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Green Plans in Action: Singapore: Beyond the Borders
Seasonal Transboundary Haze
Transboundary smoke haze episodes are caused by land and forest fires during dry seasons. The haze has been a recurrent environmental issue in the SE Asian region for many years, with particularly severe effects on air quality in 1994 and 1997. In 1993 ASEAN countries set up the ASEAN Specialized Meterological Center (ASMC) co-located with the Meteorological Service Singapore, as a collaboration program to provide environmental surveillance of fires and haze in the region. (More#1) The October 2006 SE Asian haze event was caused by continued uncontrolled burning from "slash and burn" cultivation in Indonesia, and made worse by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation of the Ocean's currents, which delayed the monsoon season. (More#2)
Global Climate Change
Extreme weather patterns are potentially dangerous for coastal areas, and especially low-lying islands less than 15 meters above sea level, such as Singapore. (More#1) As a sign of their commitment to support environmental sustainability, Singapore has been a signatory to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) since 1997 and acceded to the Kyoto Protocol in April of 2006 as a non-Annex I country. They set a national target of 25% reduction in the amount of CO2 for each GDP dollar generated from 1990 levels by the year 2012 and already achieved a 22% improvement by the end of 2004. In addition, they developed policies and implemented measures to mitigate the increase in greenhouse gas emissions. (More#2) Clean energy is a strategic growth area for Singapore, with pioneering investments in solar energy, biofuels, wind energy and fuel cells. The Government's announcement of $350M in funding for clean energy R&D includes funds from National Environment Agency to help support test-bedding of clean energy technologies in Singapore. The National Climate Change Strategy (NCCS) examines four key prongs of action. (More#3) The National Environment Agency (NEA) serves as the Designated National Authority (DNA) for the approval and registration of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects in Singapore. (More#4)
Cooperation Beyond Borders
Singapore is committed to working with neighboring nations through several organizations, including the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) to improve the environment (More #1); and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to promote peace and stability, and for economic, social, and cultural development (More #2). In addition, Singapore believes in developing countries working together to overcome resource and capacity constraints. Under the Singapore Co-operation Programme, training courses are conducted on a range of topics for participants from fellow developing countries. (More#3)
Regional Hydrohub
After leveraging on technology and innovative diversification of its scarce water supplies, Singapore has managed to provide a sustainable supply of water. Singapore's water agency, the Public Utilities Board (PUB), was named Water Agency of the Year at the Global Water Awards 2006. Other countries are now looking to Singapore's expertise as Singapore plans to export its knowledge abroad. While its global water market is now 1%, the government hopes to raise it to 5% by 2015. China, whose fast development has polluted the water table and turned many rivers black, has already hired a Singaporean company to build a desalination plant in Tianjin and a NEWater plant, producing clean water from treated wastewater, in the western province of Ningxia.
Illicit Drug Traffic
One of the most serious problems to the socio-economic structure and stability of a nation in the world today is the drug trafficking threat. ASEAN countries (More#1) of South-East Asia realize they have a more severe problem than other regions because the source of the illicit production of opium and cannabis is located there, in the Golden Triangle. While Singapore is not a source of illicit drugs, it is on the Golden Triangle traffic route, and their strict narcotics laws are an effective tool in the fight against drug traffickers and drug-related problems. (More#2) The fight against illicit drug trafficking is a difficult task (More#3); however, ASEAN countries know mutual cooperation is essential and continue working towards eradication of the problem.
Piracy
Piracy in the Strait of Malacca has historically been an unresolved threat to ship owners and the mariners who ply the 900km-long (550 miles) sea-lane. (More#1) The 18th and 19th century saw an increase of piracy in the strait as European colonizers arrived in the region. An important passageway for commercial trade, it has become the most important route of transport for oil from the Middle East to oil markets in East Asia. Sea-borne cargo accounts for some 40% of the world's trade. According to the International Maritime Bureau (IMB), recent coordinated air and sea patrols by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, along with increased security on vessels and new technology have sparked a dramatic downturn in piracy. The IMB reports worldwide pirate attacks fell for the third year in a row in 2006. (More #2)
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