Environment & climate — Topics

4 Mar 2019

Prevention of Spillage on Roads by Trucks that Carry Sand

The Ministry engages sand suppliers and transport companies to ensure lorries are covered and conducts enforcement actions, with fines up to $1,000 for uncovered transport and $2,000 for spillage.
NEA uses portable cameras and stake-outs at hotspots to monitor and penalize errant vehicles, while LTA patrols to enforce weight limits with fines or jail for overloading.
Members of the public are encouraged to report spillage to NEA, and feedback indicates a decline in incidents, though enforcement and upstream checks with contractors are considered for improvement.

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27 Feb 2019

Singapore's Plastic Waste for Recycling

Mr. Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources to identify the countries to which Singapore exported plastic waste meant for recycling in 2017, 2018, and the current year.
The Minister, Masagos Zulkifli B M M, stated that over the three years, plastics collected for recycling but not processed locally were sorted and exported to countries in Southeast Asia and the wider Asian region.
The Minister named China, India, Pakistan, Australia, and South Korea as examples of the destination countries for Singapore's exported plastic waste.

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26 Feb 2019

Amount of Plastic Waste Produced in Past Five Years

Louis Ng asked for the amount of plastic waste produced in Singapore over the past five years, broken down by incineration, local recycling, and overseas export.
Masagos Zulkifli provided specific annual plastic waste figures from 2013 to 2017, ranging from about 815,000 to 869,000 tonnes.
Across these years, 6% to 11% of plastic waste was recycled, with the remainder incinerated.
In 2017, only 4% of collected plastics were processed locally, while the rest were sorted and exported for recycling.
The response highlights Singapore’s reliance on incineration and overseas recycling for managing plastic waste.

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18 Feb 2019

Annual Budget Statement

The Minister for Finance outlined a strategic budget focused on safeguarding Singapore’s security and sovereignty amid global uncertainties, committing about 30% of expenditure to defence, diplomacy, and cyber security, while urging national unity and vigilance against evolving threats.
Economic transformation measures include support for enterprises and workers through industry transformation maps, enhanced financing schemes, and tighter foreign workforce policies in services to drive productivity, with $4.6 billion allocated over three years for capability-building and job initiatives.
Social policies emphasize caring for an ageing population, with a Merdeka Generation Package offering lifelong healthcare benefits and a $6.1 billion fund, alongside enhanced Workfare support and a new $5.1 billion Long-Term Care Support Fund for CareShield Life subsidies.
Climate change and infrastructure resilience are prioritized, with plans for long-term investments in sustainability, zero-waste initiatives, and coastal protection, alongside fiscal measures like diesel tax adjustments to promote greener practices.
The budget maintains fiscal discipline with a projected deficit, funded by past reserves, and sets out a fair, progressive tax system while preparing for a future GST increase, ensuring intergenerational equity and sustainable growth.

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13 Feb 2019

Ensuring Accuracy of Species Declarations for Shark’s Fin Shipments

The Senior Parliamentary Secretary stated that Singapore regulates shark fin trade under CITES rules and that, based on targeted enforcement and tip-offs, AVA found only one wrongly declared consignment in the past five years, but did not provide the percentage of shipments sampled for DNA analysis.
Louis Ng pressed for clarification on the percentage of shipments subjected to DNA sampling and on the lack of response regarding a mandatory labelling scheme for shark species.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary explained that DNA testing is conducted on shipments flagged by surveillance or tip-offs, and that a mandatory labelling scheme based on environmental considerations would require further study due to regulatory and resource implications.

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12 Feb 2019

Regulations and Frameworks Involving Firework Displays

Six companies are exempted under the Dangerous Fireworks Act to conduct firework displays in public spaces, such as for concerts and the National Day Parade, but must follow strict safety conditions stipulated in the Dangerous Fireworks (Exemption) Notification 2018.
These conditions include certifying fireworks as safe by authorities and manufacturers, and adhering to rules on storage, safety distances, and fire direction during displays.
Ambient air and water quality monitoring by relevant agencies has shown no long-term environmental impact of concern from fireworks displays so far.

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12 Feb 2019

Cool Climate Solutions for Singapore in Light of Rapidly Rising Global Temperatures

The Singapore government is addressing rising temperatures and the Urban Heat Island effect through measures such as designing HDB flats for better wind flow, incorporating green spaces, and using building materials that limit solar heat absorption.
Energy efficiency is a key strategy, with policies like the amended Energy Conservation Act, a carbon tax, and enhanced grants to reduce industrial energy consumption and emissions.
Household and building sectors are targeted through mandatory energy labelling and minimum performance standards for appliances, alongside promoting energy-efficient building designs.
The government continues to invest in research and development to study the local microclimate and leverage technology to help Singaporeans cope with increasing heat.

