Environment & climate — Topics

13 Sep 2021

Annual Value of Export and Trade Surplus or Deficit with European Union and Impact of EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on Singapore's Exports

Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked for the annual export value and trade balance with the EU for cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilisers, and electricity from 2016 to 2020, as well as the impact of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and Singapore’s plans in response.
Gan Kim Yong explained that CBAM targets five sectors—cement, iron and steel, aluminium, fertilisers, and electricity—with a transitional reporting period from 2023 to 2025 and full implementation from 2026.
He noted that the impact on Singapore’s domestic exports to the EU is limited, with affected products making up only 0.08% (about S$14 million) of the average S$19 billion annual domestic exports from 2016 to 2020.
Gan emphasized that Singapore supports multilateral climate action and expects CBAM to be applied in a non-discriminatory, WTO-consistent manner, while engaging the EU to ensure trade relations remain strong.
He added that the government will assist companies in using the EU-Singapore Free Trade Agreement and navigating CBAM requirements, while maintaining close dialogue with EU counterparts.

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13 Sep 2021

Study to Assess Amount of External Methane Emissions Associated with Piped and Liquefied Natural Gas Imported and Consumed in Singapore

Chua Kheng Wee Louis asked if the Ministry of Trade and Industry has studied the external methane emissions from both piped and liquefied natural gas imported and consumed in Singapore.
Gan Kim Yong stated that Singapore imports natural gas from multiple sources, and the emissions vary due to differences in production, processing, transportation, and distribution across these sources.
He confirmed that no study has been conducted on the external methane emissions associated with Singapore's imported and consumed natural gas.

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13 Sep 2021

Plans to Reduce Wastage in Food, Gears and Logistics within SAF Camps under Singapore Green Plan

The Ministry of Defence is committed to reducing waste generation by 30% by 2030 under the Singapore Green Plan, with measures including meal forecasting and an electronic system to cut food wastage to about 1% of meals catered.
To minimize gear wastage, servicemen receive annual eMart credits to replace equipment as needed, and the SAF has set up collection points for recycling old uniforms and boots, with plans to expand food recycling to all cookhouses by 2024.
The SAF also recycles scrap metals, electronic waste, chemicals, and waste oil through dedicated contracts, and will explore further measures to reduce and minimize wastage.
MINDEF balances operational needs with biodiversity concerns by adhering to the national Environmental Impact Assessment framework and consulting agencies like NParks and nature groups, subject to security considerations.

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13 Sep 2021

Public Consultation for Review on Carbon Tax

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked if there would be public consultation on the review of the carbon tax.
Lawrence Wong confirmed that the review of the post-2023 carbon tax level and trajectory is underway, with outcomes to be announced in Budget 2022.
He stated that the government will engage widely, including seeking public views, as part of the review process.
The transition to a sustainable future involves trade-offs but also opportunities for innovation and growth.
The government will continue to support Singaporeans and businesses through this transition.

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13 Sep 2021

COVID-19 Pandemic's Impact on Greening Plan for New and Existing Parks

Miss Cheryl Chan asked if the pandemic has affected the greening plan to develop new parks and enhance existing ones by 2026.
Desmond Lee confirmed the government remains committed to adding over 130 hectares of new parks and enhancing about 170 hectares of existing parks by 2026.
Some projects may face delays due to COVID-19-related manpower and material shortages, but NParks will work to minimise these setbacks.
NParks continues to engage stakeholders virtually to design new parks and will press ahead with the City in Nature vision.

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13 Sep 2021

Proposal to Slow Down Sale of Government Land Parcels for New Developments to Preserve Green Spaces

Ms Poh Li San proposed slowing government land sales to preserve green spaces and incentivizing energy-efficient air-conditioning in buildings, citing climate concerns and the building sector's high carbon emissions.
Minister Desmond Lee emphasized the government's long-term land use planning that balances housing, green spaces, and other needs, while committing to expand green spaces by 1,000 hectares and plant one million more trees by 2030.
The government calibrates land supply carefully, imposes higher sustainability requirements on new developments, and supports building owners through grants and financing schemes for energy-efficient retrofits.

