Environment & climate — Topics

5 Oct 2022

Measures to Protect the Young and Elderly from Monkey Invasions of Urban Environment

NParks monitors monkey distribution near homes, nursing homes, and childcare facilities and uses science-based research to guide habitat modifications, such as replacing fruit trees, to reduce food sources.
The government collaborates with community groups, volunteers, and experts to implement monkey guarding, trap aggressive monkeys, and explore long-term population control like sterilisation, while assisting residents affected by attacks.
Public education programmes, including talks at preschools and engagement sessions, teach residents how to safely interact with monkeys and prevent incidents through proper refuse management and avoiding illegal feeding.

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5 Oct 2022

Low Take-up Rate for Climate-Friendly Households Programme

Leon Perera questioned whether the $150 e-voucher for energy-efficient refrigerators could be increased due to higher costs and suggested expanding the programme to cover items like bicycles.
The Ministry responded that the voucher amount was based on market surveys to cover the average incremental cost of efficient appliances and that outreach efforts are underway to improve take-up rates.
The programme, targeting low-income HDB households, will be reviewed after its December 2023 end date, with consideration given to extending it to more appliances, including non-electrical ones like bicycles.

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4 Oct 2022

Compliance with Safety and Emission Requirements by Drivers of Foreign-registered Vehicles Entering Singapore

Leon Perera asked how the Government works with Malaysian counterparts to inform drivers of foreign-registered vehicles about Singapore’s safety and emission requirements and what enforcement efforts exist to improve compliance.
The Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment and the National Environment Agency engage in regular bilateral exchanges with Malaysia on vehicular emissions policies and enforcement, updating each other ahead of implementation.
Singapore publicises emission rules for foreign motorists through media and posters at checkpoints, and vehicles are routinely screened at land entry points to ensure compliance with emission regulations.
Joint enforcement operations by LTA, NEA, and Traffic Police along roads target emission violations, with drivers offered composition sums for failing tests and excessive-smoke vehicles turned back at checkpoints.

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4 Oct 2022

Need for New Cruise and Ferry Infrastructure to Include Environmental Baseline Studies and Environmental Impact Assessment

Leon Perera asked whether the Singapore Tourism Board's survey for new cruise and ferry infrastructure would include Environmental Baseline Studies and Environmental Impact Assessments to evaluate coastal impacts, and whether the survey report would be made public.
Gan Kim Yong stated that developments near marine and coastal areas undergo consultations with agencies like NEA, NParks, MPA, and SFA to discuss environmental impacts and mitigation, with EIAs including baseline studies conducted where required.
He added that such reports are generally made publicly available unless confidentiality is needed for reasons like security considerations.

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4 Oct 2022

Publication of Findings from Public Consultation on Singapore's Climate Ambition

Dennis Tan asked if the full findings from the Public Consultation on Singapore's Climate Ambition would be published before any revision of climate strategies by end 2022.
The consultation, which closed on 26 September 2022, gathered nearly 500 responses as part of ongoing stakeholder engagement.
The government will publish a summary report of the aggregated findings before formally revising Singapore's Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy and 2030 NDC.

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4 Oct 2022

Evaluation of MRT Infrastructure Designs for Robustness in View of Climate Change

Dr. Tan Wu Meng inquired whether MRT infrastructure designs have been evaluated for robustness against climate change, including considerations for rising sea levels and soil changes, and if scenarios go beyond optimistic and median severity levels.
The Minister for Transport confirmed that MRT designs incorporate climate change scenarios such as rising sea levels, rainfall, temperature, and wind strength, referencing the Centre for Climate Research Singapore's Second National Climate Change Study and the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report.
MRT infrastructure also adheres to PUB's drainage and flood protection codes, with the Land Transport Authority regularly reviewing designs to align with international standards and the latest climate science, potentially implementing additional resilience measures.

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4 Oct 2022

Enforcement against Motorists for Exceeding Noise Emission Limits in Last Five Years

In the past five years, enforcement actions were taken against 167 vehicles in 2017, 177 in 2018, eight in 2019, nine in 2020, and 76 in 2021 for exceeding noise emission limits.
The National Environment Agency sets and enforces noise emission standards for vehicles based on feedback, targeting factors like illegal modifications and poor maintenance.
NEA is exploring the use of acoustic cameras for enforcement but notes they require rigorous testing due to limited accuracy in detecting individual vehicle noise violations.
The agency continues to consider trialling acoustic cameras to support enforcement during late-night and early-morning hours when traffic is light.

