Environment & climate — Topics

5 Apr 2021

Eco-system Approach to Tackle Bird Pest Issues

The Minister outlined a holistic, science-based approach to managing pest birds, including crows and pigeons, through food source reduction, habitat modification, and population control informed by ecological studies.
NParks partners with multiple agencies and Town Councils on education, outreach, and enforcement, including the "Say No to Feeding Wildlife" campaign and stiffer penalties up to $5,000 for illegal feeding under the Wildlife Act.
Ongoing research examines pest bird ecology and factors like food availability, cleanliness, and building design to refine strategies, while public cooperation in not feeding birds and keeping areas clean is emphasized as key to control.

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5 Apr 2021

Supply Chain Audit to Evaluate Environmental Impact of Any Upcoming Land Reclamation Projects

He Ting Ru asked whether the government would conduct a full supply chain audit for the environmental impact of upcoming land reclamation projects and make the environmental impact assessment public.
Desmond Lee stated that all land reclamation projects already undergo environmental studies with agencies like NParks and NEA, with reports made publicly available unless there are security considerations.
He added that imported reclamation sand is subject to commercial procurement with suppliers required to comply with local and source country laws, including providing export licenses and permits.

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5 Apr 2021

Proposal to Review COE Renewal Intervals Given Plan to Transit to Low-emissions Vehicles

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim questioned why COEs for personal-use vehicles in Categories A, B, and D can only be renewed once for five years, unlike Category C vehicles which can be renewed multiple times, and suggested exempting hybrid and electric vehicles from the single renewal limit if they pass emissions inspections.
Minister Ong Ye Kung explained that the COE system’s main goal is congestion control, with emissions regulated through other policies, and that allowing repeated renewals for personal vehicles would reduce COEs available for new bidders, upsetting equity between existing and prospective owners.
He noted that the single five-year renewal for personal vehicles is an exceptional measure for owners whose cars may not last another full decade, while Category C vehicles for businesses have a 20-year statutory lifespan and allow flexible renewals to support commercial decisions.
The Minister emphasized that the current approach balances sustainability with system fairness, and that other policy levers, not COE renewals, are used to manage vehicle emissions.

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5 Apr 2021

Impact of Transition to Low-carbon Emission Regime on Petrochemical Industries and Workers

Minister Chan Chun Sing stated that Singapore's Energy and Chemicals sector employed 27,000 workers in 2020, with 4,600 being work permit holders, and highlighted government studies on the low-carbon transition's implications.
The sector faces risks of downsizing or displacement if companies cannot decarbonise quickly, but it also offers opportunities by supplying materials for green technologies and aiding in carbon capture innovations.
The government is committed to supporting the sector's adaptation to become globally competitive and energy-efficient, aiming to sustain good employment opportunities for Singaporeans amid the transition.

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5 Apr 2021

Land Transport Authority of Singapore (Amendment) Bill

The bill aims to amend the Land Transport Authority Act to promote the use of electric vehicles and make a related amendment to the Electricity Act.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Ong Ye Kung, presented the bill for its first reading in Parliament.
The bill is scheduled for a second reading at the next available parliamentary sitting and will be printed thereafter.

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8 Mar 2021

Increase Emphasis on Civic-mindness in Current Self-return Concept for Trays, Utensil and Cutlery in Hawker Centers

Christopher de Souza asked the Ministry for Sustainability and the Environment to increase emphasis on civic-mindedness in the self-return system for trays and utensils in hawker centres.
Grace Fu Hai Yien outlined ongoing efforts since the 2000s, including the Tray Return Programme launched in July 2020 and the Clean Tables Campaign in February 2021, to promote tray return through behavioural nudges, infrastructure improvements, and publicity.
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for tray return to prevent health hazards from food remnants and protect cleaners, whose average age is around 60.
The campaign includes refreshed posters, banners, and audio announcements, with more tray return racks being installed and community outreach through volunteers and educational institutions.
The minister encouraged everyone to participate in keeping hawker centres clean and safe as community dining spaces.

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5 Mar 2021

Use of More Sustainable Materials as Alternative to Plastics in Local Mask Manufacturing

Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin asked the Minister for Trade and Industry about government efforts to encourage innovation in using sustainable materials instead of plastics for local mask manufacturing.
Minister Chan Chun Sing acknowledged the increased importance of sustainable materials due to rising disposable mask usage during COVID-19.
The government has started promoting reusable masks to reduce material use and waste.
The government will explore ways to encourage the use of more environmentally friendly materials in mask production.

