【国会发言】新加坡人力部长陈诗龙：碳税过渡计划会给公司提供排放津贴

何廷儒女士问贸易和工业部长：

（a） 最新碳税过渡计划的进展如何，这计划是从2022年1月12日开始的；

（b） 碳税过渡计划怎么帮助那些排放多、又怕竞争不过的行业逐渐转型，但又不会减弱给它们投资减碳的提醒；以及 

（c） 中小型企业从能源效率基金拿了多少钱来提升自己的能力。

贸工部第二部长 陈诗龙医生（代表贸易和工业部长）：议长，自从2022年1月，政府就宣布了碳税过渡计划，目的是给新加坡的公司一点时间来适应低碳经济，也鼓励它们为转型做出必要的投资。从那以后，新加坡经济发展局（EDB）一直在跟受影响的公司，比如化学和半导体行业的公司，密切联系，讨论具体细节和计划的执行。

这个过渡计划会激励公司去投资减碳。它会给公司提供一部分的排放津贴，这部分是基于国际上公认的效率标准，如果没有的话，就根据公司的减碳计划来定。

其余的排放量将被征收现行的整体碳排放税。政府会根据公司减排情况、国际发展和减碳技术的进步来调整这些津贴。

至于能源效率基金，到目前为止，已经批准了90个项目，总共340万美元。这个基金已经合并到了增强的能源效率拨款里，从2024年4月1日起，更多公司就可以申请了。

议长：何廷儒女士。

何廷儒女士（盛港）：谢谢部长的回答。我有两个追问。

第一个，部长说新加坡经济发展局一直在联系受影响的公司。我想问有多少公司被联系到了，还有估计还有多少公司没有被联系到；还有多少公司还没有被联系到呢？

第二个问题是，碳税过渡计划对新加坡的气候目标会有什么重大影响吗？

陈诗龙医生：谢谢议员的追问。第一个问题，根据这个过渡计划，新加坡经济发展局一直在和受影响的行业接触。这些行业有点特殊，比如化学、电子和生物医药制造。这些公司会得到一些过渡津贴。

至于公司数量，你可以想象，这些都是大公司—现在有超过20家，名单还在增加。到目前为止，已经超过20家了。通过新加坡经济发展局的参与，津贴的标准会考虑到公司的减碳计划以及国际上公认的效率标准。在适当的时候，政府会发布一些有关津贴的总体信息。但我也想提醒一下，我们需要考虑到一些因素，比如这些信息是否会泄露商业上的敏感信息。你可以想象，能源和化学行业里，有那么多的参与者。

第二个问题是什么来着？

何廷儒女士：第二个问题是，碳税过渡计划对新加坡的气候目标会有什么重大影响吗？

陈诗龙医生：议长，回答第二个追问。我们希望继续鼓励公司尽早减排。我们非常关注，也专注于在2050年实现目标。因为这个计划还在发展中，我们也在和国际上的公司一起参考标准。在一年左右的时间里，我想我们会给出更清晰的答案。我请求议员多多包涵，稍等片刻。

Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) whether he can provide an update on the transition framework for carbon tax that was first introduced on 12 January 2022; (b) how does the transition framework for existing facilities in the emissions-intensive trade-exposed sectors ease the transition without eroding the price signal for such companies to invest in decarbonisation; and (c) whether an update can be provided on how much SMEs have drawn down on the Energy Efficiency Fund to build capabilities.

The Second Minister for Trade and Industry (Dr Tan See Leng) (for the Minister for Trade and Industry): Mr Speaker, in January 2022, the Government announced the introduction of the carbon tax transition framework to provide time for Singapore companies in emissions-intensive and trade-exposed (EITE) sectors to adjust to a low-carbon economy and to make the necessary investments for their transformation. Since the announcement, the Economic Development Board (EDB) has been engaging affected companies, such as those in the chemicals and semiconductor sectors, on the details and the implementation of the framework.

The transition framework will be calibrated to spur companies to invest in decarbonisation. Transitory allowances will be provided only for a proportion – only for a proportion – of the companies’ emissions and are based on internationally recognised efficiency benchmarks, where available, or the companies’ decarbonisation plans.

The remaining emissions will be subject to the prevailing headline carbon tax. The Government will review and adjust the allowances based on how companies have fared in lowering their emissions, as well as international developments and advancements in decarbonisation technologies.

 For the Energy Efficiency Fund, 90 projects amounting to $3.4 million have been approved to date. The Energy Efficiency Fund has been subsumed under the enhanced Energy Efficiency Grant – just two days ago – from 1 April 2024, which will be available to more companies.

Mr Speaker: Ms He.

Ms He Ting Ru (Sengkang): I thank the Minister for his reply. I have two supplementary questions.

The first is, the Minister said earlier that EDB has been engaging affected companies. I was just wondering how many companies have been reached by EDB and does he have an estimate about how many companies have not yet been engaged by EDB; and how many more to go, basically?

The second question is, is there any significant projected impact from the transition framework on Singapore’s climate targets that arise from this, from the framework?

Dr Tan See Leng: I thank the Member for her supplementary questions. For the first one, under this transition framework, EDB has been engaging the types of facilities in the EITE sectors. They are sectorally determined, so we have them in the chemicals, electronics and biomedical manufacturing sectors. These will receive transitory allowances.

As to the number of companies, you can imagine, these are large sector companies – today, there are more than 20 companies and the list will continue to be populated. But thus far, more than 20 companies. The level of allowances, with EDB’s involvement, will factor in the company’s decarbonisation plans as well as benchmarking to internationally-recognised efficiency benchmarks, wherever it is applicable.

In time, when appropriate, the Government will release aggregated information on the amount of allowances provided. But this is where I want to also sound a caution. We will need to bear in mind considerations, such as whether these disclosures will inadvertently divulge commercially-sensitive information. I think you can imagine that, in the energy and chemical sector, there are that number of players within Jurong Island and within the entire space.

What was the second question?

Ms He Ting Ru: The second question is if there is a significant projected impact on the transition framework on Singapore’s climate targets.

Dr Tan See Leng: Mr Speaker, just to answer the second supplementary question. We want to spur and continue to nudge companies to decarbonise ahead of time. We are mindful and we are very focused on achieving that target by 2050. Because this is a developing framework and the companies that we are engaging with are also looking at international benchmarks, in time to come, in about a year from now, I think, we will be able to give you a better, a clearer indication. I seek the Member’s patience on this.

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