Committee of Supply – Head L (Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment)

The Chairman: Head L, Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment. Mr Louis Ng.

Overview of MSE's Work

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon): Mr Chairman, I beg to move, "That the total sum to be allocated for Head L of the Estimates be reduced by $100".

MSE's portfolio is a broad but incredibly crucial one. As long as we breathe, eat and live in Singapore, MSE's policies touch all our lives and we have an important goal of ensuring sustainability at the heart of everything we do.

Last month, my Government Parliamentary Committees (GPC) colleagues and I delivered the first ever Parliamentary Motion on climate change.

This House declared climate change a global emergency. We committed to deepening and accelerating efforts to mitigate and adapt to climate change and to embrace sustainability in our development.

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I am heartened that we are making progress and have launched a Singapore Green Plan 2030. The goals and efforts in the green plan are ambitious but I hope that the green plan will set a minimum standard that we will far exceed.

The Earth needs us to achieve and then go beyond the Green Plan. The Green Plan should be a living document that we can continuously review and update from now until 2030.

[Deputy Speaker (Ms Jessica Tan Soon Neo) in the Chair]

We can afford to move the base line upwards and expect higher standards of our sustainability performance. We cannot afford to rest on our laurels once we meet the existing target. Ultimately, we need to remember that the goal is not to check off every target in the Green Plan. The goal is to slow down, stop and reverse if possible, Earth's path towards widespread and irreversible climate collapse.

I hope our conversations about the Green Plan over the next decade will both be about how we can meet the targets and what higher targets we will be shedding for ourselves. For this Committee of Supply, my Government Parliamentary Committee colleagues, fellow Members of Parliament and I will be asking lots of questions and making numerous suggestions for sustainability and MSE's other portfolios. Let me get the ball rolling.

Will MSE work with industry and civil society to strengthen the Green Plan?

Will MSE shore up climate resilience by enhancing coastal protection and boosting flood resilience?

Will MSE strengthen the resilience of our food supply and ensure food safety?

Will MSE strengthen Singapore's water security by greening our water treatment processes and increasing water efficiency?

Will MSE work towards a zero waste nation by closing the e-waste, packaging waste and food waste loop?

Will MSE build a clean and endearing home for all by raising public health standards, transforming our environmental services industry and sustaining the hawker industry?

There are lots more questions, and Madam, I look forward to a robust debate.

Question proposed.

Net-zero Carbon Emissions by 2050

Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang: Madam, we are in a race to the bottom for climate change. Race to the bottom of the amount of carbon emitted. Several cities such as Hong Kong, Monaco, Delhi have pledged to work towards net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The European Union, Japan and the Republic of Korea, together with more than 110 other countries, have pledged carbon neutrality by 2050.

Of course, commitments must be back by ambitious action and concrete plans. But setting a goal is invaluable in itself.

First, it sends a clear signal to its industries, citizens and civil society on the direction and speed of policy change. The signal will have a trickle down effect in influencing decisions in boardrooms and individual action.

Second, it provides a yardstick for measuring if we are taking bold enough actions to achieve our declared goals.

Will Singapore also pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and what are our plans to achieve this goal?

Reviewing PSTLES

The Government introduced the Public Service Taking The Lead in Environmental Sustainability (PSTLES) initiative back in 2006. During Committee of Supply last year, PMO announced that it intends to raise its ambitions and for the next phase of the initiative. Can the Ministry share some of its plans and targets?

Under current initiative, each Ministry is required to appoint a Sustainability Manager to set sustainability targets for FY2020 and to develop a resource management plan to meet its targets. In addition to the reporting in the Singapore Public Sector Outcomes Review, will the Government consider requiring Sustainability Managers to publicly report annually how well their Ministries have fared in achieving targets set for their Ministries?

Also, many countries have emphasised the importance of a green recovery, even as the world continues to reel from the COVID-19 pandemic. What are the Public Service's own plans on environmental sustainability and how does it intend to decarbonise?

Mr Liang Eng Hwa: Mdm Chairman, can I have your permission to take my two cuts together, a total of three minutes.

The Chairman: Yes, go ahead.

Climate Change

Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Bukit Panjang): Singapore has to play our part to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to the impact of climate change.

We have deep interest in the global efforts to fight the deteriorating effects of climate change and Singapore has been an active player and strong supporter of multilateral approaches to tackle climate challenges.

In 2015, in line with the Paris Agreement, Singapore made further commitment to reduce our emission intensity by 36% from 2005 levels by 2030 and to stabilise our greenhouse emissions aiming to peak at around 230. Given our limited access to renewable energy, our pledge towards the Paris Agreement is indeed an ambitious one.

However, I understand that countries like US, European Union, Japan, South Korea and China and among others have set even more ambitious targets and have declared that they would reach net zero emission or carbon neutrality by 2050 or 2060.

In the light of these developments, can I ask would Singapore be raising its climate change ambitions further? How we gear up our economy and the society towards carbon neutrality and how long would it take realistically?

Energy Reset

My second cut. Singapore has set an ambitious solar target of "2 gigawatt-peak by 2030", which will provide enough power for over 300,000 homes. This would make solar energy as one of the "Four Energy Switches" for Singapore.

The Government has accelerated efforts to harness solar energy via increased deployment of solar panels and energy storage solutions. We are also gearing up industry players to scale up capabilities and to stay abreast of the latest solar technological developments.

In Singapore context, the key limitations to solar being one of our major sources of energy are our lack of vast spaces and the fluctuating cloud cover due to our weather.

Other than HDB blocks, can I ask the Minister what are the examples of untapped spaces that the Government intends to deploy solar, and how is the Government leveraging innovation to do so?

Besides solar, can I also seek an update from the Minister on the key efforts and initiatives that the Government is working on with the private sector?

Last year, the Government announced plans to import 100 megawatts of electricity from Malaysia for two years. This is part of the plan to strengthen the regional grid architecture and allow countries to share clean energy sources. Can I ask the Minister how will this impact electricity prices and what are the considerations the Government will take into account to manage price volatility? How can consumers play a part in this transition, and how does the Government intend to support them?

Singapore's Climate Goal

Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Ang Mo Kio): Madam, there are many aspects to combating climate change and promoting sustainability. Many issues need our attention and urgent action. But funds and resources are limited, and have been further strained due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Singapore needs to select and decide on our climate goals and achievable milestones.

We are a small city state with a densely built urban environment and manufacturing facilities, as well as an air, maritime and financial hub. Hence, our carbon emissions are not insignificant relative to our geographical size. Yet, we are dependent on these activities to survive as we lack natural resources. How can we balance these competing demands and meet our short and long-term climate goals without compromising the quality of life for our citizens?

Would the Minister elaborate on our climate initiatives and projects? What can we achieve in the short, medium and long term together with the communities in the world? Beyond mitigating our domestic emissions, how can Singapore contribute to international efforts to achieve Singapore's climate goals?

Plan to Mitigate and Reduce Emissions

We need a whole-of-society approach to solve the problem of carbon emissions. Firstly, how do we reduce carbon emissions from our electricity consumption from running offices and households? We also use a lot of air-conditioning in our hot and humid weather.

Secondly, we are an air, maritime and logistics hub, and have an active manufacturing sector. How do we incentivise companies to make more efficient use of electricity? Thirdly, we need to encourage our people to use more public transportation to cut down on emissions from private vehicles. Emissions are also linked to our diets and lifestyles. Eating less meat and reducing waste will make a lot of difference.

I would like to ask the Minister what are our plans to further mitigate and reduce our carbon emissions?

Trade-offs in Climate Targets

Miss Rachel Ong (West Coast): The global momentum on climate change has accelerated significantly with many countries increasing that climate ambitions. As a responsible global citizen, we are doing our part to fight against climate change and commit to fulfilling our pledge. The targets of the Singapore Green Plan 2030 includes lowered carbon emissions, creating green spaces and investment in green technology. Embarking on these initiatives will require several trade-offs.

