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Channel NewsAsia 6 Mar 18;
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) will launch the Climate Action SG Grant, which helps organisations defray costs of organising programmes that support the Year of Climate Action.
"Upon application, each eligible organisation can be provided with up to S$5,000 on a reimbursement basis," Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor revealed in her Committee of Supply debate speech on Tuesday (Mar 6).
Channel NewsAsia has reached out to MEWR for more details on the grant.
This comes as companies have reached out in support of the Year of Climate Action, with over 110 firms including DBS, SembCorp, CDL and Ricoh making pledges, she said.
"These companies recognise it is possible to do good and do well at the same time," she said. "We hope more companies will voluntarily pledge and take climate action."
Moving on to non-governmental organisations (NGO), Dr Khor said NGOs and business leaders have formed the Climate Action SG Alliance to advocate climate action and raise public awareness on climate issues.
"We agreed that climate action collaboration and co-ordination across all stakeholders could be stronger," Dr Khor said.
"NGOs have always been passionate about sustainability, and many took the initiative to work together even before this year began. We will reinforce and support their ground-up efforts."
As for individuals, Dr Khor said more than 21,000 have made Climate Action pledges online. In addition, the Year of Climate Action video on MEWR's Facebook page has received over 167,000 views.
"My ministry will intensify engagement to galvanise action amongst NGOs, businesses, communities, households and individuals," she said.
COMMUNITY EFFORTS
In another green initiative, Dr Khor announced that MEWR will launch a bulb replacement programme for one- and two-room HDB households to encourage the use of energy efficient light bulbs and reduce energy use.
When it comes to implementation, she added that the agency is working with retailers, community NGOs and companies that want to engage in corporate social responsibility to finalise the details.
In addition, the National Environment Agency will organise an Energy Savings Challenge this year to raise awareness about energy efficiency and conservation.
"MEWR will support community efforts to educate the public about climate change and encourage climate action," she said. "Community engagement in climate action is a challenging long-term journey that goes beyond 2018."
Source: CNA/hz
Masagos on climate change: Caring for environment must be in Singapore’s DNA, like conserving water
Channel NewsAsia 6 Mar 18;
SINGAPORE: In light of the global existential issue of climate change, the Ministry for Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) wants to embed in Singapore’s DNA the instinct to care for the environment, like our national consciousness for conserving water, said Minister Masagos Zulkifli on Tuesday (Mar 6).
“This will ensure that Singapore remains the best liveable city for our children. And the best choice for companies to base their businesses here because we have successful climate action policy and also active citizenry,” he added.
Said Mr Masagos: “Singapore is vulnerable, from rising sea levels to increasing rainfall intensities to longer dry spells ... We need to take climate action now, for the sake of our next generation. If the previous generation left us a clean and green city, we must make our legacy a sustainable city, as we pass on this treasured and precious land to our children.”
As an example of climate change’s impact on Singapore, he pointed to how 2018 started with a "January Singapore winter" and intense rainfall, recalling: “On 8th January, half the month’s average rainfall fell over four hours in Singapore but little rain fell over Linggiu. In February, high tides caused temporary flooding even without rain. With rising sea levels, we could experience more of such phenomena.”
Singapore adopts a whole-of-Government approach through the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, with support from the the National Climate Change Secretariat.
A Public Sector Sustainability Plan was launched last year, but Mr Masagos warned that “the Government however cannot deal with climate change alone”.
“Everyone needs to join forces to reduce our carbon footprint. This is why Singapore designated 2018 as our Year of Climate Action,” he said.
ADAPTING TO CLIMATE CHANGE
To cope with climate change, Singapore has and will continue to invest “billions of dollars” in infrastructure such as raising coastal roads, enhancing stormwater systems and diversifying water supply, said Mr Masagos, adding that “all these will take time and hence we have started early”.
Aside from wide-ranging efforts to look after Singapore's water supply and conservation, mitigation for flash floods must also be factored in.
“PUB (Public Utilities Board) has set higher drainage standards since 2011 - up to 45 per cent capacity increase - but our drains cannot be built to accommodate every extreme rainfall event,” Mr Masagos explained. “This would entail massive land take and much higher costs.”
Continuous drainage improvement works at Stamford Diversion Canal, Stamford Detention Tank and Bukit Timah First Diversion Canal will be completed in 2018, and work will commence at another 22 locations this year, adding to existing works at 73 locations.
“As flash floods cannot be completely eliminated, we will help members of the public better cope by providing timely situation updates, including SMS alerts about water levels. Those who wish to receive alerts from more than one water level (sensor) can write in to PUB,” said Mr Masagos.
To safeguard against rising sea levels, over 70 per cent of Singapore’s coastline is protected by hard walls or stone embankments.
“We raised minimum reclamation levels by one metre in 2011, to at least four metres above mean sea level,” Mr Masagos stated. “We will build Changi Airport Terminal 5 at 5.5 metres above mean sea level. To address Singapore’s long-term protection needs, the Building and Construction Authority is conducting a Coastal Adaptation Study to recommend a national framework.”
Pest problems could also escalate with climate change. Mr Masagos noted that while the number of dengue cases in 2017 was five times lower than in 2016, there was a “significant” increase in mosquitoes caught.
“We cannot become complacent,” he said. “Climate change may worsen the spread of mosquito-borne diseases such as Zika and Chikungunya. We are studying how male Wolbachia-carrying Aedes mosquitoes can be used to suppress the mosquito population. We will conduct further studies this year to strengthen our planning for an eventual suppression trial.”
And in terms of everyday habits, Singaporeans can do their part by disposing food waste properly at home and returning trays in hawker centres, to prevent attracting rodents and houseflies.
MITIGATING CLIMATE CHANGE
Mr Masagos also talked about reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. Singapore enhanced the Energy Conservation Act last year, to use more solar energy and build more “green” buildings.
“Good” transport policy also has an impact on climate change, said Mr Masagos as he referred to the “car-lite” initiatives.
“By 2030, eight in 10 households will live within 10 minutes of a train station. We have frozen the growth of our car population starting last month. All this will reduce our fossil fuel use and carbon footprint,” he declared.
The Vehicular Emissions Scheme announced last year will promote cleaner new vehicles, on top of enforcement against smoky foreign vehicles at checkpoints. “My Ministry is reviewing how to reduce vehicular pollution from older, more polluting vehicles. We will announce our recommendations in due course,” said Mr Masagos.
He then spoke about how the carbon tax will encourage companies to evaluate opportunities to switch to more energy efficient technologies and more sustainable processes.
Said Mr Masagos: “An NEA (National Environment Agency) poll showed that close to 70 per cent of the public was supportive of a carbon tax.”
“We aim to strike a balance between providing sufficient incentive for companies and Singaporeans to reduce their carbon emissions, and giving them enough time to adjust. Our carbon tax will be applied uniformly without exemptions.”
“We will introduce a fixed-price credits-based system where companies will purchase and surrender credits to pay the carbon tax,” he explained. This will allow the Government and companies to build capability to operate in a linked market with other carbon pricing jurisdictions.
“Organisations and companies have begun leading change,” said Mr Masagos. “The World Bank will stop financing upstream oil and gas projects from 2019. I’m happy that ExxonMobil, a major investor here and a leader in energy efficiency, and one of the companies affected by our carbon tax, has recently pledged to take climate action on MEWR’s webpage.”
“Many firms, including many of our SMEs, have made their climate action pledges on MEWR’s webpage. I’m glad we are taking this journey together.”
JOINING THE GLOBAL FIGHT
Mr Masagos reiterated Singapore’s strong support for the United Nations’ stance on climate change, announcing he will lead a delegation there in July to undertake Singapore’s first Voluntary Review of the Sustainable Development Goals.
Singapore will also convene a Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Climate Action on 10 July 2018, in conjunction with the Singapore International Water Week – CleanEnviro Summit Singapore – World Cities summit joint event.
“We will continue to plug ourselves into the global movement on climate change, and work with partners to shape the international agenda,” Mr Masagos declared.
