Today-Oct 25
Singapore on Tuesday (Oct 25) unveiled its plan to reach net zero emissions by 2050, with a stronger target of 60 million tons — down from 65 million tons — of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions by 2030. To achieve its 2050 goal, the country will peak its carbon dioxide equivalent emissions earlier, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who was speaking at the opening of the annual Singapore International Energy Week conference. However, he did not give details on when the new peak for carbon dioxide emissions will be. In 2020, the country announced its aim to half its 2030 peak emissions of 65 million tons by 2050. At this year’s Budget speech in February, however, Mr Wong announced that Singapore would bring forward its net zero goal “by or around mid-century”. The Government also conducted a consultation exercise on achieving this goal by 2050 in September. “Net zero by 2050 is really a stretch goal for us as we have limited options to deploy renewable energy at scale but we will press ahead with this ambitious goal,” Mr Wong, who is also Finance Minister, said. “Even though Singapore only accounts for 0.1 per cent of global emissions, we want to do our part in the global effort to address the global climate crisis and steward our resources for future generations.”
On the adjusted 2030 target, he added that this cut of five million tons is “significant” as it is equivalent to reducing Singapore’s current transport emissions by two-thirds. Adding that despite being an “alternative energy disadvantaged nation”, Singapore will still continue taking proactive steps to reach net-zero. These enhanced targets will be submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change when countries meet at the COP27 climate conference in Egypt next month. Read more at: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/spore-unveils-plan-reach-net-zero-emissions-2050-stronger-target-reduction-greenhouse-gas-emissions-2028066
