SINGAPORE – Young people have a big role to play in climate action, which will involve managing trade-offs like the loss of jobs in Singapore’s petrochemical sector, said Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam on April 18.
He outlined three areas where they can contribute to climate action, with one being the Government’s Climate Youth Development Programme (CYDP), where youth leaders examine the policy considerations of climate action here.
Singapore is a big contributor to planet-warming emissions on a per-capita basis because it has one of the world’s largest refinery centres, said Mr Shanmugam, who is also Minister for Home Affairs.
However, reducing the country’s emissions may make no difference to the world, as these facilities could move to a neighbouring island, he said at Climate Change Conversations 2026 organised by the Rotary Club of Marina City.
Mr Shanmugam, who chairs the ministerial committee coordinating Singapore’s response to disruptions arising from the Middle East conflict, noted that a number of countries around Asia have stopped exporting refined products amid the global energy crisis, even as Singapore continues to do so.
