缺的一部分。」 |
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