For example, setting space for solar panels might limit space for other activities. As Singapore works towards achieving our climate targets, what are the other anticipated trade-offs and how are we addressing them?

Impact of Increasing Carbon Tax

Mr Sharael Taha (Pasir Ris-Punggol): Singapore needs to continue to remain attractive for investments. Our lower tax rates compared to other developed countries is one of the many reasons that makes us attractive for investments.

How will an increased in carbon tax impact our climate strategy? Will it encourage the industry to adopt new technologies to be more efficient or will it reduce our attractiveness for investments as investors look for cheaper and less restrictive alternatives in this region? How do we strike this balance?

The Chairman: Ms Hany Soh, please take your three cuts together.

Singapore Green Plan 2030

Raising Awareness of Singapore Green Plan 2030

SG Eco Fund

Ms Hany Soh (Marsiling-Yew Tee): Thank you, Chairman. Environmental consciousness among Singaporeans is growing. In recent months, I have participated in a series of dialogue sessions, both formal and informal ones, involving people from all walks of life, including my Woodgrove residents, both young and old.

All of them spoke with great enthusiasm in advocating for a greener society. I am therefore heartened with the recent launch of the Singapore Green Plan 2030. In this regard, I wish to ask the Ministry, how can Singaporeans take part in this important Green Plan effort?

To succeed in our Singaporean Green Plan 2030, I see the need to collectively and continuously involved the efforts of our "Three Ps": People, Private and Public sectors. What kind of programmes will the Ministry introduced to foster more collective actions by the Three Ps to combat climate change together? What is the target outcome that we are trying to achieve from each of these programmes for the next three, five and 10 years? Which of the programmes would be expected to have the most impact in a community, in the business community and for the individuals respectively?

As shared in the recent debate on the Motion to accelerate and deepen efforts against climate change, the community in Woodgrove would like to work closely with the relevant agencies and private sectors, to participate as a community to achieve the greatest impact in combating climate change for the better well-being of our future generations.

In terms of involving the community, I understand that the SG Eco Fund was launched last year to support projects that advance environmental sustainability and promote the community's involvement. In this regard, I have three questions.

Firstly, how many applications have been submitted thus far? Secondly, how many of these applications have begun their projects that have enjoyed community participations. And thirdly, what is the desired outcome for each project supported by the SG Eco Fund?

I hope that these projects are able to achieve sustainable outcomes and be scalable in scope, allowing them to be easily replicated and introduced across Singapore in the long run. I also hope that one of the key aspects would be the tap on this projects to nurture more individuals as green champions for our community.

Finally, apart from the five Ministries mention in the Singapore Green Plan, I believe that the MCI also plays a vital role in raising awareness and rallying the people, corporations and the Government to advance Singapore's national agenda on sustainable development together.

I have recently watched a screening of "A Wicked Problem", a climate change documentary series by CNA hosted by Senior Minister of State for MCI, Dr Janil, in which he hits the ground to investigate what Singapore is doing to combat climate change and to rally Singaporeans to do their part in their personal capacities.

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I hope that MCI will track and gather feedback from viewers the impact and the outcome of such documentary series. I personally find such programmes engaging and insightful and hope that more of them can be created in other languages and even dialects to raise more awareness and support for Singaporeans to come together to combat climate change. With effect like this, we can make a difference for the greener benefit of our future generations. In Mandarin, please, Chairman.

(In Mandarin): [Please refer to Vernacular Speech.] The Singapore Green Plan 2030 is jointly led by the MOE, MND, MSE, MTI and MOT to set clear goals for urban greening, sustainable living and green finance. But I think that MCI, as the Ministry responsible for ICT, media, government information and public communication strategies, plays an important supportive role in driving the public sector, businesses and Singaporeans towards the goal of sustainable development in the next 10 years.

I hope that the MCI will launch a series of programmes in four languages as well as various dialects to encourage Singaporeans to participate more in sustainable living. By adopting the ‘listening more and watching more’ approach, I hope that Singaporeans will understand that it is everyone's responsibility to protect the Mother Earth and green up the environment. I firmly believe that as long as our people stay united and do their part to combat climate change, our next generation will have a better green future.

Green Plan 2030 Targets

Mr Chua Kheng Wee Louis (Sengkang): Madam, the Green Plan is an important step forward, not just for the environment but also for our overall social and economic health as a nation. I would like to take this opportunity to applaud the introduction of new initiatives such as the Enterprise Sustainability Programme, moving up Singapore's EV charging point target from 28,000 to 60,000 by 2030 as well as strengthening sustainability curriculum and programmes in schools.

However, apart from some of these, the Green Plan mostly outlines many existing initiatives and targets that were previously already announced. For example, the aim to green 80% of all buildings over the next decade is a target that was set in 2011. It has been a decade since then.

Madam, the Government has now declared climate change a global emergency. To demonstrate our seriousness on treating climate change as a global emergency and existential threat that it is today, we need to continue pushing the boundaries and set bold and vicious targets for ourselves.

As I mentioned during the Debate on the Climate Change Motion, Singapore's updated NDC targets submitted in 2020 does not genuinely limit emissions growth beyond what was already committed to under our first NDC, which was submitted in 2015. There is room for us to strive for even more.

The next NDC's submission is due by 2025. Does the Government intend for Singapore to set more ambitious emissions target for this next submission? In addition, will the Government consider setting a more specific deadline to reach net zero emissions, taking into consideration IPCC's recommendation of net zero by 2050?

Sustainability to be in Singapore's DNA

Ms Janet Ang (Nominated Member): Madam, our founding fathers, Mr Lee Kuan Yew and his Old Guard colleagues wrote our Singapore story. They had the courage to dream big, creating a “First World oasis in a Third World region”, and the leadership to make it happen. Their rallying cry was for this “mudflat to become a metropolis”! When they look at what we have here today, they should feel that their sweat and tears are justified. We hope that when it is our turn to look at where we would have brought Singapore to, we too, will be justified.

The Singapore Green Plan or SGP2030, is an exciting vision and a rallying cry for the whole of Singapore to work towards becoming a sustainable Smart Nation. Climate change is a global emergency and a threat to mankind. This House has committed to act.

Allow me to focus this cut on the business of climate change and the business of the SGP. The global crisis presents an opportunity for Singapore to be the world's living laboratory for all things smarter and sustainable. Our companies will all have an opportunity to get on this agenda, and align with SGP2030 to: one, ensure that they themselves will be able to comply with the targets; two, that their business will be ready to participate in the global "green" economy when buyers of products and services will be calling for "green" criteria to be met; and three, that sustainability will become the differentiator and competitive advantage and new businesses and start-ups will be conceived.

For a start, many of our SMEs do not understand how all this will impact them. How will MSE and the whole-of-Government help our companies to begin their journey, starting with awareness?

Next, companies will need to know where they are and what steps they need to take to get to the green standards that will be expected. Will MSE be developing and rolling out an assessment programme, much like the SERI for Industry 4.0?

There will be new skills and new jobs. Our workers and our future workforce will need to be trained as well. How will education and CET curriculum in our schools and IHLs change to reflect this future?

In closing, I believe that there is a unique opportunity for Singapore businesses to create a vibrant value chain eco-system and circular economy around this Singapore Green Plan 2030 movement. With SGP 2030, it is once in a lifetime or last in a lifetime opportunity for the business community, the Government, academia, experts to begin the dialogue and co-create an integral development approach to economic and social growth, bringing everyone along. "The future forward begins now. We only need to imagine it, to decide it and to do it”.

Green Plan to Combat Climate Change

Ms Poh Li San (Sembawang): Mdm Chairperson, last month, together with several fellow Members of the GPC for MSE, we filed the Motion to Accelerate and Deepen Efforts to Combat Climate Change.

