Latest news with #PUB
Business Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Launch of sustainability disclosure tool to simplify SMEs' reporting efforts
[SINGAPORE] Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore may be able to simplify their sustainability reporting efforts, with the launch of a disclosure tool by sustainability reporting and data platform company Gprnt on Thursday (May 22). After Singapore companies retrieve utilities data using their corporate digital identity known as Corppass, the tool will then automatically convert the data to reflect the amount of emissions arising from their operations (Scope 1), or those from their purchase of electricity (Scope 2). The platform retrieves four data points – three of which are related to a company's carbon footprint. These are their water, town gas and electricity usage, which are sourced from the relevant government agencies, namely, national water agency PUB and the Energy Market Authority. The fourth data point is revenue. The tool's ability to retrieve data from the government comes after Gprnt's integration with the Government Technology Agency of Singapore's Myinfo business service, which allows Singapore-registered businesses to share and retrieve their corporate data with participating organisations after consent is given. The integration of the disclosure tool with government data comes about six months after Gprnt unveiled its range of decarbonisation solutions. Addressing the lack of credible ESG data The commercial company was launched in 2023 as a spinoff from Project Greenprint, an initiative by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, to develop solutions that could help address the lack of credible environmental, social and governance data that financiers could use for sustainable financing. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 12.30 pm ESG Insights An exclusive weekly report on the latest environmental, social and governance issues. Sign Up Sign Up It received S$6 million in seed funding from digital payments company Ant International and Japanese bank MUFG. The latest disclosure tool is provided for free to SMEs, but Lionel Wong, executive director of Gprnt, told The Business Times that it is currently engaging with large corporates, financial institutions and government agencies to work out how these entities can access these data on a chargeable basis. 'It is actually beneficial to these large corporates and financial institutions to have more trusted data on their supply and value chain, because otherwise it's very difficult for them to properly calculate their own emissions footprint and deliver on their own net-zero transition plans if they don't have good data,' said Wong. '(They) pay for the disclosure licence so that they can be an end point on the Gprnt infrastructure, and somebody who is disclosing granular and verifiable information on Gprnt can transmit that information to the paying recipient,' he added. Speaking at the launch event on the same day, OCBC chief sustainability officer Mike Ng said the lender can now obtain credible data of companies they finance through Gprnt, without needing to manually obtain copies of their utility bills. The data is used by the bank to determine if a company is eligible for green or sustainability-linked loans (SLL). 'As you can imagine, it is very laborious, requires a lot of time, a lot of effort. And the critical issue is that it's very prone to errors, especially if we are dealing with many, many SMEs in our case,' said Ng. The emissions data via Gprnt can also be used by OCBC to track how clients are performing against the sustainability performance targets they have set for their SLLs. Beyond Singapore While MUFG's customers outside of Japan are mainly large corporations, its head of ESG finance Colin Chen said that emissions data from SMEs would eventually become part of the Scope 3 emissions of large corporations, which refer to indirect emissions resulting from their supply chain. He added that a partnership between the private sector and government was needed to develop an ecosystem where credible data is easily generated and accessible, which was part of the reason why MUFG decided to be one of Gprnt's seed investors. Given that this disclosure tool is backed by regulators in Singapore, Chen said the bank was able to go to its partner banks in other Asean markets to discuss expanding the platform beyond the city-state. To this end, Gprnt's Wong said the intention was always for the platform to be cross-deployable to other markets and not constrained to Singapore. He added that the company is currently pursuing 'similar engagements in other markets that we go into, so far as that data exists and the infrastructure exists', though he declined to reveal the markets. Further down the road, Gprnt is also looking to incorporate Scope 3 emissions data into its platform.
