The document discusses responses to climate change, including international agreements signed by countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and national policies implemented by individual countries. It provides examples of Singapore's national response through its Green Plan 2012, Green Mark Scheme, and Plant-A-Tree Programme started in 1971 to encourage residents to donate money and participate in monthly tree planting events to help absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. While the programme has contributed to planting an estimated 60,000 trees annually, the effects of tree planting take a long time to become effective as trees require many years to mature.

1. Contracts signed by two or more
countries / countries around the
world to work together to deal with
climate change
Policies implemented by individual
countries to reduce the country’s
greenhouse gas emissions
(1) International Agreements (2) National Responses
Responses to Climate Change
Goal:
Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Case study: Kyoto Protocol Case study: Singapore
(a) Successes
(b) Limitations
(a) Singapore Green Plan 2012
(b) Green Mark Scheme
(c) Plant-A-Tree Programme

2. National Response – Singapore
(c) Plant-A-Tree Programme
Started in 1971, the Plant-A-Tree Programme encourages
residents to donate money to buy a tree
Or take part in tree planting events that take place monthly
throughout Singapore

3. National Response – Singapore
(c) Plant-A-Tree Programme
Has this been effective?
Effectiveness Challenges / Limitations
 The programme has contributed
to an estimated 60,000 trees
planted yearly throughout
Singapore by the National Parks
Board (NParks).
 The presence of more trees and
plants in Singapore help to
absorb and remove carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere.
 However, trees take many years to
mature. Even fast-growing trees such
raintrees take 25 years to reach their
full height.
 As such, the positive effects of tree-
planting will take a long time to
become effective.
 Thus, the reduction in greenhouse gas
concentrations may not be visible until
several decades later.