“As the saying goes, ‘If we are not at the table, we will be on the menu’. To get a seat at the table, we must be credible. This means that Singapore must fulfil our international obligations and show leadership on climate action.”
Source: CNA/jo
Channel NewsAsia 6 Mar 18;
SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) will implement a mandatory electrical and electronic waste management system by 2021, Senior Minister of State Amy Khor announced on Tuesday (Mar 6).
The system will cover five main categories of products - information and communications technology, like mobile phones and computers; solar panels; batteries; lamps and large household appliances like refrigerators, air-conditioners, washing machines and dryers.
“Together, these products make up close to 90 per cent of e-waste in Singapore,” said Dr Khor.
The system works through an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) approach - used in countries like Sweden and South Korea - where manufacturers and importers are required to take back a proportion of the products they put on the market. Together with Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) licensed by the National Environment Agency (NEA), they must organise the collection, transport and proper treatment of e-waste.
Producers of electrical and electronic equipment may work together to form their own PROs.
Dr Khor explained: “For example, PROs will work with large electrical and electronic retailers to set up in-store e-waste collection points. All retailers must also provide free one-for-one take-back service for their products.”
Companies such as Courts, Harvey Norman and Gain City are coming on board, she said.
“We will set collection targets in consultation with the industry and review them before implementing a penalty framework eventually,” added Dr Khor, noting that European Union member states, for instance, are currently required to collect 45 per cent of electronic goods sold on the market, by weight.
NEA will also license e-waste recycling facilities, to ensure high safety and environmental standards during disassembly and processing. E-waste contains small amounts of hazardous heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium.
“The mandatory e-waste system will help both the environment and the economy,” said Dr Khor. “EPR systems have generated new business opportunities and jobs in the e-waste management and recycling industries in other countries. In France, for instance, more than 3,000 e-waste recycling jobs were created since EPR was implemented in 2005.
“We will integrate and support smaller industry players so they can benefit from our national system, including the karang guni men who provide collection services.”
MEWR will also study practices in other countries to design a cost-effective system, and consult relevant stakeholders to work out legislation and implementation details, said Dr Khor.
In the coming months, NEA will also conduct market sounding on the industry’s interest for the formation of PROs and will call for ideas on feasible service models for the EPR framework.
A GROWING PROBLEM
Singapore generates about 60,000 tonnes of e-waste annually - a figure expected to increase with rising affluence and technological advancements.
“That is like every person in Singapore throwing away 73 mobile phones every year,” said Dr Khor.
“E-waste contains heavy metals and hazardous substances that can seriously harm the environment and public health if not properly handled. Some heavy metals can also be extracted from properly recovered e-waste and re-used, which is more sustainable than mining for virgin metals.”
An NEA study uncovered that around 6 per cent of residents place their e-waste in e-recycling bins. The e-waste recycling rate by businesses is estimated to be higher, but “more needs to be done”, said Dr Khor.
NEA also found out that in the hands of scrap traders and rag-and-bone men, e-waste either ends up refurbished for sale if reusable, or dismantled and traded.
Many of these collectors do not have the capability to maximise resource recovery from e-waste and, only recycle components of significant value, said NEA in a media release. In Singapore, e-waste that is not recycled is incinerated, which results in the loss of resources as well as in carbon emissions that contribute to global warming and climate change.
The processing of e-waste by these collectors can also result in workplace hazards and poor environmental practices - including the venting of refrigerants from refrigerators and air-conditioners to the environment, and discarding of potentially hazardous unwanted components with general waste. Heavy metals in the e-waste also contaminate the incineration ash which is landfilled at Semakau Landfill.
A regulated system is therefore needed to ensure that consumers are provided with convenient means to recycle their e-waste, and the e-waste collected is channelled to proper recycling facilities where safety and environmental standards are adhered to.
Source: CNA/jo
E-waste management system to be up by 2021
SIAU MING EN Today Online 7 Mar 18;
SINGAPORE — By 2021, consumers will find it easier to recycle their electrical and electronic waste (e-waste) by either dropping them off at collection points located within retail stores or having them picked up via the retailers’ take-back services.
Announcing this during the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources Committee of Supply debate in Parliament on Tuesday (Mar 06), Senior Minister of State Amy Khor said her ministry will implement a mandatory e-waste management system by 2021.
This will ensure that electrical and electronic products are disposed of in an environmentally-friendly way, and that useful materials can be safely recovered.
Producers will be responsible for the collection and proper treatment of e-waste through the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) approach. They will have to fulfil collection targets set by the National Environment Agency (NEA) and ensure that the unwanted electronic equipment they collected are sent for proper recycling and disposal.
This approach is adopted by countries such as Sweden and South Korea.
Dr Khor said collection targets will eventually be set in consultation with the industry. The targets will be reviewed before implementing a penalty framework.
The authorities will study the practices in other countries to design a “cost-effective system”, she added.
“By aggregating e-waste and enabling more efficient collection and processing, there will be greater value captured from e-waste, which is one of the more valuable waste streams. This will help offset the cost of operating the e-waste management system,” said Dr Khor.
Singapore generates about 60,000 tonnes of e-waste every year, but there is no national data on how much of this amount is recycled. About half of this is generated by households and a consumer survey found that only 6 per cent — about 1,800 tonnes — is sent for recycling.
The upcoming e-waste management system will cover about 85 per cent of the total e-waste generated here. These e-waste can be grouped into five categories, namely, information and communications technology equipment such as mobile phones and computers, solar photovoltaic panels, batteries and lamps, as well as large household appliances like refrigerators and washing machines.
Dr Khor was responding to questions on the e-waste situation here, such as updates on plans for a national e-waste management system, raised by Dr Chia Shi-Lu (Tanjong Pagar) and Mr Louis Ng (Nee Soon).
Dr Khor said the mandatory e-waste management system will help the economy as well, with the EPR system elsewhere generating new business opportunities and jobs in the e-waste management and recycling industries. In France, for instance, more than 3,000 jobs were created in the sector after the system was implemented in 2005.
“We will integrate and support smaller industry players so they can benefit from our national system, including the ‘karang guni’ men who provide collection services,” she added, referring to the rag-and-bone men.
The consumer survey by NEA had found that more than a third of household e-waste are handed over to deliverymen by consumers collecting their new appliances. This sometimes end up with “informal collectors” like the rag-and-bone men.
Such e-waste regulations were first announced by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli during a pre-Budget consultation session last month.
For consumers, they will be able to find in-store collection points at all large retailers of covered electrical and electronic equipment once the e-waste management system is in place by 2021. They can also expect retailers to provide free one-for-one take back services during delivery.
Before that, consumers will soon be able drop their e-waste at major retailers like Courts, Harvey Norman and Gain City, which have agreed to provide recycling bins. These retailers already offer take-back services, most at no additional charge, when they deliver new appliances to customers.
Within the e-waste management system, the producers will also have to work with Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) to meet their obligations. These PROs — which will be licensed by NEA — can be commercial companies or made up of the producers.
Their role is to develop and implement a system to collect and recycle e-waste, collect and transport e-waste to licensed recyclers, report the volume of e-waste collected and recycled to NEA, and develop public education programmes, among other things.
Under the General Waste Disposal Facility licensing framework introduced last year, the NEA is in the process of licensing all recycling facilities, including the e-waste recycling facilities, by this August.
NEA will also consult stakeholders on recycling standards, which will be included in the licensing conditions by 2021.
E-waste streams contain small amounts of hazardous heavy metals such as mercury and cadmium. When not properly handled, the release of such substances into the environment could pose long-term health and environmental problems, said the NEA.
Environment and waste management initiatives
NEA study shows only about 6% of residents place e-waste in e-recycling bins
Cheow Sue-ann The New Paper 7 Mar 18;
The amount of e-waste generated here annually is about 60,000 tonnes - akin to every person in Singapore throwing away 73 mobile phones a year, said Dr Amy Khor.
The Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) yesterday said that only about 6 per cent of residents place their e-waste in e-recycling bins, based on an e-waste study by the National Environment Agency (NEA).
To deal with rising e-waste, the Government wants retailers to make it easier for people to recycle products such as mobile phones and computers, batteries, and household appliances like refrigerators and washing machines.
Under the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programme, producers, including manufacturers and importers, will be required to work with NEA-licensed Producer Responsibility Organisations (PROs) on the collection, transport and proper treatment of e-waste.
This will be accompanied by a set of collection targets to be set in consultation with the industry along with a penalty framework.
The targets will ensure each producer reduces a proportionate amount of e-waste based on the amount it puts out.
Companies such as StarHub, Courts, Gain City and Harvey Norman already provide such e-waste collection services.
All retailers must also provide free one-for-one take-back service for their products.
Dr Khor said this will incentivise businesses to "design products that last longer and can be more easily recycled".
StarHub, which has been running Renew, an e-waste recycling programme since 2013, has seen a considerable rise in recycling - from 6.5 tonnes in 2013 to 92.7 tonnes last year.
Its spokesman said StarHub has received many requests to have the Renew bins placed on various sites.
But National University of Singapore Professor Seeram Ramakrishna, estimates that less than 1 per cent of e-waste was recycled in 2016.
He said: "If proper recycling procedures are not put in place, the e-waste will go into landfills and incinerators. "The toxic materials can reach other systems and have long-term negative health effects."
Tackling e-waste is a key area of focus for Singapore's Year of Climate Action, which will see new packaging reduction policies and water conservation programmes.
Packaging waste, including products such as one-time use items like straws and other disposables like plastic bags, makes up about a third of total domestic waste here, and has remained fairly constant over the last few years, said Dr Khor.
The voluntary Singapore Packaging Agreement (SPA), a joint initiative by the Government, industry and NGOs to reduce packaging waste, has cumulatively reduced almost 39,000 tonnes of packaging waste since its inception in 2007.
REPORTING FRAMEWORK
Building on this, MEWR will put in place a mandatory reporting framework for packaging waste management by 2021, when it will mandate that businesses report on the type and amount of packaging they put on the market and their plans for reduction.
The ministry will also be launching a Climate Action SG Grant, which NGOs and grassroots organisations can apply for to defray some of the costs of organising programmes in support of the Year of Climate Action.
SIAU MING EN Today Online 6 Mar 18;
SINGAPORE – Higher water tariffs last year helped spur households to cut water consumption from 148 litres to 143 litres per person per day – the sharpest drop in at least a decade.
Last year’s per capita domestic water consumption means Singapore has already surpassed its 2020 target of 147 litres per day, and is within reach of its 2030 target of 140 litres per day.
National water agency PUB attributed the drop to water tariff hikes, the adoption of water-efficient fittings and appliances, as well as the wetter weather last year compared to the preceding year.
Last July, the first phase of the 30 per cent increase in water prices took effect. The second round of increases will kick in this July. The increases were due to higher operational costs and investments in water infrastructure. Before last year, water prices had remained unchanged for 17 years.
While the drop in domestic water consumption last year “may be instinctively attributed to higher water prices”, the extent of their impact would require more observations and data, said PUB.
Announcing this figure at the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources Committee of Supply debate on Tuesday (March 6), Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli said he was “encouraged” by the drop in Singapore’s household water consumption.
He reiterated that it is not enough that the Government pumps billions of dollars into infrastructure here to ensure Singapore’s water supply. “Policies to manage demand are as important. The right pricing policy is needed to ensure good management of this precious resource,” he added.
While Singapore’s household water consumption has generally declined – per capita consumption was 165 litres in 2003 – it is still far off from some cities in Spain, Germany and Estonia, where the level is below 100 litres.
Singapore now uses 430 million gallons of water a day. The domestic sector accounts for 45 per cent and the non-domestic sector accounts for the rest.
SAVE WATER, SAVE THE POLAR BEAR
To encourage households to be even more water efficient, PUB is exploring a nationwide roll-out of Automated Meter Reading (AMR) technology.
The technology has been piloted in 500 households in Punggol since 2016, with households achieving water savings of about 5 per cent.
Residents receive hourly updates on water consumption via an app and are alerted to leakages or unusually high usage. This is more effective at detecting leaks than the existing method, where a PUB officer visits homes every two months to record meter readings.
Residents can also compete with their neighbours to reduce water usage and the winner receives vouchers.
Ms Jacqueline Chan, who resides in a five-room flat with four other family members, including her 18-month-old toddler, said the technology alerted them promptly to a leak in a faulty water closet.
Since the leak was fixed in November 2016, the family’s water usage has been reduced by more than half – from 35 cubic metres to 15 cubic metres per month.
“I check the app almost every day… Apart from the leak, we have also switched to using a more water-efficient washing machine, and washing our clothes only when the load is full,” said Ms Chan, who lives at 199C Punggol Field.
The 33-year-old said she has also started taking shorter showers.
As showers remain the largest source of water use in homes (27 per cent), PUB will be installing the first batch of smart shower devices for some 300 Build-To-Order flats at West Rock@Bukit Batok in the first quarter of this year. This is part of a plan previously announced to install the devices in 10,000 new homes over the next two years.
A six-month pilot in 2015 involving 500 homes helped save five litres of water per person each day, or about 3 per cent of the households’ monthly total.
The device shows real-time water usage and depicts ice melting around a polar bear as more water is used.
Other measures include raising the minimum water efficiency standards for water fittings in homes. From April next year, it will be mandatory to install water fittings with at least two-tick efficiency ratings – instead of the one tick now – in all new premises and existing ones undergoing renovation.
MEASURES FOR NON-DOMESTIC SECTOR
Singapore’s total water usage is expected to double by 2060 and the non-domestic sector is expected to make up 70 per cent of total demand.
Measures targeting industry include requiring large consumers to have at least one certified water efficiency manager.
There is also a Water Efficiency Fund companies may tap to conduct feasibility studies and water audits, among other measures. ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY KELLY NG
RACHEL MUI Business Times 6 Mar 18;
OCBC Bank on Tuesday announced that it will be providing S$87,000 to fund six ground-up proposals that address environmental sustainability issues in Singapore.
Launched in July 2017, the #OCBCCares Fund for the Environment has committed to provide S$100,000 annually to support projects that enhance the city-state's environmental landscape, "an area where private-sector sponsorship remains relatively thin", the bank said.
"The fact that we can fund six projects at an amount less than our fund commitment is positive indication that initiatives to protect our environment need not be expensive missions... we hope other organisations can also come aboard to support this cause," said OCBC's head of corporate communications, Koh Ching Ching.
The fund received 28 proposals for amounts ranging from S$2,000 to S$150,000. In addition, applicants hailed from diverse backgrounds and ages ranging from 20 to 69.
Notably, out of the proposals received, half were about reducing waste or enhancing recycling efforts. OCBC said that this is not surprising, given that Singapore's solid waste output has increased significantly over the years.
According to statistics from the National Environment Agency (NEA), the amount of waste sent for disposal rose from 7,023 tonnes per day in 2006, to 8,559 tonnes per day in 2016, representing a 22 per cent surge in waste disposal over the decade.
Separately, OCBC added that the process from the launch of the fund to the selection of the final projects took eight months. This included a training workshop to equip potential applicants with project management, financial planning, budgeting know-how and presentation skills, the bank said.
Shortlisted applicants then went through consultation sessions and interviews with members of the evaluation committee, which was chaired by senior lecturer at the National University of Singapore's department of biological sciences, N Sivasothi, and included representatives from the NEA, National Parks Board, PUB and OCBC Bank.
The #OCBCCares Fund for the Environment will be calling for new entries in July 2018. The fund is open to individuals and interest groups with feasible initiatives dealing with environmental sustainability, OCBC said.