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13 Sep 2021

Review of Plans for Decarbonisation of Power Grids and Reduction of Carbon Footprint in Data Centres and Industry Sectors

Poh Li San asked the Ministry for Trade and Industry to accelerate decarbonisation by importing more renewable energy and impose stricter carbon emission quotas on high-footprint sectors like petrochemicals, semiconductors, and data centres.
Gan Kim Yong reaffirmed Singapore’s climate commitments, including peaking emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero, and noted plans to quintuple solar capacity by 2030 while exploring imported renewable energy and low-carbon sources like hydrogen.
The government is reviewing the carbon tax trajectory post-2023 and using incentives like the Resource Efficiency Grant for Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund to help companies improve efficiency and adopt cleaner technologies.

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13 Sep 2021

Shoring Up Emergency Preparedness to Deal With Weather Phenomena Due To Climatic Change

The Singapore Civil Defence Force has long educated the public through materials like the Civil Defence Emergency Handbook, interactive exhibits, and advisories on responding to various weather-related emergencies.
An inter-agency Wildfire Task Force led by SCDF implements preventive measures such as vegetation management to mitigate risks from drier, hotter conditions linked to climate change.
The government regularly conducts multi-agency contingency exercises to update emergency planning assumptions and improve coordination for climate-induced weather events.

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13 Sep 2021

Update on Plans and Timeline for Projects to Protect Singapore's Coastlines from Impact of Climate Change

The Minister stated that sea-level rise of up to one metre by 2100 poses an existential threat to Singapore, and the government is using the latest climate projections, including from the IPCC, to inform coastal protection plans.
Site-specific studies for coastal protection, including polders, seawalls, and hybrid solutions, have begun for the East Coast, with similar studies for Jurong Island and the North-West coast set to commence in 2022.
A pilot polder project is underway at Pulau Tekong to assess feasibility, and the Ministry aims to keep adaptation measures nimble to account for evolving climate science and uncertainties.

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13 Sep 2021

Singapore's Measures to Mitigate Impact of Higher Temperatures on Residents, Fauna, Flora and Sea Levels

The government is developing a heat mitigation action plan, including cool paint pilots on HDB blocks and expanding urban greenery like planting 170,000 more trees in industrial estates to combat higher temperatures.
Research is being intensified under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Plan 2025 to study climate change impacts on terrestrial, coastal, and marine ecosystems to guide biodiversity conservation efforts.
Coastal protection and flood resilience are being strengthened through site-specific studies, a new Coastal-Inland Flood Model, and investments of $1.4 billion over five years for drainage works.
The government will adopt a science-based, flexible approach to updating long-term coastal protection plans, while building community resilience through partnerships with local stakeholders.

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13 Sep 2021

Review of Targets in Singapore Green Plan following Sixth Assessment Report of UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

Members of Parliament asked about Singapore's carbon emissions before and after COVID-19, whether pandemic-related habits like telecommuting can reduce emissions, and if the IPCC report will lead to revisions in the Singapore Green Plan targets.
The Minister acknowledged a decline in emissions in 2020 due to lower economic activity, but noted that telecommuting's impact is unclear as household and delivery-related emissions increased, and a full analysis is pending.
Singapore remains committed to its climate goals, with plans to review and strengthen initiatives, including the carbon tax and public sector targets, as technology and international cooperation evolve.
The government is advancing efforts like solar deployment, building greening, and low-carbon tech investments, while emphasizing that the Green Plan is dynamic and will be updated as conditions allow.
The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) integrates sustainability into its processes but makes independent investment decisions, while tracking of climate commitments is done through the Inter-Ministerial Committee and UN reporting.

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13 Sep 2021

Fight against Illegal Trade of Species Listed under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

The Minister reported that illegal wildlife trade in Singapore has shifted from air passenger baggage to parcel post due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and increased e-commerce, with NParks investigating these cases and enforcing actions.
Singapore is enhancing its enforcement regime by training officers at border and parcel post offices, collaborating with logistics and e-commerce partners, and deploying a new K9 unit to detect illegal wildlife and products.
The government is leveraging science and technology, including the new Centre for Wildlife Forensics, to improve investigation and prosecution, while reviewing the Endangered Species (Import and Export) Act to strengthen regulatory powers.

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13 Sep 2021

Environmental Protection and Management (Amendment) Bill

The bill aims to reduce hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) emissions from refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment by requiring low-GWP refrigerants in new equipment, with measures like technician certification and financial grants to ease the transition for businesses.
To address construction noise, the bill mandates electronic video surveillance for sites that violate no-work rules on Sundays and public holidays, with the goal of improving compliance and enforcement while balancing the need to expedite delayed projects post-pandemic.
Members raised concerns about the economic impact on SMEs, the need for public education on noise regulations, and ensuring the integrity of surveillance systems, with the minister assuring that costs are manageable and existing feedback channels will be enhanced.

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13 Sep 2021

Environmental Protection and Management (Amendment) Bill

The Bill introduces new measures to reduce hydrofluorocarbon emissions from refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment by phasing out high-GWP refrigerants, mandating registration of suppliers and technicians, and classifying spent refrigerants as industrial waste to ensure proper disposal.
It strengthens enforcement of the no-work rule on Sundays and public holidays for construction sites near residences by allowing electronic video surveillance for repeat offenders, while most compliant sites remain unaffected.
The amendments aim to align Singapore with international climate commitments, support the Singapore Green Plan 2030, and address both climate change and quality-of-life concerns like construction noise.
Members raised queries on expanding HFC regulation to other equipment, ensuring accessible training for technicians, and considering stricter noise limits, with the Minister committing to ongoing reviews and stakeholder engagement.

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3 Aug 2021

HDB Blocks Found Not Amenable to Deployment of Surveillance Cameras for Detection of High-rise Littering

The Minister explained that with over 12,000 HDB blocks of varying designs, the National Environment Agency (NEA) assesses each block for camera feasibility and uses creative mounting solutions to deploy surveillance in tight spaces.
For blocks where cameras are unsuitable, NEA conducts site investigations and interviews to collect evidence, while partnering with Town Councils for timely information sharing.
Beyond enforcement, NEA and Town Councils use community-oriented strategies like informative standees and posters to shape norms and deter high-rise littering.

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3 Aug 2021

Adoption Rate of Solar Photovoltaic Systems in Private Residential Estates and Condominiums

The installed capacity of solar PV systems in private residential estates and condominiums has increased by over 200% in the past five years.
The government does not provide grants or subsidies as solar energy costs have fallen below retail electricity prices.
Schemes like the Simplified Credit Treatment and Enhanced Central Intermediary allow residents to sell excess solar power back to the grid.
The Building and Construction Authority encourages solar adoption through recognition in the Green Mark scheme.
The government will continue working with stakeholders to maximize solar energy adoption in Singapore.

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3 Aug 2021

Requests for Removal of Bee Hives

From 2016 to 2020, NParks received about 8,400 requests to remove bee, wasp, and hornet hives.
NParks uses the Nature Conservation Masterplan to protect key pollinators through habitat enhancement, nest boxes, and a bee trail at HortPark.
Public safety is prioritized by removing hives in public areas, often via pest control, with ecological impact assessed as low for common honey bees.
NParks and NEA collaborate to balance pest control with biodiversity protection, conducting studies on pollinator ecology.
The ministry is open to considering pollinator protection measures but focuses on safety and existing conservation efforts.

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3 Aug 2021

Carbon Emission Targets for Companies Owned by Government Investment Entities

The Government does not prescribe, prescribe, or audit specific net carbon emission targets for companies owned by its investment entities like GIC and Temasek, as these entities make independent commercial decisions.
GIC and Temasek integrate sustainability considerations holistically into their investment processes to protect and enhance long-term portfolio value, viewing climate change as a crucial challenge.
Both entities prioritize sustainability as core to their investment strategies, recognizing that strong practices are essential for sustainable returns and that poor practices increase business, reputational, and environmental risks.

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3 Aug 2021

Reduction of Marine Debris in Regional Action Plan under ASEAN Framework of Action on Marine Debris

The ASEAN Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris, launched in May 2021, focuses on upstream measures to tackle land-based plastic waste without setting specific reduction targets.
Singapore supports the plan and aligns it with national efforts to reduce plastic waste through circular economy approaches, but has no plans to pursue specific reduction targets with ASEAN partners.
Singapore contributes to regional capacity building by sharing expertise and organizing training programs on waste management to prevent marine debris leakage.

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3 Aug 2021

Developing Action Plan for Urban Wildlife Management with Stronger Focus on Co-existence Measures

Mr Louis Ng called for an action plan on urban wildlife management with a stronger focus on co-existence, involving nature groups and reducing removal of wildlife that frames native species as pests.
The Senior Minister of State highlighted NParks’ holistic, science-based approach that partners stakeholders for education, outreach, and research to promote human-wildlife co-existence, while noting removal may be necessary for public safety.
Mr Ng pressed specifically on ending the poisoning of wild animals due to unintended deaths of non-target species, citing a recent sea eagle case.
The Senior Minister of State responded that NParks does not use poison for pest bird control and is encouraging Town Councils to adopt humane and safe animal control measures.

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