Singapore imposes stricter regulations to meet environment goals
The government in Singapore is set to introduce a series of new regulations in a bid to speed up progress towards the city-state’s environment commitments
The government in Singapore is set to introduce a series of new regulations in a bid to speed up progress towards the city-state’s environment commitments.
Singapore will implement stricter vehicle pollution standards and mandatory air suction waste systems to curb emissions and boost recycling rates in the country.
A new Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES) will replace the current Carbon Emissions-Based Vehicle Scheme (CEVS), which has been extended to run until 31 December.
The new scheme, which will run for two years starting 1 January 2018, rewards car buyers with tiered rebates depending on the amount of emissions the car produces and takes into consideration four other pollutants – nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, particulate matter and carbon monoxide.
In addition, new private apartments in the city are to be installed with twin chutes – one for non-recyclable waste such as food and the other for recycling.
The initiative has already been in place in number of newer residencies since 2014, helping to triple recycling rates in these households.
Earlier this year, Singapore announced a new carbon tax which will come into force by 2019, with initial prices set between US$7 and US$14 per tonne of emissions.
From 2018, industrial firms will also be required to meet use internationally recognised methodologies and standards – such as the World Resources Institute’s Greenhouse Gas Protocol – to measure and report emissions.
Furthermore, owners of industrial facilities will be required to review their facilities’ energy efficiency rates under the new regulations.
The NEA is also set to establish new minimum energy efficiency standards for industrial equipment.
The changes are geared towards improving Singapore’s industrial energy efficiency improvement rate in line with the targets stated in the Singapore Climate Action Plan released back in 2016.
The news follows the announcement that Singapore Cruise Centre’s (SCC) Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (TMFT) will become the Asia-Pacific region’s first solar-powered ferry terminal.
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