STATEMENT BY MINISTER OF STATE (FOREIGN AFFAIRS) (TRADE & INDUSTRY) GAN SIOW HUANG AT THE HIGH-LEVEL SOLUTIONS DIALOGUE ON ACCELERATING EARLY WARNING AND EXTREME HEAT SOLUTIONS 22 SEPTEMBER 2025, 0900HRS UNHQ CONFERENCE ROOM 3

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

1 Today’s focus on Early Warning and Extreme Heat Solutions reflects our collective recognition of one of the most pressing climate risks of our time.

2 For Singapore, the dangers of rising heat are very real. We have just emerged from the warmest decade on record, with new highs set repeatedly over the past year. 

3 Like many Small Island Developing States (SIDS), we already deal with high baseline temperatures and humidity. Combined with rapid urbanisation and an ageing population, rising heat is not just an environmental issue. It is a direct threat to public health, livelihoods, and long-term national development.

4 In response, Singapore has adopted a whole-of-society approach. We have introduced a national Heat Stress Advisory, supported by Wet Bulb Globe Temperature sensors, to protect our most vulnerable: from the elderly to children, and outdoor workers. We are also investing in longer-term solutions, such as expanding our urban greenery, enhancing building design with passive cooling, and piloting district cooling systems to reduce energy demand. Our efforts reflect Singapore’s commitment to inclusive, science-based, and forward-looking climate action.

5 We know that Singapore is not alone in this endeavour. The principles guiding our work are the same ones that underpin the Paris Agreement: that people remain at the centre of climate solutions, and that collective action is the only path forward.

6 Singapore actively shares our experience through regional and international platforms, and we stand ready to support capacity-building for fellow small island and low-lying coastal states that face similar challenges.

7 Climate change affects us all – no state is spared, and no state can afford to act alone. We need stronger international cooperation – to share data across borders, to co-develop innovative solutions, and to support vulnerable communities everywhere.  

8 This is how we can ensure that even the most climate-exposed populations are not left behind, and that every country, regardless of size, has a role in shaping the solutions.  

9 Let us move forward together, in solidarity and in partnership, to accelerate early warning and extreme heat solutions for a safer and more resilient future. As the world gets warmer, our collaboration must become stronger. 

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