National Environment Agency
Encyclopedia
National Environment Agency (Abbreviation
: NEA; Chinese: 国家环境局; Malay: Agensi Sekitaran Kebangsaan) formed on 1 July 2002, is a statutory board
under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources
in Singapore
. As a statutory board, it gives NEA greater administrative autonomy to be more nimble in the protection of the environment. Similar to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, NEA aims to protect air, land and water resources in Singapore as well as ensure high standards of public health
through providing excellent environmental and meteorological services, and promoting awareness and ownership among the people, private and public (3P) sectors.
The NEA comprises three operational divisions:
plants and an off-shore sanitary landfill. To conserve energy resources and landfill space, the division implements programmes to minimize waste generation, and maximize recycling and energy conservation.
. This Division is responsible for the overall cleanliness in Singapore and a high standard of hygiene
in the food retail industry. It also implements the Hawker Centre
s Upgrading Programme (HUP) and the Clean Public Toilets Programme. Its work includes the implementation of smoking ban to places such as hawker centres, food shops, shopping centres, factories and offices; as well as vector control, which is particularly crucial given the region's susceptibility to dengue fever.
to the aviation
and maritime
communities and the military. MSD is also on tsunami watch as part of a regional network set up after several coastal areas in Asia were devastated by a tsunami on Boxing Day 2004.
. This has yielded good results, judging by the 15 per cent decline in dengue cases this year compared with the same period last year. In 2008 and 2007, the number of dengue cases reported were 7,031 and 8,826 respectively. Singapore
has bucked the regional trend, which is still seeing a spike.
NEA maintain an effective system of public cleansing to keep Singapore clean and prevent environment-related diseases. The cleansing of public roads and pavements is largely carried out by contractors engaged by the NEA.
The NEA works closely with our 3P Partners (the people, public and private sectors) to promote anti-littering practices and to encourage members of the community to take ownership of their litter and keep their surroundings clean. Regular checks on food establishments, swimming pools and public toilets are carried out to ensure that a high standard of hygiene is maintained.
. . As a non-Annex I country, Singapore does not have targets set under KP, but it is eligible to participate in carbon credit exchanges arising from approved Clean Development Mechanism projects conducted in the country. The National Environment Agency is the designated authority coordinating CDMs. It is also spearheading ongoing measures to encourage energy-efficiency and lower carbon emissions.
In April 2008, NEA launched the 10% Energy Challenge to get households to cut their electricity consumption by at least 10%. As part of this campaign, NEA collaborated with grassroots organizations and charities to train volunteers to conduct energy audits and identify wasteful energy consumption habits.
A study conducted by NEA showed that energy-efficient air conditioners and refrigerators generally have lower lifecycle costs compared to inefficient ones. This has helped to correct the perception that energy efficient models are more expensive. On 11 September 2009, NEA signed a landmark Voluntary Agreement with 16 major retailers and suppliers, to provide more energy efficient appliances and encourage more Singapore households to purchase them.
Under the Voluntary Agreement, participating retailers and suppliers will voluntarily commit to achieving targets set out by the NEA, including retiring stock of energy inefficient models and introducing more 3- and 4-tick models, so that energy efficient models form at least 50% of their model range after six months, and 60% of their model range after one year. Signatories also voluntarily commit to promote energy efficient appliances, as well as improve the availability and affordability of energy efficient appliances available in their stores.
To address the solid waste problem, Singapore has put in place an integrated solid waste management system that ensures that all waste that are not recycled, are collected and disposed of safely at waste-to-energy
incineration plants or at the offshore sanitary landfill (Semakau Landfill) in the case of non-incinerable waste.
As a result, overall recycling rate has increased from 40% in 2000 to 56% in 2008. Waste growth has also been curtailed. The total waste (domestic and non-domestic) disposed of in 2008 was 7,179 tonnes per day, an 6% reduction as compared to 2000. As a result, the lifespan of Semakau Landfill has increased from 25-30 years to 35-40 years.
