29 November 2022

On 4 November 2022, the Singapore Government submitted its second update to the 2030 Nationally Determined Contribution (“NDC”) and an Addendum to Singapore’s Long-Term Low-Emissions Development Strategy (“LEDS”) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The Addendum to the LEDS captures Singapore’s raised national climate target to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. It builds on the LEDS submitted in 2020, which laid out a target of halving Singapore’s emissions from its peak to 33 MtCO2e by 2050, with a view to achieving net zero emissions as soon as viable in the second half of the century. The targets are contingent on the maturity of decarbonisation technologies and effective international cooperation, and Singapore’s ability to fulfil these pledges, like all parties, will depend on the continued international commitment by parties to the Paris Agreement and their climate pledges.

To achieve net zero by 2050, Singapore is accelerating the low-carbon transition for industry, economy and society through four key thrusts:

Recommendations

Brief Description

Catalysing business transformation

·         Sustainable energy and chemicals hub in conjunction with industry

·         Grants for energy efficiency and emissions reduction

Investing in low-carbon technologies

·         Carbon capture, utilisation and storage

·         Low-carbon hydrogen

·         Solar and energy storage systems

Pursuing effective international cooperation

·         International carbon markets with high quality carbon credits

·         Regional power grids for green energy

Adopting low-carbon practices

·         Green commutes via public transport, Walk-Cycle-Ride and cleaner energy vehicles


These thrusts are supported by Singapore’s revised carbon tax, a key enabler of this transition.

The revised LEDS and NDC follow a public consultation by the National Climate Change Secretariat (“NCCS”) on Singapore’s raised climate ambition that was held from 5 to 26 September 2022. A summary of the feedback received was published on 28 October 2022. NCCS said that the revised LEDS and NDC would take into consideration feedback received from the consultation.

Reference materials

The following materials are available on the NCCS website www.nccs.gov.sg: