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Asia News Network
5 days ago
- Business
- Asia News Network
Singapore launches centre to drive sustainable aviation in Asia-Pacific
SINGAPORE – A new regional centre that will research and facilitate collaboration and training for sustainable aviation for the Asia-Pacific was launched here on July 10. The Asia-Pacific Sustainable Aviation Centre, set up by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), aims to help the region balance economic development and sustainability goals. The not-for-profit centre will help to advance sustainable aviation in a pragmatic way, through policy research in areas such as cleaner aviation fuels, carbon accounting and carbon market development. It will also facilitate collaboration across governments, industry partners and academia to tap their expertise and resources for joint sustainable aviation projects. Additionally, the centre will help boost technical assistance and training of workers in sustainable aviation policy development and execution among governments and companies. Mr Han Kok Juan, director-general of CAAS, told reporters the centre will 'provide individual states (with) a menu of policy options and instruments to advance their sustainability goals, taking into account their respective national circumstances'. This is the first such centre in the world that undertakes policy research and capacity building with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region, added Mr Han, who chairs the centre's board. He said the centre is being set up because air travel demand in the Asia-Pacific is expected to grow strongly and triple over the next 20 years. As these states are also committed to supporting net-zero carbon emissions, they would need a way to ensure growth while fulfilling sustainability goals, he added. An advisory council comprising senior executives from partners in the aviation, energy and green financing sectors will guide the centre in its work, CAAS said in a statement on July 10. The partners include aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing, energy firms Chevron, ExxonMobil and Neste, as well as Singapore-based investment platform GenZero and global airline body International Air Transport Association (Iata). The council will be in charge of evaluating the benefits of project ideas and providing experts to handle training or contribute to research, said Mr Han. Mr Philip Goh, an airline industry veteran of close to four decades, is the founding chief executive officer of the centre. He was formerly regional vice-president of the Asia-Pacific at Iata, and also regional vice-president for both South-east Asia and the South West Pacific at Singapore Airlines. He said he will build a team of up to 10 people over the next 1½ years to helm the centre. CAAS said the centre will engage states and civil aviation authorities in the region to find out their needs, to understand how to support them. It will then develop joint projects and carry out trials for sustainable aviation policies, as well as curate training programmes for aviation professionals. Mr Han said the centre's operating costs – including staffing and infrastructure – will be fully funded by CAAS. A location for the centre has not been found yet, but he said it is unlikely to be situated within the airport. On the philosophy behind the launch of the centre, Mr Han said: 'We have a keen eye on the future and we take a long-term view to plan for not just the current generation but also the future generation. At the same time, we take pragmatic steps in the short term. 'We believe that for such a major endeavour, we can't do it alone. We have to do it together, and that is why (there is) collaboration (through this centre).' The Asia-Pacific Sustainable Aviation Centre and its advisory council partners will sign an agreement to formalise their collaboration at the Global Aviation and Maritime Symposium on the morning of July 14. The centre's first major engagement with states in the region will take place the same day, when it will convene a roundtable with Mr Juan Carlos Salazar, secretary-general of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, and over 20 directors-general of civil aviation from the region. The symposium will mark the start of the High-Level Aviation Week programme that will run from July 14 to 19, where government and industry leaders will gather in Singapore for discussions. Seven events will take place over the course of the week, including a meeting on the regulations for advanced air mobility – which includes air taxis and drones – and an aviation safety summit.