The Singapore Green Plan 2030 that is organised along five pillars and outlined by the five Ministries is, indeed, encouraging.

I would like to know how the sectoral plans within the pillars allows Singapore to achieve its net zero-emission aspiration earlier and is there a target year to achieve net-zero emission goal?

On the matter of global warming, what are our plans to protect Singapore against the threat of sea level rise? This is especially so since our sea level is projected to further increase by about one metre.

I would also like to know, how can we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic with a greener and more sustainable future for Singapore?

Would the Minister for Sustainability and Environment shed light on these queries?

Eco-towns – Involving the Community

Mr Don Wee (Chua Chu Kang): Mdm Chairperson, the Government has announced that Choa Chu Kang, Nee Soon and Tampines have been earmarked as Eco-towns. Residents can expect transformations which will enhance their environments so that there will be more sustainable and livable space for residents. On the drawing board are sustainable community touchpoints such as hawker centres which will have zero waste by composting food scraps. In addition, these towns will be able to track their energy consumption, water usage, carbon emissions and their progress in recycling.

Can the Ministry provide an update on what has been implemented so far and what future developments can be expected? Will new waste disposal methods such as Pneumatic Waste Conveyance System be introduced in these towns?

The Chairman: Prof Koh Lian Pin, you can take your three cuts together.

Tracking Progress of the Green Plan

Prof Koh Lian Pin (Nominated Member): Mdm Chair, the Singapore Green Plan 2030 includes several on-going and new initiatives. One of these initiatives is City in Nature.

The targets of City in Nature include doubling our annual tree planting rate, increasing the land area of our nature parks by over 50%, and adding 1,000 hectares of green spaces. These are ambitious and important targets for transforming Singapore into an even greener and more beautiful city by 2030.

Can the Ministry share its plans for tracking progress towards achieving these targets over the next decade? Perhaps, more importantly, what does success look like in terms of the outcomes of City in Nature for the public, private and people sectors?

City in Nature Green Spaces

Green spaces are important for the many benefits they provide to Singapore. These benefits may include conserving biodiversity, addressing climate change impacts, and improving the physical and mental health of our fellow Singaporeans.

The success of City in Nature in delivering these outcomes, hinges not just on the amount of additional green spaces that we set aside to meet our target, but also on the quality of these green spaces, with respect to the different benefits we hope to derive from them.

Green spaces are not all the same. In fact, our understanding of the different types and values of green spaces could be a matter for public consultation and discussion, as part of the Green Plan Conversations.

The Green Plan Conversations are a timely and constructive opportunity for the public, private and people sectors to take a holistic approach in considering what should be part of Singapore’s current natural resources and future natural heritage.

These Conversations are also an important opportunity for the public, private and people sectors to communicate even more effectively with one another to strengthen our mutual trust and social compact, as we manage the inevitable and growing tensions between economic development and nature conservation in Singapore. For example:

Perhaps, the Government could explain more plainly to the people why it cannot ease the demand for land, if that is indeed the case.

Perhaps, the nature community could explain more convincingly to the Government why green spaces should be valued as our natural capital and national assets.

And perhaps, all of us could demonstrate that we can take a pragmatic, calibrated and science-based approach to face our challenges, make hard decisions and co-create solutions as a society.

I think most Singaporeans do appreciate that there are multiple priorities, constraints and trade-offs that need to be considered in making our urban planning decisions.

On the other hand, as a biophilic, or nature-loving, society, many of us wish to hold on to every little piece of remaining greenery we understand to be relatively pristine.

That is why the public, private and people sectors may also benefit from having the bigger picture of what remains of our green spaces in Singapore to help frame our discussions and align our perspectives and priorities.

To appreciate this bigger picture may require us to answer a few important questions, including:

Where are the green spaces that we must defend at all costs?

Where are the necessary ecological buffers and corridors that we need to protect?

What other green spaces are there in Singapore, where are they located and what are their marginal values for nature conservation?

What more can we do by leveraging Singapore's natural capital to strengthen our ecological, climate and socio-economic resilience?

That is why I am excited by Minister Desmond Lee’s recent announcement to engage the nature community in building a more comprehensive picture of Singapore’s island-wide eco-systems and connectivity, and in understanding how specific sites connect to our nature cores, buffers and corridors.

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The Ministry's plan to do this in a scientific and systematic manner is extremely important and a huge step forward for us to understand the value of green spaces in the broader context of Singapore's natural capital at the national scale.

I am confident that this effort to be led by our National Parks Board, in partnership with our academic nature and community stakeholders, will produce invaluable perspectives, science and tools to help inform Singapore's long-term planning decisions.

The Green Plan conversations are therefore a vital and necessary platform for us to engage in open discussions, consultations and communications to co-create an effective environmental management framework and set of processes for achieving the intended targets and outcomes of the City in Nature initiative and the Singapore Green Plan. By working together to consider the green spaces we have left, not in isolation but in their totality, we can make the whole greater than the sum of its parts.

Premature Clearance of Kranji Woodland

With regards to the Kranji Woodland incident, I am confident that ongoing investigations by the relevant agencies will identify any gaps or breaches that may have resulted in the premature land clearance. And upon the completion of those investigations, I am confident that the necessary deterrents and safeguards will be put in place to prevent it from ever happening again.

Apart from the premature clearance at Kranji, I think there are other important issues that may be even more deserving of our attention. For example, what must we do to ensure the success of the ecological corridor that would run through the Agri-Food Innovation Park at Kranji, in fulfilling its function of increasing ecological connectivity across Singapore? How can we do the same for the other ecological corridors on the island? How do we ensure that the environmental monitoring and management plan for Kranji will deliver its intended outcome of mitigating any ecological impact on Sungei Pang Sua and neighbouring habitats, such as Mandai mangrove and mudflat? Perhaps, these questions need to be discussed in consultation with the nature and scientific communities.

I am also happy to learn that the Ministry will continue efforts to strengthen our Environmental Impact Assessment, or EIA, framework.

EIAs are an essential part of good environmental governance, as they empower and enable the authorities to get the most complete information on a proposed development, through rigorous scientific protocols and engagements with nature and community stakeholders.

The recent announcement by Minister Desmond Lee to explore the potential of centralising EIA processes is another significant and positive step in the right direction.

A centralised EIA approach could help reduce the risk of any conflict of interest, increase and maintain EIA standards and eliminate any ad-hoc and inconsistent practices.

Perhaps another improvement for the Ministry to consider is to adopt a more precautionary approach in our EIA framework.

At the moment, the Ministry and relevant agencies as technical experts, shoulder the initial burden and responsibility of having to assess the likelihood of any environmental impact that may result from development and the need for any environmental studies and mitigation measures. Perhaps the initial burden should instead rest on the developer, to always be required to show, prior to development, that there would not be impacts beyond acceptable thresholds. And if there would be potentially unavoidable impacts, to require the developer to put in place and demonstrate the adequacy of mitigation measures.

I think this preliminary layer of information can add to the context-specific set of considerations that the Ministry and relevant agencies will have to act on as decision-makers.

Ultimately, a sound EIA framework helps to increase transparency in our urban planning decisions, encourage stakeholder participation and ensure greater public support of development plans and mitigation measures at later stages.

As we continue to discuss and debate the various ways to improve the EIA framework and other key ingredients of good environmental governance, we should not lose sight of the overarching goals and outcomes that the public, private and people sectors all seek to achieve.

I believe we all want to maintain public trust in the credibility and integrity of the processes by which we evaluate the different priorities and trade-offs of our society, so that we can make the most informed decisions on our natural capital for the benefit of the current and future generations of Singaporeans.

Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling (East Coast): Mdm Chairman, may I have your permission to take all three cuts together?

The Chairman: Yes, please.