SIAU MING EN Today Online 6 Mar 18;
SINGAPORE — Often touted as “greener” alternatives to plastic bags, paper and degradable bags may not actually be better for the environment — at least not in Singapore’s case.
Compared to plastic bags, they may require as much resources to produce and have a similar environmental impact, as waste here is incinerated before going to the landfill and not left to decay.
Revealing the findings of a study commissioned by the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Tuesday (March 6), Senior Minister of State (Environment and Water Resources) Amy Khor said the authorities would thus not impose a charge on plastic bags.
“Imposing a charge or ban on disposable plastic bags and substituting them with other types of disposable bags is unlikely to improve environmental outcomes,” said Dr Khor.
Whether retailers should charge for plastic bags to curb excessive consumption has been a long-running debate here. Last year, four major supermarket chains were reportedly in talks to charge for plastic bags.
The study – by National University of Singapore academic Kua Harn Wei – concluded that consumers could reduce their environmental impact by often using reusable bags and food containers instead of disposables.
Dr Khor said the Government will step up engagement with stakeholders.
Some of its measures include disallowing the use of disposables for dine-in customers at new hawker centres, such as at Our Tampines Hub, Pasir Ris Central and Yishun Park. The rule will also apply at 13 other new hawker centres that will open by 2027.
Dr Khor was responding to questions by some Members of Parliament. Ms Cheng Li Hui (Tampines) and Non-Constituency MP Dennis Tan asked about the possibility of imposing a levy to cut excessive use of plastic bags.
Packaging waste made up a third of the 1.67 million tonnes of domestic waste generated here last year.
About 15 per cent of the packaging waste – or about 83,550 tonnes – is made up of plastic and paper disposables, such as single-use plates and take-away food containers.
Dr Kua’s study, which began in Sept 2016, found that plastic bags designed for a one-time use had the biggest impact on the environment. Greenhouse gases are generated to make them from fossil fuels (crude oil), and when the bags are incinerated.
Some businesses offer oxo-degradable bags as a more eco-friendly alternative. But the additives that help to speed up the degradation process could interfere with the recycling process when mixed with conventional plastics.
They also require a similar amount of resources to manufacture as plastic bags.
Paper bags are derived from trees and require a large volume of water to produce. They are also unable to bag wet items.
A reusable bag used over a year could save 125 plastic or degradable bags, or 52 paper bags, Dr Kua found.
“Taking into consideration both the monetised cost and environmental impact, reusable bags emerged as the most environmentally-friendly option for carrying groceries and similar items,” said the NEA.
The study also found single-use plastic plates and containers generated the most greenhouse gases and consumed the most energy.
Paper plates require large tracts of forest land to be modified, while single-use paper boxes with plastic lining are energy-intensive to make.
Biodegradable corn-starch containers are becoming more common in Singapore. But forests may be cleared and large amounts of water are needed to grow the corn.
Meanwhile, the environmental impact of polystyrene was found to be lower, but they use up Singapore’s limited landfill space.
Porcelain plates or reusable containers used over five years could replace 3,650 single-use containers, Dr Kua found.
Dr Khor said the Government will reduce packaging waste upstream. By 2021, businesses will have to report the type and amount of packaging they put on the market and their plans for reduction. Industry consultations will start this year.
To NCMP Leon Perera’s question on microplastics – part of the growing problem worldwide of marine trash – Dr Khor pointed to anti-littering laws and beach clean-ups.
During the treatment of used water, microbeads, a form of microplastics, are also “substantially removed as sludge and disposed of by incineration”, she said.
Using 1 reusable bag over a year can replace 125 plastic, 52 paper bags: NEA study
Aqil Haziq Mahmud Channel NewsAsia 6 Mar 18;
SINGAPORE: The use of one reusable bag over a year could replace the use of 125 single-use plastics bags or 52 single-use paper bags, a life-cycle assessment (LCA) study commissioned by the National Environment Agency (NEA) shows.
An LCA study evaluates the environmental impact associated with the stages of a disposable and reusable item’s life cycle.
“Due to their single-use design and function, plastic bags were found to have the biggest environmental impact in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and energy use,” NEA said in a release.
“The greenhouse gases associated with the processing of crude oil used as source material to manufacture the bags, and the greenhouse gases from the bags’ incineration, contribute to climate change.”
Last year, a third of the roughly 1.67 million tonnes of domestic waste disposed in Singapore comprised packaging waste, which includes single-use disposables such as plastic bags and food packaging.
The amount of packaging waste discarded annually in Singapore is enough to fill more than 1,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.
“While single-use plastic bags are needed by households to bag waste, the excessive consumption of disposables is a waste of resources and it contributes to our carbon footprint and climate change,” NEA said.
The study covered the common types of single-use plastic and degradable bags, as well as paper and reusable bags, used in Singapore.
For comparison, researchers assumed that a family buys 50 items per week. The 50 items were placed in the different types of bags to determine how many of each type were needed to carry the 50 items.
Based on this, the study estimated that the use of 10 reusable bags, or non-woven polypropylene or nylon bags, over a year is equivalent to the use of 1,248 plastic or degradable bags, or 520 paper bags.
“Single-use paper bags and degradable bags are often seen as eco-friendly alternatives to plastic bags,” NEA said. “However, paper bags need large amounts of water to make and cannot be used to bag wet items.”
As for degradable bags, the fact that some types of them – like oxo-degradable bags – are made of plastic with additives to accelerate degradation means they leave a similar environmental impact to plastic bags when incinerated.
“In Singapore, waste is incinerated and not left in landfills to degrade,” NEA said. “In addition, oxo-degradable bags could interfere with the recycling process when mixed with conventional plastics.”
Other types of degradable bags, like plant-based polylactic acid bags and corn-starch bags, require large tracts of forest land to be converted into farmland and huge amounts of water to grow their raw materials, NEA added.
“Taking into consideration both the monetised cost and environmental impact, reusable bags emerged as the most environmentally-friendly option for carrying groceries and similar items,” NEA stated.
“Other than using reusable bags, consumers can also reduce their impact on the environment by reusing single-use bags.”
FOOD PACKAGING
The same study also estimated that the use of one reusable plate or container over five years could replace the use of 3,650 pieces of single-use plates or containers.
For dine-in plates, the study found that single-use plastic plates resulted in the most greenhouse gas emissions and energy use during their life cycle as they are made from crude oil, NEA said.
“It also found that the manufacturing process for plant-based corn starch plates is energy intensive,” it added.
Similarly for take-away containers, the study found that single-use plastic containers resulted in the most greenhouse gas emissions and energy use.
“Single-use paper boxes with an inner plastic sheet, used for dishes such as fried rice, were equally energy intensive to make,” NEA said.
“Furthermore, the nature of the raw materials entails high consumption of water and the conversion of large tracts of forest land.”
This part of the study covered common types of dine-in plates and take-away containers used in Singapore. For comparison, researchers assumed that two meals were served daily.
Melamine and porcelain dine-in plates were found to have lower impact on the environment as compared to disposables, the study found, as they can be reused multiple times, taking up fewer resources and emitting less greenhouse gases during their life-cycle.
Meanwhile, the study also found that reusable take-away containers, which consume more water for washing purposes, left the same environmental impact as their disposable counterparts.
However, the study added that reusables were still more environmentally friendly in other aspects like greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. In addition, the study did not account for potential littering issues and increased landfill use arising from the use of disposables.
SOLUTIONS
Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources Amy Khor said a more sustainable way of reducing the environmental impact of carrier bags and food packaging is to “tackle the excessive consumption of all types of disposables”.
Based on the study’s findings, “imposing a charge or ban on disposable plastic bags and substituting them with other types of disposable bags is unlikely to improve environmental outcomes”, she added in her ministry's Budget debate speech on Tuesday (Feb 6).
“The study concluded that consumers can generally reduce their environmental impact by using reusable bags and food containers instead of disposables.”
To that end, Dr Khor said agencies will step up engagement with stakeholders to “cut down the excessive use” of plastic bags and disposables like single-use containers.
