Singapore must innovate to achieve emission reduction goals: Lee

The Prime Minister also said Singapore would contribute its share to the climate agenda.

Singapore must innovate and use technology extensively in achieving its emission reduction goals, as well as overcoming its small size and lack of resources, according to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

“Although Singapore is a small island state, we will contribute our share to the climate agenda,” Lee said during the Leaders’ Summit on Climate hosted by US President Joe Biden.

The prime minister also noted that Singapore’s climate strategy goes beyond meeting emission caps or implementing carbon tax.

Lee pointed out that whilst its renewable energy options are limited, they plan to quadruple solar energy production by 2025.

“We are opening one of the world’s largest floating solar energy systems, which will offset 33,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually,” he said.

Another concern for Singapore is the rising urban temperatures, which they aim to moderate by using computer modelling for more climate-responsive urban design, experimenting with special cooling paint on buildings, and planting more trees.

Lee also mentioned the launch of the Singapore Green Plan 2030, the country’s roadmap towards sustainable development and net zero emissions.

The city-state aims to reach net zero emission by the second half of the century.