Sustainable Urban Infrastructures

Miss Cheryl Chan Wei Ling: Madam, climate change is an existential challenge to Singapore. To ensure that urban infrastructures are more climate-resilient, it is imperative to adopt the use of existing climate change information and resources for urban planning.

An example is the Department of Transportation in Toronto, where they take reference on historical rainfall data to forecast peak discharge flows from two of their local basins that had recently experienced severe flooding affecting several highways. By adopting climate forecasting and re-modelling of the streamflow, they can estimate future flooding using projected climate data for the region. These revised forecasts were then compared to asset inventory, allowing analysis of all transportation infrastructure. This enabled the Department to identify at-risk roads, bridges and other infrastructure and include design elements to reduce their vulnerability to future flooding.

The same applies to our infrastructure for goal towards electrification of vehicles. The conversion rate is highly dependent on public education, access to charging infrastructure, comparable cost and more choices of alternative vehicles. There is also need for stronger public-private partnership to establish the full infrastructures on an expedited basis.

Recently, the Government shared that our sustainability measures will include nature-based solutions. Can I ask what are these solutions and how will we support research and development in this area?

Sustainable Urban Designs

For building designs with lower carbon emissions and for sustainable maintenance, we should incorporate innovative design solutions. In Singapore’s tropical weather, the strong rain, wind and sun will have an impact on HDB flats and commercial buildings. Let us take an example – the Marco Polo Tower in Hamburg. Each floor of the apartment building is sent a few degrees away from the one below, around an axis, which allows for recessed facades that protect residents from direct sun and negates the need for heavy usage of air conditioning.

Another notable green feature of this development is the inclusion of heat exchanger on the roof that turns warm air into a cooling system and natural ventilation that implies residents can sleep soundly without being disrupted by external noise.

Another example is the Shanghai Tower – the world's second tallest building. It is also architecturally sustainable in design. There is a transparent second skin wrapped around the building creating a buffer of captured air that serves as natural ventilation, thus reducing energy costs. Two hundred and seventy wind turbines are also incorporated into the facade to power its exterior lights. Thanks to measures like these, the tower uses significantly less power than other skyscrapers and has a platinum LEED certification.

Will the Ministry legislate the requirement for future public or private developments to align with certain sustainability guidelines in the design process? At Committee of Supply 2020, it was announced that various stakeholders will be invited to co-create the next edition of Green Building Masterplan. Can the Ministry provide an update on this?

As we move towards sustainability, there is also a need to ensure our food supply security. This means we need to integrate creative ways of farming in our urban landscape to address the food demand under land scarcity condition. From re-purposing rooftop of multi-storey carparks, urban farming buildings to agri-farm cluster, there are certainly ways to raise awareness about our security needs and integrate investments. We should do more to encourage Singaporeans and local companies to be a part of this effort.

Besides companies, I believe that more can be done on an individual level. We can actually begin by changing our habits and focusing on reduction of energy usage, increase the amount of conservation and upcycling. NParks's "Gardening with Edibles" initiative during this circuit breaker was well-received, with many still continuing this labour of love for plants and edibles at their home or in the community. How can we encourage more residents and enthusiasts to sustain this interest and be part of the green efforts in the community? Can this attract the younger generation to a new green economy of smart farming.

Let us take a leaf from other countries like in South Korea where the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is launching a US$36 million project to research, develop and demonstrate smart farm technologies and the next-generation core and convergence techs. I am hopeful that we too can encourage the next generation to sustain and manage the farming industry in Singapore.

Singapore Green Plan

Much has been outlined on a national level for the Singapore Green Plan 2030. The Green Plan is built upon five key pillars, but it encompasses many aspects of sustainability that we wish to frame our policy and actions upon. I would like to highlight three aspects – jobs in the green economy, accounting framework for green financing and ground-up initiatives and collaboration with the Government.

First a roadmap on job creation for the green economy. I have met residents, youths and mid-career individuals who wish to join and they are keen to be part of this green economy. However, this being an emerging area meant there is more ambiguity on the type of jobs available and what these jobs are like. To better facilitate the creation of a more detailed roadmap and career path for those interested, I have raised some of these in a recent Private Member's Motion on climate change. I will just name a few here.

One, to provide more variety in the courses at the Institutes of Higher Learning for those who are interested in the field of sustainability as a career.

Another area is facilitating early or mid-career moves towards jobs focused on environmental sustainability in partnerships with companies through structured mentorship and work transition programmes.

We can also work with industries and public sector to outline the types of future green jobs and constantly align on skills and competencies required for such roles in the emerging sectors.

Second, to standardise the accounting standards framework to further grow the green finance. Singapore has already made huge inroads in green finance and is considered the leader in ASEAN. How can we further grow this sector and seize the future opportunities?

Locally, having a standardised accounting framework would better enable meaningful interpretation and comparison of emissions as well as allowing for greater transparency of these green investments. In the Green Finance Position Paper 2020 by Eurocham Singapore and Accenture, the paper also concurred on the benefits of having a standardised accounting standards framework for the region in further growing the green finance sector for ASEAN. Though, it had acknowledged that a complete harmonisation may be too onerous, suggesting something closer to banking regulations where each country's requirements can align with the global rules and allow for greater flexibility in adoption within each of the country.

And lastly, encouraging ground-up initiatives and collaboration with the Government.

Suggestions were put forth to create an eco-system to adopting a collaborative consultative partnership between citizens, Government and the private sector to address issues pertaining to climate change and the green economy.

I would like to ask the Minister, as environmental awareness grows in Singapore with a myriad of ground-up initiatives, how are these initiatives internalised by the respective Government agencies for consideration and potential incorporation with the public sector projects? On this note, I would like to ask for an update on the progress of the HDB Green Towns Programme which was announced at last year's Committee of Supply.

Sustainable Mature Housing Estate

Ms Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson): Madam, in mature housing estates, we see generations of families being raised. Sustainability is therefore critical.

In MacPherson, about one in three of our residents are aged 60 and above. We have a high concentration of mature flats and are affectionately known as the "chap lao, 十楼". We now have a comprehensive public transport network, four hawker centres and many other amenities serving our constituency. I am thankful for what we have, but I also think about how we can sustain high quality living experience for many generations of residents in MacPherson.

One pain-point faced is the regular breakdown of lifts, despite monthly maintenance scheduled because of high daily usage and lifts being aged. This is highly disruptive to our residents, especially our seniors. If the lifts are to be replaced entirely before its planned lifecycle, overall costs can increase very significantly as well.

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As we progress, and age, we can expect to see more mature estates and aged infrastructure. But to tear down and rebuild everything is also untenable over the long run, quite wasteful as well. So, we must find solutions to preserve our infrastructure's longevity and maintain the quality of our living environment.

The quantum advancement in technology, applied to the digitalisation of energy, can allow us to move from reactive to predictive maintenance. Back to the HDB lift example, leveraging smart technology, data and machine learning enables Town Councils to intervene before the lift breaks down. This reduces downtime, cuts operational costs and improves customer experience for residents. And hopefully, cost-savings can be passed on to residents eventually in the form of lower S&CC.

I note that the HDB collaborated with the Imperial College London and A*STAR in 2017 to embark on a research programme to study how smart sensing and analytics strengthen predictive analytics for efficient estate maintenance. May I ask whether there are useful findings that can be applied?

More importantly, what is the Government's plan to leverage smart technology and data to enhance quality living and preserve the tangible and intangible value for estates, especially mature ones like MacPherson?

In addition, based on EMA's data, electricity consumption of public housing in mature estates is about 10% higher than that of non-mature ones over the past 15 years. This difference could be due to many reasons, but a very likely cause is that aged infrastructure can lose efficiency and consume more energy. Perhaps the Ministry could shed some light on this.

