Melissa Low | National University of Singapore (original) (raw)

Papers by Melissa Low

At the closing of the recent COP25, also known as the Madrid Climate Conference held from 2–15 De... more At the closing of the recent COP25, also known as the Madrid Climate Conference held from 2–15 December 2019, countries were most notably unable to come to consensus on the “leftover” issues carried forward from COP24 held the year before in Katowice. The key task for COP25 was to adopt decisions to establish an Article 6 market and non-market mechanism in order to complete the Paris Rulebook. In 2018, 192 countries adopted the Katowice Climate Package, which seeks to operationalise the climate change regime in the Paris Agreement. This policy brief details the key outcomes of the Madrid COP25 and the further work required in preparation for the Glasgow Climate Conference (COP26) scheduled for November 2020.

A new Resource Sustainability Bill was introduced in Parliament on 5 August 2019. The Bill should... more A new Resource Sustainability Bill was introduced in Parliament on 5 August 2019. The Bill should be understood as part of the Singapore government’s Zero Waste Masterplan to encourage circularity and to promote resource sustainability. This brief will examine new obligations under the Resource Sustainability Bill relating to the collection and treatment of food waste and assesses how this will help inch us towards closing the food-water-energy nexus loop.

Methane (CH4) emissions from palm oil wastewater, more commonly known as biogas released from pal... more Methane (CH4) emissions from palm oil wastewater, more commonly known as biogas released from palm oil mill effluent (POME), represents a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. POME releases biogas, which consists of 60–70 per cent methane and 30–40 per cent carbon dioxide (CO2) when it is treated in open ponds. Given the large palm oil plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia, not to mention other agricultural activities in Southeast Asian countries, methane capture in the agroindustry has the largest potential for carbon capture in the region. This is especially important given that the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of CH4 is 28 times that of CO2. This policy brief explores the methane mitigation potential through biogas capture and utilisation in Southeast Asia’s clean energy transition.

Democracy is on trial in the climate crisis. It is charged with having failed to prevent dangerou... more Democracy is on trial in the climate crisis. It is charged with having failed to prevent dangerous climate change. To its critics, the very same features of democracy praised as its defining virtues—popular sovereignty, the accountability and responsiveness of elected officials, public debate and deliberation—are handicaps that impede effective climate action. However, this trial is not over and it would not be safe to deliver a verdict at this stage. The case for authoritarian regimes is flawed in both theory and practice and while it is late for preventing the worst impacts of climate change, there is still a window to provide a climate-safe future. Here, it is overwhelmingly democratic nations that are taking the lead. With this in mind, this Report focuses on democracy and the climate crisis in the Asia and the Pacific region. A regional approach based on case studies has been chosen to contextualize the challenges to democracy arising from this crisis. The Asia and the Pacific ...

2020 marks the five-year point at which countries are to step up their climate ambitions under th... more 2020 marks the five-year point at which countries are to step up their climate ambitions under the Paris Agreement. As countries respond to the immediate health and economic crisis posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the COP26 UN climate change conference scheduled for November in Glasgow had to be rescheduled to 2021. This policy brief discusses the UK’s COP26 strategy to deliver an ambitious outcome following its postponement. It will also examine how New Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) can be included in Covid-19 stimulus and recovery packages in order to provide an opportunity for a sustainable recovery and get the world closer to the Paris goals.

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2019

With the introduction of the Resource Sustainability Act (RSA) on 5 August 2019, Singapore has em... more With the introduction of the Resource Sustainability Act (RSA) on 5 August 2019, Singapore has embarked on its journey towards building a circular economy. Circularity was further emphasized and detailed in the Zero Waste Masterplan 2019 (ZWMP) launched on 30 August 2019. One of the main pillars of the Resource Sustainability Act (RSA) which was passed in Parliament on 4 September 2019, is the introduction of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for electronic waste by 2021. Under the ZWMP, EPR will also be extended to packaging waste by 2025. This paper will review the consultative democratic exercise of the Year Towards Zero Waste (YTZW) that has shaped the RSA, the new e-waste EPR provisions in the RSA, as well as highlight the complexities in extending EPR to packaging waste.

Energy, Governance and Sustainability

Sustainability Matters, 2015

Eurasian Geography and Economics, 2011

Urban Studies, 2013

Based on an adaptive choice-based conjoint analysis, the aim of this paper is to ascertain the ex... more Based on an adaptive choice-based conjoint analysis, the aim of this paper is to ascertain the extent to which various characteristics of a condominium unit, and in particular the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Green Mark Scheme, influence prospective real estate investors’ preferences for condominium units in Singapore. Through the analysis, this study determines that premium buyers would be willing to pay for property certified by the Green Mark Scheme. The results suggest that the price premium buyers would be willing to pay for green certification varies within the different levels of the Green Mark Scheme, ranging from 3.78 per cent for the Certified award to 7.98 per cent for the Platinum award. The results thus suggest a strong business case for developers of green buildings.

Tracy Bach and Beth Martin, RINGO CFPs, will follow up on their Monday, May 17 primer on the clim... more Tracy Bach and Beth Martin, RINGO CFPs, will follow up on their Monday, May 17 primer on the climate negotiations at COP26 by holding a live Q&A for attendees. They will answer your questions on how the topics covered during the week's sessions factor into the negotiations and side events anticipated at COP26 in November.

