Stringent steps to lower pollution; release of air quality info thrice a day
Grace Chua Straits Times 24 Aug 12
SINGAPORE is aiming for cleaner air and has set 2020 as the deadline to make this happen.
To work towards this, it has adopted World Health Organisation guidelines on air quality as a target.
Until now, Singapore had used these guidelines only as benchmarks.
To achieve cleaner air, more stringent anti-pollution measures for vehicles, refineries and power generation companies will have to be introduced.
In the next two years, for example, the sulphur content of fuels will be pared down.
And from April 1, 2014, new petrol vehicles here must meet cleaner Euro IV vehicle tailpipe emission standards, up from the current Euro II standard that has been in place since 2001.
The announcement came from Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan yesterday.
He was speaking at the Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards ceremony at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel.
He also said that instead of just aiming for annual targets for cleaner air, 24-hour targets will have to be met when it comes to some pollutants.
He also disclosed that, from today, information on air quality here will be pumped out thrice a day instead of just once, as it can fluctuate over the course of the day.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) will put this out on its website (www.nea.gov.sg) at 8am, noon and 4pm.
NEA will also report the level of PM2.5 - that is, the level of fine particles in the air - thrice a day. Up until now, only annual levels of this have been published.
PM2.5 encompasses airborne matter, such as soot particles, which are a fraction of the diameter of a human hair. These pollutants can get lodged deep in one's lungs and bloodstream, posing health risks.
Asked why it has taken so long to move to more stringent emission and fuel standards, Dr Balakrishnan said such steps take time to coordinate with refineries and car importers.
He added, however, that Singapore could adopt the even stricter Euro V emission standards for petrol vehicles "in the not so long term".
On whether achieving cleaner air would mean pricier cars, he said that the variation in certificate of entitlement (COE) prices "far exceeds any difference in prices due to improved technology in our vehicles".
He added: "Fumes from motor vehicles and industries affect every single Singaporean. I think this is a price worth paying."
Environmental activists and think-tanks like the Singapore Institute of International Affairs (SIIA) have long pressed for more air quality data and higher air quality standards.
SIIA director Nicholas Fang welcomed the new information on PM2.5 as it would raise awareness of air pollution. But he said the "trickier part of the equation" was altering people's behaviour, such as leaving car engines idling.
Teacher Tang Beng Yong, 40, who has a keen interest in environmental issues, said the reporting of PM2.5 was "a step in the right direction" and suggested that a night reading also be published.
Dr Erik Velasco, who studies air pollution at the Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology, said the move to limit the sulphur content of fuels comes late for a country like Singapore, which has a strong refinery industry.
"Low-sulphur fuels should not be a problem for a country with a strong refinery industry," he said.
He also suggested publishing the levels of other pollutants that make up the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI), the location of air quality sensors, and how this reported data is calculated.
Singapore's drive for cleaner air
Government to raise emission standards while giving more frequent updates on air quality
Woo Sian Boon Today Online 24 Aug 12;
SINGAPORE - To ensure cleaner air in Singapore, the Government is raising emission standards for new petrol vehicles and improving petrol quality while increasing the frequency of updates on the Republic's air quality.
Starting today, the National Environment Agency (NEA) will be reporting the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) thrice daily at 8am, noon and 4pm, instead of once a day, to make air quality information more relevant.
The level of particulate matter (PM) 2.5 - a very fine pollutant which can cause respiratory problems - will also be reported alongside the PSI.
If the air quality deteriorates to the extent that it is likely to affect one's health, advisories will be issued separately for the central, northern, southern, eastern and western sectors of Singapore. Previously, only one advisory was issued for the whole country.
The announcements were made by Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan at the Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards yesterday, as he outlined measures to reduce the level of pollutants in the air to meet the World Health Organization's Air Quality Guidelines (AQGs) by 2020.
While Singapore is on target to meet the standards for four of the six pollutants under the AQGs - namely ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, PM 10 - Dr Balakrishnan said there is "room for improvement" to reduce sulphur dioxide and PM 2.5 levels to meet interim standards by 2020 and the final guidelines in the longer term.
