PM Lee: Climate change solutions must allow for diverse national circumstances

Channel NewsAsia 12 Dec 07;

BALI : Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says the post-2012 framework on tackling climate change cannot use a "one size fits all" approach.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the high-level segment of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in the resort island of Bali, Mr Lee says this is because a solution must take into account diverse national circumstances.

He adds that the post-2012 framework must have three guiding principles.

First, all countries must be committed to the framework with developed countries taking the lead.

This is because the developed countries are the biggest culprits in current and historical greenhouse emissions.

Second, the framework should recognise the vital importance of economic growth.

Tackling climate change, he says, must not affect governments' efforts in alleviating poverty, fighting diseases and malnutrition.

Mr Lee notes that some countries, especially those that deal with manufacturing or are transportation hubs which supply bunkers for ships and fuel for airplanes, will have a larger carbon footprint.

Penalising these countries would be counter-productive, because the activities would move to other countries.

This would lead to countries paying an economic price without reaping any environmental benefits.

Singapore, he says, has a vested interest in this as manufacturing, port and airport services are all important to its economy.

Third, the framework must take into account differences in national circumstances and constraints as countries vary in size, population and stage of development.

So to mitigate climate change with these in mind, Mr Lee suggests a few approaches that could be taken.

He says countries should pursue pragmatic and cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

This includes exploiting technology to improve energy efficiency and reduce wastage, for example by using more public transport instead of cars, and not over-cooling or over-heating buildings.

Countries should also price energy properly and avoid subsidising over-consumption of fossil fuels.

Another approach is to protect the world's carbon sinks.

For example, slash-and-burn practices and the large-scale burning of peatlands should be stopped as they release massive amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.

This requires responsible policies and commitment by the countries which own the forests.

Singapore, he says, supports the idea of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation proposed by Indonesia as well as regional initiatives like the Heart of Borneo project, which covers 220,000 sq km of forests in Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia.

The Republic is also working bilaterally with Indonesia to tackle peatland fires and develop sustainable land-clearing practices.

Beyond individual measures, Mr Lee said that it is necessary to set overall targets to reduce emissions.

Countries have to agree to this objective, negotiate a deal, and put in place policies to achieve the cuts.

And as climate change is a dynamic problem, Mr Lee says countries need an evolving, creative response that will exploit new technologies and adapt to new scientific discoveries.

This includes major investments in research on climate change and energy technologies like carbon storage, solar power, safe nuclear energy, or other low-carbon ways to power our future.

Even climate engineering should be explored fully.

Singapore, says Mr Lee, is strongly committed to this global research effort.

It's investing considerable sums to develop clean technologies like solar and water.

The country's also partnering China to build an eco-city in Tianjin, to testbed and demonstrate environmentally sustainable and economically viable approaches for urban development, which can be replicated in other Chinese cities.

Next year, Singapore will be hosting a World Cities Summit that will focus on environmental issues in urban settings.

Mr Lee notes that with global warming taking place, countries should also work on adaptation strategies.

Singapore and all the members of ASEAN are fully committed to the Bali roadmap and will do its part in this global effort. - CNA/ch

'Bold and creative' steps needed in new climate change roadmap: PM Lee
Loh Chee Kong, Today Online 13 Dec 07;

IT IS an old problem that has rocketed to the top of today's global agenda. And old perceptions and doctrines won't cut it anymore, if the issue is to be solved.

As the world's luminaries gathered at the United Nations' Climate Change Conference in Bali yesterday to witness declarations of support for a new battleplan, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon urged them to see the fight against global warming as an opportunity to develop green industries and overall sustainable growth — rather than an impediment to industrial development.

Backing this call, Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong underlined the need for a "creative response" that takes into account small states' interests and "vital importance" of economic growth.

"Governments must deal with other vital priorities, including alleviating poverty, fighting diseases and malnutrition, and improving the lives of their peoples. All this requires economic growth and resources, which means continued dependence on energy and in particular on fossil fuels," he said.

