Masagos Zulkifli B M M
Singapore
“Coordination between Early Intervention (EI) centres, families and preschools is important for the continuity of support for children with developmental needs.”
“The Taxi Subsidy Scheme supports persons with disabilities (PwDs) who are unable to take public transport, by providing means-tested subsidies to offset the cost of taxi travel to school, work and employment-related training supported by SG Enable.”
“The Skills and Salary Guidelines published by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) guides social service agencies (SSAs) to pay their employees fair and competitive remuneration and maintain the sector's attractiveness. The Guidelines are adjusted so that salaries remain competitive with comparable roles in competing markets.”
“Staff turnover rates vary across social service agencies (SSAs). An individual's decision to leave an organisation is influenced by a myriad of factors, of which pay is only one.”
“Beyond the requirement of a structured daily programme, community-based SCFA administrators have the flexibility to offer programmes and additional enrichment activities that meet the needs of their students. MSF does not track staff salaries and turnover of SCCs in general nor those that administer SCFA.”
“Male preschool educators comprised about 1% of the early childhood workforce in each of the last five years. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) has not issued guidelines pertaining to the rules set by preschool centres specific to the conduct of male preschool educators.”
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“More details will be announced later this year. Mr Chairman, public transport generates up to three times less carbon dioxide than private transport. Hence, our approach is to encourage public transport and green public transport as far as possible. The Land Transport Master Plan 2040 by the Ministry of Transport (MOT) supports this. This is how Singapore moves to cut GHG emissions – simply drive less. If driving less is, somehow, not an option, motorists can still practise sustainable consumption by choosing cleaner vehicles that emit less GHG and harmful pollutants. Mr Louis Ng asked about the Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES). The VES implemented in 2018 has seen positive results and we have since extended the VES until end 2020. This will complement the enhanced incentives and infrastructure to promote the use of electric vehicles announced at the Budget. We aim to refine VES further, taking into account its impact on motorists' purchasing decisions and advancements in technology. The transport of goods and services is a major economic activity in Singapore. Commercial vehicles, especially Light Goods Vehicles or LGVs, are key emission sources and pollute our air due to their high mileage and reliance on diesel. To support the shift to cleaner commercial vehicles, we will introduce a new Commercial Vehicle Emissions Scheme (CVES) for new LGVs, which form the largest proportion of commercial vehicles. Under the new CVES, the cleanest LGVs will receive a $30,000 incentive, while the most polluting LGVs will incur a $10,000 surcharge. In terms of Total Cost of Ownership, fleet owners will enjoy overall savings when they purchase EVs as opposed to petrol vehicles and even greater savings as compared to diesel vehicles. 2.”
“In the long run, it is only with groundbreaking technology that we can make huge leaps in climate mitigation. In the horizon are carbon capture, utilisation and storage technologies, and the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel. We will stay abreast of these developments. Beyond the Ministry, the Public sector as a whole is doing more. Mr Louis Ng asked about our efforts. In 2017, we launched the Public Sector Sustainability Plan, which charted out our strategies to reduce electricity and water consumption, and achieve Green Mark standards for 100% of our buildings. Ministries and agencies are working hard, and are on track to meet our 2020 targets. For example, all air-conditioned Government premises should maintain indoor temperatures of 24 degrees centigrade or higher where feasible. All Ministries have also taken the climate action pledge and committed to reducing their plastic, water and electricity consumption. We are reviewing how to bring our plan to the next level. The Deputy Prime Minister also announced our vision for all vehicles to run on cleaner energy by 2040. The Government will take the lead. From 2023, all new vehicle purchases for Government-owned fleets will be cleaner and greener where feasible. MINDEF, for example, will replace 400 administrative vehicles with hybrids and later, with electric ones when charging infrastructure is ready in 2040. Together, with net-zero buildings, food waste management, our Army is "green" in more than in their uniforms. This are but a few examples of what I said earlier in my speech on how the UN Climate Change Framework is shaping climate-conscious behaviours and decisions. We are also reviewing other measures such as the better management of carbon emissions and the use of disposables.”
“The Tuas Nexus carries out co-digestion of food waste and used water sludge to generate up to three times more biogas than conventional sludge treatment processes. This biogas will be used to generate electricity to power the plant and excess electricity will be exported back into the grid. In addition, we will ramp up the generation of solar energy within MEWR. Mr Louis Ng asked if we can deploy more solar panels on reservoirs. This year, PUB will deploy two 1.5 mega-watt peak (MWp) floating solar systems at Bedok and Lower Seletar Reservoirs. Next year, PUB will deploy the world's largest single floating solar system of 60 mega-watt peak at Tengeh Reservoir. The power generated from this system alone is sufficient to meet the energy of all our water treatment plants at local reservoirs. With this, Singapore's waterworks will be one of the few in the world to be 100% green. PUB is also making strides towards improving the energy efficiency of NEWater and desalinated water production. Mr Louis Ng also asked if the Government can provide consumers with rebates for using solar energy. Subsidies, such as rebates, distort the energy markets. Pricing energy right will encourage the growth of renewable energy in a commercially viable manner and incentivise consumers to use electricity efficiently, avoiding wasteful consumption. Instead of rebates, the Government has streamlined regulations and funded research to support higher deployment of solar. My Ministry also intends to be exemplary in optimising the water-energy-waste nexus. We will set out to generate sufficient energy from waste incineration and solar photovoltaic systems to power all of my Ministry's needs, especially in the production of water and the projected production of food.”