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4 Mar 2021

Individual Resale of Excess Power Produced from Private Sources

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim questioned whether the Ministry for Trade and Industry has considered establishing a system for individuals to resell excess power from private sources like home solar panels.
Chan Chun Sing explained that households and small businesses can already sell excess solar power into the wholesale market through intermediaries like SP Services via the SCT or ECIS schemes.
He added that larger businesses can directly sell excess power by registering as market participants with the Energy Market Company, and more details are available on the EMA website.

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4 Mar 2021

Enhancement to Public Sector Taking the Lead in Environmental Sustainability (PSTLES) initiatives

Leon Perera inquired about the timeline for the next enhancement to the PSTLES initiatives and the possibility of shifting government vehicles to electric models.
Grace Fu Hai Yien announced that PSTLES has been rebranded as GreenGov.SG under the Singapore Green Plan 2030, with key shifts to be detailed in the MSE Committee of Supply 2021 debates.
From 2023, new government vehicle purchases will be cleaner and greener where feasible, with agencies like MINDEF aiming for an all-electric fleet by 2030.
The government is actively studying ways to accelerate electric vehicle adoption in the public service as part of GreenGov.SG.
More specific targets, strategies, and initiatives for GreenGov.SG will be developed and released over the course of the year.

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4 Mar 2021

Current State of Flora and Fauna in Singapore and Native Plants that Have Become Extinct

Shawn Huang Wei Zhong asked the Minister for National Development about the status of native flora and fauna, including studies conducted, number of endangered native plant species, and how many have become extinct since independence.
NParks conducts regular biodiversity surveys and estimates 35,000 to 45,000 native species, with 258 native plants endangered, 722 critically endangered, and 565 presumed nationally extinct based on the 2019 "Flora of Singapore."
NParks is working to improve the viability of threatened plants through the Species Recovery Programme, which involves propagation and reintroduction into original or suitable habitats.
The agency continues to engage the community via education and outreach to boost awareness and participation in biodiversity conservation as Singapore becomes a City in Nature.

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4 Mar 2021

Committee of Supply – Head L (Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment)

The debate centered on the Singapore Green Plan 2030, with ministers outlining a whole-of-nation strategy across five pillars: City in Nature, Sustainable Living, Energy Reset, Green Economy, and a Resilient Future, aiming for net-zero emissions as soon as viable.
MPs raised concerns about climate adaptation, particularly coastal protection and inland flooding, with the government detailing plans for site-specific studies, new drainage projects, and a $5 billion Coastal and Flood Protection Fund.
Discussions covered waste management and hawker culture sustainability, including the implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility for e-waste, food waste segregation requirements, and support for a new generation of hawkers through development and succession schemes.

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4 Mar 2021

Proposal to Deploy Smaller and More Discreet Surveillance Cameras for Capturing High-rise Littering

Louis Ng asked if the government would consider smaller, more discreet surveillance cameras for high-rise littering to avoid alerting potential offenders.
The Senior Minister of State replied that the National Environment Agency (NEA) continuously reviews camera technology but noted that smaller cameras often have shorter optical range and duration, requiring a comprehensive assessment of effectiveness.
Louis Ng pressed for a timeframe on reviewing current camera effectiveness, citing ongoing feedback that cameras deter littering only while installed and are removed, creating a resource-wasting cat-and-mouse game.
The Senior Minister of State explained that NEA deploys cameras discreetly by placing them at ground level or adjacent blocks, and emphasized trade-offs between camera size, surveillance duration, battery needs, tamper-proofing, and optical range for effective enforcement.
The minister concluded that while enforcement acts as a deterrent, long-term solutions rely on fostering collective responsibility and civic-mindedness among residents.

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3 Mar 2021

Committee of Supply – Head L (Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment)

Mariam Jaafar called for a strategic review of skills and jobs in the green economy to ensure local workers benefit, and for integrating sustainable development education in schools to prepare an informed citizenry.
Edward Chia proposed an "ESG mark for Singapore" with tiered, sector-specific standards to guide businesses, investors, and consumers, and suggested incorporating ESG criteria into enterprise grant evaluations.
Desmond Choo asked for additional government support for SMEs to adopt green technologies and for a transition plan for the oil and gas sector, seeking clarity on new green jobs and how to prepare workers for them.
Henry Kwek emphasized a balanced approach to the petrochemical sector, urging for high carbon efficiency standards, and requested an update on carbon capture technologies from the Ministry.

