STATEMENT BY MR. JOSEPH TEO, DEPUTY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE, PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE TO THE UNITED NATIONS, ON AGENDA ITEM 9, INFORMATION REPORTED BY THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL SEABED AUTHORITY, AT THE TWENTY-FIFTH MEETING OF THE STATES PARTIES TO THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION ON THE LAW OF THE SEA, 8 JUNE 2015
8 June 2015
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Mr. President,
1. My delegation congratulates you on your election. Thank you for convening this meeting.
2. We thank the Secretary-General of the Authority, Nii Odunton, for the provision of information on the activities carried out by the Authority since the twenty-fourth Meeting of States Parties.
3. The Authority has, over the course of more than 20 years since its inauguration, contributed steadily to the development of the deep seabed mining regime. As technological advancements and commercial interest bring us closer to mineral exploitation in the Area, we need to continue to make every effort to put in place appropriate regulatory frameworks to ensure that, while activities are pursued in the Area, this is done in an environmentally responsible manner.
4. Earlier this year, Singapore enacted our Deep Seabed Mining Act and established a licensing regime to ensure that Singapore companies undertake exploration and exploitation activities in a responsible manner, thereby effectively protecting the marine environment. The Act is intended to fulfil Singapore’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in relation to deep seabed mining activities.
5. In respect of the Authority’s preparation of draft regulations for exploitation as well as on a payment mechanism, Singapore would like to reiterate our support for these efforts. We had previously provided inputs on the stakeholder engagement survey, and have recently provided inputs to the Report on Developing a Regulatory Framework for Mineral Exploitation in the Area as well as the Discussion Paper on the Development and Implementation of a Payment mechanism in the Area. It is important to have a regulatory framework that will ensure that the exploitation of resources in the Area is conducted in not just a commercially feasible manner, but also an environmentally sustainable one. Such regulatory framework must be consistent with international law, including UNCLOS. It is also imperative that the terms of exploitation are determined on the basis of fairness, so that wider participation from members of the Authority, including developing countries, is encouraged. We look forward to continuing our engagement with the Authority in further consultations.
6. Singapore further commends the Authority’s work in marine scientific research. We appreciate the initiatives undertaken by the Authority to improve the understanding of, and identification of baseline data for, the biological communities associated with various mineral resources in the Area. The Authority’s development of an ecosystem-based database for the Area is also to be encouraged considering the potential relevance of such information to on-going discussions on marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction. Further, we hope that the Authority’s work in the area of marine scientific research will enable effective progress in the development of environmental management plans for regions in which exploration activity is taking place, other than the Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone.
7. Regarding the workload facing both the Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) and the Secretariat of the Authority, Singapore has noticed its steady climb, as well as the evolution in what is required of the LTC and the Secretariat. Creative solutions are needed to deal with the overwhelming amount of work before the LTC, considering that current arrangements do not appear to be sustainable. Similarly, practical ways in which the Assembly can facilitate the Secretariat’s plans for its future work should be identified, if possible, at the twenty-first session of the Assembly of the Authority next month.
8. We anticipate that the twenty-first session of the Assembly of the Authority will be, as it has been in recent years, a productive one. The work of the Authority that will be undertaken at the upcoming session and at future sessions will have long-term impacts on the deep seabed mining regime and industry. Singapore looks forward to continuing our active participation at the upcoming session and, in our capacity as a member of the ISA Council, we encourage all States Parties to attend the twenty-first session.
Mr. President,
9. Before I conclude, considering that today is World Oceans Day, I would like to also take this opportunity to say a few words in commemoration of World Oceans Day.
10. This year’s theme is “Healthy oceans, healthy planet”. Indeed, the oceans have been aptly described as the heart of our planet. Each of us has one heart that pumps blood to every part of our body. None of us can live without a heart. The condition of our heart has a significant impact on the condition of our body. Similarly, the oceans play an integral role in our everyday life and connect people across the earth. We cannot live without the oceans. The condition of the oceans has a significant impact on the condition of life on our planet. Let us work together, under the guidance of UNCLOS, the “Constitution for the Oceans”, towards the conservation and the sustainable use of the oceans and their resources.
11. Thank you.
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