Climate change in Singapore

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Singapore adopts a proactive long-term effort in addressing rising sea-levels, temperature increases due to global warming, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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Singapore's 2021 emissions profile 2021-emissions profile-singapore.png
Singapore's 2021 emissions profile

As of 2022 compared to other ASEAN countries Singapore has the second highest per capita CO2 emissions per capita at 8.9 tonnes per person and ranks 6th in total Annual CO2 emissions at 53.25 million tonnes. [1]

Climate projections to 2100

On 5 January 2024, the Center for Climate Research Singapore released projections that Singapore's annual mean temperatures will rise by between 0.6 °C and 5°C by the end of the 21st century. [2]

More wet and dry extreme weather as the new normal

Days with more weather extremes are expected to be more frequent. [2] In the 2024 report, very hot days with daily maximum temperatures exceeding 35 °C are projected to increase from 4 days per year on average in the last 40 years to between 41 and 351 days per year on average. [2] Warm nights where temperatures exceed 26.3 °C are projected to increase from an average of 76 nights per year in the last 40 years to most nights in a year by end century. [2]

Extreme daily rainfall (as defined by the 99th percentile of daily rainfall over the 1995-2014 period) is projected to increase across all seasons, with increases ranging from 6% to 92% in the inter-monsoon months of April and May. [2]

Dry spells are expected to be more frequent. with Singapore experiencing on average one dry spell every 10 to 60 months by 2100. [2]

Mean sea level rise

The mean sea level rise is projected to rise by 0.23m to 1.15m by 2100, and by up to 2m by 2150 under a high global emissions scenario. [2] High tides and storm surges are likely to cause level to spike by a further 4m to 5m. [3]

Mitigation

Reducing emissions

Singapore's annual CO2 emissions per capita from 1950 to 2022 compared to 8 other ASEAN countries Asean-co2-emissions-per-capita.png
Singapore's annual CO2 emissions per capita from 1950 to 2022 compared to 8 other ASEAN countries

As part of Singapore's climate pledge for the Paris agreement in 2015, Singapore announced a climate action plan to peak emissions at 65 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions around 2030. [4]

As part of this plan, Singapore has implemented Southeast Asian's first carbon tax on 1 January 2019, setting the carbon tax at S$5/tCO2e for the first five years from 2019 to 2023. With effect from 2024, the carbon tax was raised to S$25/tCO2e with a targeted raise to S$45/tCO2e in 2026 and 2027 and S$50-80/tCO2e by 2030. [5] The carbon tax is levied on facilities that emit Scope 1 direct emissions of at least 25,000 tCO2e annually. [5]

Singapore's annual CO2 emissions from 1950 to 2022 compared to 8 other countries in ASEAN Singapore-asean-co2-emissions-per-country.png
Singapore's annual CO2 emissions from 1950 to 2022 compared to 8 other countries in ASEAN

Singapore is executing a solar grid energy programme to reach a target of 2 gigawatt-peak capacity by 2030, or 3% of Singapore's projected total electricity demand. [6] With the country's limited geographic capacity to tap on alternative energy sources, Singapore has an ongoing project to import a capacity of 4GW of low-carbon electricity by 2035. [6] Since June 2022, Singapore has already begun importing renewable hydropower from the Lao People's Democratic republic. [7] Singapore also now uses more than 95% natural gas in electricity generation in the country compared to 19% in 2000. Altogether, Singapore's Grid Emission Factor has fallen from 0.4237 kgCO2/kWh in 2016 to 0.4057 kgCO2/kWh in 2021. [6]

In the area of transportation, all new public bus purchases are cleaner energy buses, including energy or hybrid buses with a target to replace all existing diesel buses with cleaner energy buses by 2040. [8] The island's cycling path network will be expanded to 1,300km islandwide by 2030 from the current 525km in 2024. [9] The Land Transport Master Plan 2040 also lays out a transportation plan to expand the Mass Rapid Transit network to 360km by the 2030s [10] and target having 75% of the country use public transport during peak hours. [8] To incentivise clean energy vehicles, the country has also introduced a slew of vehicle taxes and incentives, regulations and standards, and a nation-wide EV charger deployment of 60,000 EV charging points by 2030. [8]