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of Semakau Landfill - a unique sanitary landfill with rich biodiversity that has been lauded internationally as an engineering feat - NEA launched a commemorative book, entitled “ Habitats in Harmony: The Story of Semakau Landfill” in August 2009. It provides an insight into the planning, design and construction of the world’s first-of-its-kind offshore landfill, as well as Singapore’s waste management strategies.
It also showcases the success of NEA in striking a harmonious balance between managing the country’s disposal needs and preserving the natural habitats on the landfill. More than 780 species of plants and animals can be found in five natural habitats of Semakau, namely: the mangroves, grasslands, seagrass meadows, inter-tidal reef flats and coral reefs.
Abbreviation
An abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. Usually, but not always, it consists of a letter or group of letters taken from the word or phrase...
: NEA; Chinese: 国家环境局; Malay: Agensi Sekitaran Kebangsaan) formed on 1 July 2002, is a statutory board
Statutory boards of the Singapore Government
The statutory boards of the Singapore Government are organisations that have been given autonomy to perform an operational function. They usually report to one specific ministry.*Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority...
under the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources
Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (Singapore)
The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources formerly the Ministry of the Environment , is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for providing a quality living environment and a high standard of public health, protected against the spread of communicable...
in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. As a statutory board, it gives NEA greater administrative autonomy to be more nimble in the protection of the environment. Similar to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, NEA aims to protect air, land and water resources in Singapore as well as ensure high standards of public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
through providing excellent environmental and meteorological services, and promoting awareness and ownership among the people, private and public (3P) sectors.
Organisation
The Chairman of NEA is Ms Chew Gek Khim.The NEA comprises three operational divisions:
- Environmental Protection
- Environmental Public Health
- Meteorological Services
Environmental Protection Division
The Environmental Protection Division aims to protect the environment by implementing programmes to monitor, reduce and prevent environmental pollution. It is also responsible for providing refuse disposal services through three waste-to-energy incinerationIncineration
Incineration is a waste treatment process that involves the combustion of organic substances contained in waste materials. Incineration and other high temperature waste treatment systems are described as "thermal treatment". Incineration of waste materials converts the waste into ash, flue gas, and...
plants and an off-shore sanitary landfill. To conserve energy resources and landfill space, the division implements programmes to minimize waste generation, and maximize recycling and energy conservation.
Environmental Public Health Division
The Environmental Public Health Division conducts comprehensive ground surveillance and appropriate preventive measures to ensure a high standard of public healthPublic health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
. This Division is responsible for the overall cleanliness in Singapore and a high standard of hygiene
Hygiene
Hygiene refers to the set of practices perceived by a community to be associated with the preservation of health and healthy living. While in modern medical sciences there is a set of standards of hygiene recommended for different situations, what is considered hygienic or not can vary between...
in the food retail industry. It also implements the Hawker Centre
Hawker centre
A hawker centre or cooked food centre is the name given to open-air complexes in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Riau Islands housing many stalls that sell a variety of inexpensive food...
s Upgrading Programme (HUP) and the Clean Public Toilets Programme. Its work includes the implementation of smoking ban to places such as hawker centres, food shops, shopping centres, factories and offices; as well as vector control, which is particularly crucial given the region's susceptibility to dengue fever.
Meteorological Services Division
The Meteorological Services Division provides weather information to support public health and socio-economic activities. It also issues haze alerts and provides vital meteorological servicesMeteorology
Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere. Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the 18th century. The 19th century saw breakthroughs occur after observing networks developed across several countries...
to the aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
and maritime
Sea
A sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
communities and the military. MSD is also on tsunami watch as part of a regional network set up after several coastal areas in Asia were devastated by a tsunami on Boxing Day 2004.
Dengue fever
NEA adopts a multi-pronged approach – surveillance and enforcement, community outreach and education, and research - to tackle vector-borne diseases such as dengue feverDengue fever
Dengue fever , also known as breakbone fever, is an infectious tropical disease caused by the dengue virus. Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a characteristic skin rash that is similar to measles...
