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  Today Online 4 Nov 06
Climate change, air quality are top green priorities
Lee U-Wen

Channel NewsAsia 4 Nov 06
Addressing climate change to be priority in years ahead for Environment Ministry
By Hasnita A Majid

SINGAPORE: Climate change is one area that the Environment and Water Resources Ministry will be focusing on in the next 5 years, even as the Ministry continues to seize opportunities to grow the environment and water industry.

Greenhouse gas emission among households here is up 25 percent from the last 10 years, and this is indeed a concern for Singapore, which is committed to reduce its carbon dioxide emission by 5 percent of the 1990 levels by 2012.

The Ministry says it will do more to encourage everyone to play an active role in protecting the environment through energy efficiency and conservation.

A major study is already underway to examine the impact of climate change on Singapore, such as how it could affect public health and the resurgence of diseases, and this year's "Clean and Green Week" campaign is also focusing on that topic, targeting youths to help convey the message of energy conservation.

The Ministry will also be beefing up the environmental and water industry to create business and job opportunities. It plans to attract global research laboratories and companies, groom local companies and build up a pool of specialist manpower to lead in research and commercialise new technologies.

Singapore, it says will continue to leverage on expertise and its track record, to offer environmental and water capabilities and services to meet growing demands in the region and beyond.

On public health matters, the Ministry will continue to put in place measures to ensure that air quality is one of the best among major cities around the world. It will also strengthen its surveillance and vector-control programmes to prevent and curb the spread of dengue and other vector-borne diseases.

The Ministry says that through the years, Singapore has managed to build a clean, green and healthy living environment that has benefited Singaporeans, and moving ahead, it will continue to work with the community to enhance Singapore as a model for environmental sustainability, while pursuing robust economic growth. - CNA /dt


Today Online 4 Nov 06
Climate change, air quality are top green priorities
Lee U-Wen u-wen@mediacorp.com.sg

If the term "climate change" is alien to you, get familiar with it, for you'll be hearing more of it over the next few years.

Environment and Water Resources Minister Dr Yaacob Ibrahim said his team will be identifying the necessary measures needed to battle climate change.

Another of his ministry's top concerns will be how to ensure Singapore's overall air quality — which dipped sharply due to the recent haze — is one of the best among the world's major cities.

More commonly known as global warming, climate change is the build-up of man-made gases in the atmosphere that trap the sun's heat and cause changes in weather patterns throughout the world.

Global concentrations of carbon dioxide, the major greenhouse gas blamed for climate change, reached in 2005 the highest levels ever recorded, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) warned on Friday.

In April this year, Singapore acceded to the Kyoto Protocol, which commits developed countries to reduce harmful greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. However, senior WMO scientist Geir Braathen said that "to really make CO2 level off we will need more drastic measures than are in the Kyoto Protocol today".

Having consulted widely with stakeholders in developing a national climate change strategy, Dr Yaacob said in his addendum to the President's Address that his ministry would prod all Singaporeans to help protect the environment through energy efficiency and conservation.

All the findings from a recently-concluded four-month consultation exercise will be tabled and presented at a public forum early next year to gather even more feedback, said Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Environment and Water Resources) Dr Amy Khor.

"There are some proposals which are very do-able. For instance, we are looking at expanding the energy-efficient labelling scheme to more household appliances. This will initially be done on a voluntary basis, and we could make the scheme mandatory after that," she told Today.

A public survey earlier this year found that one in two Singaporeans knows nothing of climate change or global warming. This has also motivated the National Environment Agency to make climate change its focus for the annual Clean and Green Week celebrations, which kick off on Sunday morning.

Dr Khor noted that while Singapore has generally enjoyed "good air quality", the presence of ultra- fine particles of air pollution still remains higher than recommended levels. Called particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), the major culprit is still the dangerous fumes emitted by cars, she said.
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