International cooperation

Although Singapore contributes only 0.1% of global emissions, [11] Singapore has participated in international climate change efforts, believing "climate change is a global challenge that requires a global solution". [12]

Singapore ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change in 1997 which sets the framework for governments to cooperate to address climate change, based on the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in light of different national circumstances”. [13] Singapore has acceded to the Kyoto Protocol in 2006 and ratified the Doha Amendment to the Kyoto Protocol in 2014.

On 22 April 2016, Singapore adopted the Paris Agreement, reaffirming a commitment to keeping global warming below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels, which has since been ratified on 21 September 2016. [12] Singapore has also adopted the Glasgow Climate Pact at COP-26 in 2021. [11]

Adaptation

Addressing rising sea levels

Singapore spent S$226 million to build and complete the Marina Barrage on 31 October 2008 to achieve greater self-sufficiency for the country's water needs and flood control in high-risk low-lying areas of downtown districts. [14]

On 7 September 2023, Singapore dedicated S$125 million to launch the Coastal Protection and Flood Management Research Programme to research and develop the nation's capabilities in coastal protection and flood management. [15] The implementation and operation of coastal protection measures over the next 100 years is projected by the country to cost S$100 billion. [16]

On 28 November 2023, the country also announced plans to build a 'Long Island' the size of 1,000 football fields on the country's southeastern coast to protect the country's low lying shorelines even in the worst-case scenario of 5m sea level rises by 2100. [17] This artificial island will create new waterfront living with up to 60,000 private and public properties built on the artificial island. [17]

Addressing a hotter country

As a country with the third densest population density, Singapore is heavily subject to the urban heat island effect with temperature differences of up to 7 °C between urban and less built-up areas of Singapore. [18] The country views trees as a central part of its infrastructure, with the aim to double annual tree planting rate between 2020 and 2030, planing 1 million more trees in the country. [19] [20] Singapore's Green Plan 2030 further aims to increase nature parks' land area by over 50% from the 2020 baseline with all households within 10-minutes walk from a park. [19]

To balance between the need to cool down urban city centres and energy costs, Singapore completed an underground centralised district cooling network in 2016 to cool down buildings in Marina Bay at energy savings of more than 40%. [21] Between 2018 and 2019, trials were also conducted using reflective paint to alleviate the urban heat island effect and prevent absorption of heat by buildings, demonstrating cooling up to 2 °C cooler during the hottest times of the day. [22] This cool paint study is currently undergoing continued trials in new urban areas. [22]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transport in Singapore</span>

Transportation in Singapore is predominantly land-based, with a comprehensive network of roads making many parts of the city-state, including islands such as Sentosa and Jurong Island, accessible. The road network is complemented by a robust rail system consisting of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) and the Light Rail Transit (LRT), which cover the length and width of Singapore and serve a few neighbourhoods respectively. The main island of Singapore is also connected to other islands via ferryboat services. Furthermore, the city-state maintains strong international connections through two bridges linking it to Malaysia – the Causeway and the Second Link – and the Singapore Changi Airport, a major aviation hub in Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carbon tax</span> Tax on carbon emissions

A carbon tax is a tax levied on the carbon emissions from producing goods and services. Carbon taxes are intended to make visible the hidden social costs of carbon emissions. They are designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by essentially increasing the price of fossil fuels. This both decreases demand for goods and services that produce high emissions and incentivizes making them less carbon-intensive. When a fossil fuel such as coal, petroleum, or natural gas is burned, most or all of its carbon is converted to CO2. Greenhouse gas emissions cause climate change. This negative externality can be reduced by taxing carbon content at any point in the product cycle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change mitigation</span> Actions to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to limit climate change

