2 : : The Inconvenient Truth

“The Inconvenient Truth”, together with other similarly themed films such as “The Day after Tomorrow” and “The Day the Earth Stood Still”, targets to increase the awareness of changes in the global climate worldwide, by utilizing the extensive reach of media. Cynics call it a scare tactic, but the effects of global warming is real, based on trends of climate changes over the years. In Singapore, the main sources of carbon emissions are from the burning of fossil fuels in industrial processes, power plants, transportation and the incineration of wastes. Singapore's government has been actively involved in curbing carbon emissions, aiming to reduce carbon intensities by 25% from its levels in 1990, by year 2012. This target was achieved two years ago. In the same year, Singapore has also acceded to the Kyoto Protocol.

To increase the efficiency of power plants, the government has liberalized the electricity market. With electricity providers facing competitions, there is a need for cleaner and more efficient power. Modern turbine technology was employed in conjunction with an increased usage of natural gases from 19% in year 2000 to 78% in year 2006. Natural gases allow cleaner and more efficient energy extraction, explaining the significant decrease in carbon emissions from power stations since then.

However, the high energy utilization rate of the city-state meant power plants will still remain as the major contributor to carbon emissions. The government responds with a two pronged approach: advocate energy saving and introducing cleaner energy. In the past year, regular advertisements of energy saving were put up, by displaying the incentives of saving on electricity bills. Lightings in parks are also changed to energy saving bulbs which amounted to savings of $702,000 equivalence of energy. Next, the government has also set aside $350 million to develop alternative energy sources such as solar and wind energy.

Transportation is another major contributor to carbon emissions, and public transport is encouraged as means of keeping it to the minimal. Disincentives such as COE and road taxes are designed to restrict the number of cars on the road by imposing high costs of owning a vehicle. Meanwhile, funds are injected into improving the public transport network, such as the recent Circle Line. The extensive public transport network in the near future will become a most common and efficient tool of transport, following the footsteps of cities such as London and Tokyo.

Despite numerous efforts by the government in curbing global warming, individuals still play the most important role in contributing to reduced carbon emissions. Reducing energy consumption, travelling on public transport, reduce waste disposal and increase recycling are the choice of individuals, who plays the largest role collectively.