Singapore reduces its carbon emissions target for 2030 to 60 MtCO₂eq

The government of Singapore has decided to reduce its carbon emissions target for 2030 to 60 MtCO₂eq, effectively decreasing its emissions by 7.7% compared to its previous nationally determined contribution (NDC) target. Singapore will also peak its emissions earlier than previously planned and achieve net zero by 2050. The country previously aimed for emissions to peak at 65 MtCO₂eq in 2030. In 2020, Singapore's greenhouse gas emissions reached 49.7 MtCO₂eq (51.9 MtCO₂eq in 2019). 

According to Singapore’s government, the 5 MtCO₂eq improvement is equivalent to reducing the city-state’s current transport emissions by two thirds. The year during which Singapore's carbon emissions would peak was not specified and will depend on the country's decarbonisation efforts. Among the steps to cut Singapore’s emissions are solar panels on roofs and reservoirs, setting a zero-growth policy for cars and motorcycles, and raising the carbon tax progressively from the current SGD5/tCO₂ (US$3.5/tCO₂) to around SGD50/tCO₂ to SDG80/tCO₂ (US$35/tCO₂ to US$57/tCO₂) by 2030.

Singapore will submit an updated NDC with the enhanced targets to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as parties to the Paris Agreement meet at COP 27 in November 2022.

In addition, as part of its decarbonisation plans, the Singaporean government also launched the country's hydrogen strategy. The government expects the fuel to potentially supply up to half of Singapore's power needs by 2050. SGD129m (US$91m) will be set aside to support hydrogen research and development efforts through the Low Carbon Energy Research Project.

Currently, the city-state relies almost entirely on natural gas to generate power (88% with 10.5 GW).