Singapore releases climate change strategies
By Charlene Chin
As a whole-of-government approach.
Singapore has launched a whole-of-government strategy to deal with climate change, it was announced yesterday.
The plan was jointly announced by the National Climate Change Secretariat, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, and Ministry of National Development.
Among the initiatives, the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Ministry of Health are working on a “heat stress information system” for the public to better plan and manage outdoor activities. The country will also invest in improving energy efficiency.
Water agency PUB is testing new tech to “halve the energy used in the seawater desalination process”; and the NEA is building plants that convert waste to energy sources.
Singapore also plans to raise the use of solar energy, from 60MWp to 350 MWp by 2020. Six agencies - the Building and Construction Authority (BCA), Energy Market Authority, Housing and Development Board (HDB), Economic Development Board, NEA and PUB - have developed plans to achieve this.
BCA and HDB will also study “the impact of higher temperatures and strong winds on buildings”, the statement added. To prevent food shortage due to climate change, the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore is diversifying food sources, importing them from various regions.