Singapore Transport and Climate Profile 2026

Outline

SINGAPORE

TRANSPORT AND CLIMATE PROFILE

Supported by:

Background

Singapore, a high-income economy with a 2024 GDP (PPP) of $909.7 billion and a high GDP per capita of $155,972, serves as a notable example of decoupling economic growth from transport-related emissions. In 2024, the transport sector emitted 6.3 million tonnes of greenhouse gases (GHG), making up about 8% of the country's total economy-wide emissions. Before the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals, emissions in this sector rose annually by 2.2%. However, after 2015, emissions have decreased, contracting at an average annual rate of -1.6%.

Singapore's transport sector has dramatically reduced its carbon intensity relative to GDP, dropping from 30.2 gCO2e per USD in 2000 to 7.0 gCO2e per USD in 2024. This achievement surpasses regional and peer averages; in 2024, the Asia-Pacific region, Southeast Asia, and other high-income economies recorded 29.0, 34.3, and 34.1 gCO2e per USD, respectively. Nonetheless, the sector still relies heavily on road transport, which makes up 94% of total transport emissions and 8% of overall GHG emissions. Domestic navigation accounts for 6%, while rail and domestic aviation remain negligible.

The transition toward energy efficiency is evident in Singapore's consumption patterns. In 2023, transport energy consumption reached 98,554 terajoules, following a contraction of about -1% annually since 2010—a reversal of the 2% annual growth seen in the decade prior. Energy intensity has followed a similar decline, dropping from 0.47 megajoules (MJ) per USD in 2000 to 0.12 MJ per USD in 2023. This efficiency level is notably superior to the Asia-Pacific average (0.37 MJ/USD) and that of high-income peers (0.48 MJ/USD).

While the energy mix is still dominated by oil products (89% in 2023), there has been a steady diversification away from petroleum, which accounted for 92% of the mix in 2010. Electricity has emerged as a vital component, constituting 11% of transport energy consumption by 2023, largely driven by the rail sector which has maintained 100% electrification since 2010. However, the external costs of fossil fuel reliance remain a challenge; subsidies for petroleum in transport generate significant societal externalities, with congestion accounting for 95% of these costs, followed by road crashes (4%) and road damages (1%).

Singapore faces specific physical risks from climate change that require strong adaptation measures. The country is expected to lose about $49.6 million USD annually in transport infrastructure, which is 0.006% of its GDP. These losses mainly affect roads (65%), with airports (14%), ports (11%), and rail (10%) also impacted. Vulnerability is heightened by geography, as 10% of the population lives in low-lying coastal areas threatened by sea-level rise. Under a scenario with a 4.5-degree temperature increase, over 100% of road and rail assets could be exposed to more frequent and severe rainfall. Currently, Singapore ranks 124th in the global National Road Vulnerability index, underlining the urgent need for ongoing investment in network redundancy.

The shift toward sustainable mobility is reflected in motorization and trade data. Singapore's motorization rate stood at 169 vehicles per thousand population in 2024, a slight decrease from 178 in 2000 and well below the Asia-Pacific average of 317. The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is accelerating; EV imports reached $3.1 billion USD between 2017 and 2024, accounting for 34% of total road vehicle imports by the end of that period. These imports are heavily weighted toward light-duty vehicles (95%). Singapore's readiness for this transition is high, as reflected in its UNEP E-mobility Readiness Index score of 81 out of 100, bolstered by strong policy and energy frameworks.

Urban transit continues to be the core of Singapore's mobility approach. By 2024, the rapid transit network (including Metro and LRT) reached 245 kilometers, raising the density from 34.2 km per million residents in 2015 to 40.0 km. Accessibility is notably high: the entire urban area offers excellent access, with at least half of the population living within 500 meters of public transport. Additionally, there is strong interest in active mobility, demonstrated by $457.3 million USD worth of bicycle imports from 2015 to 2024.

Singapore's climate goals are detailed across over 20 policy documents, including 8 dedicated to climate. The 2025 Second NDC sets a binding target to cut GHG emissions to about 60 MtCO2e by 2030 and between 45–50 MtCO2e by 2035, with a firm aim for net-zero emissions by 2050. Although it does not specify transport-related GHG targets, it highlights key sectoral initiatives such as promoting active transport, expanding rail infrastructure, implementing the "X-minute city" concept, and banning internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle sales.

Long-term planning is elaborated in the Low-Emissions Development Strategy (LTS), which considers the International Maritime Organization's shipping targets. The policy framework revolves around ten priority areas like modal shift, EV charging stations, and vehicle registration limits. Currently, 91% of measures focus on mitigation, but only 13% include adaptation or resilience aspects, suggesting a need to reinforce future policy efforts. Important guiding documents include the Singapore Green Plan, the Land Transport Master Plan 2040, and the Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint.

Singapore's "Avoid" strategy centers on high-density, transit-focused development aimed at minimizing motorized travel. The Land Transport Master Plan 2040 envisions a "45-Minute City" with "20-Minute Towns," where trips to the nearest neighborhood center using Walk-Cycle-Ride (WCR) modes last under 20 minutes. This goal is supported by the Land Use Plan for Singapore's future population, which promotes expanding employment centers outside the Central Business District to bring jobs closer to homes, thus reducing daily commutes. Additionally, the government implements strict fiscal and regulatory policies to limit private vehicle demand. According to the Second Update of the First Nationally Determined Contribution, Singapore is the only country to enforce a zero-growth policy for cars and motorcycles, bolstered by the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system and the Vehicle Quota System outlined in the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint 2015.

The "Shift" component emphasizes prioritizing "Walk-Cycle-Ride" (WCR) as the main modes of transportation, aiming for these to make up nine out of ten peak-period trips by 2040, as outlined in SINGAPORE'S SECOND NATIONALLY DETERMINED CONTRIBUTION (NDC). A key part of this plan is the significant expansion of the rail network, which the Singapore Green Plan projects will reach 360 km by the early 2030s, ensuring that 80% of households are within a 10-minute walk of a train station. To support the "last mile" of travel, the Climate Action Plan and the Land Transport Master Plan 2040 propose extending cycling paths to over 1,300 km by 2030 and quadrupling sheltered walkways to promote active mobility. These infrastructure developments are supported by the Bus Service Enhancement Programme (BSEP), which added 1,000 buses and 80 new routes to improve system reliability and capacity, as outlined in the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint 2015.

The "Improve" strategy emphasizes fast-tracking vehicle electrification and reducing carbon emissions in global maritime and aviation sectors. According to the EV Policy and Singapore Green Plan, all new cars and taxis will be energy-efficient models from 2030, with internal combustion engine vehicles completely phased out by 2040. To facilitate this shift, Singapore plans to install 60,000 EV charging stations nationwide by 2030. In the maritime industry, the Maritime Singapore Decarbonisation Blueprint aims for the local harbor craft fleet to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, backed by investments in low-carbon fuels like ammonia and hydrogen. Likewise, the Singapore Sustainable Air Hub Blueprint promotes using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), mandating its use for departing flights from 2026 to develop a resilient and eco-friendly aviation sector.