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Governments’ Responses to Climate Change: Selected Examples From Asia Pacific pp 81–100Cite as

Singapore’s Policy Response to Climate Change: Towards a Sustainable Future

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Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Environment, Security, Development and Peace ((ASEAN,volume 10))

Abstract

This chapter examines the sustainability of Singapore’s climate change policies. It argues that while the state has demonstrated its political will to reduce its carbon footprint, adapt to the effects of climate change and mitigate the country’s long-term vulnerabilities, the nation as a whole needs to build upon this work towards a more profound solution by nurturing a sustainable Singaporean society.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    NCCS, “Singapore’s International Actions”, April 2012, at: http://app.nccs.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=55&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1 (12 June 2013).

  2. 2.

    Ibid.

  3. 3.

    NEA, “Everyday Superhero Saves the Planet”, 2005–2006, at: http://www.nea.gov.sg/ar06/02SideSuperHero.html (12 June 2013).

  4. 4.

    Ibid.

  5. 5.

    MEWR, “Singapore’s National Climate Change Strategy”, March 2008, at: http://www.elaw.org/system/files/Singapore_Full_Version.pdf (1 July 2013).

  6. 6.

    NCCS, “National Climate Change Strategy 2012”, June 2012, at: http://app.nccs.gov.sg/data/resources/docs/Documents/NCCS-2012.pdf (12 June 2013).

  7. 7.

    “National Climate Change Secretariat to Come under PMO from July 1”, in: Xin MSN News (25 June 2010), at: http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4175806 (12 July 2013).

  8. 8.

    NCCS, “Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change”, April 2013, at: http://app.nccs.gov.sg/page.aspx?pageid=47 (12 June 2013).

  9. 9.

    MEWR, “Grab Our Research”, June 2013, at: http://app.mewr.gov.sg/web/Contents/Contents.aspx?Id=195 (12 June 2013).

  10. 10.

    MEWR, “The Singapore Green Plan 2012”, February 2006, at: http://app.mewr.gov.sg/data/ImgCont/1342/sgp2012_2006edition.pdf (1 July 2013).

  11. 11.

    MTI, “Energy for Growth: National Energy Policy Report”, November 2007, at: http://www.mti.gov.sg/ResearchRoom/Documents/app.mti.gov.sg/data/pages/885/doc/NEPR%202007.pdf (1 July 2013).

  12. 12.

    MEWR, “Singapore’s National Climate Change Strategy”, March 2008, at: http://www.elaw.org/system/files/Singapore_Full_Version.pdf (1 July 2013).

  13. 13.

    NCCS, “Climate Change & Singapore: Challenges, Opportunities, Partnerships”, National Climate Change Strategy 2012, at: http://app.nccs.gov.sg/data/resources/docs/Documents/NCCS-2012.pdf (20 January 2013).

  14. 14.

    MEWR; MND, “A Lively and Liveable Singapore: Strategies for Sustainable Growth”, at: http://app.mewr.gov.sg/data/ImgCont/1292/sustainbleblueprint_forweb.pdf (20 January 2013).

  15. 15.

    NEA, “Singapore’s Second National Communication, Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change”, November 2010, at: http://app.nccs.gov.sg/data/resources/docs/SINGAPORE%27S%20SECOND%20NATIONAL%20COMMUNICATIONS%20NOV%202010.pdf (1 July 2013).

  16. 16.

    NCCS, “Climate Change & Singapore: Challenges, Opportunities, Partnerships”, National Climate Change Strategy 2012, at: http://app.nccs.gov.sg/data/resources/docs/Documents/NCCS-2012.pdf (20 January 2013): 35.

  17. 17.

    Ibid.

  18. 18.

    Primary consumption figures indicate consuming sectors that generate energy directly from fuel combustion while secondary consumption figures are indicative of sectors that utilise electricity generated from fuel combustion.

  19. 19.

    MEWR, “Singapore’s National Climate Change Strategy”, March 2008, at: http://www.elaw.org/system/files/Singapore_Full_Version.pdf (1 July 2013).

  20. 20.

    See IEA, “CO2 Emissions From Fuel Combustion: Highlights”, at: http://www.iea.org/co2highlights/co2highlights.pdf (24 January 2012): 50.

  21. 21.

    Ibid: 9.

  22. 22.

    Ibid.

  23. 23.