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4 Oct 2022

Tying Achievement of 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution and Climate Targets to Individual Ministry's KPIs and Senior Management Performance Bonuses

Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked whether Singapore's 2030 climate targets would be linked to individual ministries' KPIs and senior management performance bonuses.
Grace Fu Hai Yien stated that senior management performance bonuses in the public sector are not tied to climate targets.
She explained that progress on national greenhouse gas emissions is reported annually in the Budget Book and biennially in the Singapore Public Sector Outcomes Review.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change, chaired by Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, monitors progress toward national climate targets.

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4 Oct 2022

Measures to Further Reduce Number of Smoking Corners at Coffee Shops

Louis Ng asked for data on coffee shops without smoking corners over the past five years and what steps the Ministry will take to further reduce them.
Grace Fu stated that the National Environment Agency stopped accepting new smoking corner applications in 2017, with about 1,000 at that time dropping to around 600 by September 2022.
Currently, about 60% of coffee shops do not have smoking corners, and existing ones will be phased out when establishment licenses are terminated or cancelled.

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4 Oct 2022

Updating Safety Standards for Construction and Infrastructure Projects in Light of Climate Change

Mariam Jaafar inquired whether safety standards for construction and infrastructure are being updated to address climate change impacts.
Desmond Lee confirmed that existing building standards already require designs to withstand extreme environmental conditions like high temperatures, heavy rainfall, and strong winds.
The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has determined current standards are robust enough for Singapore's projected climate based on the IPCC's Fifth Assessment Report.
BCA will regularly review and update requirements to align with international standards and incorporate the latest climate projections, including the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report.

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4 Oct 2022

Relevance of Preferential Additional Registration Fee Scheme to Minimise Pollution from Older Vehicles

Murali Pillai questioned whether the Preferential Additional Registration Fee (PARF) scheme, aimed at keeping car fleets young and reducing pollution, remains relevant given Singapore’s electric vehicle goals and the environmental impact of battery production.
S Iswaran affirmed that the PARF scheme effectively reduces old car numbers, breakdowns, and pollution by promoting newer, cleaner-engine vehicles, with the average car age currently at nine to 10 years.
The Minister noted that as Singapore transitions to electric vehicles, the Land Transport Authority will study how vehicle age affects breakdown rates and reassess the PARF scheme’s relevance accordingly.

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4 Oct 2022

Funding and Implementation Details for Beverage Container Return Scheme

The proposed beverage container return scheme will be funded by beverage producers under an Extended Producer Responsibility approach, with a refundable deposit applied to plastic bottles and metal cans (150ml–3L) to encourage high return rates and quality recycling.
Large supermarkets (over 200 sq m) will be mandated to host return points, with additional voluntary return points in community spaces and hawker centres, while a not-for-profit industry-led operator will manage the scheme under NEA oversight.
The government will conduct cost-benefit analyses and regular evaluations, with revenue from recyclables and unclaimed deposits used to offset costs, and GST will not apply to the deposit.

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3 Oct 2022

Future Plans for Park Connector Networks

NParks aims to expand Singapore's park connector network from 370 km to 500 km by 2030, providing more options for residents to exercise near green spaces and water bodies.
A 360-km island-wide network of recreational routes, including park connectors and trails like the Round Island Route, is being established to allow longer walks and cycles in natural spaces.
These expansions support the goal of enabling all households to be within a 10-minute walk from a park by 2030 and enhance ecological connectivity to strengthen Singapore's resilience as a City in Nature.

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3 Oct 2022

Environmental Impact Assessments In Import Permits for Sand Consignments

Leon Perera asked whether the Government would tighten sand import rules and require environmental impact assessments in import permits for sand consignments.
Desmond Lee stated that sand imports are handled commercially, with importers expected to comply with source country laws and environmental regulations.
He noted that Singapore agencies verify that source countries' environmental approvals are in place before allowing sand imports to begin.
The response emphasises reliance on source country regulations rather than imposing new domestic requirements like environmental impact assessments.
No indication was given that the Government is currently planning to toughen sand import regulations or add EIA requirements.