Business Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Sustainability disclosure tool to simplify SMEs' reporting efforts
[SINGAPORE] Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Singapore may be able to simplify their sustainability reporting efforts, with the launch of a disclosure tool by sustainability reporting and data platform company Gprnt on Thursday (May 22). After Singapore companies retrieve their utilities data using their corporate digital identity known as Corppass, the tool will then automatically convert the data to reflect the amount of emissions arising from their operations (Scope 1), or those from their purchase of electricity (Scope 2). The platform retrieves four data points – three of which are related to a company's carbon footprint. These are their water, town gas and electricity usage, which are sourced from the relevant government agencies, namely, national water agency PUB and the Energy Market Authority. The fourth data point is revenue. The tool's ability to retrieve data from the government comes after Gprnt's integration with the Government Technology Agency of Singapore's Myinfo business service, which allows Singapore-registered businesses to share and retrieve their corporate data with participating organisations after consent is given. The integration of the disclosure tool with government data comes about six months after Gprnt unveiled its range of decarbonisation solutions. The commercial company was launched in 2023 as a spinoff from Project Greenprint, an initiative by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, to develop solutions that could help address the lack of credible environmental, social and governance data that financiers could use for sustainable financing. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 12.30 pm ESG Insights An exclusive weekly report on the latest environmental, social and governance issues. Sign Up Sign Up It received S$6 million in seed funding from digital payments company Ant International and Japanese bank MUFG. The latest disclosure tool is provided for free to SMEs, but Lionel Wong, executive director of Gprnt, told The Business Times that it is currently engaging with large corporates, financial institutions and government agencies to work out how these entities can access these data on a chargeable basis. 'It is actually beneficial to these large corporates and financial institutions to have more trusted data on their supply and value chain, because otherwise it's very difficult for them to properly calculate their own emissions footprint and deliver on their own net-zero transition plans if they don't have good data,' said Wong. '(They) pay for the disclosure licence so that they can be an end point on the Gprnt infrastructure, and somebody who is disclosing granular and verifiable information on Gprnt can transmit that information to the paying recipient,' he added. Speaking at the launch event on the same day, OCBC chief sustainability officer Mike Ng said the lender can now obtain credible data of companies they finance through Gprnt, without needing to manually obtain copies of their utility bills. The data is used by the bank to determine if a company is eligible for green or sustainability-linked loans (SLL). 'As you can imagine, it is very laborious, requires a lot of time, a lot of effort. And the critical issue is that it's very prone to errors, especially if we are dealing with many, many SMEs in our case,' said Ng. The emissions data via Gprnt can also be used by OCBC to track how clients are performing against the sustainability performance targets they have set for their SLLs. While MUFG's customers outside of Japan are mainly large corporations, its head of ESG finance Colin Chen said that emissions data from SMEs would eventually become part of the Scope 3 emissions of large corporations, which refer to indirect emissions resulting from their supply chain. He added that a partnership between the private sector and government was needed to develop an ecosystem where credible data is easily generated and accessible, which was part of the reason why MUFG decided to be one of Gprnt's seed investors. Given that this disclosure tool is backed by regulators in Singapore, Chen said the bank was able to go to its partner banks in other Asean markets to discuss expanding the platform beyond the city-state. To this end, Gprnt's Wong said the intention was always for the platform to be cross-deployable to other markets and not constrained to Singapore. He added that the company is currently pursuing 'similar engagements in other markets that we go into, so far as that data exists and the infrastructure exists', though he declined to reveal the markets. Further down the road, Gprnt is also looking to incorporate Scope 3 emissions data into its platform.
CNA
20-05-2025
- Business
- CNA
PUB to launch guidebook to help property owners, developers enhance flood resilience
Property owners and developers can look forward to a new resource that helps them better design and plan against floods and rising sea levels. It's in the form of a guidebook, packed with practical case studies and measures to prepare for intense downpours and coastal surges. Launched by PUB, an 11-member committee made up of architects, engineers and developers will come up with recommendations by early next year. PUB chief executive Ong Tze-Ch'in and Mr Melvin Tan, immediate past president of the Singapore Institute of Architects, shared more about flood-resilient designs.
