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Ensuring good air quality safeguards public health. It is an important component of our quality of life.
While our air quality is relatively good as compared to major cities, pollutants such as particulate matter and ozone remain a concern.
PM2.5 and PM10 refer to air particles that measure less than 2.5 and 10 micrometres in diameter respectively. These air particles are often found in dirt, dust and soot, and are dangerous to health because they can lodge deep in our lungs.
The challenge - Modern life affects air quality
Many of our activities can result in air pollution. Our main local sources of air pollution are vehicles, power stations and other industries.
A comprehensive approach is in place to ensure that Singapore maintains good air quality. In the planning stage, pollutive industries are deliberately sited away from residential areas, and factories are required to meet strict emission standards in their design and during operations.
Key sources of emissions must adhere to prevailing regulations. For example, all motor vehicles are subject to fuel quality standards and exhaust emission standards for both new and in-use vehicles.
Our Key Targets
Singapore Ambient Air Quality Targets:
Pollutant | 2020 Targets | |
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) |
| |
Particulate Matter (PM2.5) |
| |
Particulate Matter (PM10) |
| |
Ozone |
| |
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) |
| |
Carbon Monoxide (CO) |
| |
About Air Quality
24-hour air quality monitoring network
The ambient air quality in Singapore is monitored through a network of air monitoring stations located in different parts of Singapore. The monitoring stations measure concentration levels of particulate matter (PM10), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), and carbon monoxide (CO). These six pollutant parameters determine the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI).
The 24-hour PSI readings of the 5 regions of Singapore are reported every hour on the Haze microsite, and myENV iPhone and Android app. The pollutant concentration readings are also published regularly on the haze website.
Achieving higher air quality standards
MSE has adopted the 2005 World Health Organisation (WHO) Air Quality Guidelines (AQG) for particulate matter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3), and the WHO Interim Targets for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and sulphur dioxide (SO2), as Singapore’s air quality targets for 2020.
Singapore has met the 2020 air quality targets for nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and PM2.5, but PM10 and ozone continue to be a challenge. We continue to review our air quality targets as well as policies to address local pollutant emissions.
Our Key Strategies
Minimising pollution from our industries
In Singapore, an integrated approach is adopted to ensure that environmental considerations are factored upfront during our land- use planning, development control and building control stages in order to minimise pollution impacts and mitigate nuisance impacts on surrounding land uses. Industries are sited in designated industrial estates with adequate buffer from residential estates.
Before industrial facilities are allowed to operate in Singapore, they are also screened to ensure they do not pose un-manageable pollution problems and health and safety hazards. In addition, they have to incorporate pollution control measures to comply with NEA’s air emissions standards and regulations.
Once the industrial facilities are in operations, the National Environment Agency (NEA) also requires regular monitoring of industry emissions to ensure that they meet prescribed emission standards. NEA’s Source Emission Test Scheme requires industries to conduct tests on their own or engage accredited laboratories under the Singapore Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (SAC-SINGLAS) to do so for them.
Reducing emissions from vehicles
All new vehicles in Singapore have to meet minimum emission standards at the point of registration and while they are being driven on our roads.
Singapore's emission standards are pegged to international standards, and have progressively tightened over years to keep abreast with improving technology. New petrol and diesel passenger cars and commercial vehicles have to meet Euro VI emissions standards, and new motorcycles have to meet Euro IV emissions standards.
Existing vehicles on the road are required to undergo regular inspections to ensure that they are well maintained and meet in-use emissions and noise emissions standards.
The NEA takes stringent enforcement action against smoky vehicles on roads. Owners of smoky vehicles will be required to send their vehicles for inspection and will be fined if the vehicle fails the inspection. In addition, owners will be required to rectify and send their vehicles for a re-inspection which they must pass before the vehicle will be allowed on the road.
Schemes such as the Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES), Commercial Vehicle Emissions Scheme (CVES) and Early Turnover Scheme (ETS) respectively serve to encourage the adoption of cleaner passenger cars, commercial vehicles and incentivize the early phase-out of older, more pollutive commercial vehicles.
About Haze
Effects of Haze
From time to time, transboundary smoke haze from land and forest fires in the region affects Singapore's air quality.
During haze episodes, one could sneeze or cough more often and one's eyes might be irritated. The elderly, children and individuals with existing heart or lung disease are most sensitive to the effects of haze. Haze also has the potential to lead to impairment of respiratory functions and aggravation of existing respiratory and cardiovascular disease.
Cooperation and preparedness
Banding together to be part of the solutions
Singapore works closely with ASEAN to manage the haze issue. We share satellite pictures of hotspots and are ready to provide assistance to help fight fires if requested.
A haze action plan in place
The National Environmental Agency (NEA) works with other Government agencies through the Haze Task Force to develop and implement plans to manage the impact of haze on Singapore.
Timely updates for the public
The 24-hr PSI readings by the 5 regions of Singapore are made available on the myENV iPhone and Android app, X account, and website.
Measures in place to manage transboundary haze pollution
Singapore works closely with ASEAN to develop measures for transboundary haze management. Singapore is a party to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, and meets with other ASEAN Member States regularly to discuss and coordinate regional efforts to manage transboundary haze. In 2014, MSE introduced the Transboundary Haze Pollution Bill, which holds entities accountable for causing or contributing transboundary haze in Singapore. The Bill is the first of its kind in the region to provide for criminal and civil liability for conduct of entities which causes or contributes to haze pollution in Singapore. Regional cooperation to reduce transboundary haze pollution is continuing. ASEAN Member States have endorsed the Second ASEAN Haze-Free Roadmap for the period of 2023 to 2030, and will work together to synthesise best practices and approaches to advance the goal of a haze-free region.