Climate change mitigation (or decarbonisation) is action to limit the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere that cause climate change. Climate change mitigation actions include conserving energy and replacing fossil fuels with clean energy sources. Secondary mitigation strategies include changes to land use and removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. Current climate change mitigation policies are insufficient as they would still result in global warming of about 2.7 °C by 2100, significantly above the 2015 Paris Agreement's goal of limiting global warming to below 2 °C.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenhouse gas emissions</span> Greenhouse gases emitted from human activities

Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activities intensify the greenhouse effect. This contributes to climate change. Carbon dioxide, from burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas, is one of the most important factors in causing climate change. The largest emitters are China followed by the United States. The United States has higher emissions per capita. The main producers fueling the emissions globally are large oil and gas companies. Emissions from human activities have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide by about 50% over pre-industrial levels. The growing levels of emissions have varied, but have been consistent among all greenhouse gases. Emissions in the 2010s averaged 56 billion tons a year, higher than any decade before. Total cumulative emissions from 1870 to 2022 were 703 GtC, of which 484±20 GtC from fossil fuels and industry, and 219±60 GtC from land use change. Land-use change, such as deforestation, caused about 31% of cumulative emissions over 1870–2022, coal 32%, oil 24%, and gas 10%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenhouse gas emissions by the United States</span> Climate changing gases from the North American country

The United States produced 5.2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2020, the second largest in the world after greenhouse gas emissions by China and among the countries with the highest greenhouse gas emissions per person. In 2019 China is estimated to have emitted 27% of world GHG, followed by the United States with 11%, then India with 6.6%. In total the United States has emitted a quarter of world GHG, more than any other country. Annual emissions are over 15 tons per person and, amongst the top eight emitters, is the highest country by greenhouse gas emissions per person.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change in Japan</span> Emissions, impacts and responses of Japan related to climate change

Climate change is an urgent and significant issue affecting Japan. In recent years, the country has observed notable changes in its climate patterns, with rising temperatures serving as a prominent indicator of this phenomenon. As an archipelago situated in northeastern Asia, Japan is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change due to its diverse geography and exposure to various weather systems. The nation experiences a broad range of climates, spanning from the frigid winters of Hokkaido to the subtropical climates of Okinawa. Changes in temperature patterns have the potential to disrupt ecosystems, impact agricultural productivity, modify water resources, and pose significant challenges to infrastructure and human settlements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenhouse gas emissions by Australia</span> Release of gases from Australia which contribute to global warming

Greenhouse gas emissions by Australia totalled 533 million tonnes CO2-equivalent based on greenhouse gas national inventory report data for 2019; representing per capita CO2e emissions of 21 tons, three times the global average. Coal was responsible for 30% of emissions. The national Greenhouse Gas Inventory estimates for the year to March 2021 were 494.2 million tonnes, which is 27.8 million tonnes, or 5.3%, lower than the previous year. It is 20.8% lower than in 2005. According to the government, the result reflects the decrease in transport emissions due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, reduced fugitive emissions, and reductions in emissions from electricity; however, there were increased greenhouse gas emissions from the land and agriculture sectors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Switzerland</span>

Energy in Switzerland is transitioning towards sustainability, targeting net zero emissions by 2050 and a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change in Sweden</span>

Climate change has received significant scientific, public and political attention in Sweden. In 1896, Swedish chemist Svante Arrhenius was the first scientist to quantify global heating. Sweden has a high energy consumtion per capita, but reducing the dependency on fossil energy has been on the agenda of cabinets of the Governments of Sweden since the 1970s oil crises. In 2014 and 2016, Sweden was ranked #1 in the Global Green Economy Index (GGEI), because the Swedish economy produces relatively low emissions. Sweden has had one of the highest usages of biofuel in Europe and aims at prohibiting new sales of fossil-cars, including hybrid cars, by 2035, and for an energy supply system with zero net atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions by 2045.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenhouse gas emissions by the United Kingdom</span> Overview of the greenhouse gas emissions by United Kingdom

