The climate crisis is a multi-faceted crisis that will affect all sectors of society. Importantly, we must recognise that those who have contributed the least to the climate crisis are usually the ones who are affected the most. A transition away from our carbon-dependent paradigm is urgently needed. Crucially, any climate mitigation and adaptation plans must be embedded with a focus on environmental justice and equity: who will pay for the climate crisis and how are we protecting underserved, underrepresented, marginalised communities?
Click on each subsection to read more about the key issues and demands highlighted in the manifesto
Singapore’s carbon pricing still falls short of scientific recommendations, particularly as a high-income country. Our annual carbon tax revenue is also not publicly declared, limiting transparency and accountability. There is no transparency in understanding what proportion of Singapore’s carbon tax revenue goes to supporting businesses, and what proportion goes to households and vulnerable communities. Meanwhile, it was recently reported that companies in the refining and downstream sectors will receive carbon tax allowances of up to 76%.
Our Demands
More Ambitious Carbon Pricing and Reduction Targets
- Strengthen the carbon tax in line with international recommendations.
- Remove carbon tax allowances for emissions-intensive industries.
- Mandate carbon reduction targets and climate transition roadmaps for large companies.
- Increase transparency of our intended pathway to net-zero by 2050.
- Meaningfully engage the broader public on environmental policies.
After so many years, we still have not recognised the displaced communities of Singapore’s early inhabitants, such as the Orang Laut / Orang Pulau who were displaced during the development of Pulau Semakau as an offshore landfill. The government should recognise and acknowledge the many spaces, traditions and livelihoods that have already been lost, for example, the communities that were affected by the development of Pulau Bukom and Jurong Island. The impacts of displacement are generational and exist to this day. Preservation of what is left of our indigenous communities and cultures can be the first step in taking accountability for these previous displacements.
Our Demands
- Recognise and include narratives of sustainability from indigenous communities.
As we start to wind down and transition away from polluting industries such as the petrochemical sector, workers must be adequately protected. Oftentimes, the workers that face the most precarity are the lowest wage-earners in these companies. There have been multiple reports over the years that these workers are victims of unfair severance packages and/or sudden redundancies, sometimes under the guise of ‘performance’. Additionally, these workers must be guaranteed adequate training so that they can effectively pivot away and use their skills and labour for more regenerative industries.
Our Demands
Ensuring a Just Transition
- Protect workers in polluting industries and invest in good green jobs
- Strengthen protections against unsafe working conditions
Given the effects of our contributions to the climate crisis in Southeast Asia, Singapore, along with other developed countries, can and should do more to mitigate the climate crisis in the region.
Our Demands
- Strengthen the regulatory regime to stop illegal resource extractive activities in Southeast Asia, particularly in countries that export resources to Singapore.
Plastic pollution problems will keep increasing if we do not pay attention to the source of the pollution. Singapore, home to several plastic producing companies, should take appropriate action to regulate the upstream supply of plastics.
Our Demands
Strengthening Our Plastic Regulation Infrastructure
- Introduce stronger upstream regulations on plastics-producing companies, namely (a) Ensure transparency, tracking, monitoring and labelling of plastic products; (b) Impose a national reduction target on plastics production; and (c) Impose a plastic pollution fee on plastics-producing companies.
- Commit to more transparency on the chemical composition of plastics, alongside their environmental and human health hazardous impacts.
- Implement national reduction targets for plastics production and supply.