    E2PO, “About E2PO: Objective and Members”, at: http://app.e2singapore.gov.sg/About_Esup2/supPO/Objective_and_Members.aspx (1 July 2013).

  24. 24.

    NEA, “National Environment Agency Launches A New Voluntary Partnership Programme To Promote Energy Efficiency In Industry” (30 October 2009), at: http://app2.nea.gov.sg/corporate-functions/newsroom/news-releases/year/2009/month/10/category/nea-news-release/national-environment-agency-launches-a-new-voluntary-partnership-programme-to-promote-energy-efficiency-in-industry (1 July 2013).

  25. 25.

    EMA, “Energising Our Nation: Singapore Energy Statistics 2012”, at: http://www.ema.gov.sg/media/files/publications/EMA_SES_2012_Final.pdf (20 January 2013): 18.

  26. 26.

    Ibid.

  27. 27.

    Ibid.

  28. 28.

    NEA, “E2 Singapore”, at: http://app.e2singapore.gov.sg/DATA/0/docs/Booklet/E2S%20Publication.pdf (18 June 2011): 5.

  29. 29.

    Ibid.

  30. 30.

    “About E2PO: Energy Efficiency in Singapore”, at: http://app.e2singapore.gov.sg/About_Esup2/supPO/Why_Energy_Efficiency/Climate_Change_and_Energy_Efficiency.aspx (29 Feb 2013).

  31. 31.

    EMA, “Fuel Mix for Electricity Generation (2006–2011)”, at: http://www.ema.gov.sg/media/files/publications/EMA_SES_2012_Final.pdf (14 January 2012).

  32. 32.

    Ibid.

  33. 33.

    BP, “BP Statistical Review of World Energy June 2011”, at: http://www.bp.com/assets/bp_internet/globalbp/globalbp_uk_english/reports_and_publications/statistical_energy_review_2011/STAGING/local_assets/pdf/statistical_review_of_world_energy_full_report_2011.pdf (1 July 2013): 23.

  34. 34.

    SLNG, “About the Singapore LNG Terminal”, at: http://www.slngcorp.com/about-us-lng-terminal.html (14 December 2011).

  35. 35.

    MTI; EMA; SLNG, “LNG Terminal will Diversify Energy Sources and Enhance Singapore’s Energy Security”, at: http://www.slngcorp.com/UserFiles/Press/FINAL_Media_Release_on_LNG_visit_13_Feb_2012_website.pdf (14 December 2012).

  36. 36.

    “Indonesia May Seek to Reduce Natural Gas Exports to Singapore—Minister”, in: Dow Jones Newswire (17 June 2010), at: http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-newsstory.aspx?storyid=201006162112dowjonesdjonline000767&title=indonesia-may-seek-to-reduce-natural-gas-exports-to-singapore-minister#ixzz0r4jZpLis (14 July 2011).

  37. 37.

    See footnote 34.

  38. 38.

    EMA, “Third Tank for Singapore’s LNG Terminal on the Back of Strong LNG Uptake” (2 November 2010), at: http://www.ema.gov.sg/news/view/227 (1 July 2013).

  39. 39.

    SLNG, “Singapore’s First LNG Shipment to Come from Qatar” (29 November 2012), at: http://www.slng.com.sg/UserFiles/Press/20121129-commissioningcargo.pdf (14 December 2012).

  40. 40.

    “SLNG Eyes Business Spinoffs from $1.5b Gas Terminal”, in: The Business Times (17 June 2010), at: http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/sub/news/story/0,4574,390808,00.html (14 July 2011).

  41. 41.

    “SE Asia to Start LNG Imports in Next 3 Yrs”, in: Reuters News (2 June 2010), at: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSSGE6510AV20100602 (14 July 2011).

  42. 42.

    Australia has three major natural gas projects under construction—Gorgon, Browse and Bonaparte—with access to total estimated reserves of 2.07 trillion cubic metres (tcm). The Gorgon gas field by itself has 1.2 tcm of natural gas reserves (original figure was 68.9 tcf). See EIA, “Country Analysis Briefs: Australia Energy Data, Statistics and Analysis—Oil, Gas, Electricity, Coal”, January 2007, at: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/cabs/Australia/Full.html (14 July 2011).

  43. 43.

    EMA, “A New Act Comes into Play”, in: On (July 2012), at: http://www.ema.gov.sg/news/newsletters/2012/07/insighton-newact.html (24 January 2013).

  44. 44.

    EMA, “Factsheet: Energy Conservation Act”, at: http://app.mewr.gov.sg/data/ImgCont/1386/2.%20Factsheet_Energy%20Conservation%20Act%20%5Bweb%5D.pdf (24 January 2013).

  45. 45.

    SEI, “Singapore Certified Energy Manager (Professional Level)”, at: http://www.nea.gov.sg/cms/sei/SCEM.html (25 April 2013).

  46. 46.

    SERIS, “Solar Energy Research Institute (SERIS) Annual Report 2010”, at: http://www.seris.sg/site/servlet/linkableblob/main/4492/data/pdf_2011_06_28_full_AR2010_single_page-data.pdf (14 July 2011): 7.

  47. 47.

    “ERI@N Official Launch”, at: http://www3.ntu.edu.sg/erian/opening.html (14 July 2011).

  48. 48.

    “ERI@N Overview”, at: http://www3.ntu.edu.sg/erian/about_us.htm (14 July 2011).

  49. 49.

    ESI, “Launch of New Energy Studies Institute at NUS”, at: http://www.esi.nus.edu.sg/eventitem/2011/10/03/official-launch-of-esi (14 January 2013).

  50. 50.

    University of Pennsylvania, “2012 Global Go To Think Tanks Report and Policy Advice”, at: http://www.gotothinktank.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/2012-Global-Go-To-Think-Tank-Report.pdf (30 January 2013): 83.

  51. 51.

    NCCS, “Climate Change & Singapore: Challenges, Opportunities, Partnerships”, National Climate Change Strategy 2012, at: http://app.nccs.gov.sg/data/resources/docs/Documents/NCCS-2012.pdf (14 January 2013): 70.

  52. 52.

    Ibid.

  53. 53.

    Ibid.

  54. 54.

    NEWater is high-grade reclaimed water that is produced from treated used water, further purified using advanced membrane technologies and ultraviolet disinfection, making it ultra clean and safe to drink. See PUB, “NEWater”, at: http://www.pub.gov.sg/water/newater/Pages/default.aspx (20 January 2013).

  55. 55.

    PUB, “Four National Taps Provide Water for All”, at: http://www.pub.gov.sg/water/Pages/default.aspx (10 June 2013).

  56. 56.

    NCCS, “Climate Change & Singapore: Challenges, Opportunities, Partnerships”, National Climate Change Strategy 2012, at: http://app.nccs.gov.sg/data/resources/docs/Documents/NCCS-2012.pdf (14 January 2013): 73.

  57. 57.

    Ibid: 90.

  58. 58.

    Ibid: 92.

  59. 59.

    NEA, “Singapore’s Second National Communication, Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change”, November 2010, at: http://app.nccs.gov.sg/data/resources/docs/SINGAPORE%27S%20SECOND%20NATIONAL%20COMMUNICATIONS%20NOV%202010.pdf (1 July 2013).

  60. 60.

    NCCS, “Climate Change & Singapore: Challenges, Opportunities, Partnerships”, National Climate Change Strategy 2012, at: http://app.nccs.gov.sg/data/resources/docs/Documents/NCCS-2012.pdf (20 January 2013): 116.

  61. 61.

    Ibid: 125.

  62. 62.

    Ibid: 26.

  63. 63.

    MEWR; MND, 2009: “A Lively and Liveable Singapore: Strategies for Sustainable Growth”, at: http://app.mewr.gov.sg/data/ImgCont/1292/sustainbleblueprint_forweb.pdf (20 January 2013): 41.

  64. 64.

    Ibid.

  65. 65.

    NEA, “About Mandatory Energy Labelling”, at: http://app.nea.gov.sg/cms/htdocs/category_sub.asp?cid=258 (18 June 2011).

  66. 66.

    MEWR; MND, “A Lively and Liveable Singapore: Strategies for Sustainable Growth”, at: http://app.mewr.gov.sg/data/ImgCont/1292/sustainbleblueprint_forweb.pdf (20 January 2013).

  67. 67.

    Scott, John, “Rational Choice Theory”, at: http://www.soc.iastate.edu/Sapp/soc401rationalchoice.pdf (30 June 2013).

  68. 68.

    Chapman, Paul, “Enrire Nation of Kiribati to be Relocated Over Rising Sea Level Threat”, in: The Telegraph (7 March 2012), at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/kiribati/9127576/Entire-nation-of-Kiribati-to-be-relocated-over-rising-sea-level-threat.html (2 June 2013).

  69. 69.

    Adams, Jonathan, “Rising Sea Levels Threaten Small Pacific Island Nations”, in: The New York Times (3 May 2007), at: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/03/world/asia/03iht-pacific.2.5548184.html (2 June 2011).

  70. 70.

    “Some Coastal Areas, Islands in Caraga Sinking due to Rising Sea Water Level”, in: Manila Bulletin (22 January 2011), at: http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/299986/some-coastal-areas-islands-caraga-sinking-due-rising-sea-water-level (8 May 2011).

  71. 71.

    Renner, Michael, 2006: “Introduction to the Concepts of Environmental Security and Environmental Conflict”, at: http://www.envirosecurity.org/ges/inventory/IESPP_I-C_Introduction.pdf (14 May 2011).

  72. 72.

    Ibid.

  73. 73.

    Singapore is ranked second, behind China and Macau SAR, in terms of population density, according to the UN. See UN, “World Population Prospects: The 2010 Revision”, at: http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/Sorting-Tables/tab-sorting_population.htm (5 July 2011).

  74. 74.

    Carolan, Michael, “Ecological Citizenship and Tactile Space: The Epistemic Significance of the Lived Experience”, at: http://www.michaelmbell.net/suscon-papers/carolan-paper.doc (21 June 2011).

  75. 75.

    “Transcript of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s Address at the Singapore Energy Lecture, Singapore International Energy Week, 1 Nov 2010”, at: http://2010.siew.sg/sites/singapore.iew.com.sg/files/PMLeeSpeechatSEL.pdf (14 April 2010).

Abbreviations

A*STAR:

Agency for Science, Technology and Research

BCA:

Building and Construction Authority

BH:

Berita Harian

CCAP:

Climate Change Awareness Programme

CO2 :

Carbon dioxide

Cleantech:

Clean technology

CSO:

Civil society organisation

E2PO:

Energy Efficiency Singapore Programme Office

EDB:

Economic Development Board

EENP:

Energy Efficiency National Partnership

EIA:

U.S. Energy Information Administration

EMA:

Energy Market Authority

ERI@N:

Energy Research Institute at Nanyang Technological University

ESI:

Energy Studies Institute

ESRC:

Economic and Social Research Council

Gt:

Gigawatt

HDB:

Housing and Development Board

IDA:

Infocomm Authority of Singapore

IEA:

International Energy Agency

IMCCC:

Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change

JTC:

Jurong Town Corporation

LNG:

Liquefied natural gas

LTA:

Land Transport Authority

MEWR:

Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources

NCCS:

National Climate Change Secretariat

NEA:

National Environment Agency

NGO:

Non-governmental organisation

NTS:

Non-traditional security

NRF:

National Research Foundation

NTU:

Nanyang Technological University

NUS:

National University of Singapore

PUB:

Public Utilities Board

QatarGas:

QatarGas Operating Company Limited

R&D:

Research and development

RIMA:

Centre for Research on Islamic and Malay Affairs

RSIS:

S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies

SCEM:

Singapore Certified Energy Managers

SEC:

Singapore Environment Council

SEI:

Singapore Environment Institute

SERIS:

Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore

SLNG:

Singapore LNG Corporation

SMEs:

Small and medium enterprises

Tcm:

Trillion cubic metre

UN:

United Nations

UNFCCC:

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

URA:

Urban Redevelopment Authority

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Energy Studies Institute (ESI), National University of Singapore (NUS), 29 Heng Mui Keng Terrace, Block A, #10-01, Singapore, 119620, Singapore

    Nur Azha Putra

  2. National Research Foundation (NRF), 1 Create Way, #12-02, Singapore, 138602, Singapore

    Nicholas Koh

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  1. Nur Azha Putra
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  2. Nicholas Koh
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Correspondence to Nur Azha Putra .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. National University of Singapore Energy Studies Institute, Singapore, Singapore

    Nur Azha Putra

  2. Energy Studies Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    Eulalia Han

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Azha Putra, N., Koh, N. (2014). Singapore’s Policy Response to Climate Change: Towards a Sustainable Future. In: Azha Putra, N., Han, E. (eds) Governments’ Responses to Climate Change: Selected Examples From Asia Pacific. SpringerBriefs in Environment, Security, Development and Peace(), vol 10. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-4451-12-3_5

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