Singapore backs push for climate agreement

Clarissa Oon, Straits Times 18 Dec 09;

COPENHAGEN: Singapore yesterday pledged support for negotiations to reach a legally-binding global agreement to address climate change, with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announcing to the conference that Singapore would cut its carbon emissions growth by 16 per cent below business-as-usual levels by 2020.

Addressing leaders and officials at the United Nations climate talks, he said Singapore's approach to reducing emissions growth would be 'practical and sensible, while being mindful of the very real costs and trade-offs'.

In a four-minute speech at the 193-nation summit, he also outlined what Singapore has done to slow its emissions growth.

While the 12-day summit has thrown the spotlight on various countries' emissions reduction targets, translating these numbers into action would require 'careful planning, strong leadership and political resolve', he said.

A total of 183 government leaders stated their countries' respective positions on climate change.

The marathon series of speeches began on Wednesday at noon and wrapped up in the wee hours of this morning, ahead of the closing session of the conference.

As a small, low-lying island and the second most densely populated nation in the world, Singapore has taken the environment seriously since it became independent 44 years ago, Mr Lee said.

Measures such as increasing green cover, limiting the number of cars and switching to natural gas for electricity have brought down carbon intensity, which is the amount of carbon emitted per unit of energy consumed. In 2006, carbon intensity was 30 per cent below 1990 levels.

But Singapore's small land area means a dearth of alternative energy options. Despite this, Singapore recently set a voluntary and domestically funded target to reduce emissions growth by 16 per cent from 'business-as-usual' levels by 2020.

He described this as 'a substantial commitment which will entail significant economic and social costs'.

In announcing such targets ahead of the summit, Singapore and a number of fellow developing countries hope to contribute to a strong deal at Copenhagen, he said.

Mr Lee called on developed countries to 'respond in the same spirit with significant cuts in emissions which take account of their historical responsibility and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities'.

He also appealed for understanding on one point: that the ability of countries to reduce their emissions will vary.

'For some, limited access to alternative energy severely limits their domestic mitigation potential. Others have already taken early actions to promote energy efficiency or to maximise the use of their alternative energy resources, and have limited scope for further savings.'

Such limitations and constraints must be acknowledged in a meaningful way by climate negotiators, he said.

Singapore backs legally binding climate change accord
Even if there's an agreement, ultimate test is in carrying it out, says PM Lee
Chua Peck Ming, Business Times 18 Dec 09;

SINGAPORE yesterday pledged its support for a legally binding global agreement on climate change - but made clear it wants rich nations to undertake deep cuts in emissions of heat-trapping greenhouse gases.

Making Singapore's national statement as almost 120 world leaders kicked off two-day talks at the United Nations climate conference, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also said rich nations must help poor countries become more environmentally friendly - but not at the expense of the economic growth of the poor.

'Without growth they will not have the resources needed to undertake measures to combat climate change,' he said. So rich countries must not only take the lead to 'substantially reduce their emissions both in the short and long term'.

'They must also ensure adequate means to help developing countries implement urgently needed adaptation measures without compromising sustainable economic growth.'

Still, poor countries should also do their part to curb global warming because it is a serious issue that affects the rich as well as the poor, Mr Lee said.

It calls for urgent global response, commitment and involvement from everyone, he said. But poor nations should cut their emissions only in accordance with their capabilities, national circumstances and developmental priorities.

'This is why the (UN) Convention calls for climate change to be addressed in line with the principle of 'common but differentiated responsibilities',' Mr Lee said. 'What we have in 'common' is the goal and responsibility to mitigate carbon emissions. How each of us does that must remain 'differentiated' because in reality, our respective capabilities and individual circumstances differ.'

Mr Lee said Singapore has always taken the environment seriously and took steps from the start of the country's independence 44 years ago to ease emissions. The result: Singapore's carbon intensity by 2006 was about 30 per cent below 1990 levels.

Despite a lack of alternative energy options, Mr Lee said Singapore is making an undertaking to slash its emissions growth 16 per cent below business-as-usual level by 2020 - on condition a legally binding agreement is reached in Copenhagen.

'Given our constraints, and the fact that all our actions will be voluntary and domestically funded, this is a substantial commitment that will entail significant economic and social costs,' he said.

