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SINGAPORE : 2009 has been called the Year of Climate Change by the United Nations. And in Singapore, major initiatives were introduced to tackle global warming.
Blame the heavy monsoon rains on climate change, according to the weatherman. A warmer climate traps moisture in the atmosphere, bringing more intense rain and a higher likelihood of floods.
For residents of Bukit Timah, the problem of climate change hit home - literally - in November, when a freak downpour caused a canal to spill over, resulting in severe floods in the area.
One resident said: "The water does not go through, so the water has come all the way up, going into the restaurant. There is no solution."
But there may be a way out.
In April, authorities unveiled a billion-dollar blueprint to map out how Singapore can develop in a sustainable manner. By 2030 for example, 80 per cent of buildings here will be energy efficient, and energy consumption will be cut by one third.
In December, the government announced a more ambitious plan to cut carbon emissions growth by 16 per cent, based on levels projected for 2020.
Professor S Jayakumar, Senior Minister and Chairman of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change, said: "The measures which we will take to reduce our emissions growth will entail both economic and social costs and will require considerable domestic adjustments."
At the UN Climate Change Summit in Copenhagen, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called on developed nations to take the lead in reducing carbon emissions.
He said: "They must also ensure adequate means to help developing countries to implement urgently needed adaptation measures without compromising sustainable economic growth."
But some observers said Singapore should do more.
Associate Professor Shreekant Gupta, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, said: "Its total emissions are small, but in per capita terms, its ecological footprint is actually quite heavy. Singapore emits on average 10 tonnes per person, which is as high as the EU.
"It should be focused on promoting carbon markets and in general reducing the ecological footprint of the country - more of reduce, recycle and re-use."
Professor Gupta wants to see bigger investments in green technologies, like solar power.
City planners have begun a S$31 million pilot programme to install solar panels in 28 public housing estates. And they too hope that it could shine further light into how the sun's energy can be better tapped to power up our homes. - CNA/ms
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