Singapore unveils ambitious environmental proposal

By Sharmilpal Kaur

A NEW draft environmental blueprint for Singapore was unveiled yesterday, showing a resolve to make the country cleaner and greener than ever before.

Called the Singapore Green Plan 2012, it features such ambitious goals as making two-thirds of Singapore water catchment areas, up from the present 50 per cent, and obtaining power from renewable sources, such as wind or water.

It covers such aspects as water, energy, land and noise, and features the watchwords 're-use, renew, recycle and reclaim'.

Acting Environment Minister Lim Swee Say unveiled the draft proposal at a public consultation at the Environment Building yesterday.

It proposes, among other things, to study whether a reservoir should be built on Pulau Ubin. It also proposes that more paths be provided for cyclists in order to promote cycling as an alternative form of transport.

By 2012, 5 per cent of Singapore's water supply will come from desalination.

The goal of reclaiming for re-use 20 per cent of all water used here will remain.

In terms of energy use, Singapore will increasingly 'go natural'. Mr Lim said the aim was to use natural gas to fuel power plants and generate 60 per cent of electricity here by 2012.

Natural gas is already being pumped in from Indonesia. A new power plant using natural gas will be commissioned in 2006.

Singapore could also import electricity generated from renewable sources or cleaner fuels, from foreign companies or from Singapore companies overseas.

The blueprint also proposes that an Asean power grid be set up. This would enable Singapore to import electricity produced by cleaner energy sources.

Motorists who choose natural-gas vehicles will get incentives.

Singapore will pursue conservation of energy and other resources more aggressively.

Standards may also be introduced for air-conditioning systems, which can account for 60 per cent of energy bills.

For example, many buildings use chillers that run at excess capacity, wasting power. Hotels like the Grand Hyatt and Shangri-La have saved thousands of dollars each month by downsizing their chillers.

In noise control, more stringent rules may also be set for MRT and LRT trains, in addition to the recent noise limits imposed recently by the Environment Ministry.

In handling solid waste, a major environment problem here, more will also be done to promote recycling.

The target had been to recycle 50 per cent of all solid waste by 2012. This bar is now likely to be raised.

Ms Loh Wai Kiew, president of the Waste Management and Recycling Association of Singapore, told The Sunday Times the existing target was 'mediocre' and could be set much higher.

Singapore now recycles 40 per cent of its waste. Most of it is done by industrial users.

In the pipeline is a possible environment academy here, to promote the transfer of knowledge and technology around the region.

Asked why the plan lacked details on conservation areas like nature reserves, Mr Lim replied: 'Nature conservation was discussed in depth with the formulation of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) Concept Plan. In that regard, we intend to incorporate some of its key recommendations.'

He was referring to the URA's plan on land use, which was finalised this year.

The draft proposal of the new environmental plan is the result of discussions by three focus groups formed in August this year.

It can be viewed at www.env.gov.sg/sgp2012 and will be open for public comment until Feb 9.

The proposal will then be adjusted to reflect the feedback, and will be presented at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg next September.

Mr Lim said he was confident that the Singapore Green Plan 2012 was 'implementable and achievable'.