UN urges S-E Asia to phase out coal plants and end fossil fuel subsidy

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South-east Asia is the region with the third-highest number of coal plants in the pipeline, after China and India

the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to well under 2 deg C above pre-industrial levels.

Emissions from the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas are contributing to this warming. Their combustion releases gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, where they act like a blanket in trapping heat. This causes weather patterns to change and increases the likelihood of extreme weather events.

Coal is considered the dirtiest fossil fuel. Its com-bustion releases heat-trapping gases and also contributes to pollution, which could impact the health of people living nearby. Yet, it has been the energy source of choice for many developing nations because it is considered cheap.

Singapore is powered mainly by natural gas, which is a cleaner form of energy but still a fossil fuel nonetheless. However, the Government is also investing in solar energy, and is trialling the installation of solar panels on water bodies to overcome space constraints.

under the Agreement – Singapore pledged to become greener economically and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted to achieve each dollar of gross domestic product by 36 per cent from 2005 levels, come 2030. It also pledged to stop any further increases to its greenhouse gas emissions by the same timeline.

Qn: Assess the view that attempts to control climate change can never be truly effective. (Cam. 2017)