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3 Oct 2022

Littering Problem Caused by Marketing Pamphlets and Materials from Estate Agents

Mr Don Wee asked the Minister for National Development about measures to ensure estate agents do not cause littering through excessive marketing pamphlets.
Desmond Lee explained that property agents are governed by the Estate Agents Act and a Code of Ethics, with guidelines for proper distribution of marketing materials.
The Council for Estate Agencies investigates complaints and can penalize agents with warnings, fines, or suspension for improper flyer distribution.
CEA is studying further measures, including promoting digital advertisements through the Real Estate Industry Transformation Map to reduce physical pamphlet litter.

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3 Oct 2022

Root Causes of Increase in Rodent Infestations

The National Environment Agency conducts regular surveillance showing a decrease in rat burrows detected in public areas from 4,740 in 2019 to around 4,100 in 2022.
Rodent infestations are driven by factors such as poorly managed bin centers, leftover food for stray animals, and improper waste disposal.
Stakeholders are required to maintain good housekeeping and pest control to prevent infestations, with enforcement actions possible for non-compliance.

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3 Oct 2022

Liquefied Natural Gas-Powered Commercial Ships Using Singapore Ports in Past Five Years

Over the past five years, the number of LNG-powered commercial ships using Singapore’s ports rose from 17 in 2020 to 24 in 2021, though the percentage share was not specified.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) incentivizes LNG adoption through the Green Port Programme, offering port dues reductions of 25–30% for LNG-powered vessels and an additional 10% reduction if served by LNG-fuelled domestic harbour craft.
MPA supports LNG-fuelled domestic harbour craft with a five-year waiver of port dues for new builds and co-funding, resulting in six such vessels currently in operation.
Under the Green Ship Programme, Singapore-flagged LNG-capable ships receive a 75% reduction on the Initial Registration Fee and a 50% rebate on the Annual Tonnage Tax.
The Ministry of Transport continues to promote LNG as a lower-carbon fuel through financial incentives and port policies to facilitate the shift toward greener shipping.

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3 Oct 2022

Improvement and Maintenance of Mountain Biking Trails

The National Parks Board inspects mountain biking trails every three months and conducts additional checks after heavy rainfall or reports, carrying out repairs as needed to ensure safety and environmental protection.
The Ministry is cautious about expanding trails due to potential adverse impacts on natural habitats, and will balance conservation efforts with community needs.
NParks manages over 28 kilometers of trails across locations like Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Chestnut Nature Park, and Pulau Ubin.
The maintenance regime focuses on drainage and overall condition, but no additional resources were explicitly promised in the response.

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3 Oct 2022

Progress of Scale-up of National Recycling Programme

The Ministry is making recycling more convenient by providing blue bins to HDB blocks, private properties, and condos, with new HDB blocks since 2014 fitted with recycling chutes, and deploying bins in public areas; e-waste and beverage container schemes will further complement the National Recycling Programme.
To address contamination and improve habits, the Recycle Right Campaign launched in 2019 introduced a mascot and online tools, leading to a decrease in contamination rates since January 2022; a new compact household recycling container is also being designed with the Singapore Institute of Technology.
Recycling bin collection frequency at HDB estates has been increased to at least three times weekly since April 2020, with larger-capacity bins introduced where space allows, and resources being deployed to areas with higher recycling rates.

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3 Oct 2022

Sustainability Criteria Applied to Infrastructure Projects under Singapore Green Bond Framework

Ms He Ting Ru raised concerns about using green bond proceeds to fund the Cross Island Line due to environmental issues and asked for the specific sustainability criteria applied to ensure projects remain truly green.
Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong explained that the government conducts thorough reviews of all projects' environmental impacts and works with stakeholders to mitigate risks, regardless of financing source, and that the Cross Island Line follows this process with public sharing of assessments.
He stated that the Singapore Green Bond Framework includes stringent eligibility criteria, such as the "Clean Transportation" category, and that the Cross Island Line qualifies as it is an electric rail line with zero direct emissions.
The framework was independently assessed as credible and aligned with international standards, and investor demand affirmed confidence in its green credentials, with annual reports on allocation and impact to be published for transparency.

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