86 / 218
[
] 86
since December 2005. NEA will continue to promote vehicles
that use cleaner fuel.
National Climate Change Committee
– The National
Climate Change Committee (NCCC) is an inter-agency
committee with people, private and public sector (3P) repre-
sentation. It seeks to integrate the promotion of energy
efficiency and the use of clean energy sources with the reduc-
tion of emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases in
the power generation, manufacturing, building, transporta-
tion and consumer sectors. The key thrusts of the NCCC are
promotion of energy efficiency, promotion of the use of
cleaner energy sources and test bedding of innovative and
alternative energy technologies. A USD6.5 million co-
funding scheme for energy studies to improve energy
efficiency in the manufacturing and building sectors was
launched in April 2005.
Power generation
– Power generation is a major source of
air pollution. Using clean fuel and adopting efficient generat-
ing technologies helps to reduce emissions of air pollution and
carbon dioxide. About 80 per cent of electricity in Singapore
is generated from natural gas and using combined cycle gener-
ation or cogeneration.
Partnerships with NGOs
– The Singapore Environment
Council (SEC), an environmental non-governmental organi-
zation (NGO), introduced the Associate Green Corners
Programme in July 2005 to encourage retailers to display air-
conditioners and refrigerators labelled under the Energy
Labelling Scheme. The SEC also administers the fuel economy
labelling scheme for passenger vehicles. The two schemes are
voluntary labelling schemes aimed at promoting energy effi-
cient appliances and passenger vehicles. NEA had also
developed the Energy Smart Building Scheme jointly with the
National University of Singapore to recognise energy efficient
buildings. To support this, an accreditation scheme for energy
services companies was launched in April 2005.
Singapore Green Plan 2012
In 1992, Singapore unveiled the Singapore Green Plan (SGP),
the national environmental master plan that sets out the strate-
gic directions Singapore should take to further improve its
living environment and raise public health standards. The SGP
also maps out the policies and strategies the government would
implement to transform Singapore into a model green city.
The successful implementation of action programmes under
the SGP has helped to keep Singapore’s environment clean and
green even as Singapore’s economy has continued to grow over
the past decade.
With changing economic and environmental landscapes, a
review was initiated to keep the SGP relevant. In August 2002,
the SGP 2012 was launched in Singapore. The SGP 2012 was
circulated at the World Summit on Sustainable Development
(WSSD) in Johannesburg in August and September of 2002.
The SGP 2012 relays the message to our nation and the
world, that the challenge Singapore now faces is to move
beyond environmental performance towards environmental
sustainability. This updated master plan charts Singapore’s
approach to achieving environmental sustainability over the
next ten years. It also sets out the broad directions and the
strategic thrust that will help ensure Singapore’s long-term
environmental sustainability.
International cooperation
NEA also works through bilateral, regional and international
programmes to strengthen Singapore’s environmental cooper-
ation with regional countries and international organizations.
At the bilateral level, the Malaysia-Singapore Joint Committee
on the Environment (MSJCE) covers environmental issues of
mutual concern such as the control of vehicular emissions.
Similarly, the Indonesia-Singapore Working Group on the
Environment (ISWGE) discusses various areas of collabora-
tion and projects between the two countries, such as the
trans-boundary haze pollution problem. In June 2006, the
inaugural bilateral meeting of the Brunei-Singapore Working
Group on the Environment (BSWGE) was convened in
Singapore. This bilateral cooperation provides opportunities
for both countries to share their experiences in various envi-
ronmental challenges, which include air quality management
and vehicular emission control.
Since its inception in 2003, Singapore has been chairing the
Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Working
Group on Environmentally Sustainable Cities (AWGESC).
Under AWGESC, an ASEAN Initiative on Environmentally
Sustainable Cities (AIESC), which focused initially on key
urban environmental issues such as clean air, water and land,
was established. A total of 24 cities in ASEAN are currently
participating in this Initiative. In 2006, a set of key performance
indicators and award criteria to measure the state of environ-
mental sustainability in participating cities was established.
Looking ahead
Despite being highly urbanized and industrialized, Singapore’s
ambient air pollutant levels have generally been kept within
the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) ambient air
quality standards through strong planning and regulatory
controls. However, as its industrial and transport base expands
and energy demand grows, maintaining clean air as a resource
will be a key challenge to Singapore.
Singapore will continue to tighten emission controls and to
move towards cleaner fuels for both stationary and mobile
sources of pollution. The promotion of clean fuel burning
equipment in industry will continue to be encouraged, espe-
cially with greater availability of natural gas. Singapore is
moving towards a sustainable transport system, with a compre-
hensive and seamless public transport network and greater
adoption of green vehicles.
An energy label for air-conditioner
Photo: National Environment Agency and
Singapore Environment Council