Grace Fu Hai Yien
Singapore
“The Government takes a multi-pronged approach to address the disamenities from second-hand tobacco smoke. The National Environment Agency (NEA) works with Government agencies, Town Councils and community leaders to promote considerate behaviour and strengthen social norms.”
“The Government recently announced land-use changes in Lim Chu Kang to optimise our scarce land to meet our growing and evolving needs. We are at the initial planning stage and agencies are still working out the detailed development proposals.”
“Public Waste Collectors and Town Councils have trialled the collection and treatment of segregated food waste from households. However, participation rates are poor despite regular engagement and reminders.”
“The quality of incense offerings and the practice of burning incense are not regulated by law. Instead, the National Environment Agency (NEA) works with stakeholders, such as Town Councils, agencies and religious organisations, to encourage responsible burning of joss paper and incense.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) monitors public cleaning contractors through regular physical audits and remote monitoring, complemented by video analytics. NEA also regularly assesses the cleaning quality and outcomes of public cleaning contractors.”
“This question has been addressed in the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment’s combined answer to Question Nos 15 to 18 on the Order Paper for 7 July 2026. [Please refer to "National Recycling Rates, Plans and Targets", Official Report, 7 July 2026, Vol 96, Issue 32, Oral Answers to Questions section.]”
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“In July this year, we officially opened one of the world’s largest floating solar farms on Tengeh Reservoir. We are aggressively accelerating the deployment of solar panels on building rooftops and other untapped spaces including canals and roads. Even as we are pushing the bounds of innovation, our best efforts will only increase the proportion of solar in our power supply by only a couple of percentage points, from less than 1% in 2019 to around 3% by 2030. While we have no choice but to rely on fossil fuels as we explore other green energy options, we remain committed to keeping our energy mix as clean as possible. The share of coal in Singapore’s energy mix is just 1.2%. This is significantly lower than other countries that fare better on CAT’s list, such as Japan and Germany, where the proportion is nearly 30%. Greening our energy grid is just one way in which Singapore is striving to overcome our natural limitations. We are also pressing ahead with the Singapore Green Plan 2030, a whole-of-nation roadmap to advance our sustainability development agenda and achieve net zero. These include greening 80% of our buildings by 2030 and phasing out internal combustion engine vehicles by 2040. We are reviewing the post-2023 carbon tax level and trajectory, in consultation with industry and expert groups, to further spur the reduction of our carbon emissions, incentivise industry innovation and promote green growth. The revised post-2023 carbon tax level and trajectory will be announced at Budget next year. The Government has also set aside significant funds to finance climate and sustainability efforts, which are not reflected in CAT’s assessment. In our S$25 billion Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 Plan, sustainability features is a key focus area.”
“We are reviewing the methodology used by Climate Action Tracker (CAT) in rating Singapore’s climate targets and policies. Our preliminary view is that the CAT assessment framework does not account for Singapore’s unique challenges as a small, densely populated city-state with limited access to alternative energy sources. These are important considerations in contextualising Singapore’s climate and sustainability efforts. Such constraints in transitioning to alternative energy sources are recognised under Article 4.10 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). To put the numbers in context, Singapore’s population density is more than ten times higher than the next densest country being evaluated by CAT, South Korea. As a city-state with no hinterland and limited resources, we must make provisions for an array of needs, from industry, housing, utilities, air and seaports, to national defence, all within 728 square kilometres. Even when we compare ourselves with equally dense global cities, we are at a distinct disadvantage, as we have no ready access to renewable energy sources. London is about two-thirds as dense as Singapore, but is able to tap on various distant offshore wind farms that lie outside their administrative boundaries. For example, the London Array, an offshore wind farm located more than 100 kilometres away from the city, generates enough clean electricity to power around 500,000 homes. Hong Kong draws about a quarter of its electricity from nuclear power plants in China’s Guangdong province, and relies on Shenzhen as its adjacent manufacturing hub. Singapore is exploring ways to harness greener energy options such as solar energy, clean energy imports and low-carbon alternatives.”
“From 1 August to 24 September 2021, the National Environment Agency (NEA) received about 140 complaints regarding foul odour from residents in Woodlands town. When a complaint on foul odour is received, NEA will carry out ground inspections and check the premises in the vicinity for possible causes, including pollution incidents. These premises include factories, construction sites and agricultural sites. If the odour can be traced to a particular site, NEA will engage the premises owner or occupier to implement the necessary mitigation measures. NEA will also monitor the situation to ensure that the mitigation measures are effective in addressing the odour issue.”
“In addition, an Alliance for Action (AfA) on online ordering, comprising hawker representatives, online food delivery platforms, community groups as well as NEA and the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), has been convened to help hawkers, especially those who are less digitally savvy, increase their online presence and extend customer reach. The AfA will be piloting their recommendations over the next few months. An example is the setting up of Digital Support for Hawkers (DSH) groups to support and strengthen the digital presence of hawker centres. In addition, the AfA will pilot a 'Common Acquirer' model for food delivery at 14 hawker centres, which will allow hawkers easier access to customers of all participating online ordering platforms, along with an integrated interface to receive and manage orders.”