Business Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Singapore sets up centre to advance sustainable aviation in Apac
[SINGAPORE] The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) has set up the Asia Pacific Sustainable Aviation Centre (APSAC), to advance sustainable aviation in the region through policy research, facilitating collaboration and capacity-building. Its board will be chaired by CAAS director-general Han Kok Juan, while its founding CEO will be Philip Goh, airline industry veteran and former regional vice-president for Apac at the International Air Transport Association (Iata), said CAAS on Thursday (Jul 10). Han noted that Apac's air travel demand is expected to treble over the next 20 years, 'enabling tremendous economic development and supporting the aspirations of a rising middle class'. At the same time, Apac states are committed to tackling climate change, which will support aviation's global net-zero emission goals. 'Asia-Pacific states want both growth and sustainability, not one at the expense of the other,' he said. APSAC thus aims to provide 'a menu of policy options and instruments' for countries to achieve sustainability goals while accounting for their own circumstances. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up The centre will advance sustainable aviation in three key ways. Firstly, it will carry out policy research in areas such as cleaner fuels, carbon accounting and carbon market development, as well as green financing. Another potential area is the economics of sustainable aviation fuel supply chains. Secondly, it will facilitate collaboration across government, industry and academia, for joint studies and projects. Finally, it will support capacity building by governments and companies, through offering technical assistance and training. For a start, the centre will launch a five-day foundational course on growing aviation sustainably, with topics such as challenges and opportunities in sustainable aviation fuel, and airline and airport sustainability management. It aims to hold the first run in November 2025 or early 2026. The industry lacks courses on understanding sustainable aviation issues from an ecosystem perspective, said Goh. 'So our very first course will be targeted at that: equipping people with that kind of broad-based (knowledge), so that they can connect what affects what, and how it all works in the end.' He expects this course to run three to four times a year from 2026. APSAC will also plan courses to meet needs identified in regional engagements, he added, and will look at holding country-specific workshops when it has the resources. The centre will build a team of up to 10 people in the next year or year-and-a-half. While ASPEC identifies courses to offer and develops their curriculum, it will tap its network of industry experts to provide content and facilitate. Here, APSAC will lean on an advisory council of key partners in aviation, energy and green financing – comprising senior executives from Airbus, Boeing, Chevron, ExxonMobil, GenZero, Iata and Neste – for guidance. To formalise this, the council partners, CAAS and APSAC will sign a memorandum of understanding on Jul 14 at the Global Aviation and Maritime Symposium. On the same day, CAAS and APSAC will engage the directors-general of Apac civil aviation authorities of more than 20 states in a roundtable, to understand their sustainable aviation plans and how the centre can support them. First High-Level Aviation Week The Roundtable on Advancing Sustainable Aviation is one of seven events in the inaugural High-Level Aviation Week. Held by CAAS from Jul 14 to 19, it will bring together governments and industry leaders to discuss the future of aviation. 'It is a response to the fundamental changes to the global operating environment and its impact on global aviation, and the need for us to come together to ... formulate strategies that are joined up across domains and across countries,' said Han. Besides sustainable aviation, there will be events on shaping the future of aviation; facilitating advanced air mobility (air taxis and drones); ensuring aviation safety; and building a quality workforce and enabling opportunities. There will also be a dedicated meeting of Pacific small island states, looking at how they can collaborate.
Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
New regional centre for sustainable aviation in Asia-Pacific launched in Singapore
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The centre is aimed at helping the region balance economic development and sustainability goals. SINGAPORE – A new regional centre that will research and facilitate collaboration and training for sustainable aviation for Asia-Pacific was launched here on July 10. Set up by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), the Asia-Pacific Sustainable Aviation Centre is aimed at helping the region balance economic development and sustainability goals. Speaking to reporters at a media briefing on July 10 at the CAAS office in Changi Airport, Mr Han Kok Juan, director-general of CAAS, said the centre will address how states can achieve both economic growth and environmental sustainability in aviation. He added that it will 'provide individual states (with) a menu of policy options and instruments to advance their sustainability goals, taking into account their respective national circumstances'. Mr Han said it is the first such centre in the world that undertakes policy research and capacity building with a focus on the Asia-Pacific region. He noted that the centre is being set up because air travel demand in the Asia-Pacific is expected to grow strongly and triple over the next 20 years. As these states are also committed to supporting net-zero carbon emissions, they would need a way to ensure growth while fulfilling sustainability goals, he added. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. 