STATEMENT BY MISS JACLYN SEOW, DELEGATE TO THE 70th SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON AGENDA ITEM 21, ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OUTCOME OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE ON HUMAN SETTLEMENTS (HABITAT II) AND STRENGTHENING OF THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME (UN-HABITAT), SECOND COMMITTEE, 3 NOVEMBER 2015

 Mr Chairman,

1                   Please let me begin by aligning Singapore with the statements made on this agenda item by South Africa, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China; and Indonesia, on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Mr Chairman,

2                   Singapore firmly believes that urbanisation can be harnessed as a positive force for sustainable development.  We are heartened that the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda), with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11, recognises this.  Singapore believes that as a cross-cutting issue, urban sustainability can make a catalytic contribution to the other SDGs.  This conviction is underpinned by our own development experience.

3                   Singapore is a densely-populated metropolis with more than five million inhabitants on 719 square kilometres of land.  In liveable city surveys over the last few years, Singapore has been one of the few high-density cities that are able to achieve high liveability standards, even with resource constraints.  We maintain this balance by adopting a long-term, holistic approach to planning for sustainable development.  The Sustainable Singapore Blueprint (SSB) 2015, launched last year, lays out Singapore’s vision and plans towards a more liveable and sustainable future. 

4                   Our experience in this area has been distilled and compiled into a Liveability Framework encompassing outcomes and systems.  The desired outcomes have not changed over the last 50 years of Singapore’s development.  These are: a competitive economy, a sustainable environment and a high quality of life.  In our experience, two key factors are critical to achieving the outcomes:  (i) integrated master planning and development with a long-term perspective; and (ii) dynamic urban governance that embraces the principles of integrity and centres on the well-being of our people. 

5                   Singapore actively shares our experience on urban planning with fellow developing countries.  We have formed partnerships to address common urban challenges faced by cities around the world.  For example, in July this year, the Government of Singapore handed over to the Government of Andhra Pradesh in India, the Master Plan, based on sustainable development principles, for Amaravati, the new capital city of Andhra Pradesh.  We are also committed to supporting fellow developing countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda, through our new Sustainable Development Programme.  Singapore will, among other initiatives, work with UN-Habitat to help build capacity in urban governance and planning in cities around the world, in support of SDG 11.

6                   There are always new challenges in our own development journey, and we are constantly learning as we explore ways to overcome them.  Technology is an invaluable enabler.  To maximise the use of our limited land, we are actively exploring the use of subterranean space to free up ground-level spaces for more optimal and productive uses.  In December last year, Singapore’s National Research Foundation unveiled “Virtual Singapore”, a dynamic three-dimensional city model enriched with information on buildings, land and the environment. Businesses, government, research agencies and the public together can use this collaborative data platform to run simulations and develop solutions to environmental challenges. Through our Smart Nation initiative, Singapore harnesses technology to foster a high-quality environment where people can live, work and play.

Mr Chairman,

7                   As we approach the Third United Nations Conference on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development (Habitat III), to be held in Quito, Ecuador in October 2016, Singapore is heartened by the substantive preparations, including the release of the 22 Issue Papers and the commencement of the work of the 10 Policy Units.  Singapore takes the view that the “New Urban Agenda” should be based on three goals – a high quality of life; a competitive economy; and a sustainable environment.  These can be achieved through integrated master planning and dynamic urban governance.  It is also critical that the “New Urban Agenda” build strong synergies not only with SDG 11, but also other relevant SDGs.  As Co-Chair of the Group of Friends for Sustainable Cities, together with Sweden, Singapore is committed to finding ways to support these discussions.

8                   With only one PrepComm remaining before Habitat III, to be held in Surabaya, Indonesia, in July 2016, it is imperative that the Second Committee undertake efforts to resolve the main outstanding procedural issues in this session.  The Second Committee should also consider how best to make available the necessary time and space for the important discussions on the “New Urban Agenda”.  This will allow us all to focus on the substantive issues moving forward, which is critical if Habitat III is to be a success.

Mr Chairman,

9                   Singapore firmly believes that improvement in the quality of our urban environment – to achieve a high quality of life, competitive economy and sustainable environment – is an achievable objective for every government.  We need to work together to address complex issues in creative ways to achieve sustainable, liveable cities.  In this regard, Singapore will continue to contribute to the discourse on the “New Urban Agenda” and move the Habitat III process forward.

10              With that, I thank you.

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