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12 Feb 2019

National Parks Board (Amendment) Bill

The National Parks Board (Amendment) Bill transfers non-food plant and animal-related functions from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to the National Parks Board (NParks) to create a one-stop agency for animal management, wildlife conservation, and plant health, with the new Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS) as the main touchpoint.
Parliament members raised concerns about human-animal conflicts, such as snakes, monkeys, and wild boars in residential areas, urging NParks to improve public education, enforcement against illegal fishing, and develop humane wildlife management strategies instead of relying on culling.
Additional issues highlighted include the need for clearer agency coordination, the handling of unhygienic pet conditions in HDB flats, and the management of public disamenities like rat infestations linked to cat feeding, with calls for NParks to have stronger enforcement powers and stakeholder collaboration.

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12 Feb 2019

Feedback on Pollution Produced by Burning of Joss Paper and Incense

The Ministry received about 1,100 pieces of feedback on joss paper and incense burning in 2015, declining to around 500 in 2018, and works with Town Councils and religious groups to promote responsible burning through educational materials and cleaner joss burners.
To address large-scale burning, the Ministry advises locating metal cages away from dense residential areas and has introduced eco-friendly burners with filtration systems at venues like Mandai Columbarium and Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery.
Mr Gan Thiam Poh inquired about incentives to improve the design of large metal cages used in public housing estates, especially since their proximity to homes causes complaints.
The Ministry explained that large metal cages require temporary approval from Town Councils for specific events like the seventh month festival or funerals, and it encourages better burner designs and trials of eco-friendly technology to minimize smoke and fly ash emissions.

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11 Feb 2019

Measures to Reduce Food Wastage in Singapore

The Minister highlighted that food waste is one of Singapore's largest waste streams, with 810,000 tonnes generated in 2017 and a recycling rate of only 16%, prompting a multi-pronged approach to reduction, redistribution, and recycling.
Current initiatives include public education campaigns, school programmes like "Love Your Food @ Schools," and guidebooks for the food industry to reduce waste across the supply chain and facilitate redistribution of excess food.
The government supports food waste recycling through co-funding onsite treatment systems and pilot projects, such as segregating food waste in HDB estates to produce fertiliser and non-potable water.
Future measures will target homes, schools, workplaces, and food establishments as part of the Zero Waste Masterplan, with $2 million set aside for ground-up projects and public consultation to co-create solutions.
The Ministry emphasised that reducing food waste requires collective effort beyond government action, involving community engagement, partnerships, and innovative approaches to achieve zero waste goals.

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11 Feb 2019

Assistance to Hawker Associations to Eradicate Nuisance of Pigeons and Crows at Hawker Centres

Lim Biow Chuan asked the Minister for Environment and Water Resources for more NEA assistance to hawkers associations to tackle pigeon and crow nuisances.
The Minister outlined multi-agency efforts including public education, enforcement against feeding and littering, proper waste management, and bird control operations.
Physical deterrents like bird spikes and perimeter netting are used, and hawkers associations facing difficulties can seek NEA support.
The Minister stressed that patrons also play a role by returning crockery and trays to reduce food remnants that attract birds.

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11 Feb 2019

Environmental Impact Assessments for Construction Works Near National Parks or Nature Reserves

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked the Minister for National Development whether EIAs would be made mandatory for all construction works near national parks or nature reserves and whether such reports would be publicly available.
The Second Minister for National Development, Mr Desmond Lee, stated that projects near sensitive areas already undergo in-depth consultations and further environmental studies if impacts are significant, with findings made public unless there are security reasons.
Mr Ng followed up, suggesting that releasing full EIA reports minus sensitive data could clarify ground disputes, citing the Tengah case, to which the Minister responded that EIA reports are gazetted in full and findings have been shared with the public and nature groups.

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15 Jan 2019

Efforts to Integrate Environmental Education into Education System

Environmental education is integrated across subjects at primary and secondary levels, covering topics like conservation, pollution, resource use, and climate change through Science, Social Studies, and Geography.
Schools use inquiry-based learning, real-world examples, excursions, and fieldwork to reinforce environmental concepts, alongside co-curricular activities like environmental clubs and projects.
The Ministry welcomes stakeholder inputs to enrich student learning and will incorporate feedback into ongoing curriculum reviews.