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3 Mar 2021

Committee of Supply – Head L (Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment)

MPs urged the government to set more ambitious climate goals, including a net-zero by 2050 pledge, and questioned the trade-offs and economic impacts of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, such as land use for solar energy and the carbon tax's effect on competitiveness.
Multiple speakers raised concerns about the energy grid's readiness for electric vehicle (EV) adoption, the need for more charging infrastructure, and the challenges of making EVs affordable and practical for consumers and fleets.
The debate emphasized the need for a whole-of-society approach, calling for stronger public-private-people partnerships, better environmental education in schools, and more ground-up initiatives to support the green transition.

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3 Mar 2021

NParks' Tree Inspection Regime

NParks conducts regular tree inspections every six to 24 months, with more frequent checks for trees in high-traffic areas, and uses advanced diagnostics for trees with defects or those larger than four metres in girth.
The government has reduced tree failure incidents significantly through measures like pruning, replacing vulnerable species, and using technology to model risks, though complete prevention is impossible due to natural factors.
NParks collaborates with Town Councils by training arborists and providing guidance to maintain consistent tree care standards across public and private areas.
The ministry uses tree support systems like cabling in select cases but notes potential limitations for young trees and safety concerns in parks.
Public education and reporting channels are available for park safety, with advisories on hazards and procedures for reporting tree or facility issues.

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2 Mar 2021

Study on Possibility of Introducing Mandatory Labelling Scheme for Shark Products

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked if the Ministry of National Development has studied a mandatory labelling scheme for all shark products specifying the species, and requested the study results or timeline if not done.
Desmond Lee responded that Singapore regulates international shark trade under CITES via the Endangered Species Act, requiring CITES permits for scheduled species to ensure legality, sustainability, and traceability.
The Ministry's approach focuses on upstream regulation at import and targeting illicit trade, rather than consumer-level labelling, aligning with most CITES Parties' practices.

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2 Mar 2021

Follow-up Actions After NParks-funded Study on Feral Pigeons

NParks confirmed that human-provided food is a key factor in wild bird population growth and will continue multi-pronged management including food source reduction, habitat modification, and population control.
NParks is collaborating with the Singapore Food Agency, National Environment Agency, and Town Councils to enforce against littering and illegal bird-feeding while promoting proper food waste management.
The “Say No to Feeding Wildlife” campaign launched in January 2021 will continue as part of outreach and education efforts to discourage feeding wild birds and maintain public cleanliness.

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1 Mar 2021

Moving Work Site A1W1 for Cross Island Line Further into Singapore Island Country Club

The Ministry for Transport, through the Land Transport Authority (LTA), has engaged nature groups and an engineering consultant to reduce the impact of the Cross Island Line's worksite A1W1 on the Raffles Banded Langurs.
The worksite has been optimised, cutting its footprint by over half and moving it about 150 metres from the langurs' habitat—much farther than the original 30 metres—with agreement from the Singapore Island Country Club.
LTA will continue collaborating with nature groups to mitigate environmental impacts during construction, aiming to balance wildlife preservation with Singapore's transport infrastructure needs.

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1 Mar 2021

Carbon Emissions of Ride-hailing Industry and Proposal to Transit Industry to Electric Vehicles

Dennis Tan asked about the carbon emissions from Singapore's ride-hailing industry and plans to transition its vehicles to electric ones.
The government reported that ride-hailing generated 0.3 million tonnes of carbon emissions in 2020, about 4% of the land transport sector's total.
The Land Transport Master Plan 2040 commits taxi and private hire car companies to full cleaner energy fleets by 2040, with operators already adding electric vehicles.
The government is working with industry partners to accelerate the shift to electric vehicles, noting progress such as cleaner energy vehicles rising from 18% to nearly 60% for taxis since 2018.
While no specific periodic milestones were set, the government highlighted ongoing efforts and collaboration to transition the ride-hail fleet to cleaner energy vehicles.

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1 Mar 2021

Promoting Demand for Locally Grown Produce

The Ministry is promoting local produce through campaigns like Singapore Food Story, the SG Fresh Produce logo, and partnerships with retailers and e-commerce platforms to boost consumer support and market access.
Initiatives such as the upcoming "Clean and Green" certification and Citizens' Workgroup recommendations aim to enhance sustainability, with plans for pilots targeting specific customer groups like new mothers.
The Lim Chu Kang masterplanning will integrate waste management and recycling services to address environmental concerns, while export support for local farms is encouraged to improve competitiveness without compromising the "30 by 30" food security goal.

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