The carbon case for going green is only half the story

Singaporeans may value electric buses more than the carbon savings they deliver, according to a Straits Times opinion piece by Assoc Prof Alberto Salvo, IPUR Principal Investigator. The article argued that governments often justify green investments mainly through emissions reduction, but this misses the everyday benefits people actually notice, such as quieter rides, cleaner air and better comfort.

Assoc Prof Salvo said his research found commuters were willing to pay more for electric bus rides than diesel ones, and that the value citizens placed on the improved experience could exceed the life-cycle carbon savings of replacing a diesel bus. He said this shows that cost-benefit assessments that ignore public preferences may understate the social return of low-carbon projects.

He extended the same logic to energy and food, saying the case for greener systems should include benefits like price stability, supply security, health and convenience. The piece concluded that Singapore should report “citizen value” alongside carbon metrics so the full return on green investments is clearer to taxpayers and policymakers.