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14 Jan 2019

Monitoring of Ambient Air Quality of Civil and Military Airports and Their Vicinity

The Minister stated that the National Environment Agency monitors ambient air quality across Singapore with five national stations that cover the five regions where civil and military airports are located, and that this includes pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulphur oxides, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), and ozone, reported hourly as the Pollutants Standard Index (PSI).
The Minister added that in 2018, Singapore’s air quality remained in the "Good" to "Moderate" range for 100% of days based on PSI readings, and that the data is publicly available every hour on NEA and haze websites and the myENV app.
The Minister also noted that the NEA continuously monitors ambient Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) levels, which are typically emitted by industries, and that these levels are comparable to those in major European Union, Japanese, and United States cities.

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14 Jan 2019

Average Number of Foreign-registered Motor Vehicles Driven in Singapore on a Given Day by Vehicle Type

In the last 12 months, foreign vehicles made an average of two million trips into Singapore per month, with motorcycles accounting for 78% of these trips, cars 15%, and the remainder by goods vehicles, buses, and taxis.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) enforces vehicular emission regulations at entry checkpoints, issuing on-the-spot notices for non-compliant vehicles and turning back excessively smoky commercial vehicles.
NEA collaborates with the Land Transport Authority and Traffic Police to conduct joint operations against noisy foreign vehicles and will continue exploring measures to reduce emissions from such vehicles.
The public is encouraged to report smoky or noisy foreign vehicles via NEA’s online feedback form, myENV application, or hotline.

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14 Jan 2019

Inspection Frequency for Mature Trees in Parks

Mature trees in parks are inspected every 12 to 24 months depending on their location, with an additional annual in-depth inspection for trees over four metres in girth since 2016.
NParks has adapted to climate change by replacing vulnerable tree species, pruning trees before severe weather, and using technology like a Tree Structural Model to assess wind impact risks.
These measures have reduced tree failure incidents by about 85% from 2001 to 2018, and NParks continues to review its tree management programme for robustness.

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14 Jan 2019

Timeline for Resolving Noise Disturbance Problem Caused by Birds in Potong Pasir

Sitoh Yih Pin asked for a timeline to resolve the noise disturbance caused by birds in Potong Pasir, noting the issue has persisted for two years.
Lawrence Wong explained that authorities are implementing a multi-faceted approach, including pruning trees, managing food waste, and trialling methods like lasers and roost nets, with tree pruning to be completed by January 2019 and plans to replace roost trees with less attractive species.
The response emphasized that Javan mynas are an invasive species requiring control, with agencies coordinating efforts and the public encouraged to maintain cleanliness and avoid feeding birds.

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14 Jan 2019

Impact of Smoking Ban in Orchard Road on Shopping Experience There

Desmond Choo inquired about the number of smokers warned, foreign visitor response, and the shopping experience impact since the Orchard Road smoking ban began.
The National Environment Agency issued about 2,200 verbal advisories daily and noted that smokers, including visitors, have generally complied by using designated smoking areas.
The government expects the shopping experience to improve due to cleaner air and a healthier environment in the now smoke-free Orchard Road area.

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14 Jan 2019

Monitoring Air Quality in Households Affected by Prolonged Second-hand Smoke

Mr Louis Ng asked the Ministry to consider a pilot study using specific air quality monitors to measure second-hand smoke in homes where mediation with neighbours has failed.
The Minister responded that while some devices can measure PM2.5 or nicotine, they have limitations in identifying smoking versus other sources or providing real-time data, so no study is planned but technology will be reviewed.
The law does not ban smoking in private homes, but residents are urged to be considerate, and affected parties can seek resolution through community mediation or legal channels.

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20 Nov 2018

Assessed Threats of Rising Sea Levels to Reservoirs, Coastal Areas and Reclaimed Land in Singapore

Climate change is causing sea levels to rise, posing a complex threat to Singapore as an island city-state, with multiple agencies collaborating to assess the risks to reservoirs, coastal areas, and reclaimed land.
Existing protective measures include fortifying over 70% of the coastline against erosion and revising codes to raise the minimum levels of new reclamations and coastal developments by one metre.
Future projects, such as Changi Airport Terminal 5, are being built at higher elevations as a safeguard, and a national framework for coastal protection is being developed to guide long-term planning.
A 2015 projection indicates Singapore could experience a sea level rise of up to one metre by 2100, driving ongoing work to evaluate impacts and formulate concrete, timely steps for protection.

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