• Details for a new movement, to be called the Singapore Green Plan 2030, will be unveiled in the coming weeks
• Under it, agencies will set “ambitious and concrete” targets on a sectoral basis, Ms Grace Fu said
• A private member’s motion led by MP Louis Ng was passed with two amendments
• Both PAP and WP MPs believe that carbon tax should be raised; Mr Don Wee suggested that it be raised to between S$75 and S$120 by 2040

SINGAPORE — A whole-of-nation movement will be launched to advance the sustainability agenda in Singapore, and its details will be unveiled in the coming weeks, Ms Grace Fu announced in Parliament on Monday (Feb 1).

The Minister for Sustainability and the Environment said that the movement, called the Singapore Green Plan 2030, will be a major policy priority for this Government and will involve several ministries. Under it, agencies will set “ambitious and concrete” targets on a sectoral basis, she added.

Ms Fu was speaking in response to a private member’s motion tabled by six members of the Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) for Sustainability and the Environment, which is chaired by Mr Louis Ng, Member of Parliament (MP) for Nee Soon Group Representation Constituency (GRC).

Drafted in collaboration with the youth wing of the ruling People’s Action Party, the motion called on the Government to partner the private sector and citizens to deepen and accelerate efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, as well as embrace sustainability in the country's development.

After a debate stretching more than five hours, in which 18 MPs spoke, Parliament passed the motion after taking in two amendments, one by East Coast GRC MP Cheryl Chan and another by Mr Dennis Tan, MP for Hougang Single Member Constituency.

AMENDMENTS TO MOTION

Mr Tan, who is a member of the Workers’ Party (WP), first called on the House to declare a climate emergency so as to bring to bear the necessary tools to respond to it, as well as to co-create its response with civil society, beyond just partnering citizens and the private sector.

He reasoned that declaring a climate emergency on top of the original motion will send a clear signal to Singaporeans and the world that the nation is committed to seriously addressing one of the most long-term threats of the 21st century.

The inclusion of “civil society” was to recognise the pivotal role that civil society stakeholders, such as academics and non-governmental organisations, have played and will continue to play in guiding the nation’s response to climate change, he said.

Ms Chan, who is a PAP MP, later filed a sub-amendment asking for the words “acknowledge the climate emergency”, which WP proposed, to be replaced with “acknowledge that climate change is a global emergency and a threat to mankind”, while keeping the “civil society” change.

In explaining the change, she said: “Today, Singapore makes up 0.1 per cent of global emissions annually. Hence, declaring a climate emergency in Singapore alone is insufficient.”

Pointing out that Singapore has done a fair amount to balance its growth, development and environmental protection, she said that actions against climate change must take place in Singapore and beyond its shores.

“Be it roadmaps, the types of investments, supply chains, energy demand and much more, Singapore is part of a larger international solution. Thus, we need to look into these efforts globally and how they impact mankind,” she said. “Singapore can certainly contribute our part and we must do so no matter how small or large we are.”

The motion thus states: “That this House acknowledges that climate change is a global emergency and a threat to mankind and calls on the Government, in partnership with the private sector, civil society, and the people of Singapore, to deepen and accelerate efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and to embrace sustainability in the development of Singapore.”

CO-CREATION OF SOLUTIONS ACROSS SECTORS

On what the Green Plan would entail, Ms Fu said that it will not just be about getting feedback on government policies, but will involve the Government working together with partners across the people, public and private (3P) sectors to co-create solutions.

“We want to rally and work around our 3P partners by articulating our priorities and goals, and we will consciously create space for the community to join hands and do more together,” she added.

“Ministers and political office holders will be actively involved in the development of comprehensive programmes, as part of this national engagement process… every sector, and every action, will count.”

Through this process, the Government hopes to catalyse bold, balanced and collective action, Ms Fu said.

She defined bold action as those that would push the envelope on all fronts, challenging the country to do more in spite of national circumstances and constraints. Her reference to balance was to recognise the considerations and trade-offs with every action and target, she added.

Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat will speak more on the sustainability agenda during the Budget debates, Ms Fu said.

These plans will show that the Government has every intent to partner the private sector and Singaporeans to deepen and accelerate efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change, as well as to embrace sustainability in the development of Singapore. 

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE DEBATE

PAP’s GPC for Sustainability and the Environment suggested 10 ways that the Government can help by deepening and accelerating Singapore’s efforts against climate change.

Mr Ng said he believes that the recommendations will help the country exceed its commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement, which involves reducing emissions intensity by 36 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030, and stabilising emissions with the aim of peaking around 2030.

They include increasing the carbon tax quantum gradually after the Covid-19 crisis blows over, and revising the Green Mark scheme to increase standards on carbon intensiveness.

There was also a suggestion to step up sustainability standards in the public sector by, for instance, raising procurement standards for air-conditioners from three ticks of efficiency to four or five ticks and having every ministry publish a yearly sustainability report.

On the carbon tax suggestion, Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Don Wee, who is part of the GPC, spelt out that carbon tax should be raised to between:

• S$30 and S$55 by 2030

• S$50 and S$90 by 2035

• S$75 and S$120 by 2040

Right now, Singapore imposes S$5 for every tonne of greenhouse gas emissions, and it is levied only on key facilities where annual emissions are more than 25,000 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

There are aims to raise the tax to between S$10 and S$15 by 2030, subject to a review in 2023, but there is still a huge gap between this and the United Nation Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change’s recommendation of at least US$135, Mr Wee said.

WP members, including MPs for Sengkang GRC Louis Chua and Jamus Lim, also agreed that the carbon tax should be increased, with Mr Chua suggesting that it should be complemented by financial assistance schemes to help cushion its impact on lower-income households.

Responding to the suggestion, Ms Fu emphasised that Singapore’s carbon tax coverage stands at 80 per cent of total emissions and “is one of the most comprehensive globally”, but she agreed on the importance of a strong carbon price signal to move industries.

On this note, the Government will review the carbon price by 2023, with the intent of raising the tax rate by 2030.

Ms Fu said that the country is committed to further reducing the carbon footprint of the built environment and had been working with stakeholders to achieve new aims in the next edition of the Singapore Green Building Master Plan.

Plans include a continued push for the adoption of “super low energy” buildings, and supporting the development of energy-efficient and cost-effective green technologies.

Generally, many of the suggestions and contributions heard in Parliament were “very encouraging”, Ms Fu said, and the Government will seriously consider each idea.