“NEA will also introduce a voluntary climate-friendly label to help households identify refrigerators and air-conditioners that use alternative refrigerants with lower global warming potential. In addition, NEA will launch a new grant to support companies who want to make an early switch to more climate-friendly commercial water-cooled chillers. From 2022, we intend to restrict the supply of commercial water-cooled chillers and household refrigerators and air-conditioners that use HFCs with high global warming potential. To Mr Louis Ng's question, MEWR will initiate a review on our ratification of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol later this year. Besides HFCs, improving energy efficiency will have a major impact on emissions reduction. Mr Dennis Tan asked about our progress. We have set an ambitious target to improve our industrial energy efficiency to 1% to 2% every year. Our industries are on track to meet this target, and we will continue to improve our energy efficiency rates. Last year, NEA announced the Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards, or MEES, for industrial-chilled water cooling systems. MEES will reduce energy consumption in industrial facilities by at least 245 gigawatt hours (GWh) annually – equivalent to taking more than 20,000 cars off the road. From 2021, energy-intensive companies, including oil-refining companies, will be required to establish facility-wide energy management systems and conduct energy efficiency opportunities assessments. In MEWR, we also live by our energy efficiency creed. Let me illustrate this. We are on track to complete the development of Tuas Nexus by 2027.”
“The carbon tax, as I mentioned in the past Parliamentary Question, is meant to provide an economy-wide price signal. Hence, only aggregated information will be released. To achieve emissions reductions, rather than scrutinising individual companies, it would be more useful to know which sectors we should concentrate on. The release of individual data could also be commercially sensitive. What are the major moves that my Ministry will introduce to further reduce our GHG emissions? First, we will implement a package of comprehensive measures to reduce the emission of hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs. As Dr Chia Shi-Lu and Mr Louis Ng have pointed out, HFCs can be found as refrigerants in refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment, and could leak during installation, maintenance and disposal. Some forms of HFCs trap a much larger amount of heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide. Later this year, NEA will launch a training course to train and certify technicians to handle refrigerants properly. From next year, NEA will mandate the proper recovery, reclamation and destruction of spent refrigerants. With your permission, Mr Chairman, may I display some slides on the screen?”
“Thank you. First, on mitigation. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement are pivotal multilateral agreements to address the global challenge of climate change. It has spurred many countries, including those who are large emitters, to enact laws and transform their economies to meet their carbon commitments. It is therefore in the interest of small island states like Singapore, to support this multilateral framework of cooperation. For this framework to stand, every country, large or small, must do its share to reduce GHG emissions. Singapore will also do our part. Last Friday, Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean announced that Singapore will enhance our 2030 nationally determined contribution to the Paris Agreement later this year. We will also submit our Long-Term Low Emissions Development Strategy, which aspires to halve emissions from our peak to 33 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) by 2050, with a view to achieve net zero emissions as soon as possible in the second half of the century. Halving our emissions, even 30 years from now, is an ambitious target, because Singapore is naturally constrained in alternative energy. This is an attribute recognised even by the UNFCCC. But we will continue to raise our ambitions to limit and reduce carbon emissions over the long term, knowing well enough that it requires transformational change. We are already ahead of the pack by implementing the carbon tax last year – the first country in Southeast Asia to do so. This is a clear signal to the whole of industry that Singapore is moving towards a low-carbon economy, as we give no exemption. Mr Louis Ng and Mr Daniel Goh asked about the carbon tax and emissions reporting.”
“Mr Chairman, firstly, let me wish Er Dr Lee Bee Wah and all the engineers in the House today, Happy Engineer's Day. The United Nations (UN) has rightfully identified climate change as the defining issue of our time. For Singapore, like many small nations, climate change is an existential challenge. We feel its effects today, such as in rising temperatures and frequent extreme weather events. Even the seasonality of Singapore's rainy and dry months is now difficult to predict. Scientists in the Centre for Climate Research Singapore have projected that by 2100, end of the century, the mean sea level around Singapore may rise up to one metre. Coupled with the frequent and heavy storms also brought about by climate change, low-lying areas of Singapore such as the East Coast may experience more flooding. For all countries, climate change also threatens access to essential resources like water, food and energy. These affect the security of our nation too. With this said, our history of overcoming challenges gives me the confidence that we need not despair when facing climate change. We will create innovative solutions for the hardest challenge, putting Singapore in the unique position we enjoy today. This is Singapore's DNA. Today, I will update on our plans in three key areas to address the challenges of climate change – first, mitigation strategies to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases or GHGs; second, adaptation plans; and third, how we can work together, in our communities and as a nation, to collectively realise a more sustainable Singapore. With your permission, Mr Chairman, may I request the Clerks to distribute a document to Members?”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) requires all operators of Waste-to-Energy (WTE) plants to engage an accredited laboratory to conduct emissions tests and submit results of those tests to NEA at least once a year. This is to ensure that the emissions from WTE plants comply with emission standards specified under the Environmental Protection and Management (Air Impurities) Regulations. These standards cover key pollutants associated with the incineration of plastics waste, such as carbon monoxide, oxides of nitrogen, as well as dioxins and furans. Under the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA), operators who fail to meet the specified standards can be fined up to $20,000 on the first conviction and up to $50,000 on the second or subsequent conviction. To complement emissions testing, NEA inspects WTE plants twice a year to verify that pollution control equipment are properly maintained and operating effectively. Singapore's emission standards are published as part of the Environmental Protection and Management (Air Impurities) Regulations under the EPMA. They are comparable with those in other jurisdictions. Our regulations do not require operators of individual facilities, including WTE plants, to publish their emissions test results. Nonetheless, operators of WTE plants may do so voluntarily. For the NEA-operated plants, data on the most common pollutants of concern, namely particulate matter, sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen, are published annually on NEA's website.”
“The recycling rate for plastic in 2018 was about 4%. The National Environment Agency is reviewing Singapore's waste management and recycling statistics for 2019, and will publish them when ready. In 2018, Singapore generated 949,300 tonnes of plastic waste in Singapore. 41% was generated by domestic and trade sectors including households, and the remaining 59% by the industrial and commercial sectors. Plastic waste in Singapore is either recycled or incinerated in Waste-to-Energy plants, and not directly landfilled. Incineration reduces the volume of general waste, which includes plastics, by about 90%. The incineration ash is then disposed of at Semakau Landfill.”
