Singapore’s Participation at the Arctic Circle Japan Forum, 2 to 7 March 2023

Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs Sam Tan represented Singapore at the inaugural Arctic Circle Japan Forum held in Tokyo, Japan from 2 to 7 March. This was part of Singapore’s ongoing engagement of the Arctic since becoming an observer state in the Arctic Council in 2013. The Arctic Circle Japan Forum was attended by close to 1,000 speakers and participants from over 20 countries, including government officials, representatives of the Arctic indigenous peoples, and members of the business and academic communities. Special Envoy Tan delivered a speech during the “Contributions of Observer States to the Arctic Council” high-level plenary session on 5 March 2023; and took part in a panel discussion titled “Science and Technology Collaboration in the Arctic and Effective Use of Research Vessels” on 4 March 2023. The text of the speech is appended.

On the sidelines of the Forum, Special Envoy Tan called on Icelandic Minister of the Environment, Energy and Climate Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson, Japanese State Minister of Cabinet Office Hoshino Tsuyoshi, and Members of the Japanese House of Representatives Kamikawa Yoko, Shindo Yoshitaka, and Kikawada Hitoshi. Special Envoy Tan also met President of the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology Yamato Hiroyuki and President of Sasakawa Peace Foundation President Sunami Atsushi as well as the Senior Arctic Officials from other Arctic Council Member and Observer States.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

8 MARCH 2023

REMARKS BY SPECIAL ENVOY FOR ARCTIC AFFAIRS SAM TAN AT THE ARCTIC CIRCLE JAPAN FORUM ON “CONTRIBUTIONS OF OBSERVER STATES TO THE ARCTIC COUNCIL”, 5 MARCH 2023

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

A very good afternoon to all of you.

1.        This is the first time Singapore is participating in an Arctic forum in Japan. I would like to congratulate my Icelandic friends for bringing the Arctic discussions to Asia and my Japanese friends for their warm hospitality at this well-organised event.

2.        2023 marks the 10th anniversary of Singapore joining the Arctic Council as an Observer State and I am delighted to share more about Singapore’s involvement in the Council over the last 10 years.

3.        Naturally, some may wonder why Singapore, a small tropical island-state 10,000 km away from the Arctic, is interested in Arctic issues. 

4.        In a nutshell, Singapore believes that climate change is real, and that rising global temperatures will result in the melting of Arctic ice sheets which will in turn have profound global implications - rising sea-levels being one of them. As a low-lying country with 30% of our island not much higher than the sea-level, rising sea levels are a threat to the physical survival of Singapore.

5.        To demonstrate how seriously Singapore views this issue, we have committed US$75 billion over the next few decades to develop a comprehensive system to protect our coastlines. Amongst various initiatives, Singapore is currently building our first polder on one of our offshore islands.

6.        In addition, changes in the Arctic will invariably change the future of maritime shipping. In particular, the Northern Sea Route could reduce travel time between Europe and Northeast Asia by up to two or three weeks. 

7.        As the Arctic Sea routes open up, infrastructure will have to be further developed to ensure safe shipping in the region. To this end, Singaporean companies are keen to work with our Arctic partners to jointly seize new opportunities in ship building and port management/building in the Arctic. For example, a Singapore company called Keppel Singmarine was the first Asian shipyard to build icebreakers in 2008 while PSA International is a leading port group with a global network encompassing 160 locations in 42 countries. These are just some of the Singaporean companies which have the capacities and capabilities to contribute to the sustainable development of infrastructure and facilities in the Arctic.

8.        Over the past decade, we have worked closely with the AC under various Working Groups.

9.        For example, our National Parks Board works with the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) to track Arctic migratory birds that stop in Singapore during the Arctic winter season; our Maritime and Port Authority officials have shared our approach to inter-agency coordination and using drones in managing oil spills with the Emergency Preparedness, Prevention and Response (EPPR) Working Group.

10.     Singapore also engages the AC’s Permanent Participants (PPs). Since 2013, we have organised three Study Visits to Singapore for various Permanent Participants, most recently in 2017 and we continue to welcome more such meaningful exchanges with the Permanent Participants in the future.

11.     As a small country, it is in Singapore’s interest to remain closely connected to the world and to understand how changes in climate patterns, environmental and economic developments, even in a distant region like the Arctic, can impact Singapore. We also seek to make friends and work with like-minded countries in co-creating solutions to address some of these challenges. 

12.     In the meantime, Singapore is still learning when it comes to Arctic issues, and we remained committed to deepening our understanding of the region. I look forward to hearing from everyone today on how we can better do so.  Thank you. 

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Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs Sam Tan deliver a speech during the “Contributions of Observer States to the Arctic Council” high-level plenary session on 5 March 2023

Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore

Meeting between Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs Sam Tan and Icelandic Minister of the Environment, Energy and Climate Guðlaugur Þór Þórðarson

Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore

Meeting between Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs Sam Tan and Japanese State Minister of Cabinet Office Hoshino Tsuyoshi
Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore

Meeting between Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs Sam Tan and Member of the Japanese House of Representatives Kamikawa Yoko
Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore

Meeting between Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs Sam Tan and Member of the Japanese House of Representatives Shindo Yoshitaka

Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore

Meeting between Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs Sam Tan and Member of the Japanese House of Representatives Kikawada Hitoshi

Photo Credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore