Grace Fu on PM2.5 forecasts: Too many indicators may complicate public messages

The relevant agencies do not see a need for 12-, 24, or 48-hourly PM2.5 forecasts as too many indicators may complicate public messages, said Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu in Parliament on Tuesday (Nov 3).

She was responding to a question filed by Workers' Party MP Fadli Fawzi (Aljunied GRC), who asked why the National Environment Agency (NEA) cannot provide such forecasts, similar to what the United States National Weather Service does for smoke.

The first-term MP argued that this could help Singaporeans plan daily activities during haze situations.

Fu reiterated that providing timely and reliable information is an important part of Singapore's public health response, pointing out that NEA already provides a daily 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) to help members of the public plan activities for the next day.

The forecast takes into account the prevailing air quality, local and regional weather conditions, and the regional hotspots and haze situation assessed through satellite imagery, the sustainability and environment minister explained.

Then, there is also the hourly PM2.5, by regions, based on the latest readings from NEA's 23 air quality monitoring stations across the country.

Fu said: "Residents, schools, and employers should use the PSI forecast and corresponding health advisory to plan for next day outdoor activities, and refer to the latest one-hour PM2.5 readings when deciding on immediate outdoor activities."

She added that NEA will continue to review how its forecasting and public information services can be enhanced to provide more useful guidance, but for now, there is no need to include PM2.5 forecasts.

"The use of forecast 24-hour PSI for planning, and hourly PM2.5 for taking decisions has worked well," Fu noted.

She added: "We don't think there is a need to include 12-hour, 24-hour, or 48-hour PM2.5 forecasts, as having too many indicators may complicate our public messages."

永续发展及环境部长傅海燕周二（11月3日）在国会表示，相关机构认为没有必要提供12小时、24小时或48小时的PM2.5预测，因为指标过多可能会使公共信息变得复杂。

她是在回应工人党议员法德利·法兹（阿裕尼集选区）提出的问题，法德利·法兹询问为什么国家环境局（NEA）不能提供类似美国国家气象局对烟雾所做的预测。

这位第一任议员认为，这可以帮助新加坡人在雾霾天气下规划日常活动。

傅先生重申，提供及时可靠的信息是新加坡公共卫生应对措施的重要组成部分，并指出国家环境局已经提供每日 24 小时污染物标准指数 (PSI)，以帮助公众规划第二天的活动。

可持续发展和环境部长解释说，该预测考虑了当前的空气质量、当地和区域天气状况，以及通过卫星图像评估的区域热点和雾霾情况。

此外，还有根据国家环境局在全国 23 个空气质量监测站的最新读数，按地区划分的每小时 PM2.5 值。

傅先生表示：“居民、学校和雇主应利用 PSI 预报和相应的健康建议来规划第二天的户外活动，并在决定立即进行户外活动时参考最新的 1 小时 PM2.5 读数。”

她补充说，国家环境局将继续审查如何加强其预测和公共信息服务，以提供更有用的指导，但目前没有必要纳入 PM2.5 预测。

傅指出：“利用 24 小时 PSI 预测值进行规划，利用每小时 PM2.5 值进行决策，效果很好。”

她补充说：“我们认为没有必要纳入 12 小时、24 小时或 48 小时的 PM2.5 预测，因为指标过多可能会使我们的公共信息变得复杂。”