How Singapore can cut 12 million tons

Victoria Vaughan, Straits Times 4 Dec 09;

TWELVE million tons of carbon would be equivalent to the total amount released in taking a return plane trip to the moon 6,000 times, and also the entire yearly volume of emissions from Kenya, a country with 40 million people.

That is how much Singapore would have to reduce carbon emissions by if it follows through on a proposal to cut emissions by 16 per cent below 'business as usual' levels by 2020. If no changes were made, carbon emissions are predicted to reach some 72 million tons.

The Government said on Wednesday that the proposal would mean greener transport, households, industry and buildings through a combination of regulation and fiscal measures.

The target will be set if there is a legally binding global deal obliging all countries to cut emissions, and if other countries make significant pledges as an outcome of the climate change meeting in Copenhagen next week.

The Straits Times hypothesised what each sector would need to cut based on its current share of emissions, and asked how life could change.

# INDUSTRY: The largest emitter of carbon dioxide, it is responsible for 22 million tons, or about 54 per cent of Singapore's emissions.

Its share would require it to make cuts of six million tons of carbon emissions.

Mr Edwin Khew, a former Nominated MP and chief executive of waste recycling firm IUT Global, said industry would play its part.

'Our best bet is on energy efficiency and more efficient buildings to reduce industry's carbon footprint,' he said.

He added that carbon trading credits or a carbon tax could be used to curb emissions.

# TRANSPORT: The second biggest contributor, emitting eight million tons or 19 per cent of carbon emissions. It would have to make cuts of two million tons to help reach the target.

There are about 920,000 vehicles on Singapore's roads, which would mean an average cut of 2.48 tons per vehicle each year.

That means travelling nearly 10,000km less, or just under the distance between Singapore and Paris.

This would be tough to do, said transport expert Lee Der Horng from the National University of Singapore. 'Other sectors would have to do more in order to meet the target and to cut down on carbon emissions,' he argued.

However, it would help to have electric cars on the road as well as more use of compressed natural gas in buses instead of diesel.

According to the Energy Market Authority, Singapore could reduce up to 4 per cent of its land transport emissions by 2020 if just 2 per cent of the vehicles here were electric-powered. That would mean 16,000 full-electric cars here.

# BUILDINGS: Buildings are the third largest emitter, producing six million tons or 16 per cent of carbon, mainly through the use of electricity to power lighting and air-conditioning. They would have to cut two million tons.

Just 5 per cent of Singapore's buildings are green, according to the Building and Construction Authority. Its Green Mark scheme targets 80 per cent of existing buildings to be up to standards by 2030.

Only 55 out of 337 certified Green Mark buildings now are at GoldPlus or Platinum standard - the level which Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan said buildings needed to be if they wanted to hit the emissions reduction target.

As a minimum, GoldPlus buildings must demonstrate energy savings of 25 per cent and Platinum buildings 30 per cent.

# HOUSEHOLDS: Bringing up the rear in terms of carbon emissions, they contribute 3.6 million tons or 9 per cent of the total.

They would have to cut one million tons.

Mr Ravinder Singh, head of 3T Hypermizer, which promotes energy solutions and efficiency, said that town councils could save energy in the communal lighting of corridors and parks.

But there would be sacrifices made for each household too.

'Air-conditioning, fridges and washing machines all contribute to carbon emissions,' he said.

Listing some ways cuts could be made, he noted: 'People would need to not use the water heater in this tropical country or sleep with the air-con on at night and limit it to three hours a day, but people have got to be willing to take those steps.'

Source: International Energy Agency, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources. From 2005 figures.