What We Need to Know About Singapore’s CCS Strategy in Reducing Carbon Emissions

The issue of carbon emissions has become a long-term problem for Southeast Asia, and it remains unclear how it can be solved entirely. Though there is no single method that can entirely solve it, countries like Singapore strives by developing a strategy called CCS (carbon capture and storage) that aims to reduce carbon emissions effectively.

Always offering new insights with its own characteristics, here is what we need to know about the CCS strategy that is designed to reduce carbon emissions as well as other environmental problems in Singapore.

Singapore’s Current Numbers on Carbon Emissions

In Southeast Asia, Singapore is placed quite low in terms of its carbon emissions. According to the International Energy Agency, Singapore contributed only 0.1% of global emissions in 2022. A report by the Global Carbon Project shows that Singapore’s CO₂ territorial emissions decreased from 53.25 MtCO₂ in 2022 to 49.25 MtCO₂ in 2023.

Singapore has been actively engaged in efforts to find a solution to reduce carbon emissions for years. Recently, the country has declared its ambition to cut emissions until it reaches its target of 45-50 MtCO₂e by 2035. Singapore also aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Get to Know CCS Strategy and How It Works

Singapore invests heavily in research on CCS implementation in the effort to reduce carbon emissions. CCS strategy stands for Carbon Capture and Storage, where the CO₂ emissions are captured and then stored before they can be released into the atmosphere. This CO₂ is then stored underground or in a deep geological formation.

Likewise, there is another slightly different idea of CCS known as CCUS, which stands for Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage. In this system, after being captured, the CO₂ emissions are reused to make other practical products needed, such as building materials or synthetic fuels that can replace fossil fuels.

After-Effects of CCS on Singapore’s Carbon Emissions

Globally, CCS and CCUS have successfully injected almost 300 million tonnes of CO₂ underground. In Singapore itself, this technology is actually at an early stage, with ongoing research and development to improve its effectiveness. Regarding this, the country is planning to launch a pilot project to test this carbon capture technologies.

However, one question remains: how to ensure that CCS will not create more problems? Governments worldwide, including Singapore’s, have dedicated to the development of this technology. While it shows great potential, its production must be carefully managed so that it will not cause harm to people and the environment.

What Citizens Can Do to Reduce Carbon Emissions

Other than the government action, citizens should also be aware and take part in efforts to reduce carbon emissions. In 2024, the National Climate Change Secretariat (NCCS) of Singapore conducted a public survey regarding the decarbonisation journey that the government is trying to make.

The survey revealed that 91% of respondents supported Singapore’s goals to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Additionally, they want Singapore to be more ambitious about climate targets for the future of next generation. Then, the respondents are willing to take actions, such as reducing single-use plastic bags and increasing recycling.

While Singapore proposes a modern approach to reduce carbon emissions by developing CCS and CCUS, other actions are still required to ensure the safety of this project to the end. Innovations like this become a hope in the world to solve one problem in environmental issues and to sustain a better life in the future.