Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu clarified that the current system effectively balances advance planning via the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index with immediate action guided by hourly PM2.5 readings. The nation's food security remains completely unaffected by the haze due to a diversified import strategy spanning more than 180 countries and regions. Although hawker centres experienced lower physical footfall, increased takeaway orders helped mitigate the commercial impact. Consequently, the government does not plan to introduce haze-specific financial support packages for stallholders at this time.
Key points
The existing air quality framework successfully combines daily forecasts for planning wit…: The existing air quality framework successfully combines daily forecasts for planning with real-time hourly metrics for immediate choices.
Singapore's diversified supply chain and resilient local farm operations have kept the na…: Singapore's diversified supply chain and resilient local farm operations have kept the national food supply entirely stable.
Hawkers balanced lower customer footfall through increased takeaway orders, leading autho…: Hawkers balanced lower customer footfall through increased takeaway orders, leading authorities to hold off on specialized financial assistance.
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SINGAPORE – Having too many air quality indicators may complicate the government’s messages for the public during haze episodes, said the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu on Nov 3.
The use of forecast 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) for planning and hourly PM2.5 for taking decisions has worked well, Fu told Parliament.
“We don’t think there is a need to include 12-hour, 24-hour or 48-hour PM2.5 forecasts as having too many indicators may complicate our public messages,” she added.
She was responding to a question from WP’s Fadli Fawzi (Aljunied GRC), who had asked if the National Environment Agency (NEA) under her ministry can provide PM2.5 forecasts to help Singaporeans plan their daily activities during haze.
“I’m very minded that… our forecast and advisory are clean, succinct, (allowing) people to (easily) manage activities,” she said.
PM2.5 are small particles that are the dominant pollutant during transboundary haze episodes.
The NEA currently provides two indicators of air quality: a PSI forecast for the next 24 hours, and an hourly PM2.5 reading.
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