National responses - Singapore

Plant a tree programme
http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/tree-planting-day-in-singapore-5-things-about-the-51-year-old-tradition
https://www.gardencityfund.org/pat/part.html



‘The Singapore Green Plan is the most effective National response by the Government to reduce Greenhouse gas emission’. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

Introduction

I agree to a small extent that the Singapore Green Plan is the most effective response in Singapore in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane and halocarbons, are found in the atmosphere. When greenhouse gases absorb long wave radiation, they re-radiate it in all directions. In my essay, I am going to discuss the measures taken by Singapore and India on how countries can decrease global greenhouse gas emissions.

Singapore Green Plan

P/E : Singapore Green Plan is launched by the Ministry of the Environment in 2002 and aims to generate 60% of Singapore’s energy needs using natural gas by 2012. Natural gas is a cleaner form of energy in comparison to coal because it does not produce smoke.

Eg : As early as 2010, about 79% of Singapore’s electricity was being generated from natural gas. This exceeded the Ministry of Environment’s target ahead of schedule.

L : However, the natural gas requires complex treatment plants to process and pipelines to transport. These pipelines have high maintenance costs because they need to be laid underground and have to be checked regularly for leakage.

Singapore Green Mark Scheme

P/E : There are other responses at the national level such as Green Mark Scheme by constructing ‘green’ buildings. It is launched by the Building Construction Authority in 2005 and allows buildings to be evaluated and certified according to how energy-efficient and environmentally friendly they are. The scheme aims to encourage more new ‘green’ buildings, which are more energy-efficient and use less energy to provide the same service.

Eg : For example, Plaza by the Park Standard Chartered at Changi and the National Library Building. They have reported energy savings of 15% to 35% compared to conventional buildings. This cuts down greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity.

L : However, the construction companies and developers in Singapore tend to be conservative about adopting new ideas and materials to build ‘green’ buildings. They may cost more to build because ‘green’ materials may be more expensive.

Singapore Plant-A-Tree Programme

P/E : Plant-A-Tree Programme is started in 1971 by the Singapore City Fund and Singapore Environment Council aims to maintain Singapore’s status as a Garden City by planting trees. Residents are encouraged to donate money to buy a tree or take part in tree planting events that take place monthly throughout Singapore.

Eg : The programme has contributed to an estimated 60,000 trees planted yearly throughout Singapore by the National Parks Board. Trees can remove the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

L : However, trees take a long time to mature, so the positive effects of tree planting will take time to materialize.

India’s Energy labeling Programme: Reducing energy consumption

P/E : The Bureau of Energy Efficiency of India enforced an energy labeling programme in 2007 informing consumers of the amount of energy used by a product. Products that use little energy and emit less carbon dioxide are sold at a cheaper price to encourage reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Eg : The label is compulsory for frost-free refrigerators, fluorescent lamps and air conditioners and is voluntary for other appliances as ceiling fans, television sets and washing machines and computers. Sales of products with energy labels have increased steadily since 2007.

L : However, standards and labeling have yet to be developed for many other appliances such as battery chargers, computer monitors, heat pumps and freezers. Majority of the public is still unaware of the labeling programme.

Limitation

Conclusion

All the attempts to manage global warming as discussed above have their merits and disadvantages but there is no one best method. Countries attempting to manage global warming need to consider its economy needs and available resources before implementing a set of best-executable measures that allow the country to develop, and also reducing greenhouse gases. Therefore, Singapore Green Plan has to work alongside with other projects to achieve its maximum effectiveness in reducing gas emissions in Singapore.


Resource pack

Assess the national effects that have been implemented to address global warming [6]

I agree to a small extent that the Singapore Green Plan is the most effective response in Singapore in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, methane and halocarbons, are found in the atmosphere. When greenhouse gases absorb long wave radiation, they re-radiate it in all directions. In my essay, I am going to discuss _____, ______ and ______.

Singapore Green Plan is launched by the Ministry of the Environment in 2002 and aims to generate 60% of Singapore’s energy needs using natural gas by 2012. Natural gas is a cleaner form of energy in comparison to coal because it does not produce smoke.

As early as 2010, about 79% of Singapore’s electricity was being generated from natural gas. This exceeded the Ministry of Environment’s target ahead of schedule.

However, the natural gas requires complex treatment plants to process and pipelines to transport. These pipelines have high maintenance costs because they need to be laid underground and have to be checked regularly for leakage.

There is other response at the national level such as Green Mark Scheme by constructing ‘green’ buildings. It is launched by the Building Construction Authority in 2005 and allows buildings to be evaluated and certified according to how energy-efficient and environmentally friendly they are. The scheme aims to encourage more new ‘green’ buildings, which are more energy-efficient and use less energy to provide the same service.

For example, Plaza by the Park Standard Chartered @ Changi and the National Library Building. They have reported energy savings of 15% to 35% compared to conventional buildings. This cuts down greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity.

However, the construction companies and developers in Singapore tend to be conservative about adopting new ideas and materials to build ‘green’ buildings. They may cost more to build because ‘green’ materials may be more expensive.

Plant-A-Tree Programme is started in 1971 by the Singapore City Fund and Singapore Environment Council aims to maintain Singapore’s status as a Garden City by planting trees. Residents are encouraged to donate money to buy a tree or take part in tree planting events that take place monthly throughout Singapore.

The programme has contributed to an estimated 60,000 trees planted yearly throughout Singapore by the National Parks Board. Trees can remove the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

However, trees take a long time to mature, so the positive effects of tree planting will take time to materialise.

India’s Energy labeling Programme: Reducing energy consumption

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency of India enforced an energy labeling programme in 2007 informing consumers of the amount of energy used by a product. Products that use little energy and emit less carbon dioxide are sold at a cheaper price to encourage reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The label is compulsory for frost-free refrigerators, fluorescent lamps and air conditioners and is voluntary for other appliances as ceiling fans, television sets and washing machines and computers. Sales of products with energy labels have increased steadily since 2007.

However, standards and labeling have yet to be developed for many other appliances such as battery chargers, computer monitors, heat pumps and freezers. Majority of the public is still unaware of the labeling programme.

Limitation

E.g. The attempt to manage global warming through Kyoto Protocol is more successful than Plant-A-Tree Programme in Singapore as the former is able to get international countries together to cut down emission of greenhouse gases. It is dealing with global warming at a national level where Plant-A-Tree Programme is only at a national level and trees will take many years to mature.

E.g. All the attempts to manage global warming as discussed above have their merits and disadvantages but there is no one most successful/best method. Countries attempting to manage global warming need to consider its economy needs and available resources before implementing a one-best or a set of best-executable measures that allow the country to develop but at the same time keeping greenhouse gases that result global warming to a minimum.

In conclusion, Singapore Green Plan has to work alongside with other projects to achieve its maximum effectiveness in reducing gas emissions in Singapore.