Singapore Commits to Achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2050
Singapore is firm on bending its emissions curve this decade
Targets are contingent on technological advances
Speaking at the opening of Singapore International Energy Week Singapore’s Deputy prime Minister has committed his country to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
In his speech Wong said Singapore will raise its national climate target to achieve “net zero emissions by 2050” as part of its Long-Term Low-Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS).
“We will also “reduce emissions to around 60 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in 2030 after peaking emissions earlier” as part of our revised 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). Singapore will submit these updates to the LEDS and 2030 NDC to the UNFCCC by the end of 2022,” Wong said.
According to Wong the revision to Singapore’s national climate target builds upon its current LEDS and NDCs, as well as Singapore’s early actions towards sustainable development since independence.
In 2009, Singapore pledged to reduce emissions by 16% below Business-as-Usual (BAU) levels by 2020 ahead of the Copenhagen Summit under the Copenhagen Accord. Singapore has achieved this pledge – the 2020 emissions of 52.8 MtCO2e is equivalent to 32% below Business-as-Usual (BAU) levels, and the city-state is now positive it can raise its climate ambitions.
Lack of renewable energy resources
These plans and revised targets build upon the announcement during Budget 2022 of Singapore’s intention to raise its climate ambitions. Since then, under the Singapore Green Plan 2030, the Government has engaged more than 1,700 members of the public and key stakeholders on Singapore’s climate ambition, including a public consultation exercise via REACH in September 2022 (refer to Annexes D1 & D2 for a summary of feedback received).
Across these various engagements, respondents agreed with the need for Singapore to increase its climate ambition given the urgent global need to take climate action.
As Singapore is an alternative energy disadvantaged island city-state, these targets are contingent on technological advances and the economic viability of low-carbon technologies such as hydrogen and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS), as well as effective international collaborations in areas such as carbon credits and renewable energy imports.
Singapore’s ability to fulfil these pledges Wong said will depend on the continued international commitment by Parties to the Paris Agreement and their climate pledges.