Public sector in Singapore shrinks carbon footprint

2023 improvement is another step towards target of net-zero emissions around 2045

- lan Cheng

The public sector in Singapore shrank its carbon footprint in 2023, with government agencies here re-leasing about 6.8 per cent less emissions than they did in 2020.

This is an improvement from the 5.3 per cent reduction from the same baseline that government agencies used in 2022. The year 2020 is used as the baseline year for emissions, as this was when the authorities began data collection for emissions.

The emissions from 2023, amounting to 3.6 million tonnes, were outlined in a report released by the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) on Nov 18, in the second Green Gov report.

The 80-page document, released as the COP29 United Nations climate conference is ongoing, detailed the public sector's sustainability performance in the areas of emissions, energy, water and waste for the 2023 financial year (FY2023) from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024.

The Singapore Government has said that the public sector will reach net-zero emissions around 2045 - five years earlier than the national target.

For context, Singapore's total greenhouse gas emissions in 2022 were 58.59 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (C02 eq). C02 eq is a term used as a measurement of total greenhouse gases emitted.

The annual report provides a snapshot of the public sector's environmental sustainability performance each financial year. It also documents the public sector's key strategies and initiatives to enhance environmental sustainability and meet Singapore's targets.

The first report, issued in December 2023, was launched as part of the Singapore Green Plan 2030.

The Green Government initiative sets out several sustainability targets. Other than the plan to reach net-zero emissions ahead of the national target, the Government also plans to cut energy and water use by 10 per cent from their baselines by 2030, as well as reduce waste disposed of by 30 per cent by that time as well.