Hence, I am glad that there are national programmes such as the Solar Nova. Solar energy is clean and offers cost predictability. Current electricity price fluctuates with oil price. For solar, the cost is fixed and locked in upfront and then spread over a fixed term of 20 to 25 years, thereby offering cost stability and predictability.

Hence, if we can step up the implementation of Solar Nova, especially for mature estates, before the 2030 target, we can achieve a cleaner and greener living sooner. I also believe that by scaling the use of solar energy, the positive environment impact is highly significant. May I ask whether there are plans to step up and accelerate the Solar Nova implementation in mature estates like MacPherson?

Madam, mature estates are like "Brownfields". Unlike new estates where sustainable solutions and green designs can be applied from step 1, it is tougher to "retrofit" mature estates. But if we can turn these so-called "Brownfields" green by going smart, we would create a real innovative model that others can follow. This way, we could also retain the distinct identities of our mature estates and keeping them vibrant for generations to come.

Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin (Ang Mo Kio): Madam, may I take my two cuts together?

The Chairman: Yes, please.

Sustainable Towns and City in Nature

Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin: Thank you. Our efforts for a more sustainable Singapore must be in both the hardware and infrastructure we built to fight climate change and also the hardware of Singaporeans – our behaviour, priorities and lifestyle.

I would like to ask the Ministry if there are any updates on increasing the climate resilience of our infrastructure in towns particularly in older housing estate such as McPherson, Cheng San and Seletar, and if there are any plans on supporting the development of nature-based solutions to make our island city as a whole, more climate resilient.

Beyond towns through our city, it has also been a year since the Government announced its vision towards becoming a city in nature. In the announcement, NParks shared four key strategies: extending our nature park network, intensifying nature and gardens and parks, restoring nature into the built environment and strengthening connectivity between our green spaces.

In my earlier Budget debate speech, I shared my hopes that some recommendations from the Blue Plan can also be incorporated into the Green Plan. As an island city-state, our waters and marine environment are also a very important part of our living environment.

Can the Ministry give an update on the progress made, challenges faced, and possible extensions in carrying out this vision? And beyond our green spaces, does the Government have further plans to better protect blue spaces in Singapore and integrate this into our city in nature vision?

As we integrate nature with urban development, we inevitably also encroach into the homes of our Singaporean wildlife. Human-wildlife tensions are increasing and I am sure many of us have had heart-stopping moments when we see videos of pangolins or otters crossing the road into incoming traffic. As we work towards greener towns and improve connectivity in green corridors, how can we better manage human-wildlife tensions and educate the public?

Role of Schools and IHLs in Green Plan

Beyond infrastructure, it is also about lifestyle. To inculcate sustainable habits, we have to start from a young age. Young Singaporeans spend a large part of their formative years in school where educators impart knowledge and shape the values of our youths from a young age.

We see that every school is a good school, but schools cannot just be good. They also need to be meaningful for life. A Junior College Economics student can tell you the effects of negative externalities of pollution on the market. That is good. But if despite having this knowledge, they still do not choose to adjust to a greener lifestyle, that may not be very meaningful.

I had called for sustainability to be adopted as part of the core curriculum during the climate change Motion, and I am very heartened to hear that the Government is working towards this.

I would like to ask how will climate change and sustainability be taught beyond science subjects to incorporate social justice and economic elements of climate change, and what is the vision for the school environment to have responsible habits for a sustainable Singapore for all? What efforts can schools embark on to reduce energy usage and waste generation on campus? And in light of the recent announcement that 20% of schools will be carbon neutral by 2030, what are some of the support measures that the Government will extend for this goal to be reached?

Careers in the Environmental Sector

Dr Shahira Abdullah (Nominated Member): Singapore is embarking on the Green Plan 2030 to spearhead the move for sustainable development in Singapore. The immense growth potential of the environmental sector will translate into new jobs and industry transformation.

In MSE's Addendum to the President's Address in 2020, the Minister stated that MSE will develop a pipeline of talent to support sustainability in Singapore, by offering scholarships in specified areas, such as climate adaptation and climate science. May I ask the Ministry if there are any updates regarding this plan and on whether the number could be increased? Would there also be an extension of the scholarship to other degrees or diplomas also related to sustainability?

To ensure this pipeline, I also believe that the process starts from young. Students should be exposed to green careers from their Secondary school years. These could be done through learning journeys, assembly talks and having sustainability issues become more integrated into the education syllabus. Teachers and parents will also need to be equipped with the knowledge of this growing industry. This could be part of the present Eco Stewardship programme.

There is a wide variety of education options with different career pathways. Many sustainability careers span beyond science and engineering. Specialised career guidance in these industries could be considered by ensuring that the present career counsellors in Institutes of Higher Learning are also well-versed in them.

We could consider having experts and professionals to mentor interested students. Attachments and internships with green companies and organisations could also be offered.

One example of a programme that could be expanded is "Journey of a Green Purpose", an initiative spearheaded by Seastainable and Green Nudge Singapore. It is a 12-part webinar that aims to equip students and young adults with knowledge on what to consider while trying to establish a career in sustainability. This would, in the end, help channel these students into green jobs to accelerate Singapore's green recovery from the pandemic and our low-carbon transition.

With a steady increase of talents in the green industry, and a strong robust framework, Singapore can be an education hub for sustainability and attract ASEAN students to build capacity in the region.

Sustainability Efforts – Schools and IHLs

Mr Abdul Samad (Nominated Member): Mdm Chair, I welcome the launch of the Singapore Green Plan 2030. As we work towards building a sustainable Singapore, we can and must do more to promote individual and collective responsibility to care for the environment. Singaporeans should be equipped with sound knowledge and awareness of our environmental issues to inculcate in them a deep care for the environment, and eventually champion and encourage their peers to adopt similar habits.

It is commonly said that values are not only taught, but also caught. I would like to know how MSE is working with MOE to nurture a sense of responsibility for the environment, and an appreciation for nature in our students? How can we ingrain in our students the mindset and attitude to always think about practising sustainability?

Efforts to inculcate the sustainability mindset should be ongoing. As our students progress to subsequent stages of education, efforts must continue to reinforce habits to reduce energy usage and reduce waste. What are some initiatives that MSE is working with the Institutes of Higher Learning to promote the importance of environmental sustainability?

My experience as a union leader has also taught me the importance of partnerships and how they are key in ensuring better outcomes. I would therefore also like to ask how MSE intends to engage different stakeholders among the community, parents and industry partners to more effectively inculcate and reinforce sustainability values in our students.

Sustainability in Schools

Miss Cheng Li Hui (Tampines): Mdm Chair, in past years' debates, I have asked about MOE's plans to incorporate climate change and environmental education into the curriculum. Our schools play a key role in educating students on the importance of green initiatives and playing a role to combat climate change. While environmental education is already present in our school curriculum, what more can we do to enhance the teaching and learning of sustainability concepts? I am glad to hear of MOE's commitment to support the Singapore Green Plan. School is the place to inculcate responsible 4Rs habits and how to recycle properly. Can the Minister share more on MOE's plans in areas beyond curriculum?

Mr Xie Yao Quan (Jurong): Madam, can I have your permission to take my two cuts together?

The Chairman: Yes, please proceed.

Sustainability Education

Mr Xie Yao Quan: Madam, there are few fundamental realities about what climate change means to Singapore and Singaporeans.

First, it is a wicked problem. There is no silver bullet and solutions will necessarily be complex. Number two, there is a part for all Singaporeans – all of us to play and make a real difference, despite our size. We can make a difference in Singapore and we can make a difference for the world. Three, we need to start from young.

To this end, the Singapore Green Plan aims to enhance environmental sustainability in schools and get at least 20% of schools here to be carbon neutral by 2030, with the rest to follow thereafter. The Singapore Green Plan also calls for us to nurture the next generation of Singaporeans with the will, knowledge and practical opportunities to protect and steward our environment for generations to come.

