COP26 outcome key as S'pore won't be spared climate impacts: Grace Fu

Singapore will not be spared the impacts of climate change, which is why the outcome of the COP26 climate summit is something the Republic must pay attention to, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu.

Speaking to Singapore media in Glasgow on Saturday, she added: "The discussion here today will require us to take more action. There are some obligations as a party under this agreement, we have to do our part."

For instance, as part of the Glasgow Climate Pact, nations are requested to revisit and strengthen their 2030 climate targets to align with the Paris Agreement temperature goal by the end of next year.

Under the Paris Agreement, countries should take steps to limit global warming to well below 2 deg C - preferably 1.5 deg C - above pre-industrial levels. Climate scientists have shown that this threshold will help the world avoid harsher climate impacts.

Singapore's current target is for its emissions to continue to increase until 2030 - when they reach their peak - before they start to decline.

But the United Nations has recommended that for the world to have a better chance at limiting warming to the 1.5 deg C target, emissions must be nearly halved by 2030 from 2010 levels, and reach net zero by 2050.

The 2022 review of national climate pledges is part of the Glasgow Climate Pact that almost 200 nations, including Singapore, agreed on to step up efforts to avoid dangerous climate change.

The deal was gavelled through by COP26 president Alok Sharma after negotiations ran more than a day overtime as countries sought to find common ground on thorny issues such as carbon markets and climate finance.

With the deal, the 2015 Paris Agreement can now go full steam ahead, with rules in place to guide governmental policies that will help limit global warming to 1.5 deg C above pre-industrial levels.

Ms Fu said Singapore recognises its obligation and responsibility under the latest pact to review its climate pledge.

"We'll definitely do our part to comply with the requirements," she added, noting that the Government will also consider the potential that carbon markets can offer.

The Straits Times reported last month that Singapore is considering buying carbon credits to help reduce its carbon footprint, although it will prioritise domestic efforts first, such as encouraging industrial energy efficiency.

Ms Fu said the region will not be spared the impacts of climate change, whether they are increasingly intense tropical cyclones or erratic rainfall patterns.

"This will have an impact on important issues such as food security, food supply and water. It has real, serious implications for properties. And you've seen how devastating some of these extreme weather events can be on the lives of people and also loss of properties."

She added: "There must be an appreciation in Singapore about the impact of climate change. We must convince and encourage Singaporeans to take collective action."

The Glasgow Climate Pact calls on nations to "phase down" the use of unabated coal, the most pollutive of fossil fuels, and urges developed nations to at least double finance for adaptation in developing countries.

Adaptation measures, such as the building of sea walls or planting of weather-resilient crops, are strategies nations can take to reduce the impacts of climate change.

The deal also involves agreements on how transparent countries should be when reporting their progress in taking climate action, as well as those governing carbon markets.

A number of pledges were also inked on the sidelines, including those to reduce the amount of methane emissions and halt deforestation.

"Many of the agreements that we have signed, we have all the intention to see them through. These are all directions that the Government will take as part of the green plan," said Ms Fu, in reference to the Singapore Green Plan 2030, which charts the pathways to cut emissions.

"We hope to communicate this clearly to Singaporeans, to the man in the street, to prepare them for the collective actions that are going to come."