For example, she pointed out that online food delivery service, Foodpanda, is working on a trial where customers can opt out of disposable cutleries when ordering food, while consumers who brought reusable bags to supermarkets earned incentives under Zero Waste Singapore’s Bring Your Own campaign last year.
Businesses would also need to report the type and amount of packaging they put on the market and their plans for reduction by 2021, Dr Khor stated, adding that industry consultations will start this year.
“It could also be as simple as cashiers proactively asking customers at payment counters if they want a plastic bag, instead of automatically giving them one,” Dr Khor suggested.
“We will continue to support such efforts while holistically tackling the broader issue upstream by reducing all types of packaging waste at source.”
Source: CNA/hz
Tackling excessive plastic bag use: No levy in the works
NEA exploring a more sustainable approach than imposing a fee or ban, says Amy Khor
Samantha Boh and Audrey Tan Straits Times 7 Mar 18;
There are no plans to introduce a levy on plastic bags, and replacing them with degradable or paper bags may not be greener, Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources, said yesterday.
"Imposing a charge or ban on disposable plastic bags and substituting them with other types of disposable bags is unlikely to improve environmental outcomes," she said during the debate on her ministry's budget.
Every type of disposable bag, be it a degradable bag or a paper bag, affects the environment, be it through carbon emissions, heavy water use or significant land clearance, she said, citing a study commissioned by the National Environment Agency (NEA).
Dr Khor was replying to a question from Ms Cheng Li Hui (Tampines GRC), who had asked if the ministry would consider imposing a levy on plastic bags to reduce their excessive use.
The NEA study had looked at the environmental impact of disposables, including carrier bags.
An estimate from the study is that the regular use of a reusable bag over a year could replace the use of 125 single-use plastic bags, or 52 single-use paper bags. Similarly, it also estimated that the regular use of one reusable container over five years could replace the use of 3,650 single-use plates.
Some retailers in Singapore claim that degradable bags are greener alternatives to plastic bags and offer them instead. But the study, led by National University of Singapore scientist Kua Harn Wei, also found that both types of bags require the same amount of resources to make.
Both are equally bad for the environment when incinerated.
Noting that no levy on plastic bags is being planned, Dr Khor said these bags are necessary for the responsible and hygienic bagging of waste, given the country's moist, tropical climate.
"In Singapore, a more sustainable approach is to tackle the excessive consumption of all types of disposables," she added, saying her ministry is working with stakeholders to minimise the use of plastic bags and disposables.
She said, for example, that food delivery company Foodpanda is working on a trial where customers can opt out of disposable cutlery use when ordering food.
Environmental group Zero Waste Singapore last year launched a campaign to encourage consumers to take reusable bags or containers with them to eateries and supermarkets in return for discounts or free gifts.
On its part, the NEA will explore ways to reduce the use of disposables. Hawkers at new hawker centres managed by the NEA or by NEA-appointed managing agents - such as those in Our Tampines Hub and Yishun Park - have already been prohibited from providing disposables to patrons who dine in.
In line with Singapore's Zero Waste vision, Dr Khor outlined plans to reduce packaging waste.
Last year, Singapore produced about 557,000 tonnes of packaging waste - a third of domestic waste and enough to fill more than 1,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Dr Khor noted that the voluntary Singapore Packaging Agreement has cumulatively reduced almost 39,000 tonnes of packaging waste since its inception in 2007.
More will be done to reduce packaging waste at source, she said. "By 2021, we will mandate that businesses report on the type and amount of packaging they put on the market and their plans for reduction."
No plan to impose plastic bag levy, other types of disposable bags not much greener: Amy Khor
A study found that the regular use of a reusable bag over a year could replace the use of 125 single-use plastic bags, or 52 single-use paper bags.
Samantha Boh and Audrey Tan Straits Times 6 Mar 18;
SINGAPORE - There are no plans to introduce a levy on plastic bags, and replacing them with bio-degradable or paper bags may not be that much greener.
"Imposing a charge or ban on disposable plastic bags and substituting them with other types of disposable bags is unlikely to improve environmental outcomes," said Dr Amy Khor, Senior Minister of State for the Environment and Water Resources, on Tuesday (March 6) during the debate on her ministry's budget.
Every type of disposable bag, be it a bio-degradable bag or a paper bag, affects the environment, whether it is through carbon emissions, heavy water use or significant land clearance, Dr Khor said, citing a study commissioned by the National Environment Agency (NEA), which comes under her ministry.
She was replying to a question from Ms Cheng Li Hui (Tampines GRC), who had asked if the ministry would consider imposing a levy on plastic bags to reduce their excessive consumption.
The study had looked at the environmental impact of various disposables, including carrier bags. One of its key findings is that the regular use of a reusable bag over a year could replace the use of 125 single-use plastic bags, or 52 single-use paper bags.
Similarly, the study also found that the regular use of one reusable container over five years could replace the use of 3,650 single-use plates.
The study, led by National University of Singapore scientist Kua Harn Wei, found that despite the claims of retailers here who offer biodegradable bags as greener alternatives to plastic bags, both types of bags required the same amount of resources to make.
Both also have similar environmental impacts when incinerated.
"The study concluded that consumers can generally reduce their environmental impact by using reusable bags and food containers instead of disposables," said Dr Khor.
In Singapore, waste is incinerated and not left in landfills to degrade.
The excessive use of plastic bags was a concern also raised by Non-Constituency MP Dennis Tan of the Workers' Party.
The latest available figure for the number of plastic bags used in Singapore dates back to 2011, when the Singapore Environment Council did a study to show that three billion plastic bags were used that year.
But the figure could be much higher.
NEA figures show that some 822,200 tonnes of plastic waste were generated in 2016, of which only 7 per cent was recycled. Of the 762,700 tonnes of remaining plastic waste, plastic bags constituted about a fifth. The average weight of a single-use plastic bag such as those distributed at supermarkets is 5.5g. This means that 27 billion bags - nine times more than SEC's 2011 estimate - were not recycled.
BETTER TO TACKLE USE OF DISPOSABLES
Dr Khor noted that plastic bags are necessary for responsible and hygienic bagging of waste in Singapore's moist, tropical climate.
"In Singapore, a more sustainable approach is to tackle the excessive consumption of all types of disposables," she added, saying her ministry is working with stakeholders to reduce the excessive use of plastic bags and disposables such as single-use food containers.
For example, Dr Khor said food delivery company Foodpanda is working on a trial where customers can opt out of disposable cutlery use when ordering food.
Last year, environmental group Zero Waste Singapore launched an innovative Bring Your Own Singapore campaign to incentivise consumers to take along their own reusable bags or containers with them to eateries and supermarkets to earn discounts or free gifts.
Other retailers, however, have been imposing plastic bag levies within their premises.
For example, Japanese lifestyle brand Miniso said usage dropped 75 per cent after it imposed a 10-cent charge per plastic bag in April.
On its part, the NEA will explore ways to reduce the use of disposables.
For a start, hawkers at new hawker centres managed by NEA or by NEA-appointed managing agents - such as those in Our Tampines Hub, Pasir Ris Central and Yishun Park - have already been prohibited from providing disposables to patrons who dine in.
PACKAGING WASTE
In line with Singapore's Zero Waste vision, Dr Khor also outlined plans to reduce packaging waste.
The Republic produced about 557,000 tonnes of packaging waste last year - a third of household waste - enough to fill more than 1,000 Olympic-size swimming pools.
Dr Khor noted that the voluntary Singapore Packaging Agreement has cumulatively reduced almost 39,000 tonnes of packaging waste since its inception in 2007.
She said: "We will continue to support such efforts while holistically tackling the broader issue upstream by reducing all types of packaging waste at source.
"By 2021, we will mandate that businesses report on the type and amount of packaging they put on the market and their plans for reduction. We will start industry consultations this year."