Can MOE share further details about its plans to educate our students on sustainability and their role to co-create and jointly own the Singapore Green Plan, and indeed, our whole-of-society movement towards a greener future?

Electric Vehicle Adoption

We have a population of almost a million vehicles in Singapore last year, according to LTA. Assuming Net-Zero in the vehicle population going forward, we are still looking at almost a million vehicles in Singapore in 2030. Converting the entire population to electric vehicles will be a huge undertaking. In this light, the $30 million set aside in this year's Budget for electric vehicle related initiatives over the next five years, can only be a start. I would like to ask MOT, specifically about its plans for driving electric vehicle adoption for commercial use.

There are two parts to this. Firstly, on point-to-point passenger transport and in this respect, I am applying the question to both taxis and private hire vehicles, as I expect their operating models to further converge in the future. It is worth noting that today, there are roughly 90,000 taxis and private hire vehicles on our roads. And so for both taxi and private hire businesses, what are the Ministry's strategies to work with these companies to drive sector wide adoption of electric vehicles? What are the key principles, and what are some of the key planks that the Ministry is studying and developing, and this could be in terms of licencing requirements or vehicle ownership regime or the mix of charging infrastructure and its availability across both residential and depot settings for example?

Secondly, as e-commerce and the movement of goods on Singapore roads continue to grow, what other Ministry's plans to work with logistics businesses, to similarly drive electric vehicle adoption across the whole of that sector?

Green Transport

Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye (Radin Mas): Madam, the House recently debated about the importance of combating climate change, and I fully support the ambitious goals announced under the Singapore Green Plan 2030.

However, I also echo some concerns Members have raised about our push for Electric Vehicles (EVs), particularly the installation of charging points. How did the Ministry decide on the target of 60,000 EV charging points by 2030? Is there a corresponding 2030 EV adoption target? Can our power grid and local sub-stations, particularly those located in older HDB estates, cope with this additional load?

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Have we factored in the rapid development of EV batteries, particularly the recent revival in swappable battery technology and battery-as-a-service solutions? Will this make fixed charging points irrelevant in the years to come? What were the lessons learnt from the experience of installing BlueSG charging points, which required significant cross-agency collaboration?

Madam, there has also been much global debate about whether EVs are truly good for the environment. The crux lies in the way EV batteries are produced and, perhaps more critically, how they are disposed. According to research papers, recycling useful materials from lithium-ion batteries remains a tedious and risky process. Placing them in landfills can cause them to explode and is also not a feasible option for land-scarce Singapore.

Does the Ministry have plans to ensure the sustainable disposal and recycling of EV batteries?

To better address such potential environmental pollution issues, can the Ministry revise the current Vehicular Emissions Scheme to impose a pollution tax on how "green" the EV manufacturer supply chain is instead of focusing on tailpipe emissions?

Promoting Cleaner and Greener Vehicles

Mr Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten): Madam, a few years ago, I was looking to buy a hybrid car. I wanted to do my small part to buy a car which uses less petrol and hence be environmentally more friendly. However, at the car dealer, I was told that the hybrid version of the car would cost almost $10,000 more than the petrol model. The car dealer told me that unless I drive long distances, the savings in petrol would not be able to offset the higher costs of the hybrid car.

Thus, while I applaud the intent of the Government to move towards cleaner energy car models, we need to take a holistic view at the pricing of cars such that we can effectively encourage car buyers to opt for cleaner energy cars. Thus, the Government should look at lowering taxes on electric cars or hybrid cars so that a similar model would either be less expensive than an internal combustion engine vehicle or at least on par in terms of pricing. Otherwise, the average consumer may not want to pay more for a cleaner or greener vehicle if it burns a big hole in his pocket.

We should also look into making more charging points easily available. Recent media reports suggest that very few condominiums allow the installation of charging points for Electric Vehicles. And for those condominiums that wish to do so, they need to seek approval at the annual general meeting (AGM) of residents, whereby 75% must approve the installation of the charging station.

Without available charging points for their Electric Vehicles, many drivers will be concerned as to how they charge their Electric Vehicles.

Thus, I urge LTA to make it compulsory for HDB car parks, for condominiums and even office buildings to provide a minimum number of charging points in the car parks. Mandate such installation of such charging points because waiting for the condominium to approve the installation at AGMs would take far too long.

Wherever possible, charging points should also be installed on the streets or roads next to parking lots. To encourage condominiums, office buildings and HDB estates to set aside space for charging stations, LTA should also consider some form of financial incentives for them.

May I also ask the Minister whether the projected installation of more charging stations will require extensive electrical upgrades. If so, what is the cost involved to upgrade electrical power? We not only need charging points for the Electric Vehicles, we also need the chargers to be able to charge the Electric Vehicles quickly. If it takes too long to fully charge an Electric Vehicle, then consumers may not want to spend the time waiting for their cars to be charged.

Finally, I also call on the Government to consider how to dispose of spent or used batteries of Electric Vehicles such that at the end of the day, we will not end up with an environmental hazard and the question of how to dispose of such batteries.

Adoption of Electric Vehicles

Mr Ang Wei Neng (West Coast): Mdm Chair, I would like to first declare my interest as the CEO of the ComfortDelGro taxi business.

With the current push toward Electric Vehicles, or EVs, in Singapore and the prospect of converting a large fleet of point-to-point vehicles into EVs, the following are my primary concerns.

For a mass adoption of EVs in Singapore, we need to better incentivise both private and large fleet owners to switch to EVs. There are three important determinants.

The first is cost. With the enhanced Vehicular Emissions Scheme, or VES, there is a good chance that the cost of EVs will be similar to that of entry-level luxury cars. For example, the basic Tesla Model 3 will cost about $160,000, inclusive of the current COE price, which is equivalent to the BMW 2 series or the Mercedes A Class.

As a large fleet owner, the complete waiver of the Additional Registration Fee, or ARF, is a welcome move. However, the selling price of the EV after the waiver of ARF is still significantly higher than that of a mass market hybrid vehicle, which makes it hard for mass market adoption.

Is MOT prepared to take a further step to waive all statutory charges, including import duty, related to EV? If so, this will help to further reduce the cost of EVs.

The second is the charging time or the maturity of battery technology. The charging time of EV, ranging from 30 minutes to two hours for the full charge that allows a range of 200 km to 400 km, is a deterrent. For cabbies that use the EV over two shifts of driving, they cannot afford overnight charging of eight to 12 hours like other drivers.

Third is the availability of charging facilities in Singapore. While the number of charging stations will balloon to 60,000 by 2030, which would be a strong impetus for EV adoption, a lot of industrial sites cannot afford for us to install a fast charging station.

Would LTA or related authorities be prepared to improve the power infrastructure of industrial buildings so that fleet owners could install more fast charging stations? We need a charging farm to support a large fleet of EVs.

While much has been done to drive up the adoption of EVs in Singapore, these are some practical concerns which I hope MOT, LTA and other agencies can address.

Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Ang Mo Kio): Madam, the Government has announced that from 2030, only new cleaner energy car models may be registered. Will the Ministry elaborate on how it will promote the adoption of EVs to achieve this new target?

Having been used to a wide range of car models run by internal combustion engines, the EVs' range may not be diverse enough to appeal to some potential buyers who consider a list of other attributes in addition to fuel economy and safety. These include branding, design, tactile driving, feel, and so on. What if more owners decide to renew the COEs of older cars operating on internal combustion engines?

There is also concerns about maintenance and repairs of EVs. Do we have the manpower training programmes in place to equip and certify a new generation of technicians?

Accessibility of Electric Vehicles

EVs are more expensive than vehicles utilising internal combustion engines even after factoring in the Electric Vehicle Early Adoption Incentive (EEAI) and enhanced Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES) incentives. How will the Government make EVs more accessible to all car owners?

