The imperative to grow our port, and develop our International Maritime Centre, must be accompanied by efforts to protect the marine environment and tackle climate change. For example, we conduct environmental impact assessments (EIA) before commencing development projects.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) has also worked with volunteers from environmental interest groups to relocate coral colonies to St John’s and Sisters’ Islands, to protect them from the impact of Tuas Port development. Globally, Singapore supports the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s regulations to control pollution from ships. It has ratified every major IMO Convention relating to the prevention of pollution from ships.
To tackle climate change, Singapore also supports the IMO’s targets to reduce the carbon intensity of international shipping by at least 40% by 2030 and reduce the total annual greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by at least 50% by 2050. Both targets are based on 2008 figures.
In 2011, MPA launched a S$100 million Maritime Singapore Green Initiative (MSGI). This programme was enhanced in 2019 to focus on the decarbonisation of ports and shipping. In 2021, we established the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation with key industry players. It brings together industry partners round the world to develop and drive maritime decarbonisation solutions, including low- and zero-carbon fuels.
The Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint was launched at COS 2022, charting out our strategies and concrete targets to drive the decarbonisation of our domestic maritime sector, and plans for collaborations with researchers, industry and international partners to catalyse green shipping. MPA will commit additional funds of at least $300 million to support initiatives outlined in the Blueprint, and will update the Blueprint progressively in line with our climate change commitments.