“In view of the dengue outlook for 2020, NEA will bring forward the launch of the annual National Dengue Prevention Campaign to March, ahead of the traditional mid-year peak dengue season. Together with grassroots leaders and Dengue Prevention Volunteers, NEA will embark on intensive nationwide outreach efforts. NEA does outreach to elderly at neighbourhood elderly corners using customised, vernacular-language videos. NEA also works with preschools and schools to provide dengue prevention materials depicting the life cycle of the Aedes mosquito, which also serves as a teaching aid. But NEA alone cannot prevent dengue transmission in Singapore. 60% of mosquito breeding habitats detected continue to be found in residential premises. In addition to doing the Mozzie Wipeout, residents, especially those living in dengue clusters or areas with high mosquito population, are advised to regularly spray insecticide inside their homes, targeting dark areas where adult mosquitoes are likely to be resting. Young and old, there is an urgent need for everyone to step up their efforts to eradicate mosquito breeding habitats together with community partners and NGOs. Everyone must do their part to protect themselves and their loved ones.”
“As of 22 February 2020, there were 110 active dengue clusters. Since the start of the year, a total of 2,894 dengue cases have been reported, with 386 cases reported in the week ending 22 February. The number of Dengue virus serotype 3 (DENV-3) cases has risen over the last three months. The monthly proportion of DENV-3 cases in January was approximately 46%, higher than the proportion of Dengue virus serotype 2 cases at 40%. We are watching very closely whether there is a potential for a serotype switch. Such a switch is historically associated with dengue outbreaks. Singapore has not had a dengue outbreak driven by DENV-3 in over two decades, hence our population’s immunity to DENV-3 is low. The National Environment Agency (NEA) is monitoring this closely. NEA, together with Inter-Agency Dengue Task Force partners and Town Councils, has stepped up inspections to remove potential mosquito breeding habitats. Community volunteers and grassroots leaders have also been working hard to raise awareness on dengue prevention. Of the 346 clusters notified this year, nearly 70% have been closed, with the cooperation of our partners and the community. NEA has made available information on dengue clusters and areas with high Aedes aegypti mosquito population on the NEA website and myENV app. These are useful indicators to encourage early intervention, heighten community awareness to the risk of dengue transmission, and facilitate targeted action by stakeholders and residents. From January 2020, NEA started distributing flyers to alert residents living in areas with high Aedes aegypti mosquito population. Dengue cluster alert banners have also been put up in cluster areas to update the residents and members of the public of the latest dengue situation within the precinct.”
“All these five cases came from overseas, all over the world. As you know, we import 90% of our food. And we also take instructions from food authorities around the world. When they find out that these allergens are not declared, then we do the recall. But for Singapore food manufacturing companies, it is a requirement for them to do so. We check randomly to make sure that they do so.”
“Mr Speaker, food manufacturers and traders in Singapore must comply with SFA's food safety standards and requirements. These include labelling requirements where food manufacturers and traders must ensure that known allergens such as peanuts, which are found in pre-packed food products, are declared on the labels of the products. From 2015 to 2018, there were no cases of undeclared peanut allergen in pre-packed food products. Since 2019, there have been five cases of undeclared peanut allergen in pre-packed food products. Upon detection, SFA issued directions to recall the products given the food safety concerns to consumers who are allergic to peanuts. SFA has not received feedback or information on adverse health effects arising from these cases.”
“The Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES) has been implemented for all new cars, taxis and newly imported cars since January 2018. It assesses vehicles on five key pollutants – carbon dioxide, hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter (PM). The VES band for the vehicles is determined by the worst-performing pollutant of the five being assessed. The quarterly registration trends under the respective VES bands show promising results in encouraging the uptake of cleaner cars.”
“"Virtual" food businesses, also known as "cloud kitchens", are food establishments that do not have a physical store front but sell food directly to consumers through online food delivery platforms. They are licensed by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) under the Environmental Public Health Act. There were 61 of such food businesses as of 31 January 2020. Just like any other food establishment, "virtual" food businesses must comply with SFA's food safety requirements and standards, and ensure that the food they prepare is safe to eat. For instance, their food handlers and food hygiene officers must all be trained and certified under the Basic Food Hygiene Course and the Workforce Skills Qualifications' "Conduct Food and Beverages Hygiene Audit" programme respectively. These "virtual" food businesses are also subjected to inspection and enforcement actions by SFA just like other food establishments. Since "virtual" food businesses started being licensed in 2017, there has been one food hygiene and safety offence committed which involved an unregistered food handler. Should a "virtual" food business be suspended due to food hygiene and safety lapses, its food handlers and food hygiene officers must undergo retraining and recertification as per any other food establishment. Food safety is a joint responsibility across the industry, consumers and the Government. All food establishments must play their part to upkeep high standards of food safety as well as environmental and personal hygiene at all times.”
“For our 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), we have pledged to reduce our emissions intensity, that is, emissions per dollar of gross domestic product, by 36% from 2005 levels by 2030, and to stabilise emissions with the aim of peaking around 2030. Given expected growth in economic activity and increased energy demand, Singapore's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are projected to rise over the next few years before stabilising. Short-term year-on-year emissions projections may be affected by a multitude of factors, such as unforeseen disruptions, and are thus not a good reflection of the emissions trajectory. To achieve our 2030 NDC, the Government is putting in place mitigation measures to reduce emissions across all sectors, such as the industry, transport and building sectors, and ensure that Singapore continues to develop in a sustainable manner. The carbon tax is not a standalone. It forms part of our comprehensive suite of mitigation measures. It provides an important economy-wide price signal to spur emissions reduction, while giving companies the flexibility to take action where it makes the most business sense. The Government is prepared to spend more than the expected carbon tax revenue of about $1 billion over the first five years to help companies improve their energy and carbon efficiency. As such, it is more meaningful to monitor the progress and impact of our mitigation package as a whole.”
“The Carbon Pricing Act (CPA) came into force on 1 January 2019, giving effect to the carbon tax. The carbon tax provides an economy-wide price signal to encourage emissions reduction and the transition to a low-carbon economy. The carbon tax covers around 80% of our national emissions and applies to facilities in the manufacturing, power generation, waste and water management sectors which emit 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent or more annually. These companies have been monitoring their emissions for the year 2019, and must submit verified 2019 emissions reports to the National Environment Agency by 30 June 2020. The Government is unable to disclose company- or facility-specific data due to data confidentiality requirements as provided for in the CPA. The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) publishes data on Singapore's total greenhouse gases annually in the Key Environmental Statistics, which is available on the MEWR website. We also publish more detailed information on our greenhouse gas inventory in accordance with guidelines under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Our latest National Communications and Biennial Update Report was submitted to the UNFCCC in December 2018 and this report can be found on the website of the National Climate Change Secretariat. We will be submitting the next report by December 2020, and it will similarly be made available publicly.”