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The partners include aircraft manufacturers Airbus and Boeing, energy firms Chevron, ExxonMobil and Neste , as well as Singapore-based investment platform GenZero and global airlines body International Air Transport Association (Iata). The council will be in charge of evaluating the benefits of project ideas and providing experts to handle training or contribute to research, said Mr Han, who will be chairing the centre to oversee its strategic direction. Mr Philip Goh, an airline industry veteran of close to four decades, is the founding chief executive officer of the centre. He was formerly the regional vice-president of Asia-Pacific at Iata, and was also regional vice-president for both South-east Asia and South-west Pacific at Singapore Airlines. CAAS said the centre will help to advance sustainable aviation in a pragmatic way, through carrying out policy research in areas such as cleaner aviation fuels, carbon accounting and carbon market development. It will also facilitate collaboration across governments, industry partners and academia to tap their expertise and resources for joint sustainable aviation projects. Additionally, the centre will help boost technical assistance and training of workers in sustainable aviation policy development and execution among governments and companies, said CAAS. CAAS said the centre will first need to engage states and civil aviation authorities in the region to find out what their needs are, so that it can understand how to support them. Following that, it will develop joint projects and carrying out trials for sustainable aviation policies, as well as curate training programmes for aviation professionals. Mr Han noted that the centre's operating costs – including staffing and infrastructure costs – will be fully funded by CAAS, and it will operate as a not-for-profit organisation . He did not share details on the total costs incurred for the set-up of the centre so far . He added that the centre is still in the process of finding a location for its office , adding that it is unlikely for it to be situated within the airport . Mr Goh added that he will be building a team of up to 10 people over the next 1½ years to helm the centre. On the philosophy behind the launch of the centre, Mr Han said: 'We have a keen eye on the future and we take a long-term view to plan for not just the current generation but also the future generation. At the same time, we take pragmatic steps in the short-term. 'We believe that for such a major endeavour, we can't do it alone. We have to do it together, and that is why (there is) collaboration (through this centre).' The centre's first major engagement with states in the region will take place on July 14 when it will convene a roundtable with M r Juan Carlos Salazar , secretary-general of the International Civil Aviation Organization , and over 20 directors-general of civil aviation from the region. This will come after the signing of an agreement between the Asia-Pacific Sustainable Aviation Centre and its advisory council partners to formalise their collaboration at the Global Aviation and Maritime Symposium on the morning of July 14 . The symposium will mark the start of the High-Level Aviation Week programme that will run from July 14 to 19 , where government and industry leaders will gather in Singapore for discussions. Seven events will take place over the course of the week, including a meeting on the regulations for advanced air mobility – which includes air taxis and drones – and an aviation safety summit.
Malaysian Reserve
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysian Reserve
Singapore GE2025: PAP retains supermajority, PM Wong humbled grateful for mandate
SINGAPORE — Singapore's People's Action Party (PAP) has successfully retained its supermajority in the 2025 General Election (GE2025), winning 87 out of 97 parliamentary seats. The results for each electoral division were announced live on television by Returning Officer Han Kok Juan and simultaneously published on the Elections Department (ELD) website. The PAP secured a commanding win with 65.57 per cent of the national vote – marking an improvement of more than four percentage points compared to its 2020 performance. It secured five seats uncontested in the Marine Parade–Braddell Heights Group Representation Constituency (GRC) on nomination day. The resounding victory signals a strong mandate for caretaker Prime Minister and PAP secretary-general Lawrence Wong, who led the party into a general election for the first time. Speaking at a press conference following the victory, Wong said he was humbled and grateful for the results, pledging to serve all Singaporeans — regardless of how they voted — with humility and a strong sense of responsibility. Expressing satisfaction with the outcome, he noted that the results would place Singapore in a stronger position to navigate an increasingly uncertain world, especially with all key members of his team successfully elected. 'It is a clear signal of trust, stability, and confidence in your government. My immediate task is to form my cabinet. I will announce the cabinet lineup when ready,' he added. The party fielded candidates in all 33 electoral divisions – 15 Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) and 18 GRCs. In the 2020 General Election, the PAP won 83 of the 93 seats, securing 61.2 per cent of the vote share. This is Singapore's 19th General Election and the 14th since its independence in 1965. Wong's team at Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC successfully defended their seats with 73.46 per cent of the vote, an improvement over the 63.18 per cent they received in the previous election. 