A new public-private initiative aims to improve how local businesses measure their emissions. Led by the Singapore Business Federation (SBF), the digital platform, NetZeroHub.SG, features two main components: the Singapore Emission Factors Registry (SEFR) and a resource portal.
Emissions factors—standardised values used to estimate greenhouse gas emissions—are commonly employed by businesses to track their environmental impact. The SEFR will serve as a centralised source of emissions factors tailored specifically for Singapore, expanding the range available for local companies.
Currently, many Singaporean businesses rely on emissions factors from international sources like the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for sustainability and carbon reporting. With SEFR, companies can now access over 200 emissions factors designed specifically for Singapore’s context, eliminating the need for overseas data.
At a media briefing, SBF CEO Kok Ping Soon described SEFR as Singapore’s “single source of truth” for emissions factors, noting that the database will help local businesses more accurately measure and report their carbon emissions.
Developed in collaboration with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), the SEFR covers eight categories, including building equipment, materials, fuel, greenhouse gases, transport, energy, waste, and water. Data was collected from four government agencies and the Singapore Green Building Council (SGBC), with additional voluntary support from Singtel and PwC Singapore.
SBF revealed plans to introduce new emissions factors for industries such as logistics, information and communications technology, cleaning services, and security services by 2025. These factors are intended to help businesses better account for Scope 3 emissions, which involve indirect emissions from their value chain.
SBF also plans to gather industry feedback on additional categories through consultations, with businesses encouraged to provide input via the NetZeroHub.SG website.
To increase accessibility, 12 digital solution providers have agreed to integrate SEFR data into their platforms, allowing Singapore-based users to benefit from local emissions data. These partners include UN Global Compact Network Singapore’s Carbon Emissions Recording Tool (CERT), ESGpedia, the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s Gprint, and Terrascope’s Decarbonisation SaaS Platform.
However, JTC Corporation’s Singapore Building Carbon Calculator, a tool launched in June 2023 to calculate the carbon footprint of construction materials, was not included among the 12 partners. SBF says discussions with potential partners, including JTC, are ongoing.
Hu Ching, head of SBF’s Net Zero Transition Programme office, emphasised that the list of partners is “dynamic” and will likely grow as more calculators join the initiative.