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Programme launched to help Singapore firms reduce carbon emissions: Grace Fu

_{This article first appeared in The Straits Times on Oct 26, 2021. Photo: Kua Chee Siong}

 The launch of a capability-building programme that will help local businesses monitor and reduce their carbon emissions was announced by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Tuesday (Oct 26).

Ms Fu was speaking at the Global Compact Network Singapore's (GCNS) annual summit on corporate sustainability when she announced the launch of LowCarbonSG, an 18-month programme to help raise companies' awareness of climate risks.

LowCarbonSG is helmed by Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition (CPLC) Singapore, the decarbonisation arm of GCNS, and supported by the National Environment Agency and Enterprise Singapore.

Companies that join the programme will be guided to measure and monitor their carbon emissions via a carbon and emissions recording tool - digital software developed and provided by CPLC Singapore - while learning best practices in emissions reduction.

Ms Fu said: "CPLC Singapore has engaged 152 companies and upskilled 247 staff in emissions awareness and knowledge. I am heartened that a pioneer cohort of large and small local companies are on board the LowCarbonSG programme."

A spokesman for GCNS explained that when a company comes on board, their energy, waste and transportation data over the previous six months is used to establish a baseline.

The firm is then tasked to monitor its emissions with the carbon and emissions recording tool and to reduce them where possible.

Vac-Tech Engineering was one of the first companies to join the programme in January.

Its safety manager, Mr Retna Vinod, said the carbon and emissions recording tool helped to track the company's emissions and identify areas to make its operations more energy- and resource-efficient.