STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR BURHAN GAFOOR, PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE, AT THE MINISTERIAL OPEN DEBATE ON “CLIMATE CHANGE, PEACE AND SECURITY”, UN SECURITY COUNCIL, 13 JUNE 2023

Thank you very much Mr President.

1 Let me begin by congratulating the United Arab Emirates for assuming the Presidency of the Security Council, and thanking you for convening today’s debate on “Climate Change, Peace and Security”, which is a highly relevant and important topic. I thank the briefers earlier this morning for their very insightful briefings, and I want to also take this opportunity to commend the United Arab Emirates for its leadership and for its preparatory work in its capacity as President of COP 28.

Mr President,

2 As a small and low-lying island nation, Singapore is especially vulnerable to the impact of climate change.  Indeed, climate change is an existential threat to our very survival. In recent months, we have seen record temperatures across Southeast Asia, and studies have shown that such deadly heatwaves have become 30 times more likely due to climate change.  The climate crisis is also compounding other crises – particularly the food, water, and energy crises – with severe impacts on peoples’ lives and livelihoods. At the UN Security Council open debate on sea-level rise, which was held on 14 February this year, my delegation spoke about how climate change-induced sea-level rise could threaten the very existence of Small Island Developing States, including through the loss of territory.   

3 It is clear that climate change has the potential to exacerbate instability and conflicts, and undermine international peace and security.  In this regard, there is no doubt that climate issues should be discussed here in the Security Council. While the primary multilateral forum for addressing climate change issues would be the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Security Council has the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, and it should therefore assume this responsibility when international peace and security has been directly affected by climate change.

4 In this regard, let me add that the very relevance and responsiveness of the Security Council to the challenges of the day depends on its ability and its willingness to deal with the nexus between climate change and international security.

Mr President,

5 Allow me to highlight three points on how the Security Council could play a role in addressing the impact of climate change on peace and security.  

6 First, the Council should adopt a more multi-dimensional approach towards climate security.  Climate change is not the only source of conflicts and insecurity, but it has a tremendous ability to aggravate other root causes, such as poverty, hunger, and inequalities. The World Food Programme has estimated that climate change could increase the risk of famine and malnutrition by up to 20 per cent by 2050.  We must therefore address the multiple and interlinked impacts of climate change in a holistic and integrated manner.  The New Agenda for Peace proposed by the Secretary-General could provide a useful platform for our discussions with regard to this effort.   

7 Second, the Security Council should strongly encourage all countries to fulfil their commitments to multilateral efforts in addressing climate change.  This includes implementing the Nationally Determined Contributions and Long-Term Low-Emissions Development Strategy under the Paris Agreement.  Even though Singapore’s contribution to global emissions is negligible, we are committed to doing our part to tackle climate change, and we have raised our climate ambition to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

8 Third, the Security Council should promote enhanced support for vulnerable developing countries, particularly Small Island Developing States, to strengthen climate adaptation and resilience. This includes sustained investments in innovation and technologies that address climate risks. The development of climate-resilient water infrastructure, for example, would be critical in regions where water scarcity is exacerbated by climate change and contributes to instability.

Mr President,

9 Climate change is a threat to all of humanity. Singapore will continue to do our part, and we are ready to work with all Member States to address the multidimensional impacts of climate change, including on international peace and security.

10 I thank you.

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