Climate change poses 'grave danger' to humanity: Workers' Party
SINGAPORE — The Workers’ Party (WP) has urged dialogue with all Singaporeans on on climate change, with a view to leaving a sustainable Singapore for future generations.
In a media statement released on Tuesday (29 October), the party cited last month’s Singapore Climate Rally at Hong Lim Park and voiced support for many of the concerns expressed during the rally.
“The Workers’ Party has spoken up about excessive carbon emissions and the grave danger this poses to humanity in our speeches in Parliament, including on the Resource Sustainability Bill, Carbon Pricing Bill and Energy Conservation Act,” the statement said.
“In Parliament, WP MPs (Members of Parliament) and NCMPs (Non-Constituency Members of Parliament) have raised concerns about climate change mitigation and adaptation.”
Call to look at climate change holistically
Among WP’s suggestions: going beyond the emissions intensity indicator that forms Singapore’s first Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) under the 2016 Paris Agreement on climate change.
Under the agreement, Singapore agreed to reduce its Emissions Intensity by 36 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030, as well as to stabilise its emissions with the aim of peaking around 2030.
WP noted that it has called for action in Parliament on holistic issues such as enhancing drainage capacity and technologies to withstand possible higher levels of rainfall; implementing urban planning measures to reduce the impact of higher temperatures in the city and maintain liveability; and maintaining terrestrial, freshwater and marine biodiversity,
The party has also called for strong measures to promote electric vehicles, and for the government to specify a date in the long-term future for banning all fossil-fuel vehicles, as has been adopted in Britain and France.
In addition to sea-level rise, water and heat stress, the Republic could also face potential disruptions to food supply due to climate change and natural resource risks. WP NCMPs have raised concerns about mitigating rising food prices, as they fuel similar rises in cost of living.
Need to plan for infrastructure
WP added that party chief Pritam Singh had spoken during his 2019 Budget Speech on the need to plan infrastructure for climate change and rising sea levels in order to leave a sustainable Singapore for future generations.
In 2018, WP questioned the government on plans to rehabilitate and protect coastal ecosystems which are vulnerable to impacts of climate change such as sea-level rise and ocean acidification.
The party had also proposed mandatory Environmental Impact Assessments to be done for all development projects affecting green areas, to accompany the land use Masterplan and to be made permanently accessible in their entirety to members of the public.
It has also called for urban planning to consciously take into account the importance of preserving green spaces.
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