Urging countries to plough more resources into climate change research and energy technologies, Mr Lee said countries have to start looking into "adaptation strategies" by tapping on technology.

"We also have to find ways to package and embed such technologies in everyday life, whether by making more efficient engines or by designing and building more eco-friendly climates," he said. "We cannot reverse global warming and restore conditions to the pre-industrial age. We must therefore adapt our societies to surviving in a warmer world, and apply our ingenuity and resolve to minimising the negative effects."

The Bali conference hopes to set the stage for a new green framework, to be drafted by 2009, to replace the Kyoto Protocol when it expires in 2012.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd — who ratified the Kyoto Protocol last week just days after he swept to power on a green campaign, and who was greeted with sustained applause in his first international outing — stressed that the new roadmap had to live up to public expectations.

"The world expects us to deliver binding targets. It expects us all to pull together and do our fair share," said Mr Rudd, whose administration has pledged to reduce greenhouse gases emissions by 60 per cent — as compared to levels in 2000 — by 2050.

Mr Lee said the proposed roadmap should not penalise manufacturing-based countries and transport hubs — which include Singapore — as this would be "counter-productive".

He added: "The activities would just move to other countries less well suited to them. We would have paid an economic price without reaping any environment benefits."

Noting how public pressure had caused Australia's former Prime Minister John Howard to change his government's stand after a decade-long drought, Mr Lee cautioned that policy-makers around the world would face "tough choices", in spite of the heightened public awareness for the environmental cause.

He added: "It is a long way from general public sympathy to specific support for policies which will make a real impact, but these are encouraging signs of progress."

Along with Mr Rudd and Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Mr Lee felt it "necessary" to set overall targets to reduce carbon emissions.

But the United States' representatives were not enthusiastic about such a move, even as the US and Indonesia announced their desire to work towards a debt-for-nature programme to fund the latter's efforts in tropical forest conservation.

With Australia's ratification, the US is the only major polluter yet to ratify the Kyoto agreement, which sought to commit countries to reduce carbon emissions.

Maintaining that such numerical targets would "divide countries further", Mr James Connaughton, a senior environmental adviser to US President George W Bush, reiterated: "We are seeking an approach to bring more countries together on a common platform."

Even at this preliminary stage of negotiations, any binding agreement to cut carbon emission — let alone setting numerical targets — is already shaping up to be a major stumbling block.

And green lobby groups were unimpressed.

Said Australian Stephanie Long, campaign coordinator for Friends of the Earth International: "We came to Bali with high expectations that industrialised countries would take the lead here and meet their historical obligations. All we have seen so far are empty agreements promising to deliver only if developing countries do more is unacceptable and unjustified."

PM's Bali call: Go green without sacrificing growth
Singapore leader cautions against 'one-size-fits-all' approach
Peh Shing Huei, Straits Times 13 Dec 07

NUSA DUA (BALI) - LEADERS threw their weight behind efforts to find a solution to the climate change crisis, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong speaking on the need to go green - but without economic growth being sacrificed.

He reminded delegates at a conference on climate change that a new international agreement to replace the existing Kyoto Protocol must also take diverse national circumstances into account.

Leaders and officials are meeting here to develop a blueprint and identify a clear route forward for negotiations on a new agreement to replace the Kyoto deal. The first 'commitment period' of the protocol ends in 2012.

United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon told representatives from 190 nations at the conference: 'The time to act is now.'

Leaders who spoke at the UN conference yesterday made it clear they were fully committed.

Newly elected Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd - cheered by delegates for ratifying the Kyoto Protocol in his first act as Premier - said global warming was his government's 'top priority'; while Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare said procrastination is not an option any more.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, whose country is home to the world's third largest rainforest after Brazil and Congo, added: 'It is time to say what we mean, and mean what we say.'