“Safe Management Measures (SMMs) at hawker centres, such as access control to facilitate SafeEntry check-in and restrictions on dine-in group sizes, are measures to slow down community transmissions as Singapore transits towards a COVID-19 resilient nation. The SafeEntry system helps to identify and ring-fence COVID-19 cases through contact tracing, while seating restrictions facilitate safe distancing between dining groups. The SMMs will be reviewed and recalibrated regularly based on the prevailing COVID-19 situation. The National Environment Agency (NEA) has rolled out several programmes to make our hawker centres safe and clean, and help our hawkers adapt and pivot to new business models in a post-pandemic world. These programmes include the Hawker Centres Transformation Programme (HTP) and the Hawker Centre Toilet Improvement Programme (HCTIP). Under the HTP, which will be progressively implemented at all new and redeveloped hawker centres, hawkers and patrons can look forward to improvements such as better ventilation and wider aisles. Town Councils can also tap on funding under the HCTIP to install better fittings and technology for easier cleaning and maintenance of the toilets at hawker centres. NEA is also consulting stakeholders in new hawker centres as well as those undergoing significant Repairs & Redecoration, to improve spacing at the dining areas to facilitate SMMs should they be needed. These measures will help to improve public hygiene and make our hawker centres more resilient to public health risks.”
“Sections 44 and 45 of the Environmental Public Health Act (EPHA) come under Part V of the EPHA. As mentioned in this House recently, Part V of the EPHA on the abatement of public nuisances through the use of nuisance orders, addresses public nuisances that affect the public at large. It does not apply to private nuisances, which interfere with another person’s use or enjoyment of his property. In the last six years, the number of nuisance orders issued stood at 21. Most were issued to address public nuisance arising from waste management issues at trade fairs and dust nuisance at construction sites. Prior to 2015, more than 1,700 nuisance orders were issued, with the vast majority issued for dust issues at construction sites. Dust issues from construction sites have been addressed under section 18 of the EPHA since 2015. This allows us to act more expeditiously when the construction site fails to take reasonable precautions to prevent flying dust from affecting the well-being of persons using any public place, without the need to first establish that the public at large is affected by the dust nuisance and prove that it is due to a particular construction site.”
“During the advisory period from 1 June to 31 August 2021, the National Environment Agency (NEA) issued an average of about 6,000 advisories daily across the 110 hawker centres to remind diners to return their dirty trays, crockery and clear their litter after their meals. Enforcement action was not taken during this advisory period. The majority of diners were cooperative and would comply when advised to do so during the advisory period. Nevertheless, NEA enforcement officers occasionally encountered diners who did not heed their advice. In such cases, the officers would explain to the diners the rationale of the mandatory tray and crockery return policy and urge them to comply with the rules. Following the end of the advisory period, NEA has started to enforce against table littering in hawker centres from 1 September. For diners who do not clear their dirty trays, crockery and litter, enforcement officers will first advise them to do so. Diners who refuse to heed officers’ advice will have their particulars taken down and be issued written warnings if it is their first offence. Only second and subsequent offenders will be issued fines or be sent to Court. Thus far, diners have largely complied with our advisories and only one written warning has been issued since enforcement commenced.”
“More than 65,700 or 20% of households eligible for the Climate-Friendly Households (CFH) Programme have registered for the e-vouchers as of August 2021. About 14,000 vouchers have been utilised so far, of which 6,600 were for the purchase of energy-efficient refrigerators, 5,200 for LED lights, and 2,200 for water-efficient shower fittings. The vouchers are valid till 31 December 2023 so that households may choose to use them only when their appliances are due for replacement. There is currently no plan to extend the programme to cover other types of appliances, as the programme is intended to help lower-income households take climate action while saving money and is targeted at essential household appliances. We will continue to monitor the take-up rate of the vouchers and review the programme at an appropriate juncture. Meanwhile, NEA and PUB have been working with community partners to conduct outreach efforts to residents on the programme.”
“Lighting accounts for about 15% of the energy consumption of the built environment. The energy efficiency of lighting products is currently regulated through NEA’s Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme (MELS) and the Mandatory Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). MELS enables consumers to make an informed decision on the purchase of lighting products based on energy efficiency considerations, while MEPS raises the average energy efficiency of lighting products by removing the least energy-efficient models from the market. Through the public sector’s green procurement policy, most public sector buildings have already switched to energy-efficient lighting solutions. Lighting is important in public areas like HDB estates and parks for reasons of public safety. To provide good visibility when needed, smart lighting solutions have been progressively adopted. These can automatically adjust to ambient lighting and detected motion in the area, and have been implemented in all new public housing developments since 2018. HDB is also working with Town Councils to extend smart lighting to existing public housing estates under HDB’s Green Towns Programme. Building owners and facility managers are encouraged to adopt smart lighting solutions that dim or turn off the lights when no one is present. BCA’s Green Mark Scheme promotes the use of smart lighting and other smart facilities management solutions to optimise energy performance. Nevertheless, we cannot rely solely on technology. Everyone plays an important role in conserving energy, by switching off the lights when they are not needed, at the workplace and at home.”
“For strata developments, such as condominiums, with positive COVID-19 cases or visited by such individuals as informed by MOH, NEA will get in touch with the management corporation strata titles (MCSTs) or managing agents (MAs) to advise them to thoroughly clean and disinfect the premises. This includes all common touch-points, such as door handles, lift buttons, letter boxes, escalators and railings. The approach taken is similar to that for other premises, such as public housing estates and commercial properties. MCSTs and MAs have been responsive in undertaking the disinfection works. Should it be necessary, NEA will work with MOH to compel any persistently uncooperative MCSTs to disinfect their premises through an order under the Infectious Diseases Act. For guidance on how to carry out the cleaning works and the appropriate personal protective equipment to be used, MCSTs and MAs may refer to the "Guidelines for Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection of Areas Exposed to Confirmed Case(s) of COVID-19 in Non-Healthcare Premises" jointly developed by NEA and MOH, which is available on NEA’s website.”
“These revisions to the table-cleaning workflow will facilitate a more effective and efficient process to improve the overall cleanliness of public dining spaces, while providing cleaners and diners with a more hygienic and pleasant working and dining environment.”
“As of 1 June 2021, diners at hawker centres are required to return their dirty trays and crockery and dispose of litter after their meals. Enforcement against table littering has commenced at hawker centres from 1 September 2021, after an initial three-month advisory period. This followed the Clean Tables Campaign that was launched in February 2021 to raise public hygiene standards at public dining places and encourage tray return. NEA, supported by the Singapore Food Agency, has been working with stakeholders, including operators, stallholders and the cleaning industry, on a revised table-cleaning workflow at public dining places to ensure a smooth transition and help cleaners manage their workload better. Clearing our dirty trays and crockery will not deprive cleaners of their jobs as they are still required to upkeep the general cleanliness and hygiene of dining places, sort the crockery, and wipe and sanitise the tables. In fact, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the demands on cleaners, with the heightened requirements to ensure higher levels of public cleanliness and hygiene. Moving towards a self-service model where we return our dirty trays and crockery will, therefore, be a kinder gesture towards our ageing cleaning workforce and make it less laborious for them. Under the revised table-cleaning workflow, a team of cleaners will focus on wiping and sanitising tables after diners have cleared their tables, which would enable faster turnover of tables during peak mealtimes. Another team of cleaners will man the designated tray and crockery return points to clear and sort the returned crockery promptly.”
“Since 1 September this year, NEA has started enforcing against table littering in hawker centres following a three-month advisory period. For diners who do not clear their dirty trays, crockery and litter, enforcement officers will first advise them to do so. Diners who refuse to heed officers’ advice will have their particulars taken down and issued written warnings if it is their first offence. Only second and subsequent offenders will be issued fines or be sent to Court. NEA adopts a pragmatic approach on enforcement. We will not take enforcement action against diners who are clearly unable to carry their food to the table, such as the elderly who have difficulty moving about, young children and persons with disabilities. We urge their family members, dining companions and members of public to help them return their trays and dirty crockery. Moving towards a full self-service model where diners return their dirty trays and crockery after their meals is also a kind gesture to make it less laborious for our ageing cleaning workforce. It also shows consideration to the next diner.”
“We are making efforts on both fronts. We are investing and working with key partners on low-carbon technologies and solutions, such as hydrogen. We are also working hard on the international front to advocate for a multilateral, rules-based approach to address climate change and to foster collaboration in areas like carbon markets and regional energy grids that will support our push for decarbonisation. In the meantime, we are advancing our efforts to transform our industry, economy and society to be more energy- and carbon-efficient. For the transport sector, we will tackle emissions systematically by limiting our vehicle population, reducing traffic congestion and promoting the switch from internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles to cleaner vehicles, such as electric vehicles (EVs). Today, there are several schemes, including the enhanced Vehicular Emission Scheme (VES) and early adoption incentives, to narrow the cost differential between ICE vehicles and EVs. We have seen early signs of increased adoption of EVs and will monitor whether further incentives are necessary. We have accelerated plans for the nationwide deployment of charging infrastructure and set a target of 60,000 charging points by 2030. LTA recently launched an EV Common Charger Grant to co-fund charger installation costs at non-landed private residences, as an early adoption incentive. As explained earlier, we will review our schemes and programmes regularly.”
“The latest report from the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a sobering assessment of the grave threats posed by climate change. Singapore remains fundamentally vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Senior Minister Teo, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change, outlined Singapore’s Considered, Committed and Collective approach to climate action at this year’s Committee of Supply debates. As a small city-state with limited land and alternative energy options, we face much starker trade-offs in mitigating our emissions. But we are committed to doing our full part in the global fight against climate change. Our ambitious climate goals have real impact on Singapore’s development and the lives of Singaporeans and are made after careful and coordinated planning. Last year, we submitted our enhanced 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and our Long-Term Low-Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS) under the Paris Agreement. Less than a year later, we launched the Singapore Green Plan 2030, our national roadmap towards sustainable development and net-zero emissions. The Green Plan builds on our enhanced NDC and LEDS and maps out ambitious targets and concrete initiatives over the next decade. The Member has asked if we would review our initiatives and targets in light of the latest IPCC findings. Our initiatives and targets are not static. We are pressing ahead decisively and gaining experience from implementing them. Where the conditions allow, we will strengthen our suite of initiatives and push ourselves to do more. The extent to which we can realise emissions reductions will become clearer, as technology evolves and matures, and as the modalities for international cooperation and collaboration become formalised.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, there is already coordination between PUB and LTA. In most cases, for major roadworks, such as for MRT stations, there has been close coordination of the work that is progressing and also the preventive measures that are being taken. But, from time to time, we do have such unauthorised alterations and also blockage in the drainage; sometimes, it is intentional or, sometimes, it is actually because of poor housekeeping. It happens from time to time. So, we do have to step up and look at how we can improve the enforcement and monitoring measures. We will review our measures from time to time to see if they are adequately preventive. 12.33 pm”
“As a result, storm water could not discharge effectively into downstream Sungei Api Api. PUB does not condone such illegal works and will be pressing charges against the contractor under the Sewerage and Drainage Act. Under the Sewerage and Drainage Act, no one can carry out any works to alter our storm water drainage system without PUB’s approval. PUB also requires contractors working in the vicinity of any watercourse to put in place measures to prevent construction materials from falling and choking up the drainage system. PUB takes a serious view of all works that affect our public drainage system. We have reminded all contractors to comply with the requirements and will take enforcement action against errant contractors.”
