Bigger role for climate committee in Singapore

Besides international strategy focus, it will oversee home policies
Clarissa Oon, Straits Times 13 Mar 10;

THE inter-ministerial committee that formulates Singapore's position at global climate change negotiations now has an additional role of overseeing policies to be taken at home, Senior Minister S. Jayakumar said yesterday.

It will drive domestic measures to mitigate against climate change, now that the focus of international talks has shifted to what countries must do at home to meet obligations such as emissions reduction.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change (IMCCC), which Professor Jayakumar chairs, will be reorganised to have two working groups: One to focus on Singapore's strategy at international talks, and the other to craft and implement domestic mitigation measures.

Another change: the secretariat servicing the committee, now at the Foreign Ministry, will come under the Prime Minister's Office.

'This is to reflect the important scope of policies to be coordinated, including domestic economic, regulatory and fiscal measures, as well as the ongoing international negotiations,' Prof Jayakumar told Parliament, when replying to a question from Mr Cedric Foo (West Coast GRC).

To strengthen its clout, the National Climate Change Secretariat will be headed by a permanent secretary, who will coordinate the work of the working groups.

Explaining the changes, he noted that the Government has pledged to cut emissions growth by 16per cent below 'business as usual' levels by 2020.

This pledge, made ahead of last November's global climate summit in Copenhagen, is contingent on the world reaching an agreement to fight climate change.

What this means is that Singapore must introduce measures going beyond its earlier target of a 7 to 11per cent reduction in emissions growth below business as usual levels. This was set by last year's Sustainable Singapore blueprint.

'But this is no simple matter. We must formulate climate change policies that strike the right balance between regulatory, fiscal and other measures, and at the same time enable us to sustain economic growth,' he said.

Developing policies and implementing measures need close coordination.

'While our current working arrangements have worked well so far, we need to gear ourselves up to deliver on our domestic commitments, and to tighten coordination between international negotiations and domestic policies,' he said.

Hence the single body to oversee both aspects of climate change policies.

The working group on international negotiations will continue to be led by the Second Permanent Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. The other working group will be co-chaired by the permanent secretaries of the Trade and Industry and the Finance Ministries.

Other environmental areas not directly related to climate change will continue to be overseen by the Environment and Water Resources and the National Development Ministries. These include water security, air quality, waste minimisation, biodiversity and sky-rise greenery.

Giving his prognosis of the fraught global negotiations on climate change, Prof Jayakumar said that while there was a lull immediately after the Copenhagen talks, the negotiation process has now taken on a sense of urgency, to build up to the next conference in Mexico at the year's end.

Among other things, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon has formed a high-level advisory group on an important aspect - how mitigation measures will be financed.

Singapore has been invited to be a group member and will be represented by Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Second Finance Minister Lim Hwee Hua.

Prof Jayakumar said there was still work to be done by negotiators, who have to bridge differences on issues such as financing, and how to measure and verify mitigation efforts by each country.

'I wish I had a crystal ball, but I'm a bit more encouraged now than immediately after Copenhagen, when the pieces were very slow in being picked up.'

National Climate Change Secretariat to be strengthened
S Ramesh Channel NewsAsia 12 Mar 10;

SINGAPORE: Singapore's National Climate Change Secretariat is to be strengthened. It will now come under the Prime Minister's Office and be headed by a Permanent Secretary, said Senior Minister S Jayakumar.

Professor Jayakumar, who oversees climate change policy issues, told Parliament that Singapore has also been invited to serve in a high level advisory group on financing aspects of climate change, formed by the UN Secretary General.

Singapore's representatives will be Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Second Minister for Finance, Mrs Lim Hwee Hua.

For a small, low-lying, densely populated island state like Singapore, climate change is a crucial issue. And as the issue cuts across various policy areas, the country set up the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change in 2007.

Professor Jayakumar said: "The IMCCC, which I chair, is supported by an Executive Committee comprising the Permanent Secretaries of those Ministries and headed by the Second Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs.

"We also have an inter-agency team led by a Chief Negotiator to handle the international negotiations. These bodies are serviced by a dedicated National Climate Change Secretariat, which is currently located in MFA.

"The IMCCC has largely focussed on formulating Singapore's positions and strategy for the international negotiations. Domestically, our mitigation measures under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint were coordinated by MND and MEWR, co-chairs of the Sustainable Development Policy Group (SPDG)."

But now the country's entering a new phase.

Professor Jayakumar added: "As we get closer to a global agreement on climate change, the focus will shift towards what we need to do domestically to fulfil our obligations.

"Singapore will have to introduce measures that go beyond the 7-11 per cent below "Business as Usual" (BAU) under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint.

"We must formulate climate change policies that strike the right balance between regulatory, fiscal and other measures, and at the same time enable us to sustain economic growth. Developing these policies and implementing these measures will need close coordination among the various agencies."