“Actually, until 2015, the whole world was waiting for everybody to do something, but not themselves. In fact, there was always an argument about who started it first, who had a bigger responsibility and who should do more. But with the Paris Agreement, every country now has agreed to at least put their best foot forward and try to do what they can do within the constraints of their own country to try and reduce emissions by 2030. This is what we call the "Nationally Determined Commitments". By 2030, we will also be asking all these countries which have agreed to the Paris Agreement framework to do even more. While the first stage was to get everybody to do their best and to follow the rules in committing to deliver their best, in reality, Science is telling us, you have to do much more than what you are doing today. That will put us on a better footing, once we get the 2015 Paris Agreement actually operational. It is already a big problem facing many countries as we see, as we go year after year, trying to get the rules agreed. In particular, the last instance, on the trading rules, "how can we – if we do not meet our commitments – be able to trade carbon with countries that have extra credits?" Even though it looks quite mechanical and simple, it fell through in the last agreement. But I am quite optimistic that at the end of the day, leaders, politicians are listening. Leaders and politicians all over the world are listening to their youths, loud and clear. They want to make sure that their future is a sustainable future and, even in Singapore, we really have to resteer our economy, the way we live, to make sure that what we do now will also deliver a sustainable future for our children and generations to come.”
“This year, we continue to encourage Singaporeans to work with us to co-create and co-deliver solutions to game-change climate change. Climate change is an existential challenge for Singapore. To ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy a vibrant and liveable city, we will continue to put sustainability at the centre of everything we do and work with 3P partners and Singaporeans to combat climate change and transition towards a climate resilient and low-carbon future. We recognise that by our actions alone we cannot stop climate change. But we hope that through our actions, we can play our small part to catalyse change and contribute to international and regional efforts to galvanise climate action.”
“We will also push the bounds of innovation, such as deploying floating solar photovoltaic systems on our reservoirs and offshore, to make up for our shortage of land area to deploy them. Such innovations have given us confidence to raise our level of ambition to double our solar deployment target from one Gigawatt peak (GWp) beyond 2020 to at least two GWp by 2030. We are also greening our physical and transport infrastructure. We are aiming for 80% of buildings in Singapore to be green by 2030 and for 90% of peak hour commuting trips to be via public transport, active mobility or shared transport by 2040. Our Zero Waste Masterplan will transform Singapore into a Circular Economy, where materials are retained and reused in the value chain for as long as possible. This will help to reduce our carbon footprint and complement our efforts to address climate change. The Government can only do so much on our own. We are, therefore, heartened that Singaporeans, especially our youths, understand the importance of this issue and are prepared to take climate-friendly actions in a whole-of-nation effort to address climate change. In 2018, we had a successful Year of Climate Action rallying community groups, grassroots organisations, corporations, schools and non-governmental organisations to take action for a sustainable future. Collectively, we held more than 800 climate action-related events across the People, Private, Public (3P) sectors, equivalent to two events a day. More than 342,000 individuals, organisations and educational institutions have pledged to take climate action. In 2019, we sustained the momentum with an inaugural Climate Action Week which featured ground-up activities organised by our 3P partners.”
“We have collaborated with partners to improve our understanding of climate change and its impact, through research and institutions like the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre, which is based in Singapore. Through our Climate Action Package, we have partnered and supported fellow developing countries to implement their Paris commitments and enhance climate action. In October 2019, we co-organised with New Zealand a workshop on the Paris rulebook to help countries in the region better understand their obligations under the Paris Agreement and to identify concrete actions and strategies that can be pursued. Just last month, we co-organised with the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Partnership and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat another workshop to discuss how ASEAN countries can update their climate pledges. We hope that this workshop will facilitate the submission of updated climate pledges from ASEAN countries this year. Looking ahead, we will work with Vietnam, as ASEAN Chair this year, to sustain the momentum of climate action in the region. We are also taking strong action at home. Notwithstanding our constraints in deploying renewable energy at scale, we are committed to playing our full part to tackle climate change and transform our economy towards a low-carbon future. Singapore implemented an economy-wide carbon tax last year – the first in Southeast Asia to do so – as a key plank of our mitigation strategy. The revenue will be used to support emission reduction projects and help businesses become more resource- and energy-efficient.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, to effectively address a global problem like climate change and its impacts, we need a strong global response. This is why Singapore is a strong advocate for a multilateral, rules-based approach to addressing climate change. We work with other like-minded countries at the United Nations (UN) to push for the best possible multilateral deal on climate change. We are privileged to have played an instrumental facilitator role in these talks, which culminated with the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015 and the agreements on the Katowice Climate Package in 2018 as well as the Chile Madrid Time for Action in 2019. While not perfect, these agreements will help to establish a virtuous cycle of climate actions by all countries. The challenge is to maintain this momentum of global climate action at a time when the multilateral system is under strain. Singapore will continue our active and constructive engagement in the negotiations. We will work with other countries, including the incoming United Kingdom (UK) Conference of the Parties (COP)-26 Presidency, to strengthen the multilateral framework of cooperation on climate change and push for a good outcome at the next Climate Conference in Glasgow. Regionally, we have taken an active role to galvanise climate action. As Chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2018, we convened the first-ever Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Climate Action (SAMCA) and Expanded-SAMCA, where ASEAN and China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) reaffirmed our political commitments and discussed ways to step up regional climate action.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) has been working with stakeholders to reduce the use of disposables at hawker centres managed by NEA. NEA has disallowed their usage for dine-in meals at all seven new hawker centres, and at five existing hawker centres which have adopted the use of common crockery and centralised dishwashing services under the Productive Hawker Centres programme. In addition, from September 2018, NEA does not allow new cooked food stallholders who commence their tenancies at existing hawker centres to provide disposables to patrons for dine-in meals. NEA works closely with the Hawkers' Associations and our appointed operators to ensure that these stallholders do not use disposables for dine-in meals. NEA does not collect statistics on the number of stalls that provide disposable utensils for dine-in customers. NEA is actively engaging the remaining stallholders to phase out the use of disposables for dine-in meals. Some concerns that stallholders commonly cite are the cost of reusable crockery and the cost of manpower required to wash crockery. On this front, we are working to introduce centralised dishwashing services at more hawker centres, and we have a grant scheme in place to defray some of the costs. We will continue to engage stallholders through the Hawkers' Associations to encourage them to switch to reusables. At the national level, NEA launched the "Say YES to Waste Less" campaign in June 2019 to raise awareness of the impact of excessive consumption of disposables and the need for reduction. We are heartened that over 59 partners, covering more than 1,600 premises ranging from retailers, food and beverage establishments to supermarkets and hotels, have come forward to partner NEA in this endeavour.”
