Readers response draft 3 ( clean energy transition )

   In the article, "How Can Southeast Asia's Clean Energy Transition Be Sped Up?" Daubach (2019) addressed the various ways to promote green energy production and the areas that need to be improved in the region. Moniz, the Chief Executive of Energy Futures Initiative and Nuclear Threat Initiative, mentioned that the region is required to deploy a wide variety of low carbon technologies and solutions to electricity generation to reduce emissions (Daubach, 2019). The author mentioned that Singapore is a land-scarce country that may benefit from nuclear fusion or use hydrogen as a zero-emissions fuel for vehicles and energy storage. He reported that the usage of coal, which is the biggest source of greenhouse emissions, had increased in 2018. He added that improving efficiency requirements would reduce electrical consumption. While the article addressed nuclear fusion as a solution required to reduce pollution, it did not mention that there are other solutions, such as reducing the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) usually used as a refrigerant in refrigeration and air conditioning (RAC) equipment and carbon tax implementation. If these two solutions were mentioned by the author, readers will have a boost in confidence knowing that there is more than one alternative.

Firstly, HFCs are one of the main causes of air pollution. The Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) has come up with ideas to reduced the use of HFCs. According to NEA, it has produced a voluntary label to help customers identify air-conditioner and refrigerator models that use climate-friendly refrigerants. With more usage of climate-friendly refrigerants, HFCs will be reduced. It also stated that NEA will be slowly discontinuing RAC equipment that requires high Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerant. Improper installation of air-conditioner and chiller will lead to leakage of refrigerant, therefore, NEA partners with schools such as the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and Temasek Polytechnic to conduct training courses to groom students as skilled household air conditioning technicians and chiller technicians. Recovering destroyed refrigerants in decommissioned RAC equipment is another way to reduce HFCs. The recovered refrigerants will be transported to approved refrigerant treatment facilities and e-waste recyclers to either re-introduce back to the market to service RAC equipment or eliminate them using established methods of destruction to ensure environmentally sustainable management of spent refrigerants.

Lastly, the implementation of the carbon tax is a crucial step to reduce carbon emission. According to National Climate Change Secretariat (2020), The tax will start at $5/tCO2e from 2019 to 2023. Businesses will have to choose to either reduce emissions or pay the tax. It is further supported by Mohan et al. (2021) who states that facilities whose yearly emission reaches more than 25,000tCO2e (metric tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent) are the one who has to pay the carbon tax. The reason is that 80% of Singapore's emission is due to these facilities. MP Don Wee stated in the article that the revenue received from the carbon tax can be utilized to help with the funding of energy efficiency and green financing schemes, and efficiency grants can reach out to other industries such as transportation and agriculture (Mohan et al.,2021)

Although nuclear fusion may seem like the only solution to reduce emissions, the article should emphasize other solutions so that readers will have a better understanding of Singapore's approach to the reduction of emissions and the plans the government has in mind to make Singapore a much greener country. 

Reference:

Carbon Tax. (2020, 30th December). Carbon Tax. https://www.nccs.gov.sg/singapores-climate-action/carbon-tax/

Daubach, T. (2019, 19th July). How can Southeast Asia’s clean energy transition be sped up? Eco-Business. https://www.eco-business.com/news/how-can-southeast-asias-clean-energy-transition-be-sped-up/

Mohan, M & Co, c & Ang, H M (2021, February 2). Raising carbon tax, improving public sector’s sustainability standards among MPs’ proposals to tackle climate change. CNA. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/climate-change-motion-parliament-carbon-tax-sustainability-14089372

Reducing GHG emissions from the use of refrigerants in RAC sector. (2020, 12th August). Climate Change. https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/climate-change-energy-efficiency/climate-change/reducing-ghg-emissions-from-the-use-of-refrigerants-in-rac-sector