The Singapore Green Plan 2030 is a plan created by the Government of Singapore on February 10, 2021. It sets goals for making Singapore more sustainable by the year 2030. This effort involves all parts of the nation and helps Singapore work toward achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The plan is led by five ministries: the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of National Development, the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment, the Ministry of Transport, and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

Background

Efforts to build a sustainable Singapore began in 1992 with the release of the first Green Plan. A second version, called the Singapore Green Plan 2012, was introduced in 2002. Goals to reduce carbon emissions were set, including a target to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050 compared to their peak in 2030. Another goal was to reach net-zero emissions as soon as possible by the middle of this century.

During a parliamentary discussion on climate change on 1 February 2021, several members of parliament suggested actions such as increasing the carbon tax, becoming a hub for carbon services, improving sustainability in government work, protecting forests, creating a sustainability curriculum for students, and declaring a climate emergency. In response, Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu announced a new Singapore Green Plan to be launched nine days later, along with a review of carbon tax prices. The motion was approved. A progress report on the Green Plan was shared on 8 March 2022.

Content

The Singapore Green Plan 2030 has five main goals: "City in Nature," "Sustainable Living," "Energy Reset," "Green Economy," and "Resilient Future." These goals will be supported by a Green Government and Green Citizenry. A Green Government means Singapore’s government will make sure sustainability is part of important areas like buying supplies and set more challenging goals for public buildings. A Green Citizenry means helping Singapore residents take part in the sustainability journey and work together to achieve the Green Plan.

As part of the plan, several new goals were shared. These include:

• Installing up to 60,000 electric vehicle charging points, with new car models required to use cleaner energy sources;
• Schools aiming to reduce their net carbon emissions by two-thirds, with at least 20% of schools becoming carbon-neutral, and the rest following soon;
• Transforming Jurong Island into a sustainable energy and chemicals park;
• Making Singapore a sustainable tourism destination by developing it as a carbon services hub;
• Reducing waste sent to Semakau landfill by 20% by 2026, and aiming to cut waste by 30% by 2030 as part of the Zero Waste Masterplan from 2019;
• Launching a new Enterprise Sustainability Programme for companies and an Eco Stewardship Programme for schools to raise awareness about sustainability.

Most of the other goals in the plan were already shared earlier. Finally, a series of Green Plan Conversations will be held to work with Singaporeans on environmental projects and find the best ways to reach these goals.