Outcome of UN climate meet will depend on US, Europe and China: PM Lee

Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia 30 Nov 09;

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO: Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Monday that what will be achieved at the UN summit on climate change in Copenhagen will also depend on what the US, Europe and China will do.

He made this point to Singapore reporters at the end of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Trinidad and Tobago.

During the meeting, Commonwealth leaders called for a comprehensive, substantial and binding agreement to reduce carbon emissions, and agreed that a legally binding treaty should be reached no later than 2010.

Talks at the Commonwealth summit have been dominated by climate change negotiations, and Mr Lee noted the issue is timely, given it is just days to the UN meet in Copenhagen.

"It's not so difficult to make a consensus among the Commonwealth because most of the members of the Commonwealth would be the African countries who are very poor and who will be very affected by any cutbacks in carbon emissions," explained PM Lee.

"The Caribbean and the Pacific countries are (also) directly affected by rising sea levels... (So it's not such a hard decision for the group) to call for a strong statement and strong major cutbacks, as well as assistance to the lower income, poorer countries..."

However, much will depend on the commitment displayed by bigger countries which are the largest emitters of greenhouse gases.

The good news is: both China and the US have recently announced - for the first time - firm goals on climate.

Leaders hope the momentum sustained within the Commonwealth is carried through and converted to an ambitious deal in Copenhagen because as science has shown, the effects of climate change could impact the very existence of this planet.

On the Commonwealth, Mr Lee said talks on developmental issues revolved around problems of growth among African nations and small island countries.

While the Commonwealth, with its history tied to the British monarchy, seems far removed from modern Singapore, the prime minister said it is still important to remain engaged with the group.

He cited how Singapore was recently elected to the International Maritime Organisation with an overwhelming majority vote of 141 out of 153.

"Why did they do that? It's not just that they admire us or they think we are meritorious but that they think we have taken the trouble to cultivate friends to develop the relations, to exchange benefits (with) each other and we cooperate together and get to know one another," Mr Lee said.

"We as a small country, we need friends and we cannot say that this is a problem that doesn't concern us at all or this is a matter for a different part of the world. When we have issues, we need to get support from many other countries; when they have issues they look for our support."

The next Commonwealth gathering in 2011 will be held in Perth, Australia.

- CNA/yb