A working group under the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change (IMCCC) will study how Singapore can stabilise its long-term emissions, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean yesterday.
These could include putting a price on carbon emissions, contingent on a new binding global framework, he told Parliament.
Mr Teo, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs, said: “Where these measures result in additional costs, the Government will assist our stakeholders, especially the more needy, through policies such as grants and rebates where appropriate.”
Other measures being considered include more stringent energy efficiency standards and legislation, along with measures taken by other countries.
He was responding to Members of Parliament - Mr Charles Chong (Joo Chiat), Dr Lam Pin Min (Sengkang West) and Dr Teo Ho Pin (Bukit Panjang) - who had raised concerns on the impact of rising sea levels and climate change on Singapore during the Committee of Supply debate yesterday.
Mr Teo reiterated that Singapore was committed to reducing its emissions by 7 to 11 per cent below business-as-usual levels by 2020.
However, Singapore’s “limited ability” to tap on renewable energy (like wind, solar or tidal) means the Government will adopt a “pragmatic approach” and “pace” the implementation of these measures so that “our economy and our people will adapt to the new environment”, he said.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Transport will introduce a new Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme to encourage car buyers to switch to vehicles with lower emissions, while the Ministry of Trade and Industry will pilot repayable financing schemes to catalyse private sector investments in energy efficiency.
