Budget 2024 > Latest > Commentary
Mr Louis Ng Kok Kwang (Nee Soon): Mr Chairman, I beg to move, “That the total sum to be allocated for Head L of the Estimates be reduced by $100”.
When I stand up to speak in this House, I am often raising questions or asking the Ministry for things. This time, I am standing to thank the Ministry for the phenomenal job it has done on our climate policies. Of course, I still have questions and many more things to ask for, but those will come later.
We have shown tremendous leadership on the global stage at the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28) on climate change. We co-facilitated ministerial consultations on climate mitigation and co-chaired the First Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement. At home, we are transiting to a low-carbon future by raising the carbon tax to $25 per tonne, tracking the public sector’s performance on sustainability through the GreenGov.SG Report and enhancing the Energy Efficiency Fund. We are also taking steps to strengthen our climate resilience by looking into coastal protection, heat stress and updating our climate projects through the Third National Climate Change Study (V3).
We have also taken concrete steps towards becoming a zero-waste nation. We introduced the disposable bag charge, the food waste reporting framework and will introduce the beverage container return scheme soon. We are taking care of our lower-income workers by extending the Progressive Wage Model (PWM) to the waste collection and materials recovery sectors. We have made our living environment safer and more livable. We introduced the statutory presumption for littering from flats, looked into preventing disease outbreaks and made our hawker centres more vibrant. We have also made sure that our food and water supplies are resilient to safeguard against future crises.
Sir, 2023 has been a busy and productive year for the Ministry. I thank the Ministry and the many public servants and civil society groups behind the scenes who have made all these progress possible.
In 2024, we are one more year closer to the 2030 deadline in the Singapore Green Plan 2030 and the 2050 deadline to reach net-zero emissions here in Singapore. Every day, our planet is warming. I am glad we are acting fast and taking bold steps. I am glad the voices of many in this House and outside of this House have been heard and the Government has been taking concrete steps to look into what we have called for. Well, with the exception of second-hand smoke which we must do so much more.
I know my Government Parliamentary Committee (GPC) colleagues, fellow Members of Parliament (MPs) and I will be asking lots more questions about the Ministry’s plans for 2024. I look forward to a robust and lively debate.
Watch the speech here.