In 2021, net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United Kingdom (UK) were 427 million tonnes (Mt) carbon dioxide equivalent, 80% of which was carbon dioxide itself. Emissions increased by 5% in 2021 with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions, primarily due to the extra road transport. The UK has over time emitted about 3% of the world total human caused CO2, with a current rate under 1%, although the population is less than 1%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Singapore</span>

Energy in Singapore is critically influenced by its strategic position in maritime Southeast Asia, nestled between Malaysia and the Singapore Strait, near essential maritime routes like the Straits of Malacca and the South China Sea. This location has established Singapore as a central hub for the global petroleum, petrochemical, and chemical industries, with Jurong Island serving as a key base for over 100 international companies in these sectors. The majority of Singapore's energy consumption is derived from petroleum and other liquids, accounting for 86% of its total energy use, while natural gas represents 13%, and coal and renewable resources make up the remaining 1%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green urbanism</span> Practice of creating communities beneficial to humans and the environment

Green urbanism has been defined as the practice of creating communities beneficial to humans and the environment. According to Timothy Beatley, it is an attempt to shape more sustainable places, communities and lifestyles, and consume less of the world's resources. Urban areas are able to lay the groundwork of how environmentally integrated and sustainable city planning can both provide and improve environmental benefits on the local, national, and international levels. Green urbanism is interdisciplinary, combining the collaboration of landscape architects, engineers, urban planners, ecologists, transport planners, physicists, psychologists, sociologists, economists and other specialists in addition to architects and urban designers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cross Island MRT line</span> Future Mass Rapid Transit line in Singapore

The Cross Island Line (CRL) is a high capacity Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) line under development in Singapore. It will run in an east–west direction from Changi to Jurong Industrial Estate via Loyang, Pasir Ris, Hougang, Serangoon North, Ang Mo Kio, Sin Ming, Bukit Timah, Clementi and West Coast. From Pasir Ris, the line will branch off to Punggol. The 58-kilometre (36 mi) line will replace the East–West Line as the longest line on the MRT network upon its complete opening by the 2040s, serving about 27 stations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phase-out of fossil fuel vehicles</span>

A phase-out of fossil fuel vehicles are proposed bans or discouragement on the sale of new fossil-fuel powered vehicles or use of existing fossil-fuel powered vehicles, as well the encouragement of using other forms of transportation. Vehicles that are powered by fossil fuels, such as gasoline (petrol), diesel, kerosene, and fuel oil are set to be phased out by a number of countries. It is one of the three most important parts of the general fossil fuel phase-out process, the others being the phase-out of fossil fuel power plants for electricity generation and decarbonisation of industry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenhouse gas emissions by Turkey</span> Climate-changing gases from Turkey: sources, amounts, and mitigation policies

Coal, cars and lorries vent more than a third of Turkey's six hundred million tonnes of annual greenhouse gas emissions, which are mostly carbon dioxide and part of the cause of climate change in Turkey. The nation's coal-fired power stations emit the most carbon dioxide, and other significant sources are road vehicles running on petrol or diesel. After coal and oil the third most polluting fuel is fossil gas; which is burnt in Turkey's gas-fired power stations, homes and workplaces. Much methane is belched by livestock; cows alone produce half of the greenhouse gas from agriculture in Turkey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C</span> Special climate change report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

The Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C (SR15) was published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on 8 October 2018. The report, approved in Incheon, South Korea, includes over 6,000 scientific references, and was prepared by 91 authors from 40 countries. In December 2015, the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference called for the report. The report was delivered at the United Nations' 48th session of the IPCC to "deliver the authoritative, scientific guide for governments" to deal with climate change. Its key finding is that meeting a 1.5 °C (2.7 °F) target is possible but would require "deep emissions reductions" and "rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society". Furthermore, the report finds that "limiting global warming to 1.5 °C compared with 2 °C would reduce challenging impacts on ecosystems, human health and well-being" and that a 2 °C temperature increase would exacerbate extreme weather, rising sea levels and diminishing Arctic sea ice, coral bleaching, and loss of ecosystems, among other impacts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change in Malaysia</span> Impact of global warming on the south-east Asian country and mitigating and adaptating to it

