How has Singapore's journey to sustainability evolved, and what steps are currently being taken to address new challenges such as climate change and resource resilience?
Since independence, Singapore has prioritized a clean and green environment. We initiated extensive campaigns to enhance public hygiene, provide clean water, and ensure proper sanitation for all.
The government and people focused on cleaning up polluted rivers, transforming the nation into a lush, green urbanized environment, balancing economic development and environmental sustainability. Despite being a city-state, Singapore boasts rich biodiversity and continually discovers new species of plants and animals.
In addressing the issues of climate change and resource resilience, we have developed the Singapore Green Plan 2030, which strengthens our commitments under the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and Paris Agreement, aiming for net zero by 2050. This comprehensive plan involves multi-ministry and agency collaborations, focusing on five pillars to ensure the sustainable development of the nation. The public sector will take the lead, with the public service aiming for net zero by 2045 and utilizing green government procurement to facilitate this transition.
How is Singapore addressing its energy challenges, given its high population density and lack of natural resources, while still committing to green initiatives?
Amidst environmental and climate challenges, energy and resource security are paramount for Singapore. Though Singapore is an alternative energy disadvantaged (AED) country, we are committed to decarbonizing our power sector. Innovative solutions like installing solar panels on local water reservoirs and investing in R&D for hydrogen and carbon capture technologies are underway. International collaborations to import renewable energy are important, and Singapore is working with our partners to develop regional power grids and import up to 4 gigawatts of low-carbon electricity by 2035.
Singapore is committed to green initiatives that can move the needle. For example, we are advancing research in carbon capture technologies in our desalination and waste-to-energy processes. The public sector can play a catalytic role by incorporating environmental sustainability scores in procurement processes to support the development of greener products, technologies, and practices, and help drive down their costs in Singapore. Every viable technology and opportunity is being explored to ensure that Singapore not only remains resilient, but also progresses in a sustainable manner.
Do the Singaporean people perceive the green transition as an economic opportunity rather than a cost?
Awareness of the green transition is prevalent in Singapore, but navigating it is complex due to associated costs and lifestyle changes. Currently, companies and citizens are feeling the pressure of increased costs, notably from global inflation. Balancing the green transition and economic considerations is politically challenging. Government intervention is essential to steer this shift, ensuring it is both viable and socially inclusive. Grants, co-payments, and affordable loans for sustainable products are among the strategies to facilitate this transition, easing the financial burden on the public and businesses.
Furthermore, initiatives like charging for disposable carrier bags and introducing the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for e-waste and beverage containers aim to foster environmental consciousness. Funding is available to individuals and community groups leading sustainability projects through the SG Eco Fund, promoting inclusive participation in climate action. These efforts are crucial in balancing the economic and environmental aspects of the green transition, especially during periods of heightened inflation.
What are Singapore’s main priorities for COP 28, and what message is the country aiming to convey amidst the ongoing geopolitical tensions and challenges?
Singapore is entering COP 28 amidst complex geopolitical tensions, underscoring the urgency of unified climate action. The first priority is preventing any backsliding on commitments made in previous COP meetings and the Paris Agreement. Every nation should focus on implementing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to ensure that global warming remains below 2 degrees and strives towards the 1.5-degree goal. The essence of the Paris Agreement, based on common but differentiated responsibilities, should guide these commitments, considering each country’s unique circumstances and capacities.
To enhance global climate action, it is crucial to move beyond mere target setting. COP-28 should focus on delivering inclusive, balanced, and substantive outcomes. Singapore will support the UAE COP-28 Presidency to ensure this, and has accepted the invitation to co-facilitate ministerial consultations on mitigation, which aims to raise global ambition.
There is a need for affordable, impactful, and scalable technologies accessible to all nations. Trade friction and obstacles to technology transfer must be minimized to facilitate the global transition to low-carbon economies. Collaborative efforts, involving political, business, academic, and financial sectors, are essential to translate global agreements into impactful actions on the ground, fostering a virtuous cycle for robust climate action.
