CALLING EVERYONE that cares about climate change and sustainability, the PAP Climate Action Group (CAG) wants to hear from you — and will work with you for a greener Singapore.
“You need not be a Party member,” said CAG Chairperson Koh Poh Koon during the launch of the Group earlier this week (22 Jan) at the Singapore Sustainability Academy (SSA).
“As long as you share the same direction and passion to drive sustainability and bring Singapore forward, then all of you can go as effective ambassadors on the ground to get organised change in your own respective circles,” he continued.
Chairperson Koh, who is also Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment, was speaking with over 80 climate activists and groups from the public and private sectors at the CAG launch. These sustainability leaders included Esther An, Chief Sustainability Officer of the SSA, as well as Singapore urban farmer Bjorn Low, founder of Edible Garden City, and architect Catherine Loke, president of The Circle for Human Sustainability.
“I really hope that we find a common space around community farming as a solution for the future of a food-sustainable Singapore,” said Mr Low in an exclusive interview with Petir.
“My hope for the CAG is that we can come together as a work group from all walks of life — all different industries and expertise — to create sustainable, innovative solutions for all the different climate challenges that we’re facing as a nation.”
“I hope that the Climate Action Group will be very bold and brave in tackling difficult issues and not be too afraid to tell the hard truths. We really, really need to prepare for much less energy [power usage] in the future,” said Ms Loke, pointing out that Singapore’s electricity consumption is now about seven times higher than in the 1980s.
The CAG works with diverse Singaporeans to reach sustainability targets
The CAG is indeed here to frankly tackle the climate and sustainability issues that matter.
“The immediate task will be to engage extensively and effectively,” said Minister for National Development Desmond Lee, who was Guest-of-Honour at the CAG launch. “Tapping onto diverse knowledge and perspectives of subject matter experts and climate activists. Listening to the views and concerns of Singaporeans about the impact of climate change.”
Reflecting this focus on engagement, the CAG launch featured a lively hour-long dialogue with the invited guests.
The topics discussed ranged from the nitty-gritty (“What can we do about false greenwashing claims?”) to the practical (“How can trade-dependent Singapore remain competitive with carbon taxes, especially for SMEs [small and medium enterprises]?”).
“Greenwashing is a serious issue,” said CAG Co-Chairperson Louis Ng, mentioning the possibility of legislation. “South Korea has legislation around it. We can study what other countries have done, how effective it’s been. We could start with guidelines first then move towards legislation.”
Co-Chairperson Ng, who is also MP for Nee Soon GRC, also clarified the point of Singapore’s carbon taxes.
“It isn’t a case of collecting more and more carbon taxes. As I keep raising in Parliament, I feel that will be wrong,” he said, mentioning that the Government disburses carbon tax grants and helps companies reach sustainability targets.
“It’s about making sure, again, to remember climate change and green our processes. And I think that the way that we’ve done the growth map for our carbon tax increase is the right way towards selling a very strong signal to companies to be ready [and] to remain competitive,” added Co-Chairperson Ng.
The CAG will support SMEs
In an upcoming Parliament session, Co-Chairperson Ng and the CAG will present a Motion dedicated to supporting SMEs during the green transition.
This will be Singapore’s fourth Motion on climate change and sustainability. As with all previous similar motions (including the pioneering first Motion in February 2021), PAP MPs are bringing it forth.
PAP MPs in charge of the five pillars of the CAG are involved in this fourth Motion.
MP Nadia Samdin (Ang Mo Kio GRC) leads the City in Nature pillar, while MP Poh Li San (Sembawang GRC) leads the Energy Reset pillar. MP Hany Soh (Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC) leads the Sustainable Living pillar.
MP Carrie Tan (Nee Soon GRC) leads the Resilient Future pillar, and MP Don Wee (Chua Chu Kang GRC) leads the Green Economy pillar.
“The purpose of this [Climate Action] Group is that we want to connect ground feedback [and] views to shape our policy thinking,” said Chairperson Koh. “So that as a political movement, we can translate this from our Party’s ideology into policy actions.”
“As per many of the questions and some of the views which were shared, it also requires a lot of individual actions. So all of you here tonight will become our ambassadors on the ground as well,” he added about securing Singapore’s green future together.
“At the end of the day, you need this to be a national movement,” concluded Chairperson Koh on climate action. “Everyone needs to do it.”
Learn more about the PAP Climate Action Group at their website here.