“Information on floods and road closures is communicated to the public promptly through radio broadcasts, news media, myENV Mobile App, PUB Facebook and Twitter, as well as LTA’s Expressway Monitoring Advisory System. SMS alerts are also sent to those who have registered to receive flood warnings. These measures will also help build preparedness to extreme weather events and strengthen community resilience, as we check weather advisories and warnings and adjust our daily schedules accordingly. I encourage members of the public to subscribe to NEA’s and PUB’s SMS alerts. PUB will continue to strengthen our forecasting and sensing capabilities and implement cost-effective measures to minimise flood risks. However, PUB cannot minimise flood risks on its own. Building owners must ensure that flood prevention measures in their developments remain effective. Contractors must also implement proper flood prevention measures at their worksites. We have seen cases of contractors failing to do so, resulting in floods in their locations. This brings me to the flash flood incident that occurred on 20 August 2021. This flash flood was reported at the junction of Tampines Avenue 10 and Pasir Ris Drive 12 towards TPE entrance at around 8.00 am. PUB’s Quick Response Team was immediately deployed to assist drivers and pedestrians, together with SCDF and Police. PUB also issued advisories to motorists and members of the public to avoid the area. This location is not a flood-prone area and the drainage system is more than adequate to cope with the rainfall intensity experienced on 20 August 2021. PUB’s investigations found that the contractor carrying out road widening works along Tampines Avenue 10 had altered the public drainage system there without PUB’s approval.”
“Thank you. PUB has invested almost $2 billion on drainage works in the last decade and reduced Singapore’s flood-prone areas from 3,200 hectares in the 1970s to 28 hectares today. PUB will continue to monitor these flood-prone areas closely. Another $1.4 billion will be invested over the next five years on drainage improvement works. It is, however, not practical to expand all 8,000-plus kilometres of our drains and flood protection infrastructure to accommodate every extreme rainfall event, as this would require massive land take and much higher costs. Flash floods arising from intense rainfall occur in limited areas and are transient – most will subside within 30 minutes, given our extensive drainage system. Moreover, PUB deploys more immediate and practical measures to protect our properties against flash floods, including portable flood barriers that can be installed at doorways or erected on roads and pavements. These flood barriers protect residents and businesses against flash floods and minimise potential damage to their premises. PUB is using technology to better predict and respond to floods. PUB will complete enhancements to its rainfall forecasting capability by first quarter of 2022. This will help forecast locations which will face heavy rainfall, issue earlier public alerts and enable early deployment of portable flood barriers in areas at risk of flash floods. Coupled with an extensive network of water level sensors and CCTVs installed at flood-prone areas, PUB’s Quick Response Team can also be deployed on site faster and assist premises owners to set up flood barriers, if needed.”
“Yes, Mdm Deputy Speaker. I beg your pardon. Three questions, please.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, the effects of climate change are increasingly felt around the world. Recently, we saw widespread flooding caused by a record rainfall in parts of Europe, China and the USA. Singapore has also experienced intense rainfall events in recent months. On 17 April and 24 August, more than an entire month’s rainfall fell on our western parts within three to four hours. Given climate change, we must prepare for more extreme weather scenarios as we are likely to see more flash floods from intense rain.”
“GreenGov.SG was launched in July 2021 with new sustainability targets and significantly expanded coverage of public sector facilities beyond office buildings. The Government will work towards releasing a GreenGov.SG report on the public sector’s sustainability performance in due course, which will include carbon emissions.”
“In its investigation into fires which caused severe transboundary haze in 2015, the NEA identified fires on concession lands associated with six Indonesian companies and issued legal notices under the Transboundary Haze Pollution Act to all six. As previously announced in March 2017, NEA has closed the cases on two companies based on the information they provided in response to the legal notice. Investigations into the other four companies remain open.”
“Of the more than 400 nightlife establishments that were approved to pivot to Food and Beverage operations, 11 operate with a Food Shop (Restaurant) licence from the Singapore Food Agency (SFA), which requires a commercial kitchen. The rest operate with a Food Shop (Snack Counter) licence, which requires more basic food preparation equipment. Enhanced Safe Management Measures (SMMs) have been introduced on top of existing ones for the F&B sector to further reduce public health risks and facilitate enforcement checks. All pivoted nightlife establishments can only resume operations after they pass inspections and receive a conditional permit from MTI. This conditional permit imposes additional SMMs on these establishments, including installing CCTVs to monitor operations, removing public entertainment equipment like karaoke machines and pool tables from sight, and ensuring that food preparation facilities and menus comply with licencing conditions set by SFA.”
