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  MEWR NEWS RELEASE NO: 02/2006
DATE OF ISSUE: 07/03/2006
Statement by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Committee of Supply Debate 2006, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, 7 March 2006 - Part 1

Channel NewsAsia 7 Mar 06
Campaign to educate Singaporeans on climate change
By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia

Today Online 8 Mar 06
Singapore to stem the flow: Agrees to join climate treaty to cut emission of greenhouse gases
Lee U-Wen u-wen@newstoday.com.sg

SINGAPORE has committed itself to becoming a party to the Kyoto Protocol climate treaty by the end of this year.

Delivering the good news in Parliament yesterday was a beaming Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim, who said this was in line with Singapore's intention to participate in the international debates on managing greenhouse gas emission levels in ways that would not harm economic growth.

The announcement, which was cheered by MPs in Parliament, comes just three months after Dr Yaacob attended the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Montreal, which aims to review and update the Kyoto Protocol. He had said then that it would be "a question of time" before Singapore joined the list of countries in this global agreement.

The Kyoto Protocol, which came into effect in February last year, is an accord which requires developed countries to cut down on emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases to about 5 per cent below 1990 levels.

"Climate change or global warming is one of the major global environmental challenges of our time," said Dr Yaacob. "The international community needs to take concerted action to deal with climate change before it's too late."

With Singapore's primary greenhouse gas being carbon dioxide generated from energy use, the Government is adopting stricter measures to improve energy efficiency.

From the middle of next year, it will be compulsory for all air-conditioners and refrigerators--described by Hong Kah GRC MP Dr Amy Khor as "energy guzzlers" as they make up 40 to 65 per cent of an average household's electricity bill--to carry energy efficiency labels. Other appliances such as clothes dryers and water heaters could join the list soon.

Also high on the agenda of the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources is to raise the awareness of the public at large about environmental issues.

A survey conducted recently found that one in two Singaporeans have not heard of climate change or global warming before. The Singapore Environment Council and the National Environment Agency will roll out a public awareness programme on energy efficiency and climate change next month.

The target audience will be the transport sector and households, which together account for 30 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions.

Channel NewsAsia 7 Mar 06
Campaign to educate Singaporeans on climate change
By Hasnita A Majid, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : The National Environment Agency will hold a public campaign next month to raise awareness on the link between energy use and climate change.

That is because half of all Singaporeans have not heard of global warming. A rise in the earth's temperature or global warming has been linked to environmental changes.

Environment and Water Resources Minister Yaacob Ibrahim told Parliament, "Extreme weather patterns in 2005 have threatened lives and disrupted economies in many parts of the world. Increasing scientific evidence suggests a link between global warming and such natural disasters. This calls for greater efforts around the world to slow down or reduce the emission of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming."

Playing its part, Singapore plans to reduce carbon dioxide emission. By the middle of next year, it will be mandatory for refrigerators and air-conditioners to carry energy-efficient labels. This will help consumers make informed choices on appliances whose energy consumption form a significant part of their utilities bill. NEA will also explore the extension of the labelling scheme to other appliances with high energy consumption, such as clothes dryers and water heaters.

But to first ensure they understand the causes of climate change, a public awareness programme is planned for next month.

Said Dr Yaacob, "This programme aims to raise awareness on the link between energy use and climate change. It will also show how households and motorists, by making simple adjustments in their daily habits, can reduce energy, thus saving money and reducing our green house gas emissions."

One initiative being looked at is replacing diesel vehicles with compressed natural gas, or CNG, vehicles.

NEA will also continue with efforts to encourage recycling among Singaporeans, and reduce the amount of packaging used by manufacturers. - CNA /ct

MEWR NEWS RELEASE NO: 02/2006
DATE OF ISSUE: 07/03/2006
Statement by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Committee of Supply Debate 2006, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, 7 March 2006 - Part 1

Extracts

Climate Change

3. It is increasingly clear that climate change or global warming is one of the major environmental challenges of our time. Extreme weather patterns in 2005 have threatened lives and disrupted economies in many parts of the world. Increasing scientific evidence suggests a link between global warming and such natural disasters. This calls for greater efforts around the world to slow down or reduce the emission of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

Addressing Climate Change & Energy Efficiency

17. Sir, as I have mentioned earlier, climate change or global warming is one of the major global environmental challenges of our time. There is general scientific agreement that greenhouse gas emissions from human activities have contributed to climate change effects such as rising global temperatures, rising sea levels and extreme weather. There is also agreement that the international community needs to take concerted action to deal with climate change before it is too late.