Today Online 6 Mar 18;
SINGAPORE – A new S$3.6 million scheme will allow the Municipal Services Office (MSO) to help with small-scale infrastructure projects over the next two years, said Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu in Parliament on Tuesday (March 6).
The Local Infrastructure Projects (LIP) scheme for small-scale infrastructure on State Land in 2018 will look into matters such as the installation of handrails at footbridges, and lighting along footpaths, for example.
Ms Fu said that while there are well established funding schemes such as the Land Transport Authorty’s (LTA) Walk2Ride Scheme and the Ministry of National Development’s (MND) Estate Upgrading Programme, “funding gaps for small-scale infrastructure at the local level do exist from time to time.”
As a result, the MSO piloted a small funding scheme in 2014 to plug the gap, and it received some 140 infrastructure requests. Minister Fu, who also oversees the MSO, said: “These are small scale but nevertheless important requests that make a positive different to residents’ daily living, such as having handrails up a footbridge crossing Geylang River, and lightings along a footpath near Punggol Point LRT station.”
The success of the pilot prompted the MSO to launch the LIP scheme, she added.
Besides the new scheme, the MSO also worked with other government agencies, Town Councils and residents to “reduce overlaps and duplications, plug gaps in the municipal landscapes and deliver better living experiences for our residents,” said Ms Fu.
The MSO was formed three years ago to improve coordination for cross-cutting issues between multiple agencies, such as the provision and maintenance of local infrastructure, and the hoarding of items in Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats.
Minister Fu pointed out that government agencies, Town Councils and the MSO have made good progress in improving municipal service delivery. While it took 16 working days in end-2015 to resolve 90 per cent of “complex feedback involving multiple parties”, it now takes 11 working days.
The MSO’s OneService (OS) platform for residents to provide feedback and access information saw the number of registered users increasing by 43 per cent to 114,000 in 2017, while the number of cases submitted doubled to 153,000.
The OS App, which was introduced in 2015, had six reporting categories then for residents to report municipal issues to government agencies. That has expanded to 11 categories, and covers not just municipal issues under the purview of government agencies, but those of town councils and private entities. For instance, residents are now able to report indiscriminately parked share bicycles to the operators via the OS app.
In the coming year, residents will also be able to use the OS channels to perform transactions, participate in community events, and provide feedback and comments on local improvement programmes, said Ms Fu.
She added: “In the long term, we hope to make the OS channels a onestop platform to address their municipal needs comprehensively.”
While there are more efforts from agencies to work together, Ms Fu acknowledged that “there remain municipal issues falling in grey areas” that the MSO can help with.
She said that the MSO is focused on inter-agency processes that are not apparent to the public, such as dealing with pigeon-related nuisances, animal hoarding, and the management of outdoor areas.
In the case of pigeon-related matters, the town councils oversee the cleaning of common areas, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority takes enforcement action against pigeon feeders, while the National Environment Agency takes enforcement action if there is high-rise littering. The MSO helped to formulate end-to-end workflows to clarify roles and responsibilities, and tighten coordination in the handling of such cases, said Minister Fu.
She added: “Moving forward, MSO will continue to engage our residents and stakeholders to identify more of such grey areas where we can improve coordination and support the agencies and Town Councils in their efforts to serve residents better.”
Island tour by initiative aiming to raise awareness about accessibility
Rahimah Rashith Straits Times 7 Mar 18;
After a stroke limited movement on the left side of Mr Jurani Basri's body, the 22-year-old gave up playing football with his friends and would rarely go far from his home in Sengkang.
But last Friday, he journeyed as far as Pulau Ubin, with 119 other wheelchair users, their caregivers and volunteer chaperones. It was made possible by community initiative Wheels@Ubin (W@U), which aims to raise awareness about accessibility in Singapore.
Many of the wheelchair users and the disabled were on the island for the first time.
This is the second W@U event. The first, in 2015, enabled wheelchair users to celebrate Singapore's 50th birthday on the island.
Accompanying the group for a tour of Ubin island were W@U co-founder Dennis Quek, 55, and Minister for Social and Family Development Desmond Lee.
Said Mr Lee: "Wheels@Ubin demonstrates how the community can partner the Government and private organisations to build an inclusive society.
"This is a key thrust of the third Enabling Masterplan, and we will continue to work with the community to make our spaces accessible and inclusive."
The third Enabling Masterplan is a national road map that guides initiatives to better coordinate services for the disability sector, from last year till 2021.
Mr Lee, who is also the Second Minister for National Development, urged more people to step forward and make more shared spaces accessible to all, including the elderly and people with disabilities.
Besides touring the island, the participants watched musical performances by students of Republic and Ngee Ann polytechnics, as well as visited the Singapore Navy's museum in Changi Naval Base.
Mr Quek said that the activities are a reminder "to our wheelchair-bound friends and able-bodied people that being disabled is not being 'un-abled' ".
SMRT taxis also played a part in the Friday excursion, ferrying 115 people in the group from their homes to Changi Sailing Club, where they boarded the navy's utility craft.
Said Mr Jurani: "(The trip) allowed me to go out and make friends, and take my mind off my disability."
LOUISA TANG Today Online 6 Mar 17;
SINGAPORE — Farmers who want to make the leap to more productive farming systems will receive co-funding of up to S$2 million from the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA), nearly triple the current cap of S$700,000.
The increased co-funding, under the AVA’s Agriculture Productivity Fund’s productivity enhancement component, will be given to “strategic food farms” producing commonly consumed items – hen eggs, leafy vegetables, food fish, quail eggs and bean sprouts.
“Many farmers have told us that they are happy to adopt more productive technology. Advanced greenhouse systems with environmental controls and automation, which can double production, can cost around S$4 million. We appreciate that this poses challenges,” said Senior Minister of State for National Development Koh Poh Koon on Tuesday (March 6).
And because several rounds of trials may be needed before farmers commit to a particular technology or system, the Government will introduce a new test-bedding component to the Agriculture Productivity Fund, said Dr Koh at his ministry’s Committee of Supply debate in Parliament. It will provide 70 per cent co-funding for test-bedding projects, with a cap of S$500,000.
For farms growing ornamental fish, aquatic plants, birds, crocodiles, mushrooms, cattle, goats, and frogs, the AVA will continue to provide 30 per cent co-funding of up to S$300,000 for productivity enhancement and up to S$100,000 for test-bedding projects.
The S$63 million Agriculture Productivity Fund was launched in 2014. Of the 140 applications as of the end-February, the AVA has approved 105 projects from 68 farms and committed about S$12 million.
The authorities will also do more to ensure farms have skilled local manpower, said Dr Koh. Temasek Polytechnic will launch a new Earn and Learn work-study programme to attract graduates from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to the aquaculture industry.
Under the programme, participating farms can receive incentives of up to S$15,000 for each graduate to defray training costs. Six food fish farms including Barramundi Asia, Apollo Aquaculture Group and Metropolitan Fishery Group have pledged their support.
The starting monthly salary of the ITE graduates under the programme is S$1,200 to S$1,600.
Of the eight who have applied, one has been recruited while the rest will know next week if they are successful. They will begin their 12-month stint next month.
And to help increase demand for local produce, Dr Koh announced that SG Farmers’ Markets will be brought to the heartlands by August. The first one was held at Serangoon Gardens’ myVillage mall last September.
More help for local farmers to improve productivity with technology: Koh Poh Koon
Channel NewsAsia 6 Mar 18;
SINGAPORE: To better support the agriculture industry in improving productivity, Senior Minister of State for National Development Koh Poh Koon said that the Agriculture Productivity Fund (APF) will be enhanced.
"Many farmers have told us that they are happy to adopt more productive technology. However, new farming systems require heavy capital investments. Advanced greenhouse systems with environmental controls and automation, which can double their production can cause around S$4 million," he said.
The funding cap for projects under the Productivity Enhancement (PE) scheme will be increased from S$700,000 to S$2,000,000.
The PE will also include a new test-bedding fund which will allow farmers to test new technology and run trials before committing at a commercial scale, with a funding cap of S$500,000 for food farms that want to try new solutions.