“Since 1 September this year, NEA has started enforcing against table littering in hawker centres following a three-month advisory period. For diners who do not clear their dirty trays, crockery and litter, enforcement officers will first advise them to do so. Diners who refuse to heed officers’ advice will have their particulars taken down and issued written warnings if it is their first offence. Only second and subsequent offenders will be issued fines or be sent to Court. From 1 to 10 September, our enforcement officers advised an average of about 650 diners per day across 110 hawker centres to clear their tables. The vast majority complied. No fines have been issued as yet, but NEA has taken down the particulars of one diner who did not heed advice and will be issuing him a warning letter. For zi char stalls that use specialised, bulky crockery, stallholders will have their stall assistants, who serve the food to the tables, or the cleaners to assist in collecting these bulky crockery after diners finish their meal. Diners will need to clear the rest of the dirty crockery and table litter. We have observed that most diners have been able to do so. To make it more convenient for diners to return their dirty crockery and trays, NEA is installing 150 new tray and crockery return racks at hawker centres, on top of the 900 existing racks. NEA will also be progressively introducing 300 tray and crockery return trolleys that can be easily deployed at convenient locations within easy walking distance of diners.”
“Safe Distancing Enforcement Officers (EOs) do not randomly or proactively enter residences and check for potential breaches. They adhere to a set of protocols to guide them in deciding whether to enter homes and check for potential breaches, such as if there are repeated or substantiated feedback, or by the presence of tell-tale signs from outside the residence. EOs will engage the occupants and identify themselves with both their EO and corporate staff passes, and explain their intent. For home checks, EOs will be progressively equipped with body-worn cameras.”
“Sea-level rise poses an existential threat to Singapore. By 2100, sea levels are expected to rise by up to one metre in Singapore due to climate change. We have started work to protect our coastlines to ensure that Singapore remains climate-resilient. In developing coastal protection plans, the Government refers to the latest climate projections and risks, such as the recent findings by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). These findings will be further localised to inform Singapore’s climate adaptation plans. Coastal protection is a long-term and large-scale endeavour. Hence, even though there are uncertainties in climate projections, we have begun planning for coastal protection, beginning with the more vulnerable parts of our coasts. In May 2021, PUB, which is the national coastal protection agency, embarked on a site-specific study at the coastline of City-East Coast, which will consider possible protection measures, including the use of polders, seawalls as well as hybrid solutions that integrate nature-based elements such as planting mangroves. Similar studies to protect Jurong Island and the North-West coast will commence in 2022. These studies will develop coastal adaptation pathways and measures that are adaptive to climate uncertainties and the evolving climate science, drawing on international best practices. HDB has also piloted a polder project at Pulau Tekong and its construction is ongoing. The learning points from this pilot will guide us on the feasibility of building polders as a coastal protection solution. MSE will keep our adaptation measures nimble to account for the latest developments in climate science and projections of sea level rise. This will ensure that Singapore remains resilient to the long-term effects of climate change.”
“Site-specific studies to determine feasible measures for coastal protection are being carried out progressively, beginning with more critical and vulnerable regions such as the City-East Coast. PUB is also developing a Coastal-Inland Flood Model that can assess the combined flooding effects from extreme sea levels and intense rainfall. To enhance flood resilience, PUB has invested almost $2 billion on drainage works in the last decade and will invest another $1.4 billion over the next five years. Drainage design standards were raised in 2011, which called for an increase in drain capacities by up to 50% to cater for more intense rainfall. The Government will take a science-based and proactive approach to climate adaptation. The Government will review and update Singapore’s long-term coastal protection plans based on the latest data, by adopting a flexible approach in planning protection measures and evaluating the plans across a range of scenarios. However, it will not be prudent or feasible to build infrastructure to accommodate every extreme climate scenario. The recent extreme climate events worldwide have highlighted that the collective response to such occurrences is just as important. We will seek to strengthen community resilience, in partnership with our local communities and stakeholders.”
“Singapore is clear-eyed about the risks of climate change and takes the recent IPCC findings seriously. The Centre for Climate Research Singapore (CCRS) has started work on the Third National Climate Change Study, which will contextualise the IPCC findings and derive localised projections for Singapore. The latest IPCC findings underscore the urgency to press ahead with our climate adaptation plans outlined under the "Resilient Future" pillar of the Singapore Green Plan 2030. To address rising temperatures and the urban heat island effect, the Government has been developing a heat mitigation action plan, informed by science. This includes increasing urban greenery and green buildings and scaling up the use of cool materials. For example, HDB together with the Tampines Town Council, have launched a pilot project to paint some 130 HDB blocks with cool paint to reduce ambient temperature. We are also intensifying greenery in our urban environment as part of our City in Nature efforts under the Singapore Green Plan 2030. For example, as part of our OneMillionTrees movement, we are planting 170,000 more trees in our industrial estates over the next 10 years, nearly tripling the current tree population. This can help to cool these industrial estates and create a more conducive work environment. Climate change can also affect Singapore’s biodiversity and natural ecosystem processes. Under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Plan 2025, NParks will lead research on the impact of climate change on terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems and biodiversity. Such research can guide our nature conservation efforts. Another key area is strengthening Singapore’s coastal protection and flood resilience.”
“Nonetheless, we note that GIC is already holistically integrating sustainability considerations in their investment processes so as to protect and enhance the long-term value of their portfolios. Miss Cheryl Chan asked whether there is a system in place to review and track Singapore’s long-term environmental commitments. We do so through the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change (IMCCC), chaired by Senior Minister Teo and also regularly report the progress of our climate efforts to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Moving forward, we will provide regular updates on the progress of our broader efforts under the Singapore Green Plan. We hope that this will galvanise Singaporeans to make steady progress on these challenging and ambitious goals to create a more sustainable and climate-resilient future.”
