Singapore Expands Carbon Registry Framework to Support Emissions Tracking

On January 22, Singapore expanded its carbon registry, adding 94 new emission factors to the Singapore Emission Factors Registry (SEFR). The registry now contains 319 factors covering all Scope 1 and 2 emissions and 4 of the 15 Scope 3 categories. The expansion comes ahead of the mandatory Scope 3 reporting requirements for Straits Times Index (STI)-listed companies beginning in the financial year 2026, though reporting remains voluntary for non-STI firms. This expansion will add new emissions factors specifically for the cleaning, security, professional services, and communications technology (ICT) sectors. Since its October 2024 launch, SEFR has assisted over 800 Singapore businesses in emissions reporting. 

The registry aims to help businesses more accurately report carbon emissions. While SMEs, 99% of Singapore's business landscape, saw climate reporting requirements delayed until 2030, the registry's continued expansion signals emphasis on voluntary adoption ahead of broader mandates. By adding 94 new Singapore-specific emission factors covering services, ICT, and industrial processes, companies can now better track both direct and indirect emissions, including parts of Scope 3. This enables businesses to identify key emission sources, improve reporting accuracy, and take practical, cost-effective steps toward decarbonization. Chairman of the SEFR governance committee, Mr. Lee Chuan Seng, stated that these new emissions factors will be critical to helping Singapore achieve its target of net-zero emissions by 2050, with peak emissions of 60 million tonnes of CO2 by 2030.