“The Reverse Vending Machine (RVM) pilot, introduced under the "Recycle N Save" initiative by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and F&N Foods, seeks to encourage Singaporeans to care for the environment and practise sustainability in their lives, by incentivising them to recycle their used plastic drink bottles and aluminium drink cans. The pilot has received positive response from the public since its launch on 31 October 2019. As of 12 January 2020, over 1.6 million drink containers in total have been deposited. Eleven RVMs have been rolled out and NEA and F&N Foods will work towards deploying the remaining 39 RVMs by end March 2020. The remaining RVMs will be deployed in a variety of locations to reach out to more users and residents in different parts of Singapore. My Ministry and NEA will continue to work with stakeholders to monitor and review the results of the pilot. We will use the findings to assess how the "Recycle N Save" initiative supports our packaging, including plastic waste management roadmap, including how we can accelerate plans to establish an Extended Producer Responsibility framework no later than 2025. We will continue to work with our partners and stakeholders to encourage the public to recycle more, and to recycle right.”
“The future price of water in Singapore will need to consider all factors relevant at that time. We have not been formally notified by Malaysia that they require less treated water from Singapore. As such, it is premature for us to answer the question.”
“From 2021, these emitters must also establish facility-wide energy management systems and conduct energy efficiency opportunities assessments, which must be submitted to the National Environment Agency. To incentivise companies to adopt more energy-efficient technologies, the Government also provides funding support which has been increased from the previous cap of 30% to 50% of the qualifying costs since January 2019. For the oil refineries in particular, the Government works closely with the sector to ensure that they achieve high standards of energy efficiency and adopt sustainable practices. Currently, all three oil refineries in Singapore have set up co-generation plants in their facilities. These are major investments that significantly improve the energy efficiency of the refineries. Beyond particular sectors or industries, all of us have a responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint. Saving electricity, using public transport and reducing waste are good ways to cut carbon emissions. All of us can do our part to help address global warming.”
“Under the Paris Agreement, Singapore has pledged to reduce our emissions intensity by 36% from 2005 levels by 2030, and to stabilise our emissions with the aim of peaking around 2030. To achieve this, we have to make our economy more carbon-efficient. The industry sector, in particular, the energy and chemicals (E&C) sector, is an important pillar of Singapore's economy. The E&C sector contributes to about 3% of our gross domestic product and employed about 26,000 workers in 2018. However, the industry sector is also a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions, contributing about 60% of Singapore’s total emissions in 2017. Around three-quarters of the industry sector's emissions are from the refining and petrochemicals sector. Improving industrial energy efficiency is thus a key pillar of our strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and we have put in place a set of comprehensive measures to achieve this. From 2019, facilities in the manufacturing, power generation, waste and water management sectors which emit 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) or more annually must pay the carbon tax. The current tax rate is set at $5 per tCO2e for the first five years. We will review this by 2023, with the intention of raising the carbon tax rate to $10 to $15 per tCO2e by 2030, taking into account international climate change developments, the progress of our emissions mitigation efforts, and our economic competitiveness. In addition, since 2013, large emitters are required under the Energy Conservation Act to submit annual energy efficiency improvement plans.”
“NEA's follow-up inspections showed that all licensees are complying with these new requirements. NEA will take firm action against any licensee for non-compliance, including suspension or cancellation of the funeral parlour licence, in the case of egregious offences. NEA is also working with the Association of Funeral Directors (AFD) to uplift the professionalism and standards of the funerary services industry. AFD already has a Code of Conduct to guide funerary industry professionals on the conduct of their business. NEA is identifying further areas for improvement in training standards and process workflow. We will make these plans known when ready. NEA operates Government-owned after-death facilities, such as the Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium Complex and the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery Complex. A quality management system based on International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards is in place at these facilities and processes comply with regulatory requirements. NEA officers adhere to comprehensive standard operating procedures that include stringent checks of particulars and documents at each step of the cremation or burial process. My Ministry and NEA are working with the funerary services industry, in consultation with religious leaders, to review how we can further improve controls and uplift the standards of the industry. I urge all funerary services industry professionals to step up and continuously improve their operations to achieve higher service standards and better accountability. If required, we are prepared to consider further regulations on the funerary services industry.”
“The National Environment Agency (NEA) licenses funeral parlours with embalming facilities. Regarding the wrongful cremation incident on 30 December 2019, NEA's investigation found that the licensed funeral parlour involved had not complied with the regulatory requirement to keep proper records of the deceased received into and moved from the premises. NEA takes a very serious view of this incident. Funeral directors and funeral parlour operators have the professional and ethical responsibility to ensure that the deceased under their charge are properly accounted for and handled in a dignified and respectful manner. Immediately following its investigation, NEA suspended the licence of the funeral parlour on 6 January 2020 and stopped the funeral director from using Government after-death facilities. NEA is undertaking enforcement action against the funeral parlour for not keeping proper records of the deceased received into or moved from the premises. The funeral parlour and funeral director are required to rectify the lapses and improve their processes to prevent such an incident from happening. NEA will only lift the suspension when we are satisfied that all necessary measures have been put in place. NEA issued a circular on 10 January to remind all licensed funeral parlours of the licensees' regulatory responsibilities to safeguard environmental hygiene. NEA has also prescribed additional measures, such as the requirement to strengthen the system of identification of the deceased and tightening of access control into and out of the premises. While many licensees already have systems and processes in place, NEA has emphasised to all of them the need to strengthen their systems and uphold high service standards.”