Highlighting the petrochemical industry and large motor vehicle population as major emitters of these two pollutants, he said the new, more stringent measures are targeted at these groups.
As such, new petrol vehicles will have to meet Euro IV emission standards - up from Euro II - by April 2014. To pave the way, petrol with 10 times less sulphur content than the current level will be mandated by October next year.
Dr Balakrishnan also told reporters the Government is "very clearly signalling to the industry to be prepared to move on to Euro V in time".
While Singapore has lagged behind other countries in adopting better vehicle emission standards, Dr Balakishnan said coordination with refineries was needed so that they could produce fuel suitable for Euro IV and ultimately Euro V-standard vehicles.
He also assured consumers that the change in emission standards is not likely to cause an increase in vehicle prices. He does not foresee a shortage in car models as Singapore's imported cars are mostly from Europe and Japan, two jurisdictions that have already implemented Euro IV emission standards.
Local-based energy company YTL PowerSeraya said it will be able to meet the new requirements, having switched its fuel mix from 100 per cent oil to 80 per cent natural gas as well as adopting technology and abatement equipment earlier on.
"With the further tightening, we will continue to do so with this three-pronged approach," said its Chief Executive Officer John Ng.
Mr Ron Lim, General Manager of Nissan agent Tan Chong Motor, said the industry will have no problems in meeting Euro IV emission standards as the NEA has worked with various stakeholders to set a feasible timeline for the change.
He added that "a lot of vehicles on the roads could already be in compliance with Euro IV or higher".
Emission standards for new petrol vehicles to be raised
Woo Sian Boon Today Online 23 Aug 12;
SINGAPORE - The Government is raising emission standards for new petrol vehicles and petrol quality to ensure cleaner air for all, and increasing the frequency of updates on Singapore's air quality.
The announcement was made by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan at the Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards 2012 today.
The measures are part of the National Environment Agency's (NEA) roadmap to reduce sulphur dioxide and particulate matter levels in the air in order to meet the World Health Organization's Air Quality Guidelines.
From tomorrow, the NEA will be updating the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) thrice daily instead of once a day, to make air quality information more relevant to Singaporeans. In addition, PM 2.5 levels - a pollutant emitted from the petrochemical industry and diesel vehicles - will also be made available with the PSI readings.
Frequency of reports on Singapore's air quality to be increased
Dylan Loh Channel NewsAsia 23 Aug 12;
SINGAPORE: The government is increasing the frequency of updates on Singapore's air quality.
It is among a host of measures taken as the country adopts higher environmental standards.
From Friday, reports will be posted on the National Environment Agency's (NEA) website three times a day.
People will be able to see the most current Pollutant Standards Index reading at 8am, noon and 4pm.
The previous practice was to update readings only at 4pm.
In a situation of trans-boundary smoke haze affecting Singapore, the usual practice of hourly air quality updates will continue.
Based on the readings, public health advisories will also be given for the central, northern, southern, eastern and western sectors of Singapore.
This changes the previous practice of giving advisories only for the country as a whole, instead of by region.
Fong Peng Keong, director, Pollution Control Department, National Environment Agency, said: "This actually allows the public at large to know more about (the current) air quality... so they can plan their activities more holistically."
Authorities also want cars to be more environmentally-friendly.
From April 2014, new petrol vehicles on the market have to be Euro IV-compliant.
This means they will produce less harmful emissions and will therefore be less pollutive.
Also, the plan is to eventually meet even higher, Euro V standards.
But with vehicle Certificate of Entitlement (COE) prices high, will more stringent requirements mean more expensive cars?
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore's Environment and Water Resources Minister, said: "It will be a very marginal impact and the variations in COE prices far exceed any difference in prices due to improved technology in our vehicles."
Singapore's push for better air will also impact industries.
Government agencies are working with refineries and power stations to decrease emissions by using cleaner fuels.
One aim is to reduce the amount of sulphur dioxide generated by industries in alignment with the World Health Organisation's air quality guidelines.
- CNA/wm/cc
