Environment & climate

• The Singapore government imposed a three-year pause on data centre growth to study sustainable management, leading to initiatives like the DC-Call for Application that awarded capacity to operators committed to innovations such as liquid cooling and energy-efficient IT equipment.
• New standards, including the world’s first Tropical DC standard, are being developed to enable data centres in Singapore and similar climates to operate at higher temperatures, reducing cooling energy needs and complementing global best practices.
• The Green DC Roadmap was released to guide industry collaboration on pioneering energy-efficient solutions at hardware and software levels and accelerate the use of green energy, ensuring Singapore remains at the forefront of data centre sustainability.

• Desmond Choo asked about Singapore’s current solar capacity, plans to grow the solar industry, and initiatives to promote solar panel installation in private homes, with Gan Kim Yong responding that the country is on track to meet its 2 GWp target by 2030, having achieved 1.17 GWp by end-2023, and that the clean energy workforce is projected to grow from 1,500 to at least 2,700 by 2032.
• The government is accelerating solar deployment through programmes like SolarNova, which aggregates public sector demand, and by developing floating solar on reservoirs, but there are no plans to subsidise solar panel installation in private residential properties.
• Gan Kim Yong noted that the cost of solar panels has decreased over time and that solar energy is now generally cheaper than retail electricity prices.

• More than 50% of eligible HDB households (about 607,000) have claimed their Climate Vouchers, with around 90,000 households having started using them, and the top products redeemed are direct current fans, washing machines, and refrigerators.
• To expand the retailer base, authorities are onboarding more retailers, including heartland ones, with support for setting up point-of-sale systems through the Productivity Solutions Grant.
• The programme currently covers only HDB households, with no immediate plans to extend it to private properties, though the scheme is periodically reviewed for refinements and coverage.

• Ministers Chee Hong Tat, Grace Fu, and Desmond Lee delivered coordinated statements confirming that the 14 June Pasir Panjang oil spill response was swift, with agencies, contractors, and volunteers working together to contain, clean, and monitor environmental and public safety impacts.
• Clean-up operations have progressed to the second phase, with over 1,200 tonnes of oil-soaked sand removed, booms deployed to protect sensitive areas, and water and air quality monitored as safe; businesses are receiving support including rental deferrals, while plans are underway to involve volunteers in the final clean-up phase.
• Investigations into the incident are ongoing, and the government will incorporate lessons learned into standard operating procedures and future oil spill exercises, with claims for costs to be submitted to the vessel’s insurer, while the long-term environmental impact continues to be assessed.

• Members of Parliament raised questions about the review of pollution laws, the adequacy of penalties, and the framework for holding responsible parties accountable for clean-up costs and negative externalities.
• Multiple queries sought details on the environmental and economic impact assessments, the estimated cost of clean-up operations, and the entities responsible for bearing these expenses.
• Questions were posed on the standard operating procedures for spill containment, coordination between agencies for sea and beach clean-ups, and the involvement of citizens in clean-up efforts.
• The use of specific technologies like hydrophobic sponges was suggested to improve oil separation efficiency, alongside requests for updates on clean-up progress and plans to address remaining oil residues.
• MPs highlighted concerns about worker safety, the impact on marine ecosystems and biodiversity-sensitive areas, and the need for an after-action review of the multi-agency response to the incident.

He Ting Ru asked if the Ministry of Transport would consider splitting the new COE category for private-hire cars into electric and non-electric vehicles, with a higher allocation for EVs to promote electrification. Chee Hong Tat referenced a previous inquiry by Nadia Samdin in September 2022 regarding this topic and suggested referring to the Hansard for the official response given at that time.

Lim Biow Chuan asked about the possibility of waiving refuse removal fees for hawker stalls during renovations of hawker centres. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that the National Environment Agency (NEA) will request fee waivers from the Public Waste Collector for stallholders when a hawker centre is closed for repairs. Historically, these waiver requests have usually been approved by the PWCs.

Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked whether the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) would consider setting safety standards for PFAS in drinking water, especially following the U.S. announcement about new standards. Grace Fu Hai Yien responded that the SFA sets drinking water quality standards according to international guidelines, including those from the WHO, which is developing PFAS guidelines. SFA will assess the need for local regulatory limits on PFAS once WHO guidelines are finalized. PUB has been monitoring PFAS levels in Singapore’s drinking water since 2016, and current levels are below those set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. SFA and PUB will continue to monitor PFAS developments to ensure safe drinking water in Singapore.

Christopher de Souza asked if the new Emission Factors Registry would encourage more firms to voluntarily register and transition to low-carbon output. Grace Fu Hai Yien explained that the registry, developed by the Singapore Business Federation with government support, aims to help companies report carbon emissions more accurately and easily. Since the initiative is set to launch at the end of 2024, relevant data on its influence is currently unavailable.

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked about potential regulations on the use of glue traps to prevent cats and wild animals from being caught. Grace Fu Hai Yien stated that glue traps can effectively control rats if used responsibly and safely, highlighting existing guidelines provided to Pest Control Operators. The National Parks Board, NEA, and SPMA are reviewing these guidelines with animal welfare groups to minimize risks to non-target animals and improve response times for trapped animals. Revised guidelines will be made available to PCOs and published online once finalized.

• Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked for an assessment of the ongoing hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle trials and whether they will be expanded under Singapore's National Hydrogen Strategy.
• Chee Hong Tat stated that the Land Transport Authority collaborates with economic agencies to support industry trials, such as the current trial in the Jurong Innovation District.
• He noted that electrification is currently the more viable decarbonisation pathway for land transport, especially for cars and light goods vehicles.
• The government will continue to monitor developments in other cleaner energy technologies across all vehicle types.
• There was no explicit commitment to expand the trials or associated infrastructure in the current response.

• The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and Changi Airport Group use national planning scenarios and international best practices to fortify Changi Airport’s infrastructure against extreme rainfall and climate change, implementing measures like widened drains, new drainage outlets, rainwater detention tanks, and local flood barriers.
• Water level monitoring sensors across the airport’s drainage network provide real-time awareness and enable early intervention to prevent flooding and maintain operational continuity.
• The Changi East development includes an extensive drain network, and future facilities like Terminal 5 and the airfield will be built 5.5 metres above mean sea level to protect against intensified rainfall and rising sea levels.

• NParks partners with agencies like People’s Association and Town Councils for on-site surveillance and CCTV at hotspots, but face challenges like masks and blind spots, so detailed public feedback is encouraged to identify offenders.
• Offenders can be fined up to $5,000 for a first offence and $10,000 for subsequent ones under the Wildlife Act, with 203 offenders receiving advisories, warnings, or fines in 2023.
• Public education and outreach, including working with Town Councils and Active Ageing Centres, are key to deterring bird-feeding and addressing motivations of repeat or elderly offenders.

• NParks monitors Singapore’s marine ecosystems through satellite data, researcher collaborations, and citizen science observations to track coral bleaching, with no local bleaching recorded as of April 2024.
• The Marine Climate Change Science research programme studies climate impacts and guides resilience measures, such as restoring coral reef diversity and scaling up coral planting to 100,000 corals.
• Ongoing projects on coral reef resilience and survival thresholds are underway, with results expected between 2027 and 2028 to inform future management interventions.

• For 2021 to 2023, HDB issued 50,685, 52,270, and 54,303 renovation approvals respectively, while no data is available for private properties as BCA only regulates works affecting structural safety.
• The main environmental impacts from renovation works are noise, dust, and waste, which are addressed under the Environmental Protection and Management Act and the Environmental Public Health Act.
• HDB requires contractors to limit noisy activities to weekdays between 9 am and 5 pm and dispose of debris daily at NEA-approved sites, while private condos may set their own by-laws to manage disamenities.

• Ms Yeo Wan Ling queried the factors the Ministry for Sustainability and the Environment considers to protect the population, including outdoor students and workers, given Singapore's record-high UV index levels.
• Minister Grace Fu explained that Singapore's equatorial location naturally leads to high UV levels without a significant upward trend over the past decade, with seasonal peaks in February to April, and that the government has been implementing measures such as urban design with shade, public advisories via the myENV app, and sector-specific guidelines for outdoor workers and students.
• The Ministry of Manpower encourages employers to schedule outdoor work during less sunny hours and provide rest breaks under shade, while schools are advised to avoid outdoor activities during peak UV hours and recommend UV protection like sunscreen, with continued monitoring and additional measures as needed.

• The Minister for Transport, Chee Hong Tat, responded to Dennis Tan's query by stating that the projected 2030 and 2050 business-as-usual carbon emission data for Singapore-based airlines is not available.
• The reason provided for the unavailability of the data is that it is considered commercially sensitive information.
• The question pertained specifically to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore's Sustainable Air Hub Blueprint and the emissions levels in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent.
• The response indicates that such detailed forward-looking emissions projections are not publicly disclosed due to commercial sensitivities.

• Hazel Poa asked for the fixed and recurring costs of the HDB Green Towns Programme components and whether residents would bear these costs through higher service and conservancy charges.
• Desmond Lee explained that rooftop solar panels are financed, installed, and maintained by vendors at no cost to Town Councils, with any excess energy fed back to the grid and potential savings on common service electricity bills.
• Smart LED lighting costs are borne by Town Councils, but these lights can cut energy use by up to 60% compared to conventional LEDs.
• EV charging points are installed and maintained by operators, with costs recovered directly from users and not from Town Councils.
• The overall programme aims to reduce energy consumption by 15% by 2030, and Town Councils may review service and conservancy charges based on their financial sustainability, but the initiatives are designed to lower operational costs.

• Member Liang Eng Hwa asked if more can be done to reduce food waste and if current treatment and recycling infrastructure is efficient.
• Minister Grace Fu highlighted that food waste is a priority under the Zero Waste Masterplan, with regulations requiring large generators to segregate and report food waste from 2024.
• The government is building a Food Waste Treatment Facility at Tuas Nexus to boost treatment capacity and electricity generation.
• The National Environment Agency has developed industry standards and guidebooks to minimize food waste and supports donation of excess food to charities.
• The Minister noted it is too soon to evaluate the overall efficiency of these recent measures.

• The government is exploring low-carbon hydrogen pathways but has no immediate plans for large-scale hydrogen pipelines or storage facilities in Singapore, opting for a cautious approach due to technological and commercial uncertainties.
• Priority is given to gaining experience through the ammonia pathfinder project, expected to be implemented by 2028, to study import, storage, distribution, and handling of hydrogen and its carriers.
• While cross-country pipeline collaboration is being studied, no specific operational dates are set for such infrastructure to support the National Hydrogen Strategy.