“The Basel Convention, which currently does not cover the transboundary movement of plastic waste, will be expanded in scope to cover certain categories of plastic waste from January 2021. We are amending HWA in line with these recent amendments to the Basel Convention. I will share more details on this at the Second Reading of the HWA amendment Bill scheduled for this Sitting. We take a serious view of any illegal transboundary movement of hazardous and other wastes as defined under the Basel Convention and will not hesitate to investigate and enforce against violations. At the same time, we recognise that the legitimate flow of clean and valuable recyclables can help support the adoption of a circular economy at the regional and global level. We will continue to work closely with the international community to strike a balance between facilitating the legitimate flow of such resources and safeguarding against the illegal export of waste.”
“The transboundary movement of hazardous and other controlled waste is governed by the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, or the Basel Convention, which Singapore is a Party to. The Basel Convention does not prohibit the export of hazardous waste but requires the Prior Informed Consent of the countries of import and transit. This is in recognition of the legitimate transboundary movement of waste as defined under the Convention, such as those for proper recycling or disposal. The Hazardous Waste (Control of Export, Import and Transit) Act (HWA) provides the domestic legislative framework for Singapore to meet our obligations under the Basel Convention. HWA requires companies to obtain a Basel export permit for the export of controlled waste and empowers the National Environment Agency (NEA) to take regulatory action against companies and individuals who illegally export such waste. Companies convicted under HWA may be fined up to $300,000, while individuals may be fined up to $100,000, or imprisoned for a term not exceeding two years, or both. Singapore is committed to uphold our obligations under the Basel Convention. NEA has been actively engaging our local companies to increase awareness on Singapore’s obligations under the Basel Convention and works closely with the relevant authorities of the importing countries to investigate any allegations of illegal export of waste by our companies. Beyond the Basel Convention, we also remind our companies to adhere to the domestic legislation of countries that they are exporting to.”
“We have never had a situation where the fires in Australia would actually affect Singapore. We know where the fires, when they burn, affect us almost annually. So, thankfully, I do not think we have to worry yet unless something in the weather patterns change or the intensity of the fire goes beyond this year and last year. On food security: indeed, this is going to be one of the main topics in our Ministry's Committee of Supply, to get Singaporeans to understand that beyond diversifying our food supplies, we really have to be serious about looking at growing the food ourselves. Because when we have a situation 20, 30, 40 years down the line, when everywhere in the world, food growing will be a challenge, we probably have to be prepared to know how to grow food now, to grow in ways that we do not normally or conventionally do. Because in Singapore, we are very constrained by water, land, even by energy. So, these are the constraints that Singapore has to overcome but I am very confident that with technology and perseverance, we will get to the target of "30 by 30" that we set ourselves to achieve.”
“Mr Speaker, Singapore’s air quality was not affected by the recent fires in Australia as winds over Singapore were not blown from the Australian region. From November 2019 to January 2020, when the fires took place, air quality in Singapore was mostly in the "Good" and "Moderate" range. This level of air quality is comparable to the same period in previous years. Similarly, Singapore’s food security has not been affected by the fires in Australia. Australia is an important source of commonly consumed food items for Singapore, such as meat, milk and sugar. While many parts of Australia experienced the fires, our food supply from Australia remained steady between November 2019 and January 2020. Nevertheless, we are mindful that disruptions in food imports, including those linked to the climate, remain a possibility. Hence, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has been working with food importers to diversify sources across different countries and to adopt plans to mitigate against supply disruptions. Apart from this, we are encouraging Singapore companies to build food production linkages with other countries under our "Grow Overseas" strategy. We are also intensifying efforts to boost domestic food production under our "30 by 30" vision, to locally produce 30% of Singapore’s nutritional needs by 2030.”
“Yes, we do. In fact, all drinking water is tested, whether they are on Tekong or the mainland, to ensure that they are potable and up to the WHO standards and the regulations that I have mentioned just now.”
“The Public Utilities Board (PUB) was alerted to discoloured tap water at some parts of the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) at Pulau Tekong at 7.30 am on 20 November 2019. PUB officers were activated immediately to investigate the cause of the incident and deployed water wagons to provide temporary water supply to the servicemen on Pulau Tekong. PUB also worked with BMTC to flush the water supply network on Pulau Tekong and carried out water sampling tests in the network to ensure that the water is safe for consumption and within the drinking water quality standards under the Environmental Public Health Regulations 2019 and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The water supply was fully restored at 9.30 pm on 21 November 2019. Naturally occurring minerals in the water will settle and accumulate in the water supply network over time. PUB investigated and found that these minerals in the pipes serving BMTC were churned up, thus affecting the appearance of the water. The tap water turned clear after flushing of the water supply network. As a preventive measure, PUB is working with BMTC to carry out cleaning of the water mains in Pulau Tekong during the first half of 2020, when there is a break in BMTC's training schedule.”
“The number of companies that are affected by this Act is very small, around 40. But they account for about 80% of the carbon emissions in our economy. So, even if you publish by facilities, you can actually do your Maths and make inferences on who is doing what, and I do not think that is what we want to get to.”
“The intention behind the carbon tax is to provide an economy-wide price signal. It is not meant to put scrutiny on facilities or companies. Therefore, what we do, by publishing the data on an economy-wide basis, would be more useful for the Government and the public to know which sectors we should be concentrating on and how we are going to move from there. So, we do not find it productive or correct to actually put any company under scrutiny because they pay their carbon tax or because they are compelled by the Act to do so.”
“The Carbon Pricing Act (CPA) came into force on 1 January 2019. CPA gives effect to the carbon tax of $5 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e), to be paid using carbon credits purchased from the National Environment Agency (NEA). The carbon tax applies to facilities in the manufacturing, power generation, waste and water management sectors which emit 25,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide or more annually. These companies have been monitoring their emissions for the year 2019 and must submit verified emissions reports to NEA by 30 June 2020. Companies must pay their 2019 carbon tax liability by 30 September 2020. The carbon tax revenues will be published annually in the Government's Budget Book, which is released in the first quarter of each year. The Government is unable to disclose company- or facility-specific data due to data confidentiality requirements as provided for in CPA.”
“The corresponding annual gross wages are $36,000, $44,476 and $52,741 respectively. The next Environmental Services Industry Manpower Study, which will cover both Cleaning and Waste Management sectors, will be commissioned by NEA in 2020.”
“Based on the 2016 Waste Management Industry Manpower Study commissioned by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and Workforce Singapore, there are about 7,900 workers in the general waste collection subsector, and about 6,500 workers in the materials recovery subsector. The study contains wage data for individual job functions in the general waste collection and materials recovery subsectors. This includes managers, supervisors, machine operators, waste and recyclables truck drivers, collection and sorting crew. The core operational roles of the workforce would be the waste and recyclables collection and sorting crew, as well as supervisors and drivers. For waste and recyclables collection workers, the annual basic wages are $11,960, $14,040 and $16,952 at the 25th, 50th and 75th percentile respectively. The corresponding annual gross wages are $19,458, $25,193 and $31,144 respectively. For recyclables sorters, the annual basic wages are $10,400, $11,700 and $14,400 at the 25th, 50th and 75th percentile respectively. The corresponding annual gross wages are $13,173, $16,200 and $23,464 respectively. For waste and recyclables collection supervisors, the annual basic wages are $30,875, $35,490 and $38,545 at the 25th, 50th and 75th percentile respectively. The corresponding annual gross wages are $45,935, $52,538 and $64,468 respectively. For sorting and recycling plant supervisors, the annual basic wages are $22,198, $29,300 and $40,430 at the 25th, 50th and 75th percentile respectively. The corresponding annual gross wages are $32,500, $45,061 and $57,000 respectively. For waste collection and recyclables truck drivers, the annual basic wages are $22,100, $23,660 and $28,860 at the 25th, 50th and 75th percentile respectively.”
“Buildings contribute up to a quarter of Singapore's carbon emissions. The "greening" of buildings plays an important part in ensuring Singapore continues to develop sustainably and meet our international climate change commitments. Singapore is targeting to "green" 80% of our total building gross floor area (GFA) by 2030 and, to date, about half of Singapore's non-residential building GFA has been greened to meet minimum sustainability standards. Today, users of air-conditioning in commercial buildings are encouraged to set their indoor temperatures at around 25°C through voluntary schemes like the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Green Mark (GM) scheme. The GM scheme recognises buildings for maintaining indoor temperature in air-conditioned space at 24°C to 26°C. Under the scheme, recognition is also given for the installation of energy-efficient air-conditioning systems. The latest Third Green Building Masterplan, launched in 2014, also focuses on changing the way building tenants and occupants consume energy. Aside from commercial buildings, the Government also works closely with industries on cooling efficiency. Starting from 2020, the National Environment Agency will set Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards for chilled water systems in industrial facilities. This will help companies reduce their energy consumption, save on energy costs, and avoid carbon emissions. To continue our efforts in combating climate change, my Ministry will work with BCA on programmes to encourage owners and tenants of non-residential buildings to reduce energy consumption and lower their carbon footprint.”
“The assurance of food safety and quality is a joint responsibility. While SFA will continue to be vigilant and ensure that regulatory measures are in place and properly enforced, the industry is responsible for adhering to food labelling requirements, and consumers should exercise discretion when choosing food products based on the information provided on the label. Members of the public who have queries on food labels may also contact the relevant companies for more information.”
“The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) conducts regular food safety inspections to ensure that food sold in Singapore complies with our food safety standards and requirements. On average, 60,000 of such inspections are carried out in a year. As part of SFA's inspection regime, SFA also carries out random sampling and laboratory testing of pre-packed food for sale in Singapore to ensure that they are accurately labelled with the name of food, ingredients, net content and source. This information is important for tracing and recall in the event of food safety concerns, such as food contamination and allergens. Proper food labelling also helps consumers make informed food choices at the point of purchase. Food manufacturers and traders must ensure that the naming of food products adhere to food labelling requirements. Companies that do not comply will be subjected to enforcement action. Over the past three years,1 SFA has detected a total of 260 cases involving misleading food labels from its regular inspections and investigations into public feedback on possible mislabelling. Enforcement action taken against offenders include the issuance of warning letters and composition fines. To promote the understanding of food labelling requirements, SFA has worked with our polytechnics to provide courses and consultancy on food labelling to the industry and public. For example, SFA has collaborated with Singapore Polytechnic on the "WSQ Follow Good Food Labelling Practices" course, which the industry and members of the public can attend. In addition, SFA conducts outreach programmes on food labelling in partnership with industry associations, such as the Singapore Food Manufacturers' Association. Information on food labels is also available via SFA's website.”
“Developers of new buildings and owners who undertake major renovations of their premises are required to avoid features that may result in water stagnation and become potential mosquito breeding grounds. For example, installation of roof gutters is prohibited for new developments. Trays and receptacles are not allowed to be placed beneath or on top of any air-conditioning unit. Floor traps also need to be installed with anti-mosquito devices to prevent mosquito breeding in the water seal. These requirements are specified in the Code of Practice on Environmental Health (COPEH). The National Environment Agency and the Building and Construction Authority will only grant technical clearances and approval for the proposed building plans respectively when Qualified Persons appointed by the building owners or developers have ensured and declared that the building plans are in compliance with COPEH. Everyone, including residents, contractors and premises owners, has a part to play to prevent mosquito breeding. We need to remain vigilant and continue to work as a community to suppress the Aedes mosquito population and keep dengue cases in check.”
