Appraising Singapore's Carbon Tax Through the Lens of Sustainability

NUS Law Working Paper No. 2022/002

NUS Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment Law Working Paper 22/01

11 Pages Posted: 11 Jan 2022

See all articles by Sean Tseng

Sean Tseng

National University of Singapore

Date Written: January 11, 2022

Abstract

Singapore's implementation of its carbon tax regime in 2019 was largely seen as unprecedented within Southeast Asia. Yet, its success cannot be judged solely on how progressive it was in its enactment alone. This paper offers a critical evaluation of the Carbon Pricing Act 2018 (the "CPA") primarily through the lens of sustainability. It first outlines the general legal contours of the CPA. It is followed by a critical appraisal of the CPA by analysing both its price and its legislative context. The paper demonstrates that, while the CPA is a step in the right direction, it still is vulnerable to the pull of economic priorities which may compromise its environmental pursuits. It concludes by showing that, in order to achieve its carbon reduction objectives, a 'stronger' sense of sustainability would need to be considered and possibly embraced.

Keywords: climate change, carbon tax, Singapore legislation, sustainability, environmental law

Suggested Citation

Tseng, Sean, Appraising Singapore's Carbon Tax Through the Lens of Sustainability (January 11, 2022). NUS Law Working Paper No. 2022/002, NUS Asia-Pacific Centre for Environment Law Working Paper 22/01, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4005891 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4005891

Sean Tseng (Contact Author)

National University of Singapore ( email )

259776
Singapore

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