Mr Lee, who arrived in Bali on Tuesday, said the post-2012 agreement must rest on three principles.

These are the commitment and participation of all developed and developing nations; a recognition of the importance of economic growth; and taking into account countries' different circumstances and constraints.

Mr Lee noted that countries had to deal with priorities such as alleviating poverty and improving the lives of their people. This required growth - and thus continued dependence on energy, including fossil fuels.

'This reality will not change in the foreseeable future, despite our best efforts to go green,' he said.

In a global economy where countries now specialise in providing goods and services, those involved in manufacturing or transportation hubs, for instance, naturally have a larger carbon footprint.

'Penalising these countries would be counter-productive, because the activities would just move to other countries less suited to them. We would have paid an economic price without reaping any economical benefits,' he said.

He also pointed to differences in size and stages of development of countries, and how some were endowed with renewable energy sources, while others - Singapore included - had no alternatives to fossil fuels.

'Given this wide range of situations of different countries, the post-2012 framework cannot use a one-size-fits-all approach,' he said.

Mr Lee called for pragmatic and cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, such as greater use of public transport. Also, the world's carbon sinks, such as forests, must be protected.

Clear targets to reduce emissions must also be set. At the same time, the solution to climate change must constantly evolve as the problem is also changing. This would mean a major investment in research and technology.

But even as leaders here examined the road forward, they were reminded of another global challenge - terrorism.

A minute's silence was observed at the conference for the 11 UN staff killed by car bombs in Algeria on Monday, with leaders, including Mr Lee, condemning these attacks in their speeches.

COUNTERING CLIMATE CHANGE: Innovation, adaptation way to go
Straits Times 13 Dec 07;

The following is Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's speech at the UN climate change conference in Bali yesterday

CLIMATE change is an enormous long-term challenge confronting mankind.

Scientists do not know how quickly it will happen, how severe it will be or all of its consequences. But the signs are growing - melting polar ice caps, vanishing glaciers, hotter and longer summers, more intense typhoons and hurricanes.

If we fail to address climate change, ecosystems and human societies could experience major disruptions over the next 50 to 100 years, and quite possibly sooner.

The Kyoto Protocol is a first collective attempt by the world to deal with climate change. It is an important start, but we have to build on Kyoto and do more.

The international community must work out a practical and effective approach after the first commitment period under Kyoto expires in 2012.

Let me propose three principles which I believe are essential for a post-2012 framework.

Collective effort

FIRST, the framework must have the commitment and participation of all countries, under United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change auspices. The developed countries are responsible for the bulk of current and historical greenhouse gas emissions. They will have to take the lead in cutting emissions.

The developing countries, especially the emerging economies of Asia, are also becoming major emitters. Their populations are equally, if not more, vulnerable to climate change.

Rich or poor, all countries will have to do their part for the environment. Collectively, we share this problem and must solve it together.

Second, the framework should recognise the vital importance of economic growth. Poverty is not a solution to global warming. The problem of climate change has a long lead time, as do any countermeasures.

Meanwhile, governments must deal with other priorities, including alleviating poverty, fighting diseases and malnutrition, and improving the lives of their people.

All this requires economic growth and resources, which means continued dependence on energy and, in particular, on fossil fuels. This reality will not change in the foreseeable future despite our best efforts to go green.

If actions to mitigate climate change are to preserve growth, they should not undermine globalisation and the international division of labour.

In the world economy, some countries specialise in producing goods, while others supply more services. Those doing more manufacturing will naturally have a larger carbon footprint. Likewise for transportation hubs, which supply bunkers for ships and fuel for airplanes.

Penalising these countries would be counterproductive because the activities would just move to other countries less well suited for them. We would have paid an economic price without reaping any environmental benefits.

Singapore has a vested interest in this as manufacturing, port and airport services are all important to our economy. But we are not alone.

Third, the framework must take into account differences in national circumstances and constraints. Countries vary in size, population and development. Some are endowed with abundant clean and renewable energy sources such as wind, hydro or geothermal power, while others have no alternatives to fossil fuels.