'It's been a very humbling experience, working with all of you, interacting and engaging with all of you. We are grateful once again for your strong mandate, and we will honour it,' Wong said, addressing supporters at Yio Chu Kang Stadium after the official result for his GRC was announced. The main opposition Workers' Party (WP) failed to make further gains this year but successfully retained its 10 seats in the constituencies it won in GE2020 – Hougang SMC, Sengkang GRC, and Aljunied GRC. Wong said WP would also have two Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats if they chose to accept it. 'I look forward to the contributions of the opposition members in Parliament,' he said at the press conference. Other opposition parties, namely Red Dot United, Progress Singapore Party, People's Alliance for Reform, Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), People's Power Party, National Solidarity Party, Singapore United Party, Singapore People's Party, and Singapore Democratic Alliance, ended their campaigns without winning any seats. It was also another disappointing result for veteran opposition figure and SDP secretary-general Dr Chee Soon Juan, who has been part of the country's political landscape since 1992. He lost to the PAP's Poh Li San in the newly created Sembawang West SMC. Meanwhile, the two independent candidates contesting Radin Mas SMC and Mountbatten SMC saved their S$13,500 deposits after securing at least 12.5 per cent of the vote. The final result announced by the Returning Officer was for Tampines GRC on Sunday (4 May) at 1.50 am. According to the ELD, a total of 2,429,281 votes were cast in Singapore at the close of polls for GE2025, including 42,829 rejected votes. This made up 92.47 per cent of the 2,627,026 registered electors in all contested electoral divisions. — BERNAMA
Borneo Post
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Singapore GE2025: PAP retains supermajority, PM Wong humbled, grateful for mandate
Wong (second right) and his team successfully defended their Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC seats with 73.46 per cent of the vote, an improvement over the 63.18 per cent they received in the previous election. – Bernama photo SINGAPORE (May 4): Singapore's People's Action Party (PAP) has successfully retained its supermajority in the 2025 General Election (GE2025), winning 87 out of 97 parliamentary seats. The results for each electoral division were announced live on television by Returning Officer Han Kok Juan and simultaneously published on the Elections Department (ELD) website. The PAP secured a commanding win with 65.57 per cent of the national vote – marking an improvement of more than four percentage points compared to its 2020 performance. It secured five seats uncontested in the Marine Parade–Braddell Heights Group Representation Constituency (GRC) on nomination day. The resounding victory signals a strong mandate for caretaker Prime Minister and PAP secretary-general Lawrence Wong, who led the party into a general election for the first time. Speaking at a press conference following the victory, Wong said he was humbled and grateful for the results, pledging to serve all Singaporeans — regardless of how they voted — with humility and a strong sense of responsibility. Expressing satisfaction with the outcome, he noted that the results would place Singapore in a stronger position to navigate an increasingly uncertain world, especially with all key members of his team successfully elected. 'It is a clear signal of trust, stability, and confidence in your government. My immediate task is to form my cabinet. I will announce the cabinet lineup when ready,' he added. The party fielded candidates in all 33 electoral divisions – 15 Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) and 18 GRCs. In the 2020 General Election, the PAP won 83 of the 93 seats, securing 61.2 per cent of the vote share. This is Singapore's 19th General Election and the 14th since its independence in 1965. Wong's team at Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC successfully defended their seats with 73.46 per cent of the vote, an improvement over the 63.18 per cent they received in the previous election. 'It's been a very humbling experience, working with all of you, interacting and engaging with all of you. We are grateful once again for your strong mandate, and we will honour it,' Wong said, addressing supporters at Yio Chu Kang Stadium after the official result for his GRC was announced. The main opposition Workers' Party (WP) failed to make further gains this year but successfully retained its 10 seats in the constituencies it won in GE2020 – Hougang SMC, Sengkang GRC, and Aljunied GRC. Wong said WP would also have two Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) seats if they chose to accept it. 'I look forward to the contributions of the opposition members in Parliament,' he said at the press conference. Other opposition parties, namely Red Dot United, Progress Singapore Party, People's Alliance for Reform, Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), People's Power Party, National Solidarity Party, Singapore United Party, Singapore People's Party, and Singapore Democratic Alliance, ended their campaigns without winning any seats. It was also another disappointing result for veteran opposition figure and SDP secretary-general Dr Chee Soon Juan, who has been part of the country's political landscape since 1992. He lost to the PAP's Poh Li San in the newly created Sembawang West SMC. Meanwhile, the two independent candidates contesting Radin Mas SMC and Mountbatten SMC saved their S$13,500 deposits after securing at least 12.5 per cent of the vote. The final result announced by the Returning Officer was for Tampines GRC on Sunday (4 May) at 1.50 am. According to the ELD, a total of 2,429,281 votes were cast in Singapore at the close of polls for GE2025, including 42,829 rejected votes. This made up 92.47 per cent of the 2,627,026 registered electors in all contested electoral divisions. Lawrence Wong lead politics results Singapore Singapore GE2025
