Summary Readers Response Draft 1 ( 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 needed for green energy production, in my opinion, it did not state that there are other solutions such as reducing the use of Hydrofluorocarbons(HFCs), the implementation, and the increase in the price of the carbon tax which can help with emission reduction.

Firstly, HFCs are normally used as a refrigerant in Refrigeration and Air-conditioning (RAC) equipment and is one of the main cause to air emission, therefore, the Singapore National Environment Agency (NEA) has come up with ideas to reduced the use of HFCs. According to Singapore National Environmental Agency (2020), they have produced a voluntary label to help customers identify air-conditioner and refrigerator models that use climate-friendly refrigerants. Consumers will then be able to help the environment by purchasing RACs equipment with the label on. It also stated that NEA will be slowly discontinuing RAC equipment that requires high Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerant. Also, NEA is working with schools such as the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and Temasek Polytechnic to implement training courses for household air-conditioner technicians and chiller technicians. By introducing such training courses will groom technicians on proper handling of refrigerants. Recovering refrigerant in decommissioned RAC equipment is another way to reduce HFCs. Recovered refrigerants will be transported to licensed refrigerant treatment facilities and e-waste recyclers to either salvage and re-introduce RAC equipment back into the market or eliminate them using official destruction methods to ensure environmentally sound management of spent refrigerants.

Lastly, according to National Climate Change Secretariat (2020), the implementation of the carbon tax is a crucial step to emission reduction. The tax will start at $5/tCO2e from 2019 to 2023. Businesses will have to choose to either reduce emissions or pay the tax. Carbon tax revenue will then be a help to fund the preventive measures to reduce emissions by industry. Switch Licensed Electricity Retailer (2020) states that the carbon tax will be reviewed by 2023 and plan to increase the price from $5/tCO2e to between $10/tCO2e and $15/tCO2e. A Carbon tax will help to reduce the usage of fossil fuels which will then reduce carbon dioxide, which is responsible for global warming. 

Although nuclear fusion may seem like the only solution to reduce emissions, Daubach 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 In Singapore – Understanding How It Works & Affects You. (2020, 16th January). ISwitch. https://iswitch.com.sg/carbon-tax-singapore/

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/

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

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