“This includes quadrupling our solar energy deployment by 2025, greening 80% of our buildings by 2030 and investing in low-carbon technologies such as carbon capture utilisation and storage and low-carbon hydrogen. The public sector will take the lead and aim to peak its emissions around 2025, five years ahead of the national target. We will review the public sector’s climate targets and strategies together with our national goals. As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, we will examine how to lock in some of the gains from the increased prevalence of telecommuting over the past year, as Dr Lim Wee Kiak has suggested. Our preliminary analysis indicates that Singapore’s greenhouse gas emissions in 2020 had fallen compared to 2019 levels, mainly due to lower levels of economic activity in the industry sector. It is not conclusive that telecommuting has reduced emissions as working from home may have increased demand for services such as online shopping and food deliveries that increase transport emissions. We have also observed an increase in emissions from households due to increased electricity use. When the emissions data for 2020 is available, we will provide a full update. As we move towards a low-carbon economy, businesses and financial institutions have an important role to play in channelling capital towards sustainable development. Ms He Ting Ru asked if there are plans to commit the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) to having a portfolio of net zero emissions. The Minister for Finance has previously stated that the Government does not prescribe the individual investment actions of our investment entities, which make independent commercial decisions.”
“The extent to which we can realise emissions reductions will become clearer, as technology evolves and matures, and as the modalities for international cooperation and collaboration become formalised. We are making efforts on both fronts. We are investing and working with key partners on low-carbon technologies and solutions, such as hydrogen. We are also working hard on the international front to advocate for a multilateral, rules-based approach to address climate change, and to foster collaboration in areas like carbon markets and regional energy grids that will support our push for decarbonisation. In the meantime, we are advancing our efforts to transform our industry, economy and society to be more energy and carbon efficient. Central to this is the carbon tax, which helps to drive economy-wide emissions reduction. We are reviewing our carbon tax regime, to price carbon at a level that can spur the reduction of our carbon footprint and promote industry innovation and green growth, while maintaining Singapore’s economic competitiveness. While we will maintain the carbon tax level at $5 per tonne of greenhouse gas emissions up until 2023, the Deputy Prime Minister and then Minister for Finance stated at Budget 2021 that we are reviewing the post-2023 trajectory and level of carbon tax, as the urgency and global momentum for climate action have accelerated. This review will be done in consultation with industry and expert groups, and the outcome will be announced at Budget 2022 to give ample time for businesses to adjust. The carbon tax complements the comprehensive suite of measures in the Green Plan to reduce emissions across all sectors.”
“The latest report from the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is a sobering assessment of the grave threats posed by climate change. Singapore remains fundamentally vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Senior Minister Teo, who chairs the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change, outlined Singapore’s Considered, Committed and Collective approach to climate action at this year’s Committee of Supply debates. As a small city-state with limited land and alternative energy options, we face much starker trade-offs in mitigating our emissions. But we are committed to doing our full part in the global fight against climate change. Our ambitious climate goals have real impact on Singapore’s development and the lives of Singaporeans, and are made after careful and co-ordinated planning. Last year, we submitted our enhanced 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and our Long-Term Low-Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS) under the Paris Agreement. Less than a year later, we launched the Singapore Green Plan 2030, our national roadmap towards sustainable development and net-zero emissions. The Green Plan builds on our enhanced NDC and LEDS and maps out ambitious targets and concrete initiatives over the next decade. Several Members have asked if we would review our initiatives and targets in light of the latest IPCC findings. Let me assure Members that these are not static. We are pressing ahead decisively with our initiatives and gaining experience from implementing them. Where the conditions allow, we will strengthen our suite of initiatives and push ourselves to do more.”
“Around 3,000 Safe Distancing Ambassadors (SDAs) and Enforcement Officers (EOs), currently from 17 Government agencies, have been deployed daily since April 2020 to remind members of the public and premises owners to comply with Safe Management Measures (SMMs). We do not have ready information on the gender and age bands of SDAs as they are engaged by multiple agencies for a range of safe distancing work. SDAs do not have enforcement powers and are not typically deployed to undertake checks on nightlife establishments which have pivoted to F&B operations. Checks on pivoted nightlife establishments are instead undertaken by Enforcement Officers (EOs) and Auxiliary Police Officers, who are authorised to take enforcement action. The number of EOs deployed to undertake enforcement checks at pivoted nightlife establishments will vary based on the ground situation. Details on the enforcement operations conducted at the pivoted nightlife establishments, including joint operations by the Police and EOs, were provided by the Minister of Home Affairs at the Parliament Sitting on 26 July 2021.”
“There are more than 12,000 HDB blocks across Singapore, with different designs and layout. When persistent high-rise littering occurs, NEA will assess the feasibility of installing surveillance cameras at the block. NEA has explored and adopted ways to deploy cameras in tight spaces, for example with brackets, to enable surveillance at more HDB blocks. NEA also partners Town Councils for timely information sharing to investigate high-rise littering offences. For HDB blocks where camera deployment is not suitable, NEA will conduct site investigations, including interviews with relevant parties, to collect evidence. Besides enforcement, NEA adopts complementary strategies such as shaping community norms to deter high-rise littering. Since 2020, NEA has been placing informative standees at public areas with persistent littering, to discourage offences. Town Councils also display posters jointly produced with the Municipal Services Office at HDB blocks, highlighting the environmental and social consequences of high-rise littering.”
“Last November, Singapore organised a virtual training programme on urban solid waste management for ASEAN Member States, to build regional capacity on sound waste management practices and prevent the leakage of waste into the ocean.”
“Marine litter is a key environmental concern for the ASEAN region and will require collective action by all stakeholders. Singapore, together with our fellow ASEAN Member States, are committed to implementing the ASEAN Regional Action Plan for Combating Marine Debris, which was launched in May 2021. The Regional Action Plan does not set specific targets for the reduction of marine debris. Instead, the Plan focuses on preventing marine debris pollution through upstream measures to address land-based sources of plastic waste, which is assessed to account for 80% of marine plastic debris in the oceans. To this end, the Plan has identified 14 regional actions to facilitate the development of national-level policies to reduce the use of plastics; enhance plastic waste management and minimise leakage; and create value from plastic waste reuse and recycling, to enable a more sustainable and circular approach to plastics in the region. The implementation of these regional actions will support ASEAN Member States’ efforts to strengthen domestic policies and practices to reduce plastic waste pollution in their respective countries, to the benefit of the shared regional environment. Singapore welcomes the implementation of the Regional Action Plan. Its goals are closely aligned with our national efforts to better manage, reduce and recycle plastic waste through the adoption of circular economy approaches. While we have no plans to engage ASEAN Member States to set targets to reduce marine debris, Singapore will continue to support their efforts to address marine litter, such as through the sharing of our experiences and expertise in waste management.”
“Many market stallholders receive their supplies on a daily basis. To minimise food wastage following the closure of the Jurong Fishery Port and some wet markets, the Singapore Food Agency and Enterprise Singapore quickly worked with distributors and supermarkets to activate alternative arrangements. These arrangements include diverting supplies directly to the supermarkets’ distribution centres and retail outlets. We have been reviewing longer-term plans for this sector. Since 2020, SFA has been conducting studies on enhancements to the wholesale fresh produce sector and is working with the NEA to study our wet markets to better meet the future demands of consumers and industry. We will factor in lessons learnt from this episode to better future-proof the sector.”
“Online food delivery services can support and boost hawkers’ businesses, which have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. To help hawkers increase their online presence and adopt the food delivery services suited to their business needs, hawkers’ representatives, online food delivery platforms and community groups have come together with the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Infocomm Media Development Agency (IMDA) to convene an Alliance for Action (AfA) on online ordering of hawker food. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for all hawkers, as they have diverse profiles and considerations. The AfA is working together to drive actionable outcomes to support our hawkers, especially those who are less technologically savvy, through three workstreams, each co-led by industry and hawker representatives. The AfA aims to raise hawkers’ awareness of different online ordering platforms and enhance ease of adoption, work towards lower and more sustainable platform costs for hawkers through exploring different business models and increasing consumer awareness of hawkers’ online presence and activating consumer demand through digital and other means. The AfA will complement existing community initiatives as well as Government schemes, such as NEA’s Food Delivery Support Scheme, which supported hawkers to onboard food delivery services and IMDA’s Hawkers Go Digital programme which supported hawkers to adopt e-payment. On the ground, Digital Ambassadors from SG Digital Office will continue to engage and support hawkers on their digitalisation journey, including getting onboard e-payment and online food delivery platforms. Details of AfA’s recommendations will be shared in the last quarter of 2021.”
“Operators of pivoted nightlife establishments who wish to reopen after the two-week suspension period will be required to implement additional Safe Management Measures (SMMs), on top of existing ones, to further reduce public health risks and facilitate enforcement checks. They must then pass inspections and receive a conditional permit from MTI before they can resume operations. We have announced the requirements recently and MTI, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and other relevant enforcement agencies will be engaging operators on the follow-ups. The additional SMMs include installing CCTVs to monitor operations, removing public entertainment equipment like karaoke machines and pool tables from sight, and ensuring that the business activities are visible from outside the business premises. These SMMs will be included in MTI’s conditional permits to reopen. Operators with queries may email the MTI helpdesk at covid_gobusiness@mti.gov.sg to find out more. While these SMMs may be onerous for some operators, they have been designed such that genuine F&B operators are not overly affected. A tightening is necessary so as to prevent another cluster in pivoted nightlife establishments. MTI and Enterprise Singapore will continue to work closely with the Singapore Nightlife Business Association and the various regulatory agencies to provide support to the nightlife industry.”
“I would like to thank the Member for his interest in protecting our cleaners. The short answer to his question is yes, we will consider anyone who informs us about non-compliance. NEA and the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, together with the Ministry of Manpower, will conduct enforcement checks.”
“Mdm Deputy Speaker, since the introduction of the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) until 31 May 2021, the National Environment Agency (NEA) has imposed financial penalties against 57 licensed cleaning businesses and issued warning letters to 52 cleaning businesses for failing to comply with requirements under the PWM, such as failure to pay eligible cleaners bonuses or progressive wages. Under the Environmental Services Industry Transformation Map, strategies and initiatives have been developed to professionalise the cleaning workforce through the adoption of technology, upskilling of cleaners and improving procurement practices. These will help to build a professional, skilled and manpower-lean cleaning workforce and drive the adoption of good practices within the industry.”
“Under the Environmental Public Health Act, all condominiums and private apartments are required to provide one recycling receptacle for each block in their development and to send the recyclables for recycling. There are more than 9,000 recycling bins in condominiums and private apartments. Condominiums and private apartments that are on the Public Waste Collection scheme are provided with blue recycling bins and the recyclables are collected by licensed Public Waste Collectors (PWCs) appointed by NEA. Condominiums and private apartments that opt out of this scheme are required to provide their own recycling receptacles and engage a licensed General Waste Collector to collect and send their recyclables to recycling facilities. On average, about 750 tonnes of recyclables were collected from condominiums and private apartments served by PWCs every year for the past two years. NEA does not have data on the recyclables collected from premises that have opted out of the Public Waste Collection scheme.”
