wild places | wild happenings | wild news
make a difference for our wild places

home | links | search the site
  all articles latest | past | articles by topics | search wildnews
wild news on wildsingapore
  MEWR news release 25 Oct 05
Many Singaporeans want to see more Labelling on Energy-Efficiency and Product Packaging Reduction

Channel NewsAsia 25 Oct 05
Singaporeans support energy efficiency measures - survey

SINGAPORE : Singaporeans are supportive of measures to promote energy efficiency and reduce waste. A recent survey shows they want all household appliances to carry energy or water efficiency labels and vehicles to carry fuel efficiency tags. They also feel product packaging can be reduced to minimise waste.

About 2,800 people took part in the four-month Internet survey conducted by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources as part of a review of the Singapore Green Plan 2012. The survey was to get public feedback on environmental issues such as improving the air quality, conserving water, reducing waste and fighting dengue.

Eighty-one percent of the respondents say they are willing to do their part in the fight against dengue. They would check their own homes and help their neighbours detect and eliminate mosquito-breeding spots. Sixty-three percent of respondents feel education on mosquito-breeding prevention would be the most effective way of controlling mosquito population.

Among other survey findings, sixty-seven percent of respondents feel more can be done to address the issue of carbon dioxide emissions. Two-thirds (67 percent) of them also agreed that the food grading system has improved food hygiene in hawker centres

Nearly all (97 percent) feel conserving the natural heritage is important and 87 percent want to know more about Singapore's flora and fauna.

The Ministry says the survey findings have been considered by the three focus groups formed as part of the Singapore Green Plan 2012 (SGP2012) review.

The focus groups have since submitted their final recommendations to the (SGP2012) Coordinating Committee and the Ministry is now studying the proposals. Key ideas from the review and the Ministry's environmental challenges and strategies will be shared at a public exhibition later this week.

The Singapore Green Plan 2012(SGP 2012) will then be updated with the accepted focus group recommendations by early 2006. - CNA/de

MEWR NEWS RELEASE NO: 59/2005 25/10/2005
Many Singaporeans want to see more Labelling on Energy-Efficiency and Product Packaging Reduction

1. Results of MEWR’s comprehensive Internet survey conducted as part of the three-yearly review of the Singapore Green Plan (SGP) 2012 showed that many Singaporeans were supportive of more energy-efficient measures and cutting down on product packaging to reduce waste. Survey is part of SGP2012 three-yearly review

2. Earlier in May this year, MEWR launched this extensive survey to get public feedback on a range of environmental issues like Singapore’s air quality, conserving, valuing, enjoying our waters, increasing the recycling rate and reducing waste, fighting against dengue, keeping our public areas and hawker centres clean, and conserving our natural heritage.

3. 2,800 participated in the four-month long survey, from May to August 2005. Survey results were given to the three Focus Groups formed as part of the SGP 2012 review, for their consideration. The three Focus Groups have since submitted their final recommendations to the SGP 2012 Coordinating Committee, chaired by Permanent Secretary (Environment and Water Resources). MEWR is now studying the recommendations closely. Strong support for labelling

4. An issue of increasing international concern is climate change, caused by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide. Singapore is taking proactive steps to mitigate this. Two-thirds (67%) of the survey respondents felt that more can be done to address the issue of carbon dioxide emissions.

5. An overwhelmingly high proportion of respondents supported making it compulsory for all household appliances to carry energy efficiency labels (93%) and for all vehicles to carry fuel efficiency labels (94%).

6. An equally high proportion of respondents (95%) also supported making it compulsory for all household appliances like washing machines to carry water efficiency labels. Call for greater producer responsibility

7. Packaging for many products make up almost one-third of the waste disposed of. Majority of respondents (94%) agreed that measures should be taken to encourage manufacturers to reduce the amount of product packaging and help minimise waste. A high proportion willing to do their part in fighting against dengue

8. About two-thirds of the respondents (63%) felt that education on mosquito breeding prevention would be the most effective way of controlling mosquito population. A high proportion (81%) indicated that they were willing to get involved and do their part in the fight against dengue, for example, by helping to check their own homes and help their neighbours detect and eliminate mosquito breeding spots. Two-thirds agree the food grading system has improved food hygiene

9. To encourage food hygiene practices at food outlets, all eating establishments and foodstalls are graded into four categories "A" to "D" according to their standard of cleanliness and hygiene. 67% of respondents felt that the foodstall grading system has helped to improve the level of food hygiene standards in hawker centres. Most feel that conserving our natural heritage is important

10. Almost all (97%) respondents felt that conserving our natural heritage is important, and a large proportion (87%) wanted to know more about Singapore’s flora and fauna. About the Singapore Green Plan 2012 three-yearly review

11. The three-yearly review was started by the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources from 22 April 2005 to ensure that environmental strategies, targets and action programmes mapped out in the SGP2012 remain robust in the face of emerging environmental challenges.

12. To reach out to a wide spectrum of Singaporeans, views from our 3P (Public, Private, People) stakeholders have been actively sought. Three Focus Groups on Air and Climate Change, Water, and Clean Land, Nature and Public Health were formed, each meeting more than five times and separately consulted industry and interest groups.

13. In addition, this online survey and a public forum attended by a 200-strong audience provided many views and ideas from the public.

14. Key ideas from this review and our environmental challenges and strategies will be shared at an upcoming public exhibition later this week. The SGP2012 will then be updated with accepted Focus Group recommendations by early 2006.

15. The Ministry noted that public response gathered through this Internet survey reflected the views of a particular segment of the population i.e. the Internet savvy with the majority aged between 21 to 40 years old. However, the survey gives an indication that many Singaporeans care for the environment and would like to see more being done to protect and enhance the environment.

About the Singapore Green Plan 2012

16. Launched in August 2002, the Singapore Green Plan 2012 (SGP2012) is Singapore’s 10-year blueprint towards environmental sustainability. With a highly focused and action-oriented approach jointly formulated by partners in the 3P (People, Private, Public) sectors, the plan sets out Singapore's response to the challenges of sustaining a quality environment while pursuing economic progress.
links
Ministry of Environment and Water Resources website and survey on views of the Singapore Green Plan 2012
Related articles on Singapore: green energy and Singapore: reduce, reuse, recycle
about the site | email ria
  News articles are reproduced for non-profit educational purposes.
 

website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com