Climate change top concern for only 12% of Singaporeans: survey

Karen Ng Business Times 27 Oct 10;

ONLY 12 per cent of Singaporeans cite climate change as their top concern, an HSBC survey has found. But if it is any consolation, the proportion is even lower in major countries France, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Singaporeans are more concerned about the stability of the global economy, terrorism and pandemics, says the HSBC Climate Change Monitor, which was released yesterday.

This is the first time that Singapore is covered in the annual survey, which focuses on consumers' attitude and behaviour towards climate change in the developed and developing world. The latest poll, conducted between Aug 25 and Sept 10, covered 15 countries, with at least a thousand consumers surveyed in each country.

In terms of government spending, some 53 per cent of Singaporeans felt that more should be spent on the economy than on climate change. Globally, the proportion is just 38 per cent.

Health care drew a bigger response, with 67 per cent agreeing that more should be spent on it than on climate change. The global figure is 56 per cent.

In terms of sentiment towards climate change, Singapore scores lower than the Asia-Pacific average. Just 34 per cent here believe that climate change warrants concern, compared to the region's 41 per cent.

On the subject of tackling climate change, Singapore emerged among the top five countries that bank on government policies. About 57 per cent of Singaporeans feel that big-scale state-funded initiatives would be effective, while 48 per cent think that a carbon tax would be effective. Some 34 per cent favour emissions trading as a policy against climate change.

At the personal level, some 65 per cent of Singaporeans said that they prefer environmentally friendly businesses and products.

Reducing the use of heating and air-con appliances is the most popular way in Singapore for dealing with climate change, at 35 per cent; followed by recycling, 26 per cent; and energy-saving home improvements, 22 per cent.

HSBC chief executive officer Alex Hungate said: 'When we recognise that we are all in this (climate change issue) together and that we must take concerted action, we can unlock the potential for positive change and make a real difference.'

Singaporeans more concerned about economy than climate change: survey
Mok Fei Fei Channel NewsAsia 26 Oct 10;

SINGAPORE : A survey has found that Singaporeans are more concerned about the economy than about climate change.

The HSBC Climate Change Monitor found that only 12 per cent of respondents in Singapore ranked climate change as a top concern.

This is amongst the lowest across the countries in the survey. Only France, Britain and the US scored lower.

For 28 per cent of the respondents in Singapore, global economic stability is the top concern. This is followed by terrorism, which has 22 per cent of the people worried.

Some 67 per cent of respondents in Singapore felt that governments should be spending more on health care than climate change.

The figure is higher than the global average of 56 per cent.

In addition, 53 per cent of Singapore respondents also felt that the government should be spending more on the economy, as opposed to only 38 per cent globally.

This is the first time that Singapore, Japan and Vietnam were covered in the annual survey, which was launched in 2007.

Conducted between August and September, the survey looks into consumers' attitude and behaviour towards climate change in 15 countries.

At least 1,000 consumers were surveyed in each country. - CNA/ms