Families with young children and the elderly may find these higher priced vehicles a burden, similarly, for those who depend on driving private vehicles for a living. I am also concerned about families with members who have special needs or disabilities who depend on private vehicles for mobility. Will the Government consider assisting them with family-friendly or disability-related rebates? How about the maintenance and repairs of EVs? Does the Government have any indicative figures of such costs and what measures will be introduced to help bring these costs to affordable levels?

Wide Coverage of Charging Points

The Government has set a target of installing 60,000 charging points islandwide by 2030. I am concerned over whether we may be overbuilding, given that the initial adoption rate of EVs may not be as high what as we hope for. As this may require extensive electrical upgrades, how will the Government reach this target? How will the Ministry ensure that the charging points are well distributed while keeping costs manageable and the final bill to the users affordable?

The other worry is that EVs will be popular but potential buyers are limited by the charging points. For example, their residential estates may not have enough charging points due to existing space or electrical power output constraints. Some residents have told me that their old condominiums may have issues. Landed property owners may also have problems and need help for their estates' power distribution to be adjusted.

Prof Koh Lian Pin: Mdm Chair, permission to take both cuts together.

The Chairman: Yes, please proceed.

Transition to Cleaner-energy Vehicles

Prof Koh Lian Pin: The Singapore Green Plan includes a series of initiatives to encourage a shift away from the ownership and use of internal combustion engine vehicles towards the adoption of cleaner energy vehicles, including Electric Vehicles and hybrid Electric Vehicles.

This cleaner energy transition will almost certainly reduce air pollution and improve air quality on and around our road networks. It would also reduce the consumption of petrol and diesel fuels in our transport sector. However, the operation of Electric Vehicles still requires the production of electricity and its distribution to the expected 60,000 charging points across the island.

As we transition to having only cleaner energy vehicles on our roads, what does that translate to in terms of the additional demands on our power production capacity, infrastructure and energy security? What plans are being considered for Singapore to meet these additional power demands?

Perhaps more importantly, if Singapore were to continue to rely primarily on natural gas to generate the electricity that we need in the foreseeable future, what would the net carbon emissions savings of the transition to cleaner energy vehicles in our transport sector be?

Additionally, has the Ministry considered any intermediate milestones as indicators of success towards achieving the 2030 target of requiring all newly registered vehicles to be of cleaner energy models, and the 2040 target of having only cleaner energy vehicles on the road?

Finally, the biggest transformative win, in terms of reducing carbon emissions in Singapore's transport sector, arguably, is to increase the use of our public transport system. What steps is the Ministry considering to help us achieve this outcome?

Green Energy Sources for Energy Reset

An energy reset is one of the five key initiatives in the Singapore Green Plan. Using cleaner energy has been put forward as a way to lower Singapore's carbon footprint.

The Energy Market Authority, or EMA, announced last year that it is tapping on regional power grids for cleaner energy resources as a strategy to further diversify Singapore's energy supply. In fact, the EMA is embarking on a two-year trial for electricity imports from Malaysia to Singapore.

In assessing and refining the technical and regulatory frameworks for importing electricity into Singapore, what steps is the Ministry taking to evaluate and benchmark the carbon footprint, at source, of imported electricity to meet the cleaner energy goals of the Singapore Green Plan?

Alternative Energy

Ms Yeo Wan Ling (Pasir Ris-Punggol): Mdm Chair, the future we march toward is inevitably a low-carbon future. That being said, we are aware of the limitations on the land use on our island home.

Our narrow tidal range and calm seas limit our ability to utilise commercial tidal and wave power. We also do not have a river system with fast flowing water throughout the year to harness hydroelectric power. Our small physical size, high population density and land scarcity limit our potential for sustainably grown domestic biomass and large behemoth wind farms.

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While ambitions to raise the capacity of solar PV capabilities six-fold by 2030 is impressive, our reliance on traditional sources of energy is still glaring. As we speak, about 95% of our electricity is generated from natural gas sources. How then can we be assured that decarbonisation will be a reality for Singapore?

The Chairman: Mr Saktiandi Supaat.

Mr Saktiandi Supaat (Bishan-Toa Payoh): Mdm Chairman, can I seek request to take the three cuts together?

The Chairman: Please proceed.

Decarbonising Electricity Grid

Mr Saktiandi Supaat: Mdm Chairman, with the push for digitalisation and innovation, demand for energy is on the rise. From data centres to electric transport to smart technology, all these require electricity to power. And as most of us are virtually spending our entire day online to work, study, learn and play, this insatiable appetite for data comes at significant environmental costs. Collectively, data centres around the world account for around 2% of greenhouse gas emissions and is expected to surge to 14% by 2040, the same as the US share of global emissions today.

It is good that Singapore has been making shifts towards alternative energy sources, such as solar energy. I have asked about several Parliamentary Questions on this on the Sun Capable Project and other solar and alternative energy efforts. Can the Ministry share what other key efforts to decarbonise our electricity grid and how can our power generation companies contribute to these efforts?

Electricity Prices and Electricity Usage

Mdm Chairman, at the moment, about 95% of Singapore's electricity is generated from imported natural gas. The prices of natural gas are indexed to oil prices. So, electricity prices do fluctuate and Singapore is, typically, a price taker. But electricity prices in Singapore are generally lower now, with the opening of the energy market. Intense competition between retailers has led to very attractive fixed price deals in contract spending over years. This brings relief for many households, with residents spending more time at home with remote working and hybrid work arrangements.

The downside to all this is that it could be challenging to encourage consumers to adopt energy-efficient measures to reduce electricity usage. How does the Ministry plan to meet this challenge over time?

Green Economy Trade-offs

Mdm Chairman, for years, Singapore has been making gradual steps to encourage businesses and individuals to reduce our carbon footprint. Just recently, the Singapore Green Plan 2030 was launched and it certainly gives us plenty to look forward to, including a vision of a low carbon future where clean energy is produced, used and managed.

Yet, there are some issues that we will have to consider. For example, in the short-term, the upfront cost of switching to cleaner machinery and vehicles would be quite hefty. This can be challenging in the current climate where many businesses are struggling to get back on track financially. Also, despite having no oil and gas resources of our own, Singapore is Asia's top petrochemicals hub and one of the world's top three export refining centre. The sector and its supporting industries employ a large number of workers in Singapore.

Can the Ministry share which are the key trade-offs that Singapore will have to contend with? Where are the negative impacts for industries, corporates and consumers and how will the Government help them to cope in the transition phase?

Fossil Fuel Industry Workers

Mr Leon Perera (Aljunied): Mdm Chairman, OPEC forecasts that the green transition in shocks like COVID-19 place a big question mark over the future for oil markets.

Last year, Shell announced its intent to axe 500 jobs or 38% of its Pulau Bukom workforce and aims to reduce its global workforce by up to 9,000 by 2022. Just today, ExxonMobil announced that it will be cutting 7% of jobs in Singapore. No doubt, these developments owe something to COVID-19 but jobs affected by changes in fossil fuel demand over the longer term may eventually go beyond the refineries and include those in bunkering, rig building and other businesses in the fossil fuel industry eco-system.

In a Parliamentary reply to my Parliamentary colleague, Ms He Ting Ru, MTI said that the shift to low emissions mobility would not result in significant job losses for Singapore. But can the Government share its expected outlook for jobs in the oil and gas and petrochemicals industry clusters as a result of the longer term global decarbonisation trend?

Could we also consider making career conversion programmes more targeted for workers affected by this green transition through proactive pushing out of awareness campaigns and targeted ad campaigns? Worforce Singapore has implemented career conversion programmes like the PCP but reskilling can be more proactive and should not happen only when the transition is in full swing and jobs are already being lost.

Lastly, even if the majority of our workers in potentially affected industries are able to transition successfully, I expect some will fall between the cracks into unemployment and under-employment through no fault of theirs.

