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Singapore's national climate strategy, which was unveiled on Friday morning, will focus on improving energy efficiency, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and creating energy conscious industries.
As part of the strategy developed by the newly launched National Climate Change Strategy (NCCS), research and development into clean energy will feature high on the agenda.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) has also commissioned a study on Singapore's vulnerability to climate change, which is expected to be completed in 2009.
These plans were announced by Dr Amy Khor Lean Suan, senior parliamentary secretary for environment and water resources, at a eminar on energy efficiency for process industry.
Dr Khor said the strategy, which followed two years of extensive consultation with various sectors, will serve as a roadmap for Singapore's response to climate change, which has taken on increased urgency in recent years.
'The NCCS outlines our ongoing efforst to understand the implications of climate change on Singapore, so that we can better identify and assess measures to adapt to potential climate change impacts,' she said, noting that good progress has been made domestic efforts to mitigate greenhouse gases and address climate change.
She said Singapore has surpassed the national target of improving its carbon intensity levels by 25 per cent from 1990 levels by 2012. As of 2006, the levels have improved by 30 per cent 1990.
The NCCS will further set out how Singapore will address the various aspects on climate change.
The emphasis on energy efficiency is two pronged and will benefit Singapore both environmentally and economically.
The government plans to actively support energy users in the industry and encourage buildings , households and transport sectors to be more energy efficient, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and also cut the cost of living and doing business.
Dr Khor also acknowledged that there were barriers to energy efficiency. In such cases, the government will step in to support companies' investments and provide information to the market.
Research and development will also be fundamental to achieving progress environmentally. The National Research Foundation will set aside $170 million for research into clean energy to boost the development of the local Clean Energy industry over the next five years.
The full document of NCCS can be viewed online at http://www.climatechange.gov.sg
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