Singapore, renowned for its prowess in trade, is now venturing into a new domain: carbon trading. The island nation is setting itself up as Asia's premier carbon hub, a move reflecting its ambition to play a central role in global efforts to mitigate climate change.
In 2019, Singapore announced its goal to become the region’s go-to destination for quality carbon credits, essential for offsetting greenhouse gas emissions. This ambition extends beyond just trading; Singapore aims to provide a full spectrum of related services, including carbon monitoring, credit verification, and climate risk analysis. Today, the city-state boasts over 100 carbon service providers, the highest concentration in Southeast Asia.
Zhi Hui Tang, leading Singapore’s Ministry of Trade and Industry's climate change and sustainability division, sees this as an opportunity for global emissions reduction. “Developing a robust and vibrant carbon services and trading hub will help to catalyse climate action both locally and for the region,” Tang states.
Singapore's commitment was evident when it introduced a carbon tax in 2019, the first in Southeast Asia, covering 80% of its domestic emissions. Following this, the Monetary Authority of Singapore launched the Singapore Green Finance Centre, and the National University of Singapore opened a research center focusing on nature-based climate solutions.
According to Thomas Brzostowski of The Nature Conservancy’s Singapore office, the country is strategically positioned for this role. With a third of all nature-based carbon removal solutions located in Asia, Singapore stands at the forefront of these efforts. These solutions are crucial, as they are estimated to contribute 37% of the necessary reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius.
So far, 16 Asian nations have expressed interest in supplying carbon credits to the global market. Singapore, with its strategic location and well-established infrastructure, is poised to support and facilitate the growth of these regional markets, as reported by its Economic Development Board (EDB).
Singapore's role as an international aviation and shipping hub further enhances its attractiveness for carbon credits trading. This is particularly relevant for the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), which will require aircraft operators to purchase carbon credits for all international flights from 2027. Other sectors, such as shipping, are expected to follow a similar path.
These developments are timely, as the EDB estimates that the carbon hub could contribute up to $5.6 billion to Singapore's economy by 2050. The government's COVID-19 recovery task force has identified this sector as a key growth area, further reinforcing Singapore’s commitment to becoming a carbon hub.
Mikkel Larsen, chief sustainability officer of DBS and CEO of Climate Impact X (CIX), a joint venture launched in 2021, highlights Singapore's role in catalyzing regional carbon credit markets. CIX, a voluntary carbon exchange platform, offers a diverse range of credits, including those from nature-based projects and technology-based carbon-removal methods.
Meanwhile, AirCarbon Exchange (ACX), another Singapore-based platform, has expanded its offerings beyond CORSIA to include a variety of voluntary carbon credits. ACX utilizes blockchain technology and smart contracts, showcasing Singapore's innovative approach to carbon trading.
Additionally, the Asia Carbon Institute (ACI) has joined the scene, focusing on technology-based and urban-related carbon removal solutions. John Lo, ACI's founder, emphasizes the need for solutions targeting carbon-intensive industries and megacities prevalent in Asia.
The entry of new players like ACX and ACI underscores the growing potential of Singapore's carbon trading market. Experts like Jeffrey Silverman of Conservation International and Pedro Barata of the Environmental Defense Fund acknowledge Singapore's strategic position in a region with rapidly growing CO2 emissions. “Even though the carbon market itself is relatively small right now in Asia, it’s about to get large very soon,” Barata notes.
In summary, Singapore is making significant strides in establishing itself as a key player in Asia’s carbon market. This move not only aligns with its historical role as a trading hub but also demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to addressing one of the most pressing global challenges: climate change.
Samira is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, but deep inside, her heart is a nomad! She's a state champion debater, a public speaker, a scriptwriter, a theatre actress, but most importantly — A GREEN CITIZEN! She thinks of herself as a storyteller who thrives on enjoying the life at fullest and telling everyone the tales of life.
Samira is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, but deep inside, her heart is a nomad! She's a state champion debater, a public speaker, a scriptwriter, a theatre actress, but most importantly — A GREEN CITIZEN! She thinks of herself as a storyteller who thrives on enjoying the life at fullest and telling everyone the tales of life.