Accession to Kyoto Protocol

18. Singapore’s commitment to climate change is consistent with our good record on environmental issues. We have been a signatory to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change since 1997. Last year, in this house, I mentioned that we were studying the timing of our accession to the Kyoto Protocol, which is the primary international agreement on climate change. I am pleased to inform Members that Singapore will be acceding to the Kyoto Protocol in 2006.

19. Singapore intends to engage in the ongoing international debate on how to manage greenhouse gas emission levels in a manner that is not harmful to economic growth. By balancing environmental quality and sustainable economic development, Singapore will continue to prosper economically and provide a high- quality environment for residents, investors and visitors.

Mandatory Energy Labelling

20. Singapore will continue to take actions domestically to address climate change. In Singapore, the primary greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide generated from energy use. A range of measures has therefore been adopted to improve energy efficiency and increase cleaner energy usage.

21. In 2002, NEA introduced a voluntary Energy Labelling Scheme for air-conditioners and refrigerators. The labels provide energy performance information to help our consumers choose energy-efficient models and thus save on their energy bills. As of Jan 2006, 121 air-conditioner and 77 fridge models were labelled, representing 27% and 20% of available models respectively. However, as most air-conditioner and fridge models are not labelled, the voluntary scheme remains limited in its ability to help our consumers.

22. We will thus make it mandatory for all air-conditioners and refrigerators to carry energy efficiency labels from mid-2007. This would allow consumers to make informed choices on appliances whose energy consumption form a significant part of their utilities bill. My Ministry is now working with suppliers to ensure a smooth transition to the mandatory labelling scheme. We will also study the possibility of expanding the labelling scheme to include other energy-intensive appliances such as clothes dryers, dishwashers and water heaters.

23. Mandatory labelling will complement existing domestic measures on climate change. For example, to promote energy efficiency in buildings, NEA launched the Energy Smart Buildings Scheme together with NUS in Dec 2005. This is the first energy efficient building label in Asia. To promote the purchase of green vehicles such as compressed natural gas (CNG) and hybrid vehicles, we have doubled the Green Vehicle Rebate and extended it till 2007. At end Feb 2006, after just two months of the extended rebate, there were 208 green vehicles on the road, more than double the number last year. Motor traders have started marketing green vehicles to car buyers and reported positive response. We can thus expect to see more green vehicles on the road.

Opportunities Related to Climate Change

24. There are also opportunities arising from action on climate change and Singapore should capitalise on these. There is now growing worldwide demand for low-carbon technologies and fuels. We are thus encouraging companies to explore alternative energy technologies such as solar energy, as well as to test-bed emerging technologies such as fuel cells.

25. Under the Kyoto Protocol, developed countries can buy carbon credits to help meet their emission-reduction targets. As a result, carbon trading markets such as the EU Emissions Trading Scheme have developed. To look at opportunities relating to emissions reduction and carbon trading, IE Singapore has helped form an iPartner consortium of Singapore-based environmental technology companies. The consortium is led by Asia Carbon, one of the first-movers in the carbon emissions trading industry. I hope all businesses and industries, in playing their part in addressing climate change, will also view such actions as opportunities.

Climate Change Strategy

26. My Ministry has also been working with other agencies to develop a holistic climate change strategy that actively engages the people and private sectors in climate change action. The climate change strategy will explain how Singapore can address climate change in an environmentally and economically sustainable way. It will examine four key prongs of action: adaptation to climate change, mitigation of our carbon emissions, raising awareness on climate change as well as competency building. This strategy, sir, forms a key focus area of the Singapore Green Plan.

27. In the coming months, we will be carrying out public consultation on the climate change strategy, to gather ideas and feedback on Singapore’s proposed response to climate change. I strongly encourage all members of the public to offer your views.

Raising Public Awareness on Climate Change

28. However, to contribute to climate change action, the public first needs to understand the causes of climate change and how it affects our lives. My Ministry’s public survey shows that about 1 in 2 persons still have not heard of climate change or global warming.

29. NEA will be working with the Singapore Environment Council to roll out a public awareness programme on energy efficiency and climate change in April. This programme aims to raise awareness on the link between energy use and climate change. It will also show how households and motorists, by making simple adjustments in their daily habits, can reduce energy use, thus saving money and reducing our greenhouse gas emissions.

30. In contributing to the global climate change effort, my Ministry will continue to explore other programmes to improve Singapore’s energy efficiency over time.
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