Statement by Minister for Foreign Affairs George Yeo at the High-Level event on climate change convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, New York, 24 September 2007

"THE FUTURE IN OUR HANDS:
ADDRESSING THE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE
OF CLIMATE CHANGE"

HIGH-LEVEL EVENT ON CLIMATE CHANGE
CONVENED BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
OF THE UNITED NATIONS

THEMATIC PLENARY II - MITIGATION
"REDUCING EMISSIONS AND STABILISING THE CLIMATE - SAFEGUARDING OUR COMMON FUTURE"

STATEMENT BY

HIS EXCELLENCY MR GEORGE YEO
MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS
OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

24 SEPTEMBER 2007

The recent APEC Summit issued a Leaders' declaration on climate change which, though not binding, set high aspirations. The US in a few days time will also convene a meeting of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases. Without collective action to reduce carbon emission, we will fail. That was the weakness of Kyoto. We need the US as the world's biggest emitter to take the lead. Increasingly, China and India will need to be involved as well as they are becoming big emitters because of huge populations. In November, the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN-EU Summit, both to be held in Singapore, will also have climate change high up on the agenda.

2 The political will expressed by leaders should be translated into an effective plan of action at the coming UNFCCC meeting in Bali this December. This session called by the UN Secretary General, involving all countries, is timely.

3 Any new global framework must observe the key principles already articulated in the UNFCCC. Developed countries must continue to take the lead on reducing emissions. Developing countries should slow down the increase in carbon emissions based on the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and their respective capabilities, and in a manner which does not stifle their economic growth.

4 Reducing carbon emission is half the equation in reducing greenhouse gases. The other half is increasing carbon capture. In Sydney, APEC member countries resolved to increase forest cover in the region. The initiative to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD), especially the promotion of sustainable forest management, is important.

5 Tropical forests and marine ecosystems play an important role in the health of our planet. We must protect them. At the National Institute of Amazonia Research (INPA) in Manaus recently, I was given a briefing on the influence of El Nino on the health of the Amazon forest. In 1997/98 when the El Nino effect was at its worst in decades, forest fires in Southeast Asia released 700 million metric tons of CO2 to the atmosphere according to some experts. Last year which was a weak El Nino year, more than 8 million hectares of forest were destroyed by fire in the month of September alone. Peatland fires are a particular problem in Indonesia. One Indonesian minister explained to me that, during the Suharto government, for lack of knowledge, large areas of peatland were drained for cultivation. Dried peatland fires are almost impossible to extinguish. We still lack understanding of forests, mangrove swamps and coral reefs. Policy-makers themselves need to take a greater interest in the science.

6 Prescriptions by developed countries to developing countries on carbon emissions are sometimes perceived as self-serving. We cannot ignore developmental needs. Unless the system encourages local inhabitants to protect trees instead of chopping them down, the problem of deforestation cannot be solved. There must be assistance by developed countries in resources and expertise. However, there must also be a system of surveillance and control to ensure that money is properly used and not channelled into the wrong hands. Corruption is a major problem that has to be overcome.

7 Tropical forests and marine ecosystems can help sustain a rich economy. Mangrove swamps are ideal for aquaculture provided there is proper control on the use of chemicals and the disposal of wastes. However, much more research is needed. Developed countries can do a lot to help. It is not only carbon capture that we are concerned with, but also the biodiversity that these regions hold. Even a small patch of tropical forest in Singapore has more biodiversity than large parts of Europe or North America. It has been estimated that tropical forests in Southeast Asia, Africa and South America contain more than 50% of all the plant and animal species on our planet.

8 The Heart of Borneo initiative deserves our full support. It covers 220,000 sq km of land in Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. Brunei, which is not a big country, played a leading role and set aside 58% of its total land area for this initiative which is a magnificent contribution. The island of Borneo is home to 13 species of primates, 150 species of reptiles and amphibians, and over 350 species of birds and 15,000 species of plants. And, every year, there are new discoveries. In Sumatra, Singapore and Malaysia are working with neighbouring Indonesian provinces to tackle peatland fires and develop sustainable land-clearing practices. We in Southeast Asia can learn much from the experience of the Amazonian region where considerable research has been done and which now has a comprehensive system of surveillance.

9 Governments alone cannot do all the work. We have to engage the private sector and establish regulatory frameworks which bring positive market forces into play. Technology can solve many of the problems we face but the right incentives must be in place. We need the help of local communities as well. NGOs can play a very positive role monitoring progress and blowing whistles. Without passion and persistence, and a sense of the whole earth, we will not be able to overcome the resistance to effective action.

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