. This has yielded good results, judging by the 15 per cent decline in dengue cases this year compared with the same period last year. In 2008 and 2007, the number of dengue cases reported were 7,031 and 8,826 respectively. Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
has bucked the regional trend, which is still seeing a spike.
Public Hygiene and Cleanliness
NEA plays an important role in overseeing the cleansing of public areas in Singapore. NEA takes a three-pronged approach to keeping our environment clean, which includes: Public Cleansing; Public Education and Enforcement.NEA maintain an effective system of public cleansing to keep Singapore clean and prevent environment-related diseases. The cleansing of public roads and pavements is largely carried out by contractors engaged by the NEA.
The NEA works closely with our 3P Partners (the people, public and private sectors) to promote anti-littering practices and to encourage members of the community to take ownership of their litter and keep their surroundings clean. Regular checks on food establishments, swimming pools and public toilets are carried out to ensure that a high standard of hygiene is maintained.
Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
In April 2006, Singapore announced accession to the Kyoto ProtocolKyoto Protocol
The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change , aimed at fighting global warming...
. . As a non-Annex I country, Singapore does not have targets set under KP, but it is eligible to participate in carbon credit exchanges arising from approved Clean Development Mechanism projects conducted in the country. The National Environment Agency is the designated authority coordinating CDMs. It is also spearheading ongoing measures to encourage energy-efficiency and lower carbon emissions.
In April 2008, NEA launched the 10% Energy Challenge to get households to cut their electricity consumption by at least 10%. As part of this campaign, NEA collaborated with grassroots organizations and charities to train volunteers to conduct energy audits and identify wasteful energy consumption habits.
A study conducted by NEA showed that energy-efficient air conditioners and refrigerators generally have lower lifecycle costs compared to inefficient ones. This has helped to correct the perception that energy efficient models are more expensive. On 11 September 2009, NEA signed a landmark Voluntary Agreement with 16 major retailers and suppliers, to provide more energy efficient appliances and encourage more Singapore households to purchase them.
Under the Voluntary Agreement, participating retailers and suppliers will voluntarily commit to achieving targets set out by the NEA, including retiring stock of energy inefficient models and introducing more 3- and 4-tick models, so that energy efficient models form at least 50% of their model range after six months, and 60% of their model range after one year. Signatories also voluntarily commit to promote energy efficient appliances, as well as improve the availability and affordability of energy efficient appliances available in their stores.
Waste Management
Since independence, Singapore's growing population and economy have resulted in a large increase in solid waste. In 1970, about 1,300 tonnes per day of solid waste were disposed of. This increased to 7000 tonnes per day by 2006, a 6-fold increase from 1970.To address the solid waste problem, Singapore has put in place an integrated solid waste management system that ensures that all waste that are not recycled, are collected and disposed of safely at waste-to-energy
Waste-to-energy
Waste-to-energy or energy-from-waste is the process of creating energy in the form of electricity or heat from the incineration of waste source. WtE is a form of energy recovery...
incineration plants or at the offshore sanitary landfill (Semakau Landfill) in the case of non-incinerable waste.
As a result, overall recycling rate has increased from 40% in 2000 to 56% in 2008. Waste growth has also been curtailed. The total waste (domestic and non-domestic) disposed of in 2008 was 7,179 tonnes per day, an 6% reduction as compared to 2000. As a result, the lifespan of Semakau Landfill has increased from 25-30 years to 35-40 years.
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of Semakau Landfill - a unique sanitary landfill with rich biodiversity that has been lauded internationally as an engineering feat - NEA launched a commemorative book, entitled “ Habitats in Harmony: The Story of Semakau Landfill” in August 2009. It provides an insight into the planning, design and construction of the world’s first-of-its-kind offshore landfill, as well as Singapore’s waste management strategies.
It also showcases the success of NEA in striking a harmonious balance between managing the country’s disposal needs and preserving the natural habitats on the landfill. More than 780 species of plants and animals can be found in five natural habitats of Semakau, namely: the mangroves, grasslands, seagrass meadows, inter-tidal reef flats and coral reefs.