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
PUB to launch guidebook for building owners, developers to enhance flood resilience of their premises
In recent months, heavy downpours have led to flash floods in places like Yishun, Holland, Bukit Timah and Mountbatten. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO PUB to launch guidebook for building owners, developers to enhance flood resilience of their premises SINGAPORE – Building owners and developers will be able to draw ideas from a guidebook on how to improve the flood resilience of their premises come mid-2026. The guidebook – which will be launched by national water agency PUB – will contain measures that landowners and industry professionals such as architects and engineers can consider adopting to counter inland and coastal flooding, as well as case studies of how such measures have been applied. It will be co-created by an 11-member Alliance for Action committee, which will draw on the industry experience and expertise of the members, said PUB in a statement on May 20. The committee was launched by the agency on May 19 and comprises a mix of architects, engineers and developers. Announced at the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment's Committee of Supply debate in March, the guidebook will complement PUB's Code of Practice for coastal protection. The committee will wrap up its recommendations by the first quarter of 2026, said PUB, adding that the guidebook will be launched by mid-2026. Countries such as the US, the Netherlands and Japan have published guidebooks for implementing flood-resilient developments. The committee will reference these publications when developing a guidebook that is suitable for Singapore. For example, the committee will draw reference from guidebooks such as the Climate Ready DC Resilient Design Guidelines from the US and Multi-Level Safety: Water Resilient Urban and Building Design from the Netherlands, PUB told The Straits Times. The US document gives strategies on avoiding and minimising flood damage through measures such as dry floodproofing, using materials resistant to water damage or building vegetative , or green , roofs to retain rainwater. Development-specific flood resilience measures already in place here will also be referenced, said PUB, citing an example of raising the crest level at entrances with steps at some MRT stations. Not only will the committee develop the guidebook for the planning and designing of flood-resilient developments, it will also provide advice on development-specific measures applicable to Singapore's built environment. It will also recommend ways to promote adoption of flood-resilient design in developments here. In recent months, heavy downpours have led to flash floods in places like Yishun, Holland, Bukit Timah and Mountbatten. In January, residents in Jalan Seaview, in Mountbatten, were affected by flash floods during the first monsoon surge on Jan 10, as the deluge coincided with a high tide of 2.8m. At the launch of the committee, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment Koh Poh Koon said the guidebook aims to set out principles and guidelines instead of a one-size-fits-all approach. It will also contain measures building owners can adopt at development level without compromising the land use objectives, he said. This grants designers and building owners more room for flexibility and space for creativity in applying solutions that integrate best with the design intent, Dr Koh added. 'We hope to strike a balance between providing adequate and practical guidance to building and landowners to achieve effective flood resilience without being overly prescriptive and impeding creativity and customisation based on different needs and interests.' 'This close collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential for the successful and sustainable implementation of our long-term climate adaptation plans,' he added. Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State for Sustainability and the Environment with members of the committee of the guidebook at its launch event on May 19. PHOTO: PUB The committee is co-led by PUB chief executive Ong Tze-Ch'in, Singapore Institute of Architects' immediate past president Melvin H.J. Tan and Professional Engineers Board president Lim Peng Hong. Mr Tan said while all efforts are focused on creating a sustainable built environment, it is imperative that architects, consultants and developers take on a preventive mindset that allows developments to be designed sensitively and yet provides protection. 'We envision the guidebook to provide suggestions on a mix of both hard and soft strategies that will not only be barrier-free but also realise Singapore's vision of a City in Nature,' he added. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
New Paper
05-05-2025
- Climate
- New Paper
Flash floods in Holland, Bukit Timah amid heavy downpour
A heavy downpour on the afternoon of May 5 caused flash floods at Woollerton Drive in Holland and King's Road in Bukit Timah at around 2pm. Earlier in the day, national water agency PUB had warned via social media platform X of potential flash floods in several parts of Singapore, including the two flooded areas and Margaret Drive in Queenstown. It advised the public to avoid the areas for at least an hour due to flash flood risks. The National Environment Agency in an alert on its website said heavy rain was expected over southern, eastern and central areas of Singapore from 1.20pm to 2pm on May 5. Thundery showers over parts of Singapore on some afternoons had been forecast for the first half of May by the Meteorological Service Singapore. The bad weather drenched the morning of May 3, when more than two million Singaporeans turned up at polling stations islandwide to vote in the 2025 General Election.
