STATEMENT BY MR WONG KANGWEN, DELEGATE TO THE 74TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY, ON AGENDA ITEM 19: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, SECOND COMMITTEE, 14 OCTOBER 2019

Thank you, Mr Chairman.
 

1       Singapore aligns itself with the statements made by Palestine on behalf of the Group of 77 and China; Belize on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS); and Lao People’s Democratic Republic, on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

 
2       Four years on from the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, we are witnessing an unprecedented rise in global temperatures in 2019. The past five years have been the warmest years on record since data was first collected in the late 1800s. Warming oceans have in turn created more intense storms and natural disasters, sometimes with devastating effect.  We were reminded recently of the tremendous destruction wrought by climate change, in the horrific aftermath of Hurricane Dorian on the Bahamas. 

Mr Chairman,

3       These developments should lay to rest any lingering doubts over the clear and present danger of climate change.  They also serve as a sober reminder of the urgency of implementing the 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, and the landmark agreements adopted in 2015. Allow me to share three lessons from Singapore’s experiences in pursuing sustainable development.    

4       First, governments must take the lead and be active in catalysing durable change and green growth. This year, Singapore became the first country in Southeast Asia to implement an economy-wide carbon tax.  This policy is not without short-term costs. But it will incentivise the transition towards a low-carbon economy and the adoption of low-carbon technologies. To facilitate the transition to a circular economy and support our zero waste objectives, the Singapore Parliament recently passed the Resource Sustainability Bill.  This Bill will hold large companies accountable for improving their waste management.  However, for national plans and policies to be successful, government initiatives must be supported by efforts from all stakeholders. As part of Singapore’s Zero Waste Master Plan, a grant facility was established to fund ground-up projects that drive waste reduction and recycling. During our national campaign to designate 2018 as the Year of Climate Action, over 300,000 climate pledges were made by all stakeholders, and more than 800 climate action events were held in Singapore. Therefore, a whole-of-society approach is essential to deliver results and drive a paradigm shift towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.  

5       Second, innovation and long-term strategic planning is key to overcoming natural constraints and adapting to unique national circumstances.  Despite being ranked as one of the world’s most water-stressed countries, Singapore has developed technology to recycle waste water to produce ultra clean, high-grade drinking water. To address our limited access to alternative sources of energy, Singapore has invested in our industries to make them more energy efficient.  We are also starting pilots to deploy floating solar photovoltaic panels on our reservoirs.  Henceforth, our reservoirs will serve not only as a source of drinking water, but as a source of clean energy as well.  To mitigate our space constraints for landfills, we are exploring technologies to turn incineration ash into construction material for building roads.  These strategies to close the waste and water loops embody the circular economy and are the building blocks for a sustainable future. 

6       Third, climate change is a global commons challenge that requires effective international cooperation.  At a time where multilateralism is under stress, it is more important than ever that we commit ourselves to durable and sustainable partnerships.  Singapore reaffirms our commitment to assisting fellow developing countries in implementing the 2030 Agenda. Last year, we established a dedicated Climate Action Package under the Singapore Cooperation Programme to help developing countries build capacity in areas such as climate science, flood management, and long-term adaptation and mitigation strategies. At the recent High-Level Mid-Term Review of the SAMOA Pathway, Singapore also revamped our current SIDS technical assistance package to better meet the development needs of our fellow SIDS.  The new Singapore Partnership for the SAMOA Pathway, or “Spa” for short, will offer higher quality programmes through enhanced partnerships with international organisations such as the UN, particularly on climate change and disaster risk reduction.  Our technical assistance package will also be extended to 2024 to support the implementation of the SAMOA Pathway for the next five years.  Only through partnerships can we secure the support and means of implementation to collectively achieve the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement.    

Mr Chairman, 

7       The work of the Second Committee must demonstrate our collective commitment and ambition to galvanise further action on sustainable development.  We must build on the momentum initiated by our leaders at the High-Level Week Summits just three weeks ago.  The role of national governments in driving a whole-of-society approach, developing innovative and long-term solutions, and forging stronger international partnerships, are three key enablers that should feature in our discussions, as we look to set a bold and positive agenda for implementation in the upcoming year.    

8 Thank you. 

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