“The revenue will be used to support emission reduction projects and help businesses become more resource- and energy-efficient. Despite limited access to alternative sources of energy, we will leverage long-term planning, innovation and international cooperation to address climate change. By pursuing circular economy approaches and rallying stakeholders towards sustainable growth, we can continue to create opportunities for our businesses and our people in an increasingly resource- and carbon-constrained world. Last year, we launched a Zero Waste Masterplan and enacted a Resource Sustainability Act to design waste and wastefulness out of our economy. Our efforts to promote a circular economy, where materials are retained and reused in the value chain for as long as possible, will help to reduce our carbon footprint and complement our efforts to address climate change. We will continue with our sustainability efforts this year by focusing on food and how we can work together to secure a more resilient and sustainable supply of food for our citizens. Climate change is an existential challenge for Singapore. To ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy a vibrant and liveable city, we must put sustainability at the centre of everything we do. Yet, climate change is not something that we can tackle by ourselves, and we will also do our part as a responsible global citizen and contribute to international and regional efforts to address climate change and create a "greener" and more sustainable global environment.”
“Internationally, Singapore remains committed to faithfully implementing our Paris commitments. We have committed to slow down and ultimately cap our carbon dioxide emissions around 2030. We will update our Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and communicate our long-term low emissions development strategy in 2020. We will also continue to contribute to global efforts led by international organisations, such as the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the International Maritime Organization, to reduce emissions, as well as collaborate actively with international partners, such as the UNFCCC, the UN Development Programme, the UN Environment Programme, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and city-networks, such as C40, to share our experiences and the use of best practices across the globe. Regionally, we will continue to partner and support fellow developing countries to ramp up capacity-building and other support mechanisms to support their efforts to enhance climate action. For example, in October 2019, as part of our Climate Action Package, we co-organised with New Zealand a workshop on the Paris rulebook to help countries in the region better understand their obligations under the Paris Agreement, and to identify concrete actions and strategies that can be pursued. Next week, we will be co-organising a workshop on updating the NDCs for ASEAN countries. Nationally, we will continue with our efforts to develop Singapore in a sustainable and socially-inclusive way, do our part to reduce our emissions, and strengthen our climate resilience for the transition to a low-carbon future. Singapore has implemented an economy-wide carbon tax last year, the first in Southeast Asia to do so, as a key plank of our mitigation strategy.”
“Countries successfully adopted the overarching decisions at COP25, which I was pleased to co-facilitate with Spain's Minister for the Ecological Transition Teresa Ribera, at the request of the Chilean COP25 Presidency. Amongst other things, the decisions recognised the role of multilateralism at a time when it is under strain. They will serve to keep countries, with diverse interests, united in their resolve to work together to address challenges of the global commons, like climate change. They called on countries to consider the emissions gap and to submit their updated climate pledges. The decisions also acknowledged the role of climate finance by the developed countries, which is essential for concrete action. Beyond the call for action, discussions will be convened in new areas of concern like the Ocean and its climate impact. While the outcome at COP25 fell short of expectations, the decisions adopted in Madrid will keep the drive to address climate change alive. The continued momentum on global climate action is especially important for small countries like Singapore, which depend on a strong global response to tackle climate change. I was particularly struck by the support and energy of our civil society, particularly the youths, private sector representatives and academics, who were all united in their efforts to address climate change. As we head towards the next COP in Glasgow, the challenge will be to maintain this spirit of inclusive multilateralism in order to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). As a small low-lying state that is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, Singapore will play our part to support the global effort to address climate change.”
“The Conference of Parties (COP) 25 was the longest COP on record, with intensive and protracted negotiations. But Parties failed to reach an agreement on a number of issues, most notably Article 6 of the Paris Agreement – a key agenda item on carbon markets and trading, and the only remaining track that has yet to find a successful resolution since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015. An agreement on Article 6 on carbon markets will enable countries to pursue cost-effective mitigation options beyond their shores. Put simply, it will enable countries with limited mitigation potential to buy carbon credits from countries where the cost of mitigation is lower. The latter countries are usually those with green lungs and such a system will incentivise them to maintain them. The Article 6 framework can also generate much needed funding for vulnerable developing countries to cope with the impacts of climate change in the future. It is crucial that countries agree on a clear, balanced and credible set of rules that protects environment integrity and upholds the goals of the Paris Agreement. Badly designed rules may create loopholes and lead to an increase in global emissions. At COP25, we were close to an agreement, but more work remains for it to be agreed upon by all Parties. Singapore will continue to work closely with other countries, including the incoming United Kingdom (UK) COP-26 Presidency, to secure a credible outcome on Article 6 at the COP-26 in Glasgow. Notwithstanding the failure to reach agreement on this key issue, we did make some progress at COP25.”
“Even as we pursue innovative solutions, we will need to harness the collective efforts of the Government, businesses, civil society and Singaporeans to fight climate change.”
“We are also studying and developing technologies in other areas, including studying the potential of "clean fuels", such as hydrogen, and carbon capture, utilisation and storage. Mitigation and adaptation must go hand in hand as we are mindful that we are unable to reverse climate change completely. We have placed equally strong emphasis on the sciences in our adaptation plans because Singapore’s climate change policies must be based on robust climate science. We established the Centre for Climate Research Singapore (CCRS) in 2013 and, today, CCRS is one of the few dedicated centres in the region that focuses on research in tropical weather and climate. CCRS will set up a new Programme Office next year to drive the formulation and implementation of our national climate science research masterplan and systematically build up climate science capabilities across our research institutes and universities. To deepen our knowledge in a complex and multidisciplinary issue like sea level rise, CCRS recently launched a call for research proposals for the National Sea Level Programme (NSLP) grant. NSLP brings together both local and international experts to integrate and analyse various domain areas in sea level rise and customise it to our local context. To protect our coasts, low-lying areas and communities from sea level rise, we are exploring various coastal protection technologies and solutions, including learning from the experience of other countries. For example, we are building a small polder at Pulau Tekong to gain experience in operating one. Our agencies will also undertake R&D to enhance the cost-effectiveness of coastal protection solutions.”