STATEMENT BY MR JUSTIN WU, DELEGATE TO THE 71ST SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ON AGENDA ITEM 19, ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, SECOND COMMITTEE, 10 OCTOBER 2016

Thank you, Mr Chairman.

1             Singapore aligns itself with the statements made by Thailand, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China; the Maldives, on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS); and Myanmar, on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

2             2015 was a landmark year for the global community.  The world not only witnessed the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, but also the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.  These significant milestone agreements offer a clear vision of the future we want by 2030, and outline long-term goals to address poverty, tackle inequality and combat climate change.  The challenge now is to implement these agreements.

3             The path to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and our climate commitments will not be easy.  All of us need to be decisive in our actions and remain disciplined in the implementation of our plans on the road to 2030.  As we work to achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 targets, it is important to bear in mind some key points.

4             First, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the challenges faced by each country.  All countries will have to adapt solutions to their own national priorities and unique circumstances.  As a small island city-state with limited natural resources, Singapore has limited alternative energy options such as hydropower and wind power.  Yet, that has not stopped us from doing our part to address climate change.  But we had to take a different approach to lowering our emissions profile.  We made an early decision to switch from fuel oil to natural gas for power generation.  We also put a lot of focus on improving energy efficiency in the industry, household and transport sectors.  In addition, we made sure we priced energy at market cost to encourage households and businesses to use energy judiciously.  These policies helped to reduce our emissions.  But we are not resting on our laurels.  Just three months ago, Singapore unveiled its Climate Action Plan.  This document lists Singapore’s strategies to reduce our emissions intensity and strengthen our resilience to climate change.  The action plan will guide our efforts to meet our commitments under the Paris Agreement and make Singapore more climate resilient.  These actions are rooted in our belief that universal participation is required to solve a global problem like climate change. A universal agreement is also in keeping with the spirit of a multilateral, rules-based system. 

Mr Chairman,

5             Second, constant innovation is key for overcoming constraints.  When Singapore gained independence 51 years ago, we relied heavily on water from our three local reservoirs and imported water to meet water demand.  Our early years of independence were marked by water shortages, flooding and pollution problems.  In our quest to achieve water sustainability, we began researching desalination and water reclamation as early as the 1970s, focusing on membrane technologies.  Yet, it was not until the late 1990s when technological breakthroughs finally made desalination and water recycling medically safe and economically viable.  Today, Singapore has a diversified water supply, comprising local catchments, imported water, desalination and reclaimed water.  This has allowed us to meet our water demand, which stands at around 430 million imperial gallons a day.  Singapore continues to develop new technologies with a lower energy footprint and best management practices to meet the growing needs of our domestic and industrial sectors.  We are now sharing with and exporting these technologies to other countries.  We have turned our constraints into a strategic opportunity.     

6             Third, collaborative partnerships are key for advancing sustainable development.  Not many may be aware that Singapore received loans from the World Bank in the 1960s and 1970s to expand our sewerage system.  This was instrumental to our ability to provide modern sanitation for all.  Having benefited from technical assistance on our own development journey, Singapore is now committed to providing technical assistance to our fellow developing countries.  Last year, we launched the new Sustainable Development Programme, a special package under the Singapore Cooperation Programme to support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda.  This platform allows us to provide more assistance, in terms of capacity building and knowledge transfer, to fellow developing countries in the areas of leadership and governance, sustainable cities, as well as water and sanitation solutions.

7             Singapore is also committed to partnering UN agencies to lead the advocacy effort on certain goals under the 2030 Agenda.  Each year, we work with UN Water to commemorate World Toilet Day on 19 November.  The World Toilet Day campaign is an annual effort to raise awareness on the sanitation crisis - where 2.4 billion people still do not have access to basic toilets - and to make sanitation for all a global development priority.  Singapore looks forward to commemorating World Toilet Day again this year on 19 November and we hope that each country will join us in our efforts to implement SDG 6 and end open defecation.

Mr Chairman,

8             2015 was a landmark year.  But 2016 must be the year we start the wheels of implementation going.  We can achieve the goals we set for ourselves if we take decisive actions and work together to address our common challenges.  Now is the time for us to turn rhetoric into reality.  I thank you.

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