Singapore's Legislation on Air Pollution Control
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| Singapore well known for its clean and green environment Source: Carlina Teteris/ Gettyimages |
Today's Singapore is bless with good air quality conditions despite the staggering amount of vehicles on the roads, high national power consumption and even boasting one of the world's largest petrochemical industry and oil refinery, and this did not happen by chance. The good air quality is established and maintained by a set of tough and effective legislation system that has undergone continual revision over the past decades.
Prior to the Clean Air Act introduced in 1971, air pollution control is governed by a provision known as the Local Government Integration Ordinance that was lacking in clear emission standards and thus resulting in ineffective enforcement by the authorities on the polluting industries.
The launch of Clean Air Act was thus followed by the establishment of the Clean Air (Standards) Regulations in the following year, 1972. Through the regulations, exact emission limits were imposed on various air pollutants to enable effective enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
With a better understanding of the intertwined nature of pollution such as eutrophication that was mentioned in one of my previous post on how air pollution can lead into water pollution, Singapore government saw the need to integrate the various pollution control acts. As a result, the 1999 Environmental Pollution Control Act (EPCA) was established to serve as a more comprehensive legislative framework to control pollution ranging from air pollution, water pollution to noise pollution. The EPCA integrates the previous pollution control acts and seeks to maintain a general healthy and safe environment that is free of pollution in Singapore.
Through the EPCA, emissions of air pollutants from mobile and stationary sources of pollution are regulated and limited. For instance, Euro V and IV vehicular emission standards are imposed on new diesel and petrol vehicles in 2014 which will contribute in the significant reduction of PM2.5 concentration in our atmosphere, with the constant commitments in reducing sulfur content in diesel fuels to reduce SO2 emissions. In addition, the EPCA even made it illegal for car owners with poor maintained cars that emit smoky exhausts. The EPCA also contains regulations to ensure that industries monitor their emissions frequently. Tax incentives are further granted to subsidise the purchase of more efficient equipment that will have reduced emissions in air pollutants.
Singapore's clean air today is attributed to successful legislation, dating back to the 1970s that safeguarded Singaporeans' health while Singapore rapidly developed from third to first world country. Air pollution control still remains a challenge into the future especially from the ever-growing vehicle demand and the transboundary haze episode. Innovative solutions such as electric cars and efficient public transportation system as well as regional collaboration with our neighbouring countries will be required to ensure that the air in Singapore continues to be clean and healthy for our wellbeing.
Prior to the Clean Air Act introduced in 1971, air pollution control is governed by a provision known as the Local Government Integration Ordinance that was lacking in clear emission standards and thus resulting in ineffective enforcement by the authorities on the polluting industries.
The launch of Clean Air Act was thus followed by the establishment of the Clean Air (Standards) Regulations in the following year, 1972. Through the regulations, exact emission limits were imposed on various air pollutants to enable effective enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
With a better understanding of the intertwined nature of pollution such as eutrophication that was mentioned in one of my previous post on how air pollution can lead into water pollution, Singapore government saw the need to integrate the various pollution control acts. As a result, the 1999 Environmental Pollution Control Act (EPCA) was established to serve as a more comprehensive legislative framework to control pollution ranging from air pollution, water pollution to noise pollution. The EPCA integrates the previous pollution control acts and seeks to maintain a general healthy and safe environment that is free of pollution in Singapore.
Through the EPCA, emissions of air pollutants from mobile and stationary sources of pollution are regulated and limited. For instance, Euro V and IV vehicular emission standards are imposed on new diesel and petrol vehicles in 2014 which will contribute in the significant reduction of PM2.5 concentration in our atmosphere, with the constant commitments in reducing sulfur content in diesel fuels to reduce SO2 emissions. In addition, the EPCA even made it illegal for car owners with poor maintained cars that emit smoky exhausts. The EPCA also contains regulations to ensure that industries monitor their emissions frequently. Tax incentives are further granted to subsidise the purchase of more efficient equipment that will have reduced emissions in air pollutants.
Singapore's clean air today is attributed to successful legislation, dating back to the 1970s that safeguarded Singaporeans' health while Singapore rapidly developed from third to first world country. Air pollution control still remains a challenge into the future especially from the ever-growing vehicle demand and the transboundary haze episode. Innovative solutions such as electric cars and efficient public transportation system as well as regional collaboration with our neighbouring countries will be required to ensure that the air in Singapore continues to be clean and healthy for our wellbeing.
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