QUESTION:
Mr Edwin Khew Teck Fook: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Law (a) with the completion of the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali, what will be Singapore's strategy with regard to the negotiation of a climate change protocol post-2012; (b) whether Singapore will play a lead role as the chair of ASEAN to facilitate a common ASEAN position or independently negotiate a position that fits what is best for Singapore; and (c) how can the private sector and NGOs in Singapore assist the Government in this process prior to the Copenhagen meeting in 2009.
REPLY:
Mr Speaker, Sir, let me, first, say that Singapore attaches great importance to the international discussions on climate change. Climate change has grown in importance and complexity as a global political issue. It is an issue with many dimensions that cut across the responsibilities of several Ministries. In this regard, the Prime Minister has asked me to coordinate the efforts of the various Ministries involved. Because we need to take a holistic approach and ensure better coordination within the Government so that we can take a principled and forward looking stance as a responsible member of the global community, while preserving our core national interests. We have set up an inter-Ministerial committee, which I chair, that involves my colleagues, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Trade and Industry, Minister MEWR as well as Minister National Development (and where appropriate, Minister for Finance) and also senior officials from those Ministries.
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting in Bali in December 2007 was an important signal of political commitment. All countries now recognise that climate change is a serious challenge that needs to be tackled on a collective basis. But the Bali meeting is only the beginning of a long process of negotiations on the kind of international regime that will kick in after 2012. An ambitious two-year timeframe has been set for the Bali Roadmap. It does not specify the concrete actions to take, only that developed nations will take on "measurable, reportable and verifiable nationally appropriate mitigation commitments or actions" and for developing countries "nationally appropriate mitigation actions".
Once discussions start, it will not be easy. We can expect the negotiations to be rather protracted and complex because of the large number of countries involved as well as the diversity of interests. A potential thorny issue will be how to share the burden between developed and developing countries. The Kyoto Protocol established the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities" to address the problem, but while it binds Annex I countries, mainly developed countries, to reducing greenhouse gases, the non-Annex I countries, mainly developing countries, eg, China, India and Brazil, have no emission reduction targets. Furthermore, the United States has not ratified the Protocol. In our view, any future framework must therefore be more inclusive if it is to be effective.
The Prime Minister, in outlining Singapore's position at the Bali meeting, has stated some of the key principles which will guide us in our negotiations:
First, Singapore will participate actively in the forthcoming negotiations. We will also take on mitigating actions if there is international consensus for all countries to do so. However, any new framework should take into account differences in national circumstances and constraints of the countries concerned.
Second, many developing nations in Asia, Middle East and Africa are concerned that taking on drastic mitigation actions would undermine their economic development. Such concerns are valid. Therefore, any new framework should recognise the vital importance of economic growth and should not undermine globalisation and the international division of labour.
Third, efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions must ultimately be pragmatic and cost-effective. This includes exploiting technologies to improve energy efficiency and reduce wastage, and economic policies to price energy properly and avoid subsidising over-consumption of fossil fuels.
Fourth, we need to protect the world's carbon sinks. Singapore supports the idea of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, which Indonesia has been pushing for. Slash-and-burn practices and large-scale burning of peatlands release massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. In this regard, we have also worked bilaterally with Indonesia to tackle peatland fires and develop sustainable land-clearing practices.
Turning to the second part of the Member's question, ASEAN countries are particularly vulnerable to climate change. As the Chair of ASEAN, Singapore will do its part in promoting greater awareness of the issues involved as well as to encourage closer cooperation. Indeed, as Members would already be aware, when Singapore hosted the 13th ASEAN Summit and the 3rd East Asia Summit (EAS) in Singapore in November last year, we proposed "Energy, Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development" as the theme. Regional leaders declared their resolve to work closely with each other as well as with other like-minded countries on a fair, flexible and comprehensive multilateral agreement to address climate change beyond 2012. We also secured agreement among ASEAN countries and our EAS partners also, for example, to work to achieve a common understanding on a long term aspirational global emissions reduction goal to pave the way for a more effective post-2012 international arrangement, as well as reforestation targets in ASEAN and the greater EAS region.
I believe, Sir, that ASEAN must continue to work towards a common understanding on the issue of climate change and its impacts. Given the varying stages of development within ASEAN and the unique economic circumstances of each country in ASEAN, the preoccupations of each country would be different. As a small state that has no access to clean and renewable energy sources like wind, hydro or geothermal power, Singapore faces special and specific constraints. We are heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels, and cannot easily diversify our energy sources.
Where possible, we will continue to work with ASEAN partners in relevant international and regional forums, such as the ASEAN Environment Ministers Meeting, to collaborate on common interests. ASEAN leaders at the Singapore Summit also agreed to encourage efforts to develop an ASEAN Climate Change Initiative. Such an initiative will seek to strengthen the region's capacity, both in mitigation and adaptation efforts, through the sharing of information on impacts of climate change and clean/energy-efficient technologies. It will also call for greater cooperation in the region by increasing networking among members and coordination of efforts with regard to vulnerability, adaptation response as well as forestry issues.
Turning to the last part of the Member's question, while Singapore plays its part in the international community, ultimately, I believe all of us, including the private sector and NGOs, have to play a part on climate change. For example, the private sector can play a role to ensure that they run energy-efficient operations and facilities, as well as reflect opportunities to improve Singapore's energy efficiency or to use renewable energy to the Government. NGOs, on their part, can help to raise awareness on the practical efforts people can take. NGOs also have an important role to promote forest conservation, reforestation and the sustainable use of resources to protect the world's carbon sinks. In order to understand the various points of view in creating Singapore's climate change policy, we have formed a National Climate Change Committee that comprises stakeholders from the private sector, NGOs and academia.
I know that the Member is a participant in this National Climate Change Committee and I thank him for his contributions in that regard.
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