One Blog for the Kids!: Carbon Cycle

Showing posts with label Carbon Cycle. Show all posts

Friday, February 26, 2010

CARBON TAX A 'MORE PRACTICAL' SYSTEM

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SINGAPORE - It would be "more practical" to reduce carbon emissions in Singapore through a tax system, rather than a cap-and-trade system, said the Ministry of Finance (MOF) in the FY2010 Revenue and Expenditure Estimates it released yesterday.

This is because Singapore is a small domestic market with only "a few large energy consumers".

A tax system - where the Government fixes the price per unit of carbon - can also "provide greater price certainty and stability that will incentivise investments in energy efficiency and low carbon solutions", MOF said.

Conversely, a cap-and-trade system - which allows firms to buy and sell their emissions permits - could pose "substantial" transaction and monitoring costs on both the Government and firms because a new carbon trading infrastructure would have to be set up.

Carbon trading also allows the price of carbon to vary, and may deter or delay carbon reduction investments, the ministry added.

MOF said a combination of price signals, fiscal measures and other policy interventions will be needed to curb carbon emissions.

It is studying all the options, and will announce specific measures after working out the details and the outcome of climate change negotiations is clearer.

From TODAY, Tuesday, 23-Feb-2010

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Monday, June 1, 2009

Calculator for carbon footprint

On being environment-friendly, this is something… might start young as well to save the Earth…

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IF YOU don't know how much carbon emissions your daily activities add to the atmosphere, you can now work that out.

This is with Singapore's first carbon footprint online calculator, which was launched yesterday.

At www.mycarbonfootprint.sg, you will be asked questions such as "How do you get to school or to work?" or "Do you use hot water when you shower?" — and your carbon emissions will be calculated for you.

Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, Mr Simon Tay, who was the guest-of-honour at the launch, said climate change is a problem that "we all contribute to and that we do not really know how to address".

This is why individuals and not just governments must be involved in fighting it, he said.

Welcoming the launch of a personal carbon footprint calculator, he urged students and youth to impact their own family's lifestyles.

Recounting how his wife and 11-year-old son have influenced him to be a better environmentalist — not just as a policy issue but in everyday practice — he said they have implemented recycling thoroughly, and have kept their household bills for electricity and water low at under $100 per month. His family even asked for a hybrid car.

The carbon footprint calculator project was a collaboration between Hemispheres Foundation and Singapore Polytechnic.

President and Founder of Hemispheres Foundation, Ms Ann Phua, explained: "It gives an alert as to how your lifestyle habits have made an impact on the carbon emissions that you have created."

The Carbon Footprint Calculator was launched at the Singapore Science Centre in conjunction with the "Actions for Earth Carbon Footprint Challenge".

This drew more than 800 students who pledged to reduce carbon emission through a change in their lifestyle. The event commemorates the World Environment Day which falls on June 5. 938LIVE

From TODAYOnline.com, Monday, 01-Jun-2009; see the source article here.