Under the new APF scheme, the categories of farms have also been tweaked.
Farm categories have been streamlined from three to two. Farms under Category 1 will remain the same, which includes commonly consumed items like hen and quail eggs, leafy vegetables, bean sprouts and food fish.
Farms under Category 2 will now include all other types of farms, such as ornamental fish farms to mushroom farms.
Dr Koh also gave an update on APF applicants since launch in 2014. As of end February, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority has received 140 applications for the APF. Of those, 105 projects from 68 farms have been approved with about S$12 million committed so far.
Applications for the enhanced APF will be accepted from May 1.
TRAINING A SINGAPOREAN WORKFORCE
Under a new "Earn and Learn" work-study programme, ITE graduates will join Temasek Polytechnic to undergo a one-year programme to train at aquaculture farms, Dr Koh announced.
"It will provide a talent pipeline to ensure our farms have skilled manpower to undertake transformation and innovation. ... I hope that our farmers will take this opportunity to create a positive learning experience for the graduates. This will encourage our young talent to enter and stay in the industry," said Dr Koh.
The students will undergo training in aquaculture skills with a focus on high density urban farming. It will include knowledge areas such as nutrition and feed, disease management, and husbandry and breeding.
Currently, eight ITE graduates have submitted their applications to the programme. The starting salary for ITE graduates undergoing this programme is between S$1,200 and S$1,600.
Source: CNA/fs
Farmers in Singapore to be given more help to raise productivity
Audrey Tan Straits Times 6 Mar 18;
SINGAPORE - More help will be given to farmers in the Republic to buffer against any global food supply shocks due to climate change.
This will be done on three fronts - making it easier for farmers to get financial help to adopt technology, growing a pipeline of talent through work-study programmes, as well as rolling out initiatives to boost demand for local produce such as organising more farmers' markets.
These were announced by Senior Minister of State for National Development Koh Poh Koon on Tuesday (March 6) during the debate on his ministry's budget.
On the provision of more financial help, Dr Koh said that enhancements will be made to the existing Agriculture Productivity Fund to make it easier for farmers to employ technology. This will be done by raising the co-funding cap from $700,000 to $2 million for food farms that produce eggs, food fish, leafy vegetables and bean sprouts.
"Many farmers have told us that they are happy to adopt more productive technology. However, new farming systems require heavy capital investments. Advanced greenhouse systems with environmental controls and automation, which can double production, can cost around $4 million," Dr Koh said.
The increase in co-funding cap will help farmers take this leap, he added.
However, Dr Koh noted that not all available technologies in the market can be adopted wholesale in Singapore, due to varying local conditions.
To this end, farmers will be given assistance in testing these new systems prior to large-scale deployment, to ensure that the technology can be adapted to our local conditions and products.
"We will now introduce a new test-bedding component to the Agriculture Productivity Fund to co-fund up to $500,000 for food farms that want to test-bed new solutions," he said.
Dr Koh was responding to Non-Constituency MP Leon Perera and Mr Darryl David (Ang Mo Kio GRC), who had asked for updates on Singapore's agricultural sector.
Singapore imports more than 90 per cent of its food, but the 200 food farms here help to buffer the nation against global supply disruptions due to factors such as climate change.
Dr Koh said various government efforts will strengthen the ecosystem and operating environment for local farms.
He added: "But as the industry matures, we also need to start looking at the wider food value chain. We will continue to work towards creating an enabling environment to keep our local agricultural sector commercially viable and sustainable."
ANDREW SIA The Star 6 Mar 18;
Do you want catch sight of migrants from Indonesia crossing over into Malaysia? Then you may want to go to Port Dickson this weekend (March 10 – 11).
But don’t expect humans jammed into boats; instead, you have to look skywards to see one of the greatest wildlife migrations in the world.
Every spring, thousands of large birds called raptors fly up to 10,000km over 60 or 70 days, leaving their wintering sites in Indonesia and Australia to head north to their breeding sites in China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia and Siberia.
This great highway in the sky is called the East Asian-Australasian Flyway.
The good news is that Malaysia has a toll-free plaza right smack in the middle of this route – at the Tanjung Tuan (Cape Rachado) Forest Reserve in Melaka, just next to the famous Blue Lagoon beach at Port Dickson. And there is yearly event here called Raptor Watch that captures this amazing spectacle of nature.
But why this place? If you look at the map, Tanjung Tuan is a hilly promontory or headland that juts out into the sea, making this the narrowest part of the Straits of Melaka between Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia.
While flying, raptors do not like crossing huge bodies of water. Rather, these large, heavy birds prefer land routes which have thermals or hot air currents which can lift them up for hundreds of metres, almost without effort.
As these raptors cross over from Sumatra, they lose altitude as the thermals cool and soon they have to flap their wings to stay airborne. After they cross the Straits of Melaka, the birds will have used lots of energy and will be flying low at the Raptor Watch event site, allowing a good view of these magnificent creatures.
The tired birds will be able to get much-needed rest in Tanjung Tuan and rise again with the thermals generated here. On a sunny day, especially between 11am and 3pm (the best time to watch the migration), be prepared to see many raptors gliding in circles as they ascend an invisible spiral staircase of hot air, before continuing their migration northwards.
Tanjung Tuan has been listed as an important location for raptors by the National Geographic Society and BirdLife International. It’s a crucial stopover site as it provides food for the raptors as well as a resting place. For raptors arriving late in the evening, the forests here provides shelter for the night before they fly again next day.
The term “raptors” is derived from a Latin word “rapere”, meaning to “take by force”, as these are birds of prey. It’s also the term for dinosaurs like “velociraptors” (dinosaurs with bird-like hips that walked on two legs) – which became the inspiration for the voracious beasts shown in Steven Spielberg’s movie Jurassic Park.
History, forests and views
Having been to Raptor Watch several times over the years, this writer is looking forward to the 19th edition of this event.
Last year, 31,054 raptors were counted as they rode the winds and filled the skies over two weeks – 90% of them were Oriental Honey buzzards. Other species seen were the Black baza, Grey-Faced buzzard, Chinese goshawk and Peregrine falcon. Malaysia has 46 raptor species, of which 25 are migrants.
Raptor Watch has been organised by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) – with the support of the Melaka and Negeri Sembilan State Governments – annually since 2000, and it’s an amazing opportunity to see and learn more about our winged guests in their natural environment.
There is a festive air as hundreds of people come to observe and photograph the birds as they cross the Straits of Melaka. MNS will set up telescopes and binoculars so that visitors can get an even closer look at the birds.
Raptors have very powerful legs and feet with sharp curved talons. They also have strong hooked beaks. Unlike other birds, they have two forward-facing eyes – this gives them binocular vision, enabling them to swoop in on prey from long distances away.
They also have thick “eye-brows” but this is not a Japanese cosplay feature. Rather, it’s an adaptation to block light and help the birds focus better, giving them the majestic “eagle” look.
There will also be lots of exciting nature activities for all the family, including a “Nature’s Race”, face painting for children, colouring competitions, guided nature walks and exciting booths to be visited. All these are what make Raptor Watch one of Malaysia’s most famous ecotourism events.
Apart from the birds, there’s lots of nature, scenic views and history to appreciate here too.
This strategic and scenic promontory is believed to be the burial place for Parameswara, the first ruler of Melaka – hence the Malay name Tanjung Tuan.
This is also where Malaysia’s oldest lighthouse is found, which is believed to stretch back to 1528, soon after the Portuguese conquest of Melaka, hence the name Cape Rachado Lighthouse (or “Broken Cape” in Portuguese).
In 1606, one of the largest naval battles of its time, the Battle of Cape Rachado was fought in the seas here between a Dutch fleet of 11 ships and a Portuguese fleet of 20 ships. The lighthouse passed over into Dutch control after their conquest of Melaka in 1641.