Hence, there is a need to gear up to deliver on the domestic commitments and to tighten coordination between international negotiations and Singapore's domestic policies.

So the government has decided that it is best to have a single body oversee the climate change policies and coordinate the roles of two work groups - one which deals with international negotiations strategy and the other on domestic matters.

Professor Jayakumar said: "There are some other issues which are not directly related to climate change, but are still very important aspects of sustainable development - such as water security, air quality, waste minimisation, biodiversity, and sky rise greenery. These areas continue to be overseen by MEWR and MND, as the lead agencies for sustainable development."

On the current state of affairs of the climate change negotiations, Professor Jayakumar noted that immediately after the climate change conference in Copenhagen, things were slow at restarting. And he feels there needs to be a bridging of differences, especially among the major economies.

Professor Jayakumar said: "It is well and good for countries to announce various targets and emissions. But one vexing issue is ultimately what will be the method of verifying compliance with each country's announced measures. Another vexing issue is that of financing."

Professor Jayakumar said he is a bit more encouraged now as there seems to be a sense of urgency and negotiators are due to meet again in Bonn next month.

- CNA/sc

One body to coordinate Singapore's climate change policies
Inter-ministerial committee reorganised, secretariat strengthened
Today Online 13 Mar 10;

SINGAPORE - As a global agreement on climate change gets closer to becoming reality, and Singapore gears up to deliver on its domestic commitments, a single body will now coordinate two key aspects - the international and the domestic - of the country's climate change policies.

The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change will be reorganised to focus both on formulating and implementing mitigation measures at home, and on international negotiation strategies.

Its National Climate Change Secretariat will also be strengthened. Currently located in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, it will be brought instead under the Prime Minister's Office and headed by a Permanent Secretary, to "reflect the important scope of policy matters to be coordinated", announced Senior Minister S Jayakumar.

The inter-ministerial committee was set up in 2007 - comprising Government leaders from six ministries and headed by Professor Jayakumar - to focus mainly on "formulating Singapore's positions and strategy for the international negotiations" on climate change. Its bodies are serviced by a dedicated national secretariat.

In the meantime, domestic mitigation measures under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint have been coordinated by the Ministry for National Development (MND) and Ministry for the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR).

"But now, the country is entering a new phase," said Prof Jayakumar.

"As we get closer to a global agreement on climate change, the focus will shift towards what we need to do domestically to fulfil our obligations.

"Singapore will have to introduce measures that go beyond the 7-to-11 per cent below 'Business as Usual' under the Sustainable Singapore Blueprint ...

"We must formulate climate change policies that strike the right balance between regulatory, fiscal and other measures, and, at the same time, enable us to sustain economic growth.

"Developing these policies and implementing these measures will need close coordination among the various agencies," he said.

Hence, the reorganisation.

The inter-ministerial panel will now have two working groups instead: One, focusing on international negotiations strategy, to be led by the Second Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs; and the second, focused on domestic climate change mitigation measures, co-chaired by the Permanent Secretaries for Trade and Industry and Finance.

As for other key aspects of sustainable development not related directly to climate change - such as water security, air quality, waste minimisation, biodiversity and sky rise greenery - these will continue to be overseen by MND and MEWR.

Professor Jayakumar also informed Parliament on Friday that Singapore has been invited to serve in a high-level advisory group on financing aspects of climate change, formed by the United Nations Secretary General.

The country's representatives will be Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Second Minister for Finance Lim Hwee Hua.

Moving beyond rhetoric
Letter from Kwan Jin Yao, Today Online 16 Mar 10;

I REFER to the report "One body to coordinate Singapore's climate change policies" (March 13-14). The administration is moving in the right direction, but more has to be done to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the measures significantly.

Regardless of the world's progress towards an international consensus and agreement, Singapore must remain committed to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, coupled by related policies that would not compromise the growth of the economy. In fact, Singapore should seize this valuable opportunity to pledge its commitment to move forward sustainably, a stand which would heighten Singapore's diplomatic standing.

Before the reorganised Inter-Ministerial Committee on Climate Change sets its sights on international negotiation strategies, much more has to be done for domestic measures. It is time to move beyond mere rhetoric and engage in tangible, effectual policy-making.

A two-pronged approach should be adopted: Strengthening and coordinating existing awareness campaigns and projects, complemented by initiatives to encourage or compel households and corporations to live and grow responsibly.

The campaigns by various organisations and agencies have either been repetitive or simply ineffective, providing little incentive for Singaporeans to effect the necessary change.

Progressively, Singapore should not be afraid to make its international presence felt. With inertia and tensions evident among the superpowers, Singapore can actively rally middle-power nations to exert effective diplomatic pressures accordingly. Greater participation in global climate conferences and forums would also provide platforms for local non-government organisations (NGOs) to gather new ideas, generate more hype, and create more synergy back home.

It is imperative that Singapore grab the climate bull by its horns, instead of remaining apathetic and lethargic. Change must be the new constant.