With new efforts unveiled on Tuesday (Mar 8), Singapore is stepping up its climate action. These include aims to assist more companies to increase their energy efficiency and to make every Housing and Development Board (HDB) town “EV-ready” (electric vehicle) before schedule. Given global improvements in technology and carbon markets, the government said this month that it will advance the country’s goal of achieving net zero “by or around mid-century.” Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean called this action “essential, feasible, and implementable.”
A significant UN study this week issued stark warnings about the consequences of inaction on climate change, with research demonstrating that irreversible climatic impacts are occurring more quickly and intensely than before. Rising temperatures might particularly expose Asia to dangers including food shortages and health problems, with a rise in the possibility of heatwaves, floods, and water- and vector-borne illnesses. Stronger and longer heatwaves, unheard-of droughts and floods, rising sea levels, and storm surges that are affecting communities all over the world are some of the effects that are already being felt, according to Mr. Teo, who is also the Coordinating Minister for National Security and the head of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change. He stated the government will evaluate its 2030 nationally determined contributions, a national blueprint outlining how the country intends to achieve net zero, as well as its long-term low-emissions development strategy when speaking in Parliament during the ongoing Committee of Supply discussion.
The third-largest source of emissions in Singapore today, the land transport sector is responsible for 15% of the island nation’s emissions. Additionally, Singapore will move forward with its goal of having every HDB town ready for electric vehicles by 2025 from its prior goal of the 2030s. The Government of Singapore has also provided extra cash to support innovative ideas in water technology and resource circularity as part of Singapore’s efforts to decrease the amount of trash transported to its landfill and maximize its scarce resources.
An amount of S$80 million will be used to assist research and development of sustainable ways to recover and utilize resources from major waste streams like food, plastics, and e-waste. In the meanwhile, S$87 million will be used to support research and development (R&D) projects in the fields of water technology, such as desalination and water reuse, used water treatment, waste reduction, and resource recovery.
The skills of Singapore’s graduates and workforce as well as the capacities of institutions like universities, polytechnics, and ITEs would be the “true needle movers” to attain sustainability as a competitive advantage, according to Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing. He continued by saying that these institutions are well-positioned to further Singapore’s sustainability goals due to their strong research and innovation capacities. According to Mr. Chan, polytechnics may help local businesses cut their carbon emissions and meet sustainability objectives through initiatives they engage on with the industry.
