Singapore is pulling out all the stops to buffer its economy against the shock waves of climate change, from ramping up efforts to curb heat-trapping emissions to protecting its coastlines.
Minister for the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) Masagos Zulkifli gave an overarching view in Parliament, of how the nation aims to cope in a warming world, by putting sustainability at its core.
“Only by living and practising sustainability together can we mitigate the impacts of climate change and secure the resources needed to take Singapore into the future,” he said.
In February 2020, Singapore announced a new long-term target of halving the greenhouse gas emissions it produces from their 2030 peak by 2050, with the aim of achieving net-zero emissions as soon as viable in the second half of the century.
In the nearer term, Singapore wants its emissions to peak at 65 million tonnes by 2030. This means that even if the economy grows, the emissions produced should not.
To do its part in support of the Paris Agreement – a climate pact among almost 200 nations in 2015 – Singapore will take steps to reduce its emissions on top of existing schemes such as the carbon tax, said Mr Masagos.
Singapore will be implementing more measures to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in various sectors. For instance, it will introduce a new Commercial Vehicle Emissions Scheme for new light goods vehicles, which make up the largest proportion of commercial vehicles.
To involve households in cutting the nation’s carbon footprint, the Government will introduce a $24.8 million Climate-Friendly Household Package. Households in one-to three-room Housing Board flats will receive a one-off $150 voucher to purchase more energy-efficient refrigerator models.
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Source: The Straits Times, 5 March 2020