Singapore incentives could have been greener

Jessica Cheam, Straits Times 4 Mar 10;

GIVEN Singapore's support for an international agreement on climate change, MPs yesterday said more could have been done in the 2010 Budget to transform Singapore into a green economy.

Addressing Parliament on the second day of the Budget debate, Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Sembawang GRC) said this year's Budget 'did not seem to have much of a green focus' except for the extension of the vehicle rebate for imported used green vehicles.

Dr Lim added that since the Government has already identified green industries such as clean technology as a new source of growth for Singapore's companies, it could further assist firms with incentives and grants in this area.

He also called for the certificate of entitlement (COE) system, which controls the number of cars on the roads, to be tweaked to encourage the use of environmentally friendly cars.

'(By) creating a new green COE category and setting 5 per cent of COEs in this group, we will achieve (the result that) at least 5 per cent of our vehicles on our roads in 10 years' time will be green vehicles,' he said.

The public transport fleet can also be upgraded to use fuels such as compressed natural gas, which emits less carbon emissions, he added.

This can be achieved by giving more tax incentives and grants to public transport operators and taxi companies.

Greening Singapore's transport system was an idea also mooted by Dr Lam Pin Min (Ang Mo Kio GRC), who spoke on the issue on Tuesday.

He noted that it was heartening the Government was pushing ahead with spending towards a greener Singapore despite the lack of a global binding deal.

But he said 'more should be dedicated to fight climate change, invest in green technology, and incentivise companies and individuals to go green'.

For example, in the United States, families are given home tax credits of up to US$1,500 (S$2,200) for energy efficient improvement works - something the Government can also consider.

Dr Lam called for bold moves to invest in the alternative energy market - such as solar, wind and hydropower - to reduce Singapore's reliance on fossil fuels and to develop products and services that can be exported worldwide.

Mr Wilson Ang, founder of environmental social enterprise Eco Singapore, told The Straits Times the environmental movement was slightly disappointed at the relatively low profile of green issues in the Budget.

'We're glad the Government has taken note of how our economic progress has an environmental impact.

'But we hope to see stronger Government incentives to promote a green economy and a green-collar workforce,' he added.

'Green' COEs for green vehicles?
Leong Wee Keat Today Online 4 Mar 10;

A 5-per-cent allocation of "green" certificates of entitlement (COEs) for green vehicles - such as electric cars - could prompt more motorists to go green in the battle against climate change, suggested Member of Parliament (Sembawang GRC) Lim Wee Kiak during the Budget debate yesterday.

Noting "a lack of green focus" in this year's Budget - after last year's United Nations climate change summit - Dr Lim said such an allocation of COEs for green vehicles could allow them to make up 5 per cent of the total vehicle population in a decade.

Transportation accounts for 40 per cent of carbon emission, and the largest fleet of vehicles here constitute taxis, public buses and school buses.

Noting that India's New Delhi has stipulated all public buses and taxis run on compressed natural gas, Dr Lim suggested the Government give grants to public transport companies here to go green.

Dr Lim, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Transport, also felt more could be done to promote "shared transport", such as car-sharing schemes. "There is significant savings for our nation if more car drivers give up their cars and opt for shared transport and public transport," he said.

And to encourage this, Dr Lim urged the Government to lower the costs of shared transport and Electronic Road Pricing rates for taxis. This way, traffic congestion and demand for parking lots could also be reduced, he argued. Leong Wee Keat