At the closing of the recent COP25, also known as the Madrid Climate Conference held from 2–15 De... more At the closing of the recent COP25, also known as the Madrid Climate Conference held from 2–15 December 2019, countries were most notably unable to come to consensus on the “leftover” issues carried forward from COP24 held the year before in Katowice. The key task for COP25 was to adopt decisions to establish an Article 6 market and non-market mechanism in order to complete the Paris Rulebook. In 2018, 192 countries adopted the Katowice Climate Package, which seeks to operationalise the climate change regime in the Paris Agreement. This policy brief details the key outcomes of the Madrid COP25 and the further work required in preparation for the Glasgow Climate Conference (COP26) scheduled for November 2020.

A new Resource Sustainability Bill was introduced in Parliament on 5 August 2019. The Bill should... more A new Resource Sustainability Bill was introduced in Parliament on 5 August 2019. The Bill should be understood as part of the Singapore government’s Zero Waste Masterplan to encourage circularity and to promote resource sustainability. This brief will examine new obligations under the Resource Sustainability Bill relating to the collection and treatment of food waste and assesses how this will help inch us towards closing the food-water-energy nexus loop.

Methane (CH4) emissions from palm oil wastewater, more commonly known as biogas released from pal... more Methane (CH4) emissions from palm oil wastewater, more commonly known as biogas released from palm oil mill effluent (POME), represents a significant source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. POME releases biogas, which consists of 60–70 per cent methane and 30–40 per cent carbon dioxide (CO2) when it is treated in open ponds. Given the large palm oil plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia, not to mention other agricultural activities in Southeast Asian countries, methane capture in the agroindustry has the largest potential for carbon capture in the region. This is especially important given that the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of CH4 is 28 times that of CO2. This policy brief explores the methane mitigation potential through biogas capture and utilisation in Southeast Asia’s clean energy transition.

Democracy is on trial in the climate crisis. It is charged with having failed to prevent dangerou... more Democracy is on trial in the climate crisis. It is charged with having failed to prevent dangerous climate change. To its critics, the very same features of democracy praised as its defining virtues—popular sovereignty, the accountability and responsiveness of elected officials, public debate and deliberation—are handicaps that impede effective climate action. However, this trial is not over and it would not be safe to deliver a verdict at this stage. The case for authoritarian regimes is flawed in both theory and practice and while it is late for preventing the worst impacts of climate change, there is still a window to provide a climate-safe future. Here, it is overwhelmingly democratic nations that are taking the lead. With this in mind, this Report focuses on democracy and the climate crisis in the Asia and the Pacific region. A regional approach based on case studies has been chosen to contextualize the challenges to democracy arising from this crisis. The Asia and the Pacific ...

2020 marks the five-year point at which countries are to step up their climate ambitions under th... more 2020 marks the five-year point at which countries are to step up their climate ambitions under the Paris Agreement. As countries respond to the immediate health and economic crisis posed by the coronavirus pandemic, the COP26 UN climate change conference scheduled for November in Glasgow had to be rescheduled to 2021. This policy brief discusses the UK’s COP26 strategy to deliver an ambitious outcome following its postponement. It will also examine how New Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) can be included in Covid-19 stimulus and recovery packages in order to provide an opportunity for a sustainable recovery and get the world closer to the Paris goals.

SSRN Electronic Journal, 2019

With the introduction of the Resource Sustainability Act (RSA) on 5 August 2019, Singapore has em... more With the introduction of the Resource Sustainability Act (RSA) on 5 August 2019, Singapore has embarked on its journey towards building a circular economy. Circularity was further emphasized and detailed in the Zero Waste Masterplan 2019 (ZWMP) launched on 30 August 2019. One of the main pillars of the Resource Sustainability Act (RSA) which was passed in Parliament on 4 September 2019, is the introduction of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) scheme for electronic waste by 2021. Under the ZWMP, EPR will also be extended to packaging waste by 2025. This paper will review the consultative democratic exercise of the Year Towards Zero Waste (YTZW) that has shaped the RSA, the new e-waste EPR provisions in the RSA, as well as highlight the complexities in extending EPR to packaging waste.

Energy, Governance and Sustainability

Sustainability Matters, 2015

Eurasian Geography and Economics, 2011

Urban Studies, 2013

Based on an adaptive choice-based conjoint analysis, the aim of this paper is to ascertain the ex... more Based on an adaptive choice-based conjoint analysis, the aim of this paper is to ascertain the extent to which various characteristics of a condominium unit, and in particular the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) Green Mark Scheme, influence prospective real estate investors’ preferences for condominium units in Singapore. Through the analysis, this study determines that premium buyers would be willing to pay for property certified by the Green Mark Scheme. The results suggest that the price premium buyers would be willing to pay for green certification varies within the different levels of the Green Mark Scheme, ranging from 3.78 per cent for the Certified award to 7.98 per cent for the Platinum award. The results thus suggest a strong business case for developers of green buildings.

Tracy Bach and Beth Martin, RINGO CFPs, will follow up on their Monday, May 17 primer on the clim... more Tracy Bach and Beth Martin, RINGO CFPs, will follow up on their Monday, May 17 primer on the climate negotiations at COP26 by holding a live Q&A for attendees. They will answer your questions on how the topics covered during the week's sessions factor into the negotiations and side events anticipated at COP26 in November.