A new emissions registry will help local businesses accurately account for their emissions in local conditions. Known as the Singapore Emissions Factors Registry (SEFR), the registry was launched by Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations Grace Fu on the first day of Temasek's Ecosperity Week 2024 conference.
Announced on April 15, the Singapore Business Federation partnered the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), PwC and Singtel to establish the SEFR.
SEFR will have a database of emissions factors tailored to Singapore’s context. These will translate various business activities into corresponding greenhouse gas emissions.
At present, most Singapore businesses use emissions factors from international sources like the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and UK Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for their sustainability and carbon emissions reporting, especially for Scope 3 emissions.
According to SBF, SEFR supports existing reporting tools and solutions in the ecosystem that help enterprises automate their sustainability reporting process.
SEFR’s emission factors will be developed in phases. SBF says data will be collected and consolidated from various government agencies and will be ready by the end of this year. These include data related to transportation, water, general waste and energy.
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According to SBF, emission factors for new categories and activities will be developed and released based on industry consultations and demand.
“The SEFR will be a critical and timely resource for Singapore to support companies to overcome their current challenges and accelerate their carbon accounting journey. With the development of localised emission factors, local businesses will be able to report their emissions more accurately,” says Kok Ping Soon, CEO of SBF.
