Government seeks views on climate change issues [News]

September 8, 2011 by Eugene Tay
Filed under News

By Esther Ng, Today, 8 Sep 2011.

With just nine more years to the target of reducing Singapore’s carbon emissions by 7 to 11 per cent below business-as-usual (BAU) levels in 2020, and climate change remaining a threat, the Government will be consulting the public on achieving this goal, which was set two years ago under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint (SSB).

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean yesterday launched a website seeking suggestions in four key areas, including clean-tech opportunities, greener transport and how businesses and households can be more energy-efficient.

“The results of your feedback will contribute towards the refinement and development of the National Climate Change Strategy 2012 (NCCS 2012) … and put forth our national strategy to address climate change,” he said.

Targeted for release in the middle of next year, NCCS 2012 will bring together previous climate change measures – the Singapore Green Plan, the 2008 iteration of the NCCS and the SSB – as one initiative, while leveraging on past efforts.

Additionally, the document will address adaption measures to rising sea levels and temperature, such as coastal protection and better drainage.

“If we take action today, say, on our reclamation levels, it will enable us to prepare for the future,” said Mr Teo, who took over from Senior Minister S Jayakumar as the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change chairman in May.

Also to be examined are potential business and R&D opportunities that Singapore could exploit from climate change, “much in the same way as we have done in the water industry”, Mr Teo added.

These measures should put Singapore on track to achieving its 2020 target, he said.

Energy efficiency and green building consultant Lal Jayamaha is cautiously optimistic that the target can be reached. Over the last two years, his client base has increased “two-fold”, mainly from pharmaceutical, chemical companies and especially local building owners.

“There’s a lot more awareness in making buildings green and many want to get the Green Mark award,” said Dr Jayamaha.

Phoenix Solar managing director Christophe Inglin agreed, noting the demand for solar panels has “doubled” in the last two years, with much of the growth driven by the Green Mark scheme – which is aimed at encouraging the building of environment-friendly buildings.

Since 2008, new buildings and existing ones that undergo major retrofitting have also been required to meet standards equivalent to the Green Mark Certified Level.

“I’ve not come across a Singapore minister announcing a target that we cannot meet,” said Mr Inglin of the 2020 target.

If legally-binding global agreement on reducing carbon emissions is reached, Singapore’s target will become 16 per cent below 2020 BAU levels.

Mr Teo, who heads to Durban, South Africa, in November for the Convention on Climate Change, fancies the “chances” of a global agreement “a little bit difficult” to achieve but said Singapore will do its part.

Source: Today