Visit by Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Development, Sim Ann to Reykjavik, Iceland, 18 to 20 October 2023

Senior Minister of State (SMS), Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Development, Sim Ann attended the 2023 Arctic Circle Assembly (ACA) held in Reykjavik, Iceland, from 18 to 20 October 2023. SMS Sim Ann’s participation in the ACA is part of Singapore’s ongoing engagement of the Arctic region and coincides with the 10^th anniversary since Singapore was admitted as an Observer State to the Arctic Council in 2013.

SMS Sim Ann delivered a speech at the Opening Session of the ACA on 19 October 2023. She highlighted the risks posed by Arctic warming to low-lying small island States like Singapore, and the importance of multilateralism and international cooperation in developing an effective response to climate change-related challenges in the Arctic. The text of SMS Sim Ann’s speech is appended.

On the sidelines of the ACA, SMS Sim Ann met Icelandic Foreign Minister Bjarni Benediktsson, as well as former Icelandic President and Arctic Circle Chairman Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson.

SMS Sim Ann returns to Singapore today.

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

20 OCTOBER 2023

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SPEECH BY SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SIM ANN AT PART II OF THE OPENING SESSION OF THE ARCTIC CIRCLE ASSEMBLY, 19 OCTOBER 2023

Excellencies,

Distinguished Speakers,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1       I am delighted to be back in Reykjavik for the Arctic Circle Assembly (ACA). This year marks the 10^th anniversary of the launch of ACA in 2013, and I congratulate Arctic Circle Chairman Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson and his team on achieving this milestone.

2       This year is also the 10^th anniversary of Singapore’s Observership at the Arctic Council. As we look back at Singapore’s participation in and contribution to the Arctic over the past decade, including participating in every ACA, it is timely to reaffirm Singapore’s interest in the Arctic and our hopes for the future of Arctic cooperation.

3       At the global level, the Arctic plays a critical role in regulating the Earth’s ecosystem. It moderates global temperatures and ensures the circulation of ocean currents. Disruptions to the Arctic can therefore upset the balance of ecosystems, with far-reaching consequences on countries as distant as Singapore, which is quite literally half a world away. As the saying goes: What happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic.

4       The effects of climate change on the Arctic are well-documented. Over the last 40 years, annual Arctic September sea ice has shrunk by 12.3% per decade. In the last decade alone, the pace of ice loss in the Arctic – as well as the Antarctic – has tripled; the Arctic is now warming nearly four times faster than the global average.

5       For a low-lying coastal State like Singapore, climate change is an existential threat. Around a third of our country is less than five metres above sea level, making us particularly vulnerable to sea level rise caused by melting ice caps.

6       At the national level, Singapore has launched the Singapore Green Plan 2030 – a whole-of-nation blueprint that charts out ambitious and concrete targets towards our goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. This includes formulating coastal adaptation measures to address sea level rise. We have also launched a National Hydrogen Strategy to accelerate decarbonisation in the energy, industry, maritime and aviation sectors. We are collaborating with industry on hydrogen deployment and investing in innovations in carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS).

7       Singapore is the only country in Southeast Asia to implement a broad-based carbon tax covering 80% of our greenhouse gas emissions. We plan to raise our carbon tax progressively over the next few years and further enhance the business case for the development and deployment of low-carbon solutions.

8       While Singapore has taken decisive action to tackle problems associated with climate change, our efforts alone are not enough. After all, Singapore accounts for just 0.11% of global carbon emissions. We have therefore made it a priority to work with and support multilateral forums like the Arctic Council and ACA, to find actionable and sustainable solutions to our shared climate challenges. Through our participation in the Arctic Council Working Groups, we have shared Singapore’s expertise and experience in areas such as the prevention of oil spills, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable energy development. We have also hosted several study visits by the Arctic Council Permanent Participants through the Singapore-Arctic Council Permanent Participants Cooperation Package. Last year, we launched a Sustainability Action Package that covers sustainability themes such as adaptation and resilience, green project management and financing, low carbon development, and carbon markets. We welcome interested Arctic stakeholders to participate in these initiatives so that we can build a better and more sustainable future together.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

9       Given the complex and cross-border nature of the problems associated with Arctic warming, multilateralism and international cooperation remain our best chance at tackling and mitigating these challenges. Singapore therefore welcomes the gradual resumption of Arctic cooperation through the Arctic Council Working Groups, following the temporary pause introduced in March 2022. We look forward to restarting engagements with our Arctic Council partners at the earliest opportunity. On our part, Singapore will continue to draw on our experience and expertise to contribute to the important work of the Arctic Council and the ACA. The Arctic can continue to count on Singapore as a reliable friend and partner in the years to come. Thank you.

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Photo caption: Senior Minister of State Sim Ann delivering her speech at Part II of the Opening Session of the Arctic Circle Assembly.

Photo credit: Arctic Circle

Photo caption: Meeting between Senior Minister of State (SMS) Sim Ann and Icelandic Foreign Minister Bjarni Benediktsson. SMS is accompanied by Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs Sam Tan and Singapore’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (with concurrent accreditation to Iceland) Lim Thuan Kuan.

Photo credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore

Photo caption: Meeting between Senior Minister of State (SMS) Sim Ann and former Icelandic President and Arctic Circle Chairman Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson. SMS is accompanied by Special Envoy for Arctic Affairs Sam Tan and Singapore’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (with concurrent accreditation to Iceland) Lim Thuan Kuan.

Photo credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore