Dr Balakrishnan pledges transparent process in climate change challenge

S Ramesh Channel NewsAsia 22 May 11;

SINGAPORE: Newly-appointed Environment and Water Resources Minister, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, said it cannot be "business as usual" both at home and internationally when dealing with climate change.

Speaking to the media on the sidelines of a Community Chest event Sunday, he said Singaporeans will have to understand the costs and trade-offs in dealing with this challenge. And he intends to make the process as open and transparent as possible.

This approach also applies to situations like flooding.

"We musn't lose sight of the bigger picture, which is to make sure that we have taken into account all the different variables, especially when the weather and climate are changing; (We need to) review our plans...operationalise the plan and make sure everything works according to plan," said Dr Balakrishnan.

"But you know, we are dealing with weather and there is always going to be a large element of uncertainty and that's something we will have to factor and communicate openly and honestly to Singaporeans.

"What can be done will be done, the parts which obviously cannot be done or which are beyond our control, we would have to humbly and honestly communicate and explain that to Singaporeans."

- CNA/cc

Climate change, water security among Dr Balakrishnan's priorities
Hoe Yeen Nie Channel NewsAsia 21 May 11;

SINGAPORE: New Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan said he will focus his attention on climate change, water security and environmental safety.

In his first public remarks about his new portfolio, Dr Balakrishnan noted on his blog on Wednesday that Singaporeans have a growing interest in environmental issues, and there will be many opportunities for public consultation.

There will also be scope for new solutions that Singapore can pioneer.

Dr Balakrishnan had served the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports for seven years.

He describes his time in that posting as an exciting and deeply fulfilling journey, and paid tribute to those he had worked with.

Dr Balakrishnan expressed confidence in the new team led by Acting Minister Chan Chun Sing, and Minister of State Halimah Yacob and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Sam Tan.

-CNA/wk

An open discussion on floods and climate change
S Ramesh Today Online 23 May 11;

SINGAPORE - It cannot be "business as usual" either at home or internationally when dealing with climate change, said newly-appointed Minister for Environment and Water Resources Vivian Balakrishnan.

Singaporeans, he said, will have to understand the "difficult policy choices and trade-offs" in dealing with this challenge, before coming to a consensus on how to tackle it.

"My intention is to make this process as open and transparent as possible so that Singaporeans understand what is at stake," he said, referring to a collective decision-making process.

This open-communication approach also applies to tackling situations such as flooding - one of the hot issues raised at the May 7 polls.

Dr Balakrishnan said there was a need to assess if weather patterns were changing. "If indeed it has changed, then our planning norms will also have to be modified and that's an engineering and technical issue."

He added: "Every time a flood occurs, it will be newsworthy.

"It will certainly place stress on me and all the staff involved so we mustn't lose sight of the bigger picture, which is to make sure that we have taken into account all the different variables and especially when the weather and climate are changing, review our plans and then to operationalise the plan."

But he added as they were dealing with the weather, there would always be a large element of uncertainty.

He said: "What can be done will be done, the parts which obviously cannot be done or which are beyond our control, we would have to humbly and honestly communicate and explain that to Singaporeans."

Dr Balakrishnan was speaking to the media on the sidelines of yesterday's ComChest Heartstrings Walk, which was attended by 5,000 people and raised more than S$1 million for beneficiaries. It was flagged off by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

After heading the Ministry of Comunity Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS) for seven years, Dr Balakrishnan said he was looking forward to the challenge of his new post, in his first remarks to the media since the new Cabinet line-up was announced.

"The MCYS has grown tremendously in the last seven years, so it has really been a stretch. The Ministry for Environment and Water Resources will be a completely different set of issues, so there's going to be no shortage of work and analysis and consultation and exercise of political wisdom and judgement and so on."

Some of his proudest moments at the MCYS, he said, included the 2005 introduction of the Community Care Endowment Fund (ComCare) that pays for programmes to help needy Singaporeans, and the move to recognise social work as a profession through accreditation.