STATEMENT BY ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DR MUHAMMAD FAISHAL IBRAHIM, MINISTER OF STATE, MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS AND MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE, AT THE HIGH-LEVEL OPEN DEBATE ON SEA-LEVEL RISE: IMPLICATIONS FOR INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY, SECURITY COUNCIL, 14 FEBRUARY 2023

Mr President,

1 I would like to congratulate Malta for assuming the Presidency of the Security Council and commend it for convening today’s debate on the implications of sea-level rise for international peace and security, which is a very relevant and important topic.  I also wish to thank Secretary-General António Guterres, President of the General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi, co-Chair of the ILC Study Group on sea-level rise and Romania Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, and Ms Coral Pasisi for their briefings.

2 For small island developing States, including Singapore, climate change-induced sea-level rise is an existential threat to our survival, viability and prospects for growth, including, for some, through the loss of territory.  The adverse impacts of sea-level rise have the potential to contribute to social instability and conflicts, which in turn can become a serious risk to international peace and security.

3 There is an urgent need to start implementing measures to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of sea-level rise, such as coastal protection and land reclamation, and to take concrete steps towards addressing or alleviating its potential negative impacts on peace and security.  However, sea-level rise and its impacts, including on international peace and security, would ultimately be a global problem that requires multilateral, rules-based solutions. In this regard, I wish to make several points.

4 First, the Security Council must assume its responsibility under the UN Charter for the maintenance of international peace and security, in the context of climate change and sea-level rise. While the primary multilateral forum for addressing climate change issues would be the UNFCCC, the Security Council has, under the UN Charter, primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and must discharge this responsibility.  In our view, the work of the Security Council in addressing peace and security aspects of climate change, including sea-level rise, can complement multilateral efforts under the UNFCCC. This was why Singapore supported and co-sponsored the draft Security Council resolution on climate security in December 2021.

5 Second, every country must do its part to support multilateral efforts in addressing climate change and its adverse effects, including sea-level rise, and the attendant implications on international peace and security.  This includes implementing Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Long-Term Low-Emissions Development Strategy (LEDS) under the Paris Agreement, as well as supporting relevant initiatives through the General Assembly to address issues pertaining to peace and security.  Capacity-building, in particular for small island developing States and least developed countries in the area of climate change mitigation and adaptation action, including the protection of coasts and infrastructure against sea-level rise, and building of flood resilience, would also be critical. 

6 Third, all efforts to address sea-level rise and its impacts must be in accordance with international law.  Solutions that are inconsistent with international law will only serve to undermine the rule of law at the international level, which would be detrimental to the maintenance of international peace and security.  In this regard, Singapore looks forward to further progress on the International Law Commission’s work on the topic of “Sea-level rise in relation to international law”.  We also wish to underscore the fundamental importance of UNCLOS, which sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out.  Just as the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement provide the framework to address climate change, UNCLOS must be the framework within which all law of the sea-related issues, including those pertaining to sea-level rise, should be considered.

Mr President,

7 Singapore is a small, low-lying city-state, with more than 50 percent of our population living within about two miles of the coast.  Sea-level rise poses a threat to us that is of existential proportions.  We stand ready to work with members of the Security Council and other Member States to address the challenges posed by sea-level rise, including its impacts on international peace and security. 

8 Thank you.

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