He noted that several developing countries have made similar offers, all hoping they will contribute to a strong climate change agreement.

'The developed countries must respond in the same spirit with significant cuts in emissions that take account of their historical responsibility and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities,' he said.

But even if there is an agreement, Mr Lee said the ultimate test is carrying it out. 'All countries must implement their commitments and actions in good faith and deliver on their targets and goals,' he said. 'This will require careful planning, strong leadership and political resolve to carry through the necessary mitigation measures.'

Developed countries should take lead: PM Lee
Today Online 18 Dec 09;

US also announces support for $139b fund for developing nations at climate change summit

COPENHAGEN - The day of reckoning at the climate-change talks dawns with a boost from the United States yesterday, which said it was ready to support a US$100-billion ($139-billion) fund come 2020 to shield poor countries from the ravages of climate change.

However, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned developing countries the finances would only flow if their leaders signed up to a strong global warming deal at the summit.

On a day that began with reports that the summit's Danish hosts had given up hope of a deal, the US announcement appeared to save the Copenhagen talks from collapse today, The New York Times reported.

The US$100-billion figure was formally put on the table by Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, head of the African group of nations - though it is lower than what many developing nations say is necessary to help them adapt to climate change and develop green technologies, reported NYT.

Delivering Singapore's national statement at the summit hours after Mrs Clinton's announcement at a press conference, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called on developed countries to take the lead to substantially reduce their carbon emissions.

But they must "also ensure adequate means to help developing countries to implement urgently-needed adaptation measures without compromising sustainable economic growth", he said.

Mr Lee noted how developing countries face pressing priorities such as poverty, disease and growth - the last, without which they would not have the means to combat climate change.

Even so, developing countries have the responsibility to cut their carbon emissions, in accordance with their capabilities, circumstances and developmental priorities.

Stressing the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities", Mr Lee pointed out how countries' abilities to cut emissions will vary whether due to limited access to alternative energies, or limited scope for further savings given how they had already taken action early on.

"These limitations and constraints must be acknowledged in a meaningful way," said Mr Lee, who went on to point out how Singapore - while a small and densely-populated nation - has over the decades taken steps to slow emissions growth, such as by increasing green cover, limiting the car population and switching to natural gas for electricity generation.

"As a result, we have significantly improved our carbon intensity, which by 2006 was approximately 30 per cent below 1990 levels," he informed his audience of political leaders.

Going forward, Singapore will make a legally-binding pledge to further cut its emissions growth by 16 per cent below the business-as-usual level by 2020. The Government had earlier said, this would be contingent on a global climate agreement and other countries too announcing significant targets.

"Given our constraints, and the fact that all our actions will be voluntary and domestically funded, this is a substantial commitment which will entail significant economic and social costs. All sectors of our economy will have to make considerable adjustments," said Mr Lee yesterday, describing Singapore's approach as "pragmatic and sustainable".

With "fellow developing countries" - those not in the Annex 1 category - contributing to a strong agreement in Copenhagen, Mr Lee called on developed countries to "respond in the same spirit" with significant emission cuts.

"All countries must implement their commitments and actions in good faith and deliver on their targets and goals," he said, acknowledging that countries would have to discuss and agree on further steps over the next few decades to tackle climate change. Additional reporting by May Wong

PM Lee urges nations to announce significant emission cuts
Channel NewsAsia 18 Dec 09;

COPENHAGEN: Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged developed nations to announce significant emission cuts.

Making Singapore's national statement at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, he said that the cuts should take into account the countries' historical accountability and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

Recently, Singapore pledged to reduce its emission growth by 16 per cent below the level projected by 2020.

Addressing hundreds of political leaders in the Danish capital, Mr Lee said the success of any global climate agreement will ultimately depend on its implementation.

All countries, he said, must carry out their commitments and actions in good faith. They should also deliver on their targets and goals.

To carry out the necessary mitigation measures, he added that careful planning, strong leadership and political resolve are needed.

Mr Lee said climate change will preoccupy the world for decades. But he added that Singapore is committed to addressing this issue over the long haul.

The prime minister said the city-state must adopt a pragmatic and sustainable approach, doing what is practical and sensible. At the same time, Singapore must be mindful of the costs and trade-offs.


- CNA/so