STATEMENT BY MS. LEIDIA TAN, DELEGATE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO THE 80TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON AGENDA ITEM 18 ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT, SECOND COMMITTEE, 13 OCTOBER 2025

Thank you, Mr Chair

1        Singapore aligns itself with the statements delivered on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, the Alliance of Small Island States, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

2        With a mere five years to 2030, we stand at a critical moment in our collective pursuit of sustainable development. The interconnected challenges we face—climate change, economic inequalities, and technological disruptions—demand urgent, coordinated action. Allow me to share three key approaches that have guided Singapore’s commitment to sustainable development.

3        First, we must accelerate innovation and technology adoption. Digitalisation has great potential as an equaliser, to reduce inequity, improve efficiency and enable agility for future challenges. Singapore has invested heavily in research and development through our Closing the Resource Loop Funding Initiative to advance sustainable resource recovery solutions for e-waste, plastics, and food waste, supporting our Singapore Green Plan 20230 and Zero Waste Masterplan to build a circular economy.

4        Second, strengthening South-South and triangular cooperation is essential for achieving the SDGs. No country can address these challenges alone. The Green Investments Partnership, under Singapore's Financing Asia's Transition Partnership (FAST-P) blended finance initiative, has secured US$510 million in its initial funding round to finance green and transition projects across Asia. Human capital development is central to long-term sustainability. Through our Singapore Cooperation Programme, we have trained nearly 160,000 officials from over 180 countries, territories, and intergovernmental organisations in public administration, sustainable finance and digital governance.

5        Third, sustainability transition should be inclusive. As we pursue green growth, we must leave no one behind. At home, we invest in our people—through SkillsFuture to reskill workers, and Seniors Go Digital to help our elderly stay connected in a digital economy. Abroad, we share what we know with fellow developing countries and small states, particularly through capacity building initiatives such as the launch of the AI Playbook for Small States and working with fellow small states through the Digital Forum of Small States (FOSS) to architect a common digital future.

6        Achieving genuine progress on the implementation of the SDGs require a sense of urgency. persistence and political will. While the road ahead is challenging, let us work together to prove that we can deliver sustainable and inclusive development for the betterment of all our people and for future generations. Singapore stands ready to work with all our partners in this vital endeavour.

7        Thank you.