Green Blog
Singapore Rises as Asia’s Carbon Trading Epicenter
by : Samira Tasneem | Published: November 15, 2023
In a strategic move, Singapore positions itself as Asia’s leading carbon hub, offering innovative solutions for greenhouse gas mitigation.
Singapore, renowned for its prowess in trade, is now venturing into a new domain: carbon trading. The island nation is setting itself up as Asia's premier carbon hub, a move reflecting its ambition to play a central role in global efforts to mitigate climate change.
In 2019, Singapore announced its goal to become the region’s go-to destination for quality carbon credits, essential for offsetting greenhouse gas emissions. This ambition extends beyond just trading; Singapore aims to provide a full spectrum of related services, including carbon monitoring, credit verification, and climate risk analysis. Today, the city-state boasts over 100 carbon service providers, the highest concentration in Southeast Asia.
Singapore's commitment was evident when it introduced a carbon tax in 2019, the first in Southeast Asia, covering 80% of its domestic emissions. Following this, the Monetary Authority of Singapore launched the Singapore Green Finance Centre, and the National University of Singapore opened a research center focusing on nature-based climate solutions.
According to Thomas Brzostowski of The Nature Conservancy’s Singapore office, the country is strategically positioned for this role. With a third of all nature-based carbon removal solutions located in Asia, Singapore stands at the forefront of these efforts. These solutions are crucial, as they are estimated to contribute 37% of the necessary reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius.
So far, 16 Asian nations have expressed interest in supplying carbon credits to the global market. Singapore, with its strategic location and well-established infrastructure, is poised to support and facilitate the growth of these regional markets, as reported by its Economic Development Board (EDB).
Singapore's role as an international aviation and shipping hub further enhances its attractiveness for carbon credits trading. This is particularly relevant for the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA), which will require aircraft operators to purchase carbon credits for all international flights from 2027. Other sectors, such as shipping, are expected to follow a similar path.
These developments are timely, as the EDB estimates that the carbon hub could contribute up to $5.6 billion to Singapore's economy by 2050. The government's COVID-19 recovery task force has identified this sector as a key growth area, further reinforcing Singapore’s commitment to becoming a carbon hub.
Mikkel Larsen, chief sustainability officer of DBS and CEO of Climate Impact X (CIX), a joint venture launched in 2021, highlights Singapore's role in catalyzing regional carbon credit markets. CIX, a voluntary carbon exchange platform, offers a diverse range of credits, including those from nature-based projects and technology-based carbon-removal methods.
Meanwhile, AirCarbon Exchange (ACX), another Singapore-based platform, has expanded its offerings beyond CORSIA to include a variety of voluntary carbon credits. ACX utilizes blockchain technology and smart contracts, showcasing Singapore's innovative approach to carbon trading.
Additionally, the Asia Carbon Institute (ACI) has joined the scene, focusing on technology-based and urban-related carbon removal solutions. John Lo, ACI's founder, emphasizes the need for solutions targeting carbon-intensive industries and megacities prevalent in Asia.
The entry of new players like ACX and ACI underscores the growing potential of Singapore's carbon trading market. Experts like Jeffrey Silverman of Conservation International and Pedro Barata of the Environmental Defense Fund acknowledge Singapore's strategic position in a region with rapidly growing CO2 emissions. “Even though the carbon market itself is relatively small right now in Asia, it’s about to get large very soon,” Barata notes.
In summary, Singapore is making significant strides in establishing itself as a key player in Asia’s carbon market. This move not only aligns with its historical role as a trading hub but also demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to addressing one of the most pressing global challenges: climate change.
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Samira Tasneem
Samira is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, but deep inside, her heart is a nomad! She's a state champion debater, a public speaker, a scriptwriter, a theatre actress, but most importantly — A GREEN CITIZEN! She thinks of herself as a storyteller who thrives on enjoying the life at fullest and telling everyone the tales of life.
Samira Tasneem
Samira is an Electronics and Communications Engineer by profession, but deep inside, her heart is a nomad! She's a state champion debater, a public speaker, a scriptwriter, a theatre actress, but most importantly — A GREEN CITIZEN! She thinks of herself as a storyteller who thrives on enjoying the life at fullest and telling everyone the tales of life.
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