Current Situation

Last update: 1 November 2021

Emissions profile

In 2019, the energy sector is responsible for 78% of Singapore’s emissions , mostly from electricity (35%) and energy consumed by the industry sector (27%). Singapore does not produce oil or gas, but it serves as a major oil refining and petrochemical hub.¹ Singapore’s CO₂ emissions are highly concentrated on Jurong island which serves as home to some of the biggest refineries and represents ~60% of the country’s emissions.²^,³

Transport contributes 13% of total emissions, mainly from Singapore’s road vehicle fleet of diesel and petrol vehicles that contribute 95% of transport emissions.⁴

Industrial processes emissions account for 22% of total emissions. Within this, the electronic industry is responsible for over 70% of industrial process emissions.⁵ Products used as substitutes for ozone depleting substances account for 17%, mainly related to emissions from the use of hydrofluorocarbons in solvent application.⁶

Waste emissions represent only 1% of Singapore’s total emissions. This is because Singapore’s waste is incinerated in its waste-to-energy plants to reduce waste volumes and to create energy, and these emissions are included in the energy sector.⁷ Only the ash from these plants and non-incinerable waste is placed in landfill and therefore landfill emissions account for just a small share of emissions.

Agriculture emissions are negligible, as Singapore a city-state relies on imports for its food.⁸

Graph description

Historical emissions per gas and per sector. Source: PRIMAP-Hist 2021 and IEA GHG Fuel Combustion 2021

Data References
- PRIMAP-Hist 2019. Energy sub-sectors emissions based on the IEA CO2 Fuel 2019. Inventory year: 2017.
- LULUCF emissions: latest available data as reported by the Climate Action Tracker 2020 update.

Energy system

Power, industry and transport account for the bulk of Singapore’s emissions.⁹ Industry and transport have been electrified to some extent, and the possible scaling up of these sectors could significantly reduce emissions if natural gas is replaced with renewable electricity generation.¹⁰

Singapore’s electricity mix is 96% natural gas. Renewable energy accounts for just 2% of the power mix, which is mainly biomass. Coal currently represents 1% of the power mix and could be phased out without delay. Gas also dominates the total primary energy supply with 96% of the mix. The remainder is oil.

Singapore’s Low Emissions Development Strategy highlights energy efficiency and conservation as a key area to transform industry and the economy.¹¹ In terms of power, Singapore’s strategy focuses on a “switch” to natural gas, which will continue to dominate the power mix in the near term, with plans for solar to drive a third “switch”, focusing on regional power grids for energy options, and a fourth “switch” to “low carbon alternatives” including carbon capture and storage and possibly hydrogen.¹²^,¹³

Singapore’s focus on natural gas as a ‘bridge’ to a low carbon future risks the creation of stranded assets (such as its LNG terminal) and is likely to result in job losses and economic disruption. Singapore’s gas supply is highly dependent on international markets, creating energy and economic insecurity.

Targets and commitments

Economy-wide targets

Target type

Fixed level target

NDC target

Peak emissions at 65 MtCO₂e around 2030 (including LULUCF, however LULUCF emissions are negligible).
24% above 2015 levels by 2030 (excluding LULUCF).

Market mechanisms

Economy wide carbon tax.

Long-term target

Aims to achieve net zero emissions as soon as viable in the second half of the century.¹⁴
Halve emissions from its peak to 32 MtCO₂e/yr by 2050.¹⁵

Sectoral targets

Power

Solar: 350 MW by 2020; and 2 GW by 2030 (including 540 MW of solar on public housing by 2030).¹⁶
Energy storage systems: 200 MW beyond 2025.¹⁷
Phase out coal by 2030s.¹⁸

Transport

Nine in ten of all peak period journeys to be made using Walk-Cycle-Ride (WCR) transport modes by 2040.¹⁹
Phase out internal combustion engine vehicles by 2040.²⁰

Buildings

Green 80% of total building gross floor area (GFA) by 2030.²¹
35 % reduction in energy use intensities from 2005 levels by 2030.²²^,²³

Waste

Reduce waste sent to Semakau Landfill per capita per day by 30% by 2030.
70% overall recycling rate by 2030.

National Environment Agency. Singapore’s Fourth Biennial Update Report. (2020). ↩
Lau, H. C. et al. A Decarbonization Roadmap for Singapore and Its Energy Policy Implications. (2021) doi:10.3390/en14206455. ↩
EDB: Singapore. Sustainable Jurong Island. 2021. ↩
National Climate Change Secretariat. Charting Singapore’s Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Future. (2020). ↩
National Climate Change Secretariat. Charting Singapore’s Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Future. (2020). ↩
National Climate Change Secretariat. Charting Singapore’s Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Future. (2020). ↩
National Climate Change Secretariat. Charting Singapore’s Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Future. (2020). ↩
National Climate Change Secretariat. Charting Singapore’s Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Future. (2020). ↩
National Climate Change Secretariat. Charting Singapore’s Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Future. (2020). ↩
National Climate Change Secretariat. Charting Singapore’s Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Future. (2020). ↩
National Climate Change Secretariat. Charting Singapore’s Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Future. (2020). ↩
Lau, H. C. et al. A Decarbonization Roadmap for Singapore and Its Energy Policy Implications. (2021) doi:10.3390/en14206455. ↩
National Climate Change Secretariat. Charting Singapore’s Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Future. (2020). ↩
National Climate Change Secretariat. Charting Singapore’s Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Future. (2020). ↩
32 MtCO₂e calculated in AR4 values by the Climate Action Tracker. Source cites 33 MtCO₂e/yr in AR5 GWP values. ↩
National Climate Change Secretariat. Charting Singapore’s Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Future. (2020). ↩
National Climate Change Secretariat. Charting Singapore’s Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Future. (2020). ↩
UN Climate Change Conference (COP26). Global Coal to Clean Power Transition Statement. (2021). ↩
National Climate Change Secretariat. Charting Singapore’s Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Future. (2020). ↩
National Climate Change Secretariat. Charting Singapore’s Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Future. (2020). ↩
National Climate Change Secretariat. Charting Singapore’s Low-Carbon and Climate Resilient Future. (2020). ↩
Duarte, C., Raftery, P. & Schiavon, S. Development of Whole-Building Energy Models for Detailed Energy Insights of a Large Office Building with Green Certification Rating in Singapore. Energy Technol. 6, 84–93 (2018). ↩
Climate Action Tracker. Singapore. (2020). ↩

What is Singapore's pathway to limit global warming to 1.5°C?