“The target of reducing waste-to-landfill by 30% by 2030 is intended to extend the lifespan of Semakau Landfill till at least 2035. The target translates to a reduction of waste sent to Semakau Landfill each day, from 0.36 kilogrammes (kg) per capita in 2018 to 0.25 kg per capita by 2030. The Resource Sustainability Act was enacted in 2019 to impose upstream regulatory measures on the three priority waste streams, namely e-waste, food waste and packaging waste. One example is the Extended Producer Responsibility scheme for e-waste which was introduced in July 2021, where producers of regulated products are required to pay for the collection and recycling of their products at end-of-life. Such upstream regulations will send economic signals to producers to account for the cost of environmental externalities and to redesign products to require less materials, last longer and be more easily recycled. To encourage more people to switch from disposables to reusables, the "Say YES to Waste Less" campaign by NEA raises awareness of simple everyday actions that the public can adopt to reduce waste. We have also started public consultation on a charging model for disposable carrier bags handed out at supermarkets. We are developing innovative ways to close our waste loop. NEA is conducting trials to turn incineration bottom ash into NEWSand, which can be used as construction material, so as to divert waste away from Semakau Landfill. Together with other initiatives under the Zero Waste Masterplan, we will work towards keeping Semakau Landfill from reaching capacity even beyond 2035.”
“An individual’s dietary preferences is a personal choice. The Government has no plans to introduce measures to nudge Singaporeans to lower their intake of meat and dairy products. Consumers can do their part for the environment by reducing food wastage. This will conserve the resources needed to produce, distribute and dispose of food and lower our carbon footprint. Consumers should also avoid the use of disposable cutlery and containers when doing takeaways. The Singapore Food Agency is working closely with our local farmers to harness technologies to "grow more with less", in a sustainable way. Consumers can look out for the new Clean and Green logo on local farm produce from certified farms that use resource-efficient practices in a clean and sustainable environment.”
“Details of the AfA’s recommendations will be shared when ready.”
“To encourage Singaporeans to continue supporting our hawkers, we as individuals can rally our family, friends and networks to buy food from our hawkers. Many grassroots leaders, Hawkers’ Associations and community groups have done so, for example, through social media. The Government is also committed to supporting them during this difficult period. NEA has provided stallholders with three months of rental waiver and subsidy for table-cleaning and centralised dishwashing services this year to help defray their operating costs. To provide assurance on the cleanliness and hygiene standards at our hawker centres, NEA has been working closely with stakeholders, such as cleaning companies and Town Councils, to conduct more frequent cleaning of hawker centres, with emphasis on the sanitisation of tables and toilet cleanliness. Patrons can do their part by adhering to safe management measures, such as wearing their masks properly, returning used trays and crockery and binning their litter. Food delivery services provide hawkers with an additional option to boost their day-to-day business. To help hawkers increase their online presence and adopt the food delivery service that best suits their business needs, NEA has convened an Alliance for Action (AfA) with the Infocomm Media Development Agency (IMDA), involving multiple stakeholders, such as delivery companies, hawkers and hawker food advocates. There are also community-driven and ground-up initiatives on social media platforms that promote our hawkers through authentic and well-curated content. Recognising the influence of these platforms, the AfA will look into ways to increase consumer awareness of and demand for hawker fare through both digital and offline means.”
“NEA will continue to work closely with organisations such as the Public Hygiene Council, the Restroom Association (Singapore) and the Singapore Kindness Movement to promote the cleanliness of public toilets, through free training programmes for cleaners, toilet cleanliness audits and provision of educational materials for display in toilets.”
“NEA conducts regular inspections of public toilets, including at markets and hawker centres, to ensure high standards of hygiene and cleanliness. Enforcement action is taken against premises owners and operators for cleaning lapses. NEA has worked with stakeholders on initiatives to improve toilet cleanliness. The SG Clean movement was launched in February 2020 to rally individuals and local businesses to raise standards of cleanliness and public hygiene. Premises that meet a set of sanitation and hygiene requirements including enhanced toilet cleaning are recognised with the SG Clean Quality Mark certification. To date, 107 out of 114 markets and hawker centres have been certified SG Clean. NEA has also implemented the Hawker Centre Toilet Improvement Programme since October 2020. The programme provides co-funding to Town Councils (TCs) to improve toilet designs and install sanitary fittings that facilitate better cleaning and maintenance. To date, eight TCs have applied for co-funding to upgrade the public toilets in 11 hawker centres. By end 2021, markets and hawker centres will have to adhere to mandatory baseline environmental sanitation standards under the Environmental Sanitation regime. These premises will be required to perform daily cleaning and disinfection of specific areas, including toilets, at enhanced frequencies. In addition to routine cleaning, markets and hawker centres will have to undergo thorough periodic cleaning once every three months.”
“National Environment Agency (NEA) enforcement officers carry out surveillance and enforcement operations on a range of public health offences such as littering and spitting, in addition to smoking in prohibited places. In 2020, NEA received a monthly average of 3,100 instances of feedback related to smoking and issued 1,500 tickets monthly for smoking in prohibited places.”