Climate change is having a considerable impact in Malaysia. Increasing temperatures are likely to greatly increase the number of heatwaves occurring annually. Variations in precipitation may increase the frequency of droughts and floods in various local areas. Sea level rise may inundate some coastal areas. These impacts are expected to have numerous environmental and socioeconomic effects, exacerbating existing environmental issues and reinforcing inequality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenhouse gas emissions by China</span> Emissions of gases harmful to the climate from China

China's total greenhouse gas emissions are the world's highest of any country, accounting for 35% of the world's total according to the International Energy Agency. The country's per capita greenhouse gas emissions are the 34th highest of any country, as of 2023.

The National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS) is part of the Strategy Group that supports the Prime Minister and his Cabinet, coordinating Singapore's domestic and international policies and strategies in addressing climate change. It also functions under the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change (IMCCC) which is chaired by Mr Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security.

The Singapore Green Plan 2030 is a plan released by the Government of Singapore on 10 February 2021 that sets targets for sustainability in Singapore by 2030. This "collective whole-of-nation effort" supports Singapore's aim to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The plan is spearheaded by five Ministries, being the Ministry of Education, Ministry of National Development, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

References

  1. ↑ Ritchie, Hannah; Roser, Max; Rosado, Pablo (27 October 2022). "Energy". Our World in Data.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Latest Climate Projections For Singapore Show Intensifying Urban Heat And More Wet & Dry Extremes". www.nea.gov.sg. 5 January 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  3. ↑ "Singapore's mean sea level may rise by up to 1.15m by 2100, exceeding previous estimates". CNA. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  4. ↑ Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (31 August 2024). "Singapore's climate action plan" (PDF). Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment.
  5. 1 2 "Carbon Tax". www.nccs.gov.sg. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  6. 1 2 3 "Power". www.nccs.gov.sg. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  7. ↑ "Singapore commences first renewable energy electricity import via regional multilateral power trade". www.ema.gov.sg. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 "Transport". www.nccs.gov.sg. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  9. ↑ "LTA | Cycling". www.lta.gov.sg. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  10. ↑ "LTA | Land Transport Master Plan 2040". www.lta.gov.sg. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  11. 1 2 "Our Global Commitment". www.greenplan.gov.sg. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  12. 1 2 "National Environment Agency". www.nea.gov.sg. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  13. ↑ "Singapore And International Efforts". www.nccs.gov.sg. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  14. ↑ "Commentary: The Marina Barrage, a dream 20 years in the making". CNA. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  15. ↑ "Singapore's first Centre of Excellence to drive coastal protection and flood management research". PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  16. ↑ "Building expertise on coastal protection and flood management | Department of Economic and Social Affairs". sdgs.un.org. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  17. 1 2 "CNA Explains: Why does Singapore want to build a 'Long Island'?". CNA. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  18. ↑ "#ShapingOurCity Urban Heat Island Effect". www.sg101.gov.sg. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  19. 1 2 "Our Targets". www.greenplan.gov.sg. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  20. ↑ Tan, Cheryl (2 August 2022). "80,000 more trees to be planted by 2030 to cool industrial estates: Tan Kiat How". The Straits Times. ISSN   0585-3923 . Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  21. ↑ "World's biggest underground district cooling network now at Marina Bay". TODAY. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  22. 1 2 Begum, Shabana (1 April 2024). "Authorities eye reflective paint for buildings as NTU pilot shows it can cool urban areas by 2 deg C". The Straits Times. ISSN   0585-3923 . Retrieved 1 September 2024.
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