Climate change and what can we do?

Climate change is one of the most critical global environmental challenges of our time. Recent events have emphatically demonstrated mankind's growing vulnerability to climate change.

There is a general consensus amongst scientists and governments that our climate is changing at an unprecedented rate, and that it is largely caused by greenhouse gas emissions from human activities. Many studies indicate that a higher concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere, particularly carbon dioxide, is the primary cause of global warming that is driving climate change.

The effect of greenhouse gases on global warming

Greenhouse gases refer to gases in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide and methane that absorb the infrared radiation from the sun and warm the lower atmosphere. A certain level of greenhouse gases is necessary to maintain the temperatures at which life on earth can exist. However, the rapid increases in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide since the onset of the industrial revolution has caused the earth to warm beyond these levels, leading to a rise in sea level (from thermal expansion and melting of polar ice caps and glaciers) and various effects on the global climate.

How can we address climate change?

Climate change is a global phenomenon and as an island state, Singapore is not spared from the effects of climate change such as warming temperatures and rising sea levels. NEA has commissioned a vulnerability study in consultation with other government agencies to study the possible effects and impacts of climate change on Singapore.

In Singapore, the primary greenhouse gas from human activities is carbon dioxide that is released when fossil fuels such as oil and gas are burnt to meet our energy needs. Our energy demand is expected to grow in the future due to an expanding economy and a growing population. Much of this growing energy demand could be avoided if we use energy more efficiently instead of increasing energy production. Energy Efficiency is therefore an important strategy to reduce our GHG emissions.

In addition to mitigating climate change, there are many benefits to energy efficiency. Energy efficiency goes a long way towards:

• Enhancing our air quality
  In addition to greenhouse gas emissions, the burning of fossil fuels also generates air pollutants such as sulphur dioxide and particulate matter. By adopting more efficient technologies or practices we can reduce these pollutants, improve our air quality and secure a better quality of life for Singaporeans.
• Increasing our economic competitiveness
  Improving energy efficiency will result in overal cost savings to businesses and consumers. This helps to cushion the impact of rising energy costs. A more energy efficient economy can help Singapore maintain its competitiveness over the long term.
• Reducing our dependence on fossil fuels
  Singapore is almost totally dependent on imported fossil fuels for her energy needs. Prudent use of energy through energy efficiency measures would help to moderate this dependence and defer the need for installing new energy infrastructure.

Energy Efficiency in Singapore

On an economy-wide level, energy consumption per dollar services gross domestic product ($GDP), or energy intensity, is used globally as an indicator of a country's state of energy efficiency. Singapore's energy intensity improved by 15% between 1990 and 2005 due to the adoption of better technology in power generation and the more productive use of energy in other sectors.