Woo Sian Boon Today Online 22 Aug 13;
SINGAPORE — Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan today (Aug 22) reiterated that the Government is considering legislation to enhance penalties for companies whose irresponsible actions damage the environment and cause transboundary haze.
Speaking at the Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards, Dr Balakrishnan said legislation will be difficult to enforce but added that a “clear and unequivocal signal” needs to be sent to errant companies. This comes after the air quality on Tuesday fell into the moderate range after weeks of clear skies, following Singapore's worst haze episode in June.
Lauding award winners for doing their part for the environment, he said companies should not work at only earning short term profits that cause negative impact to the society at large.
Using the example of the errant palm oil companies operating in Indonesia, Dr Balakrishnan said that their actions have damaged the reputation of the industry and country.
“You privatise the game but you socialise the negative environmental impact. It does not appear on the company’s bottom line but everybody else suffers,” he said.
Govt mulling tougher penalties for firms that harm environment
Channel NewsAsia 22 Aug 13;
SINGAPORE: Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has said the government needs to send a clear and unequivocal signal to irresponsible companies whose actions damage the environment and cause transboundary effects.
Singapore experienced its worst haze in June, with PSI levels reaching a record high of 401.
The haze was caused by forest fires in Indonesia.
Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore is currently considering drafting legislation to enhance penalties for irresponsible companies.
However, he noted that such legislation will not be easy to draft, and even harder to enforce.
He said it is still necessary to send a signal to companies that such behaviour is not acceptable -- and that besides the government, companies and individuals also have a part to play.
Dr Balakrishnan said: "If we are to make companies behave responsibly, and to make the more responsible companies more profitable, we require individuals to exercise informed choice."
They can do this by demanding transparency from both governments and companies, as well as choose the right products -- products that have been produced in a sustainable and responsible way.
Dr Balakrishnan was speaking at the Singapore Environmental Achievement Awards on Thursday.
Seven organisations were recognised for their environmental initiatives in Singapore and the region.
Dr Balakrishnan said such companies demonstrated that it is possible to do the right thing environmentally and in an economically viable way.
Besides winning the Environmental Achievement Award in the regional category, Malaysia-based KUB-Berjaya Enviro also won the coveted Outstanding Singapore Environmental Achievement Award.
Keppel Land won the Achievement Award in the Services category, while the Institute of Technical Education came out tops in the Public Sector category.
The Housing and Development Board took home the Green Innovation Award, while East View Primary School, Keppel DHCS and M Metal were recognised as merit winners.
- CNA/al