Small states, especially developing ones, face the most severe constraints. They are more vulnerable to external shocks and natural disasters. They are often heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels and cannot easily diversify their energy sources. Even nuclear energy is infeasible for lack of safety distance.

Given this wide range of situations, the post-2012 framework cannot use a one-size- fits-all approach. An equitable solution must take account of diverse national circumstances. The smaller and more vulnerable countries in particular will need technical assistance to put in place effective adaptation measures.

Energy efficiency

BASED on these broad principles, let me suggest a few effective approaches to mitigate climate change.

First, we should pursue pragmatic and cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This includes exploiting technology to improve energy efficiency and cut wastage, for example, by using more public transportation instead of cars and not overcooling or overheating buildings.

We should apply economics to price energy properly and avoid subsidising overconsumption of fossil fuels.

Second, we need to protect the world's carbon sinks. Slash-and-burn practices and large-scale burning of peatlands release huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. We must stop these practices and the loss of forested areas.

This requires the continued attention and support of the international community as well as responsible policies and effective enforcement by the countries which own these forests.

Singapore supports the idea of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (Redd) proposed by Indonesia, and regional initiatives like the Heart of Borneo project, which covers 220,000 sq km of forests in Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. We are also working with Indonesia to tackle peatland fires and develop sustainable land-clearing practices.

Third, beyond individual measures, I believe it is necessary to set overall targets to reduce emissions. Countries need to agree to this objective, negotiate a deal and put in place policies to achieve the cuts.

This will raise many complex issues. How much should we cut emissions by? How do we share the costs? What is the best way to cut - quantitative controls, carbon taxes or cap-and-trade schemes?

Should the measures be based on countries, or industry sectors such as aviation and shipping on a worldwide basis, or individual consumers? And how can we do all this while minimising disruptions to the global economy?

No country can volunteer to cut its own emissions if others do not join in. All countries must work together, but the major economies have to show leadership, as any viable solution requires their full commitment.

Fourth, climate change is a dynamic problem. Technology is changing, the global climate is changing and our understanding of climate change is also changing.

Hence, we need not just a one-time, complete solution, but an evolving, creative response that will exploit new technologies and adapt to new scientific discoveries.

This response must include a major investment in research on climate change and energy technologies, be it carbon storage, solar power, safe nuclear energy or other low- carbon ways to power our future. We also have to find ways to package and embed such technologies in everyday life, whether making more efficient engines or designing and building more eco-friendly cities. Climate engineering should be explored fully.

Singapore is strongly committed to this research effort. We are investing considerable sums to develop clean technologies such as solar and water. We are also partnering China to build an eco-city in Tianjin to testbed and demonstrate environmentally sustainable and economically viable approaches for urban development, which can be replicated in other Chinese cities.

Next year, Singapore will be hosting a World Cities Summit that will focus on environmental issues in urban settings.

Fifth, we should work on adaptation strategies. Climate change will take place despite our best efforts. We can, at best, slow down the build-up of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere over the next decades, but we cannot reverse global warming and restore conditions to the pre-industrial age.

We must therefore adapt our societies to surviving in a warmer world and apply our ingenuity and resolve to minimising the negative effects. The sooner we start doing this, the more affordable this task will be.

Political will

DEALING with global warming will be a long and difficult process. It will need political support from the populations of our countries, for we will face tough choices.

In Europe, climate change policy is already a major political priority. In Australia, public pressure forced former prime minister John Howard to change his government's stand after a severe decade- long drought.

Even in the United States, attitudes are shifting, helped no doubt by the film An Inconvenient Truth. It is a long way from general public sympathy to specific support for policies which will make a real impact, but these are encouraging signs of progress.

Singapore, and all the Asean members, will do their part. We are fully committed to an ambitious Bali road map that will deliver an effective post-2012 regime.