As has been argued by Members of this House, such as my Parliamentary colleague then, the hon Ms Sylvia Lim in the past, I urge the Government to implement measures of under-employment so that we can track this and refine our tools against bad employment outcomes.

The Chairman: Order.

Debate in Committee of Supply resumed.

Head L (cont) –

Opportunities in the Green Economy

Ms Mariam Jaafar (Sembawang): Madam, in my Budget debate speech I shared how proud I am of the intent clearly articulated in the Green Plan 2030 to forget a brave new green economy that will bring a host of new green jobs in green technology, in certain economies but also in green financing and common services.

I also spoke at length about how we can push on technological and business model innovation and collaborations so that we might lead the world, including by becoming the world's most sustainable hub for specific sectors for which we have a competitive advantage such as petrochemicals and shipping, as well as pushing forward on international and regional engagement, coordination and leadership, in particular, leading a collective ASEAN 2 degree path. The Green Plan and Budget also outline other areas, including energy efficient materials and the built environment.

To that, I also shared my optimism that given our development history in areas like engineering and process control, this time with some training and reskilling, our local workforce and can be the ones who benefit the most from this transition. This will help make climate change relevant and relevant to the broader community, not just a fortunate few and rally them to join in the conversation and more important action.

That that end, I would like to ask if a strategic review of the jobs and skills that will be in demand in the green economy has or will be done along with a review of the jobs, particularly local jobs that will be impacted directly or indirectly by the transition to the green economy. And let us put a plan against it and get ahead of the curve.

As many of my colleagues have stated, the importance of starting this in our schools to propagate the knowledge on sustainable development concepts as well as the science, in particular, material science, so that we will have an informed and empowered citizenry well before the green economy is truly upon us.

Environment, Social and Governance Accreditation Mark for Green Plan

Mr Edward Chia Bing Hui (Holland-Bukit Timah): Mdm Chairman, while our enterprises develop and grow their revenues, they too must care for our society and planet. Now that we have a Singapore Green Plan 2030, we must drive our enterprises to weave in environmental, social and governance objectives.

In my maiden speech, I shared that we need to broaden our view of enterprises and entrepreneurs as having not only economic value but deep societal value at their core. In addition, I spoke about how enterprises are agents to societal changes and we need more companies be created with missions that value adds to our society and improves our societal well-being. This is possible and I call on the Government to implement ESG for SG, in other words, introduce an ESG mark with clear and appropriate indicators for environmental, social and governance that is applicable to Singapore and Asia. These benchmarking standards are needed so that our businesses can work towards concrete target setting. Investors want to do more with their money and create good social outcome goals.

An ESG mark will allow investors to make an informed decision while enterprises grow with accountability and sustainability. Implementation of an ESG mark can benefit individual consumers and B2B clients, very much similar to International sustainable food certification, such as Marine Stewardship Council and the Rainforest Alliance. An ESG mark will assist one to make conscientious decisions and selecting who he or she will support and patronise. By empowering the end consumer with more informed choice, we may drive supply chain upstream towards a greener and more impactful future. Such a mark could also assist regional and international efforts and benchmarking like how various Singapore standards have been adopted regionally.

ESG is not a new concept. It is widely embraced and accepted in finance and investment sector as key criterion in decision-making. For instance. It was reported that in Europe, many pensioners consciously chose asset managers with ESG capacities as their fund manager. Much can be learned about how it has been implemented and translated into different practice models for the various industries in Singapore.

I acknowledge that the ESG measurement tools are highly different for different sectors. As such, I propose that we need to have different set of indicators that is more targeted and relevant to sectors to make it more meaningful for enterprises, investors and consumers. In addition, we need to consider the nature of smaller enterprises that their growth and development are much different even though they belong to the same sector. For instance, a high-end fashion chain retailer versus heartline retailer within a retail sector uses resources that are vastly different skill and rate thereby impacting our environment very differently. Hence, there should be a tiered ESG measurement within the same sector to ensure that we account for new ones or smaller enterprises.

Apart from the above proposal, I recommend that we dovetail existing and future measurements, such as BCA Green Mark, Enabling Mark, PWM Mark as part of a larger ESG mark so the Enterprises have one clear benchmarking standard and investors and consumers have only one report to assess the companies from its peers.

We must further develop our brand equity that is trusted, sustainable and impactful. In fact, Singapore is growing as a wealth management hub. We could establish ourselves and ensure that the impact investment capital flows through our companies creating good and impactful jobs for Singaporeans and growing our economy in a sustainable and inclusive manner. I am cognisant of the fact that setting up a ESG mark can be complex and it takes time to develop one for each sector that is well accepted by the majority of companies.

With this in mind, I propose that we take a small step but incorporating a ESG component in the evaluation of Enterprise Grant schemes. This is a small step that is hand signal and encourage a commitment towards sustainable and socially impactful development.

Green Economy and Energy Reset

Mr Desmond Choo (Tampines): Mdm Chairman, the green economy will significantly impact our SMEs. While larger companies are able to plan for this green future, SMEs might not have the resources to do so.

The Government has introduced the Enterprise Sustainability Programme to help enterprises, especially that of SMEs, to grow their green capabilities and benefit from the new opportunities in the green economy. Can the Ministry share whether we will be providing additional support to the SMEs on top of what is provided under the programme? Can the Government also consider support and funds to companies that want to trial or introduce new green technologies to their current business operations?

As the majority employer in Singapore, SMEs clearly need to play an outsized role in the green economy. What are the new roles that these SMEs would play in this new economic order?

The oil and gas sector has been a fixture in Singapore's economy for more than a century. From having oil storage facilities in the late 1800s to the first oil refinery in the early 1960s to becoming one of the world's most important oil and chemicals hub, Singapore's fortunes have always been somewhat tied to petrochemicals. The sector continues to generate a significant portion of our GDP. It also hires many workers. While there is no doubt that we will move to a low carbon future because of existential climate reasons, that transition is likely to be fraught with complexities.

First, we can simply shut the plants and go low carbon. But there will be massive loss of jobs in the oil and gas sectors and those supporting process sector companies. We will need to work with the oil and gas companies to adopt new technologies to transit to a low carbon future. Can the Ministry share with us its transition plan that balances our ambitions with support for our workers and economies?

Second, it is not only just the oil and gas sector that faces intricate complexities. There are many other companies and their workers who depend on petrochemicals. For example, the logistics sector depend on an extensive fleet of delivery vehicles. The infrastructure and technology for them to transit to electric vehicles is still nascent. The future seems to be one where we seek to reduce carbon footprint progressively. Can the Ministry share how we can help these companies with the transition?

Even so, there can also be opportunities within the low-carbon space. New industries and research outfits might be set up or evolved to provide new investments and jobs. Can the Ministry share what are these new jobs and industries that will be created? How can we better prepare our Singaporeans to take up such opportunities?

Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage

Mr Kwek Hian Chuan Henry (Kebun Baru): Mdm Chairman, in a recent interview with The Straits Times, I was asked about my thoughts as a Member of Parliament who advocates for climate change on the future of the petrochemical sector in Singapore.

My response was this: "If for any reasons, our petrochemical companies exit Singapore, it is quite likely that they move to a different location with even less robust carbon emission standards to minimise costs. A balanced approach will, therefore, be to acknowledge that Singapore provides essential manufacturing services, including petrochemicals to the rest of the world, and the way we discharge our duty to the world is to ensure that our companies achieve world-class efficiencies in energy and carbon."

On this note, can I get MSE to provide an update on the progress of the Memorandum of Understanding signed in July 2020 by Chevron, Pan-United, Keppel Data Centres and Surbana Jurong, with the support of Singapore's National Research Foundation regarding the aspiration and development of mature carbon capture, utilisation and storage technologies.

The Chairman: Leader.