However, the present building is from British times in 1863, and a new tower with a Measat radar was added in 1990. It is this rich history which makes this headland a small part of Melaka, even though it’s in the middle of Negeri Sembilan.
Precious little forest
While resting in Malaysia, these flying tourists will also “spend” on the local economy, by feasting on abundant local food, such as bees, little birds, lizards and other small animals.
Another important reason that the birds come here is that this is one of the few remaining patches of coastal rainforest on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia. In 2002, there was commercial pressure to develop it for tourist resorts, but fortunately the authorities maintained the protected status of the forest.
One important reason was the fear that the large birds would divert their traditional migration route and end up interfering with flights at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in nearby Sepang. In fact, while you are gazing skywards here, you will see planes regularly landing and taking off from KLIA.
This writer highly recommends going through the forest reserve up to the lighthouse – guided walks will be organised by MNS. In fact, Raptor Watch will be a rare opportunity to enter this lighthouse, which is normally closed to the public.
Apart from the amazing sight of raptors arriving, there are amazing views of the sea. On a clear day, it may even be possible to catch a glimpse of Sumatra.
From the lighthouse, there are steep paths (with steps) through pristine forests down to two isolated beaches – this is a raw and rugged Port Dickson as you’ve never seen before.
One beach has a huge rock with a footprint, said to have been implanted by either the Melaka warrior Hang Tuah, Chinese Admiral Cheng Ho or the elusive Princess of Gunung Ledang – depending on which legend you choose to believe in. In some old maps, this place is marked as a keramat or spiritual site.
After years of monitoring the birds, MNS has determined that the peak period to watch the birds is in the middle of March, so Raptor Watch will be held for two days during the second weekend of March 10 – 11.
The festivities will be centred at the PNB Ilham Resort next to the entrance gate going up to the lighthouse (near the Blue Lagoon beach). The times are from 9am to 5pm on Saturday, March 10, and from 9am to 1pm on Sunday, March 11.
Kanupriya Kapoor Reuters 7 Mar 18;
MUARA GEMBONG, Indonesia, March 7 (Reuters) - Nur Anisa Rahmadani has to wade through shin-deep seawater to get to her primary school in Pantai Bahagia village on the north coast of Indonesia’s Java island.
Almost every day, the sea, which used to lap the shore a few kilometres away, floods her schoolyard and classrooms – clear evidence of the threat that Java's sinking coastline poses to millions of people. (Click reut.rs/2H9r3CY to see a picture package about Indonesia's sinking coastline)
Experts say Pantai Bahagia, or “Happy Beach”, and scores of other villages and towns along the shoreline are being inundated because of a grim combination of man-made environmental destruction and climate change.
“On the one hand, we face climate change that causes sea levels to rise,” said I Nyoman Suryadiputra, director of the Wetlands International Indonesia conservation group.
At the same time, he said, the extraction of groundwater for use in big cities like the capital, Jakarta, is causing the subsidence of land along the coast.
Roughly 40 percent of Jakarta is below sea level and a new sea wall has had to be built in a bid to hold back the waves.
Still, large areas in the north of the city are regularly inundated, forcing businesses to pile up sandbags for protection while food stalls feed the hungry with water sloshing around their feet.
Hundreds of kilometres to the east, in the seaside town of Demak, residents prop up their fridges and televisions on concrete blocks to keep them out of the murky water that flows into their homes during high tides.
Some have simply abandoned their homes as the sea creeps closer.
BENEFITS OF MANGROVES
Indonesia, an archipelago of thousands of islands, has about 81,000 km (50,000 miles) of coastline, making it particularly vulnerable to climate change.
It is also home to more than a fifth of the world’s mangrove forests, which naturally help keep the tides out. But only 3 million hectares of mangroves remain, down from nearly double that three decades ago, according to Wetlands International.
For years, coastal communities have chopped down the mangrove forests to clear the way for fish and shrimp farms, and for rice fields.
In some places, hundreds of metres of coast that used to be lined with mangroves have now been swallowed up by the sea.
The government has scrambled to work with environmental groups to replant mangroves, build dykes and relocate some people.
But many residents, mostly poor fishermen and vendors, are either reluctant to leave their old family homes or simply have nowhere to go further inland on crowded Java.
“I hope to be able to move, but my family has lived here for decades. Where can I go?” said Udin, a 30-year old fisherman in Pantai Bahagia, 90 km (56 miles) east of Jakarta.
Udin said he has had to raise his wooden house higher on its stilts twice in recent years. Nearby, the tides are slowly claiming the village mosque and cemetery.
“Only some of us are aware of the benefits of mangroves. There needs to be more collective responsibility,” Udin said.
Despite the nearly daily flood at her school, 10-year old Rahmadani and her classmates are undeterred.
“I stay in school and keep up my spirits up because I want to pursue my ambition of being a lecturer,” she said.
Additional reporting by Zahra Matarani Editing by Karishma Singh, Robert Birsel
Panca Nugraha The Jakarta Post 6 Mar 18;
Flash floods struck the districts of Dompu and Woja in Dompu regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) on Monday afternoon following high-intensity rain that lasted more than two hours.
According to the NTB Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), at least 1,000 homes in several villages and subdistricts were inundated, forcing more than 3,000 people to evacuate the areas.
“Floodwater began to cover Dompu and Woja districts at around 4:45 p.m. local time. The flooding was likely due to the overflow of water from Rabalaju River, whose retaining walls were not able to accommodate the increase in water volume,” BPBD-NTB head Muhammad Rum said on Monday evening.
In Dompu, flooding hit three subdistricts, namely Karake, Karijawa and Potu. Meanwhile, in Woja district, the subdistricts of Kandai Dua, Simpasai and Wawonduru were inundated.
Floodwater in the two districts also inundated public facilities, such as community health centers (Puskesmas) and schools. No fatalities or injuries have been reported.
“The material losses are still being calculated,” Rum added.
Floodwater began to recede at around 8:19 p.m. local time. However, thousands of people affected by the floos have yet to return to their homes.
“The BPBD-NTB moved to disaster sites to offer assistance and to distribute emergency relief. In Dompu, logistics, including the installment of public kitchens, have been distributed to affected areas,” said Rum. (ebf)
AFP Yahoo News 6 Mar 18;
Ahmedabad (India) (AFP) - The endangered Asiatic lion, which only lives in one forest in India, has fought back from the verge of extinction, with its population increasing to more than 600, a minister said Tuesday hailing a major conservation campaign.
The lion, which once roamed across southwest Asia but is now restricted to the 1,400 square kilometre (545 square mile) Gir sanctuary in Gujarat state, was listed as critically endangered in 2000, with its population under threat due to hunting and human encroachment on its habitat.
A recent unofficial count found more than 600 lions in the area, up from 523 in a 2015 census, Gujarat's chief minister Vijay Rupani said.
"Our efforts for lion conservation with support of local people have yielded good results. The number of lions now in Gujarat has reached the 600 mark," Rupani said.
In the late 1960s only about 180 Asiatic lions were thought to survive but an improvement in numbers prompted conservationists to raise their assessment to endangered in 2008.
The population is currently growing at about two percent a year, according to A.P. Singh, a state forest and wildlife conservationist.
The cats are cousins of the African lion -- they are believed to have split away 100,000 years ago -- but are slightly smaller and have a distinctive fold of skin along their bellies.
They are a major tourist attraction in Gujarat where in the past they were the target of poachers.
Priyavrat Gadhvi, a member of Gujarat's wildlife board, credited conservation schemes, well-trained staff and vets as well as help from farmers for the recovery in numbers.
"There is tremendous support from the local population in Gujarat who are tolerant despite lions attacking their cattle. This is coupled with effective conservation management and skilled staff at ground level," he told AFP.
Gadhvi predicted a "steady growth" in numbers in coming years. The next official census will be in 2020.
Conservationists have suggested relocating some of the cats to another sanctuary, to reduce human-animal conflict and avoid the risk of the Asiatic lion being wiped out by disease or a natural disaster.
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