Second Committee

STATEMENT BY MS MARY-ANNE PAN, DELEGATE TO THE 66TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, AGENDA ITEM 20, ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OUTCOME OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS (HABITAT II) AND STRENGTHENING OF THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME (UN-HABITAT), 1 NOVEMBER 2011 

I would like to begin by aligning myself with the statements by Argentina, on behalf of the G77 and China, and Indonesia, on behalf of ASEAN, on this agenda item.

Mr Chairman,

2 Habitat II, which was held in 1996, highlighted the need for providing adequate shelter for all and establishing sustainable cities where the lives of urban dwellers, including those living in slums, could be improved. In the past decade, the lives of 227 million slum-dwellers have improved, which is telling of the success of UN-HABITAT's programmes. Nevertheless, while all of us will be returning eagerly to the warmth and security of our homes tonight, the same cannot be said for the remaining 830 million slum-dwellers around the world, whose quality of life is markedly different from ours. They have little or no access to public services such as healthcare, education, clean water supply, energy and sanitation, nor protection from the elements. Providing adequate housing for these 830 million and for other populations in need remains a critical task. Moreover, it is an uphill battle because of the many economic, social and environmental challenges that we face today.

3 Globalization has helped many populations grow in affluence, but without adequate planning and resources, demand outstrips supply and costs of living inexorably go up. Property prices skyrocket, pushing the dream of home ownership farther out of reach for many. Governments also have to contend with mass rural-to-urban migration caused by a combination of unpredictable and extreme weather events and the lure of jobs and the prospect of advancement in urban centres, factors that heighten the challenge of providing adequate shelter for all.

4 Habitat challenges are inherently sustainable development issues; to provide adequate housing, governments must address the poverty-environment nexus. Building shelters and providing services is not cost-free for the environment, hence a balance must be found between the competing policy aims. This calls for strong coordination and coherence not only in a national context but also in partnerships with the relevant UN bodies at the governance, policy and implementation levels to identify gaps and viable solutions.

Mr Chairman,

5 Singapore is one of the most densely-populated countries in the world, packing 7,126 citizens per square kilometre.* Given our small land area and lack of natural resources, Singapore will always grapple with providing adequate physical and social infrastructure to meet rising population needs. However, we have found ingenious and innovative ways to overcome the constraints of our size and geography to house Singaporeans comfortably. In this context, we would like to share three aspects of our experience:

* Singapore Statistics, 2010 Key Annual Indicators, accessed at: http://www/singstat.gov.sg/stats/keyind.html#hhld

(a) First, to achieve sustainable urbanisation, short- and long-term urban and land-use planning policies and constant reviews are needed to ensure various needs are met in a timely and sustainable manner. Urban planners also need to set new imperatives for housing policies, public services, urban planning and design, especially in terms of types of housing, urban density and transport to achieve high-density yet high-liveability integrated urban solutions.

(b) Second, greening the economies through sustainable consumption and production patterns is essential for cities to reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This can be done through creative programmes in areas of resource recycling and energy-efficiency across all sectors, including green buildings. With a fortuitous combination of politial will, ethical foresight and technology, Singapore is firmly on the path of creating sustainable and green lifestyles for citizens.

(c) Beyond national borders, Singapore sees a need for UN agencies and governments to plan for both pre- and post-disaster responses to habitat needs. In both cases, early implementation of adaptation and mitigation measures is key to a country's ability to reduce the damage from natural disasters. Post-disaster responses also call for long-term policies to ensure that stable permanent homes and livelihoods can be reinstated after a natural disaster.

6 With urbanisation occurring at an unprecented scale, experts have predicted that by 2050, about 70% of the world population will live in cities. With this outlook, Singapore held the first World Cities Summit in 2008 to highlight current and emerging challenges, and showcase global model cities and innovative urban solutions. Over 1,000 ministers, governors, policy-makers, heads of International Organisations as well as corporate leaders from 50 countries attended the event. Next year, the third World Cities Summit will focus on "Liveable and Sustainable Cities - Integrated Urban Solutions". Key highlights include the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize, WCS Mayors Forum, Expo, high-level plenaries and deep-dive sessions. We invite delegations to join us for this event.

Mr Chairman,

7 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said that a person "is the happiest, be he king or peasant, who finds peace in his home." A home stands for more than mere shelter. It is where a person can store good memories, feed families and share love and warmth. In this era where social, environmental and economic problems are global and multi-dimensional in impact, we are fortunate to have homes to go back to. But let us not forget those that